Looking at the above title you could be forgiven for thinking that it’s the beginning of a science or chemical formula. But, in fact, you know quite well, that that is not the case. So what is it?
HS2 means: ‘High Speed Rail Number Two.’ I’m sure you know that Stgt. 21 means: putting Stuttgart’s railway station underground. TAV means, building a 70 Km tunnel through the Italian mountains. What do they have in common?
All three are highly expensive building projects and have raised protest in their respective communities. It appears, that all projects will actually go ahead, despite protests. Only last week, after (I was surprised to hear) fifteen years of discussion, planning, etc, a vote of the German public, in South Germany, gave the ‘go-ahead’ with a small majority, however, with strict conditions, regarding financing.
HS2, however, is not yet, so far advanced. The cost estimate is £20 billion. HS1, has long been completed, being the fast rail connection between London and the Channel Tunnel. HS2 will be the fast connection between London and Birmingham. Why the protest? Because it will pass through some of Central England’s most picturesque countryside. Many of the protesters are NIMBYs (‘not in my back yard’). Other arguments say, that many passengers, already using the present trains, are able to work longer with their laptops on the journey. Still others say, that because the HS2 won’t make any stops between London and Birmingham, it will exclude many would-be passengers on the way. The main pro-argument is, that this is only the beginning of a larger high speed rail network, bringing the North of England into closer contact with London and other countries of Europe. A counter argument says, that it’s no better than the English ‘keeping up with the Jones’s’, because so many other European countries already have a high speed network.
TAV is planned to connect Turino in Italy with Lyon in France, again by high speed railway. Protests in the Piemonte area of Italy are in many aspects similar to those of HS2, but with the added issue of possible radio acitvity being present in the line of the proposed tunnel.
Personally, I shall not benefit directly from either Stgt 21, HS2 or TAV. Therefore, why am I taking the trouble to write this blog about them? Because, dear reader, the strength of the protests, helps to remind me of democracy being so clearly demonstrated.
Aren’t we all so lucky, living in countries, where we are free to disagree with our rulers? Long may it endure.
Glossary:
to have in common - to have something equal or similar to
respective: - other / different
‘keeping up with the Jones’s - to be not less than
endure – continue
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15642750
Englisch