Date: 2/21/2000 |
IALP Class of 2000 |
Frankfurt, Germany |
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| Willkommen from Frankfurt! |
| Day 3 began at the DG Bank in downtown
Frankfurt, the financial district. |
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Click on any image for larger
view |
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| News Flash - Germany Says NO to
Planting GMO's |
 The
class met on the 38th floor of the DG Bank boardroom to discuss the
controversial issue of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).
Patrick Schmidt with Genius Biotechnology moderated the discussion.
The panel members included Rainer Linneweber of Novartis Seeds, Ruth
Stadlmair of ADM Soya Mainz Gmgh & Company, Dr. Henning Ehlers of
Deutscher Raiffeisenverband (cooperatives) and Dr. Jurgen Hampel of
"Institute for the Estimation of Effects of Technologies".
The panel stated that the main differences between the
US and the European Union is the lack of distrust toward government and
science and their outlook on life. Last week the German government
outlawed the planting of any GMO maize (corn). Despite any concrete
scientific evidence of any dangers, the German Ministry of Health acted on
the concerns consumers perception. It was the panel's consensus
that it may take decades for the German public to accept this technology. |
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| Banking in the European Union |
 After
a delicious lunch sponsored by DG Bank in Germany, the class heard from Dr.
Hans Jackel, senior economist from DG Bank talked about the issues that
faced Europe during the formation of a single currency, the Euro
dollar. Heinz Bauer, head of customer relationship with DG Bank
provided the class with insight on the German banking system and Niels
Bunemann, press officier with European Central Bank explained how the Euro
is governed by the 15 participating countries and how the conversion
from national currenceny to the Euro is progressing. |
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| ICE Train Melts Railspeed - 260 km/h
(162.5 mph) |
 The
class departed from the Frankfurt Bahnhof (by train) to zoom to
Berlin for Day 4, 5, 6. |
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