Interesting Facts

56 countries account for 90 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions (A new report shows that Sweden is doing the best job in tackling carbon emissions, Germany second best, the UK was seventh, whilst the US ranked second worst only topped by Saudi Arabia who were deemed the most irresponsible emitters among the world's major economies.

Germany has agreed to introduce a minimum wage for postal workers. The minimum wage, which will be introduced on Jan. 1, 2008, is expected to be €8.00 ($11.70) per hour in the states of the former East Germany and €9.80 ($14.35) per hour in western Germany. (Luxembourg-based Pin Group immediately announced that it will cut more than 1,000 jobs in Germany in response, they currently pay between €7 and €7.50 per hour on average.)

According to the Spiegel, a German carworker earns just under €50,000 a year on average. (Wendelin Wiedeking, the chief executive of car maker Porsche, in case you were wondering, earned more than €60 million in 2006.)

According to the government, by the time British children are four, those from poor families are likely to have heard 13 million words, but children from better off families, a figure of 45 million is typical. (Who counts these things?)

The Bavarian company Herpa, a miniature model manufacturer located in Germany, announced at the International Automobile show in Frankfort a.M. that they want to put the Trabant back on the streets by 2009. (Now this won't be a model, this will be a full-sized car. But it will still be made out of plastic, so no difference there.)

According to the aid agency Oxfam, the number of weather-related disasters has quadrupled over the past 20 years. (And of course there has been a huge increase in population and so more people are affected when these events take place. Maybe the Germans should be a bit more worried (see previous fact).)

According to R&V insurance, Germans are more frightened of a higher cost of living than of terrorism, natural catastrophes or illness. (The list goes like this:- Higher living expenses - 66% Natural catastrophes - 59% Infirmity in old age - 53% Bad health - 51% Political situation - 51% Terrorism - 50% Worsening economic situation - 48%)