By Tracy Wilkinson, Times Staff Writer VATICAN CITY — Cardinals gathering to choose the next pope like to say they are guided by the Holy Spirit. But the Lord moves in mysterious ways, and his delegates can be real wheeler-dealers. Pope John Paul II forbade overt politicking and behind-the-scenes horse-trading in the coming days. The cardinals, he wrote in the 1996 constitution that lays down the rules, "shall abstain from any form of pact, agreement, promise or commitment of any kind which could oblige them to give or deny their vote to a person or persons." But he did allow the "exchange of views" in the period between a pope's death and the moment the cardinals sequester themselves in the Sistine Chapel.         By the time they sit down to business April 18 under Michelangelo's imposing "Last Judgment," the cardinals will have conferred, cajoled, pondered and probed. Over evening cocktails in marble palazzi and long lunches at gated villas, the "princes" of the Roman Catholic Church will size one another up, handicap candidates and plot the course of the world's most powerful Christian institution. "One can see it as politicking, but ultimately I think everyone is somehow hoping to share responsibility, to not stand alone, to find support," Cardinal Lubomyr Husar of Ukraine said in an interview. Some of the initial contacts revolve around language groups: The Spanish-speakers get together; the Anglos meet. Other gatherings are brokered based on long-standing friendships, shared ideologies or associations through shared work in the Vatican's congregations, or departments. John Paul broke records in the number of cardinals he appointed; all but three of the 117 eligible to vote for the next pope were named by him. (And one of the three, Cardinal Jaime Sin of the Philippines, will probably miss the election because he is on kidney dialysis.) Although most members share John Paul's basic religious philosophy, the College of Cardinals represents enormous geographic and ethnic diversity. The "elector" cardinals come from 52 countries on six continents. "The college today is so representative of the [wider] church," Spanish Cardinal Julian Herranz said in an interview before the pope's death. "It is so universal, with representatives of a world of ethnicities, cultures, languages and societies. That is Catholicism. It is universal. It is global." Such diversity has led to eager speculation, and a real possibility, that the new pope could come from the developing world — possibly Latin America, home to an estimated 43% of the 1-billion-strong Catholic Church; or Africa, site of the world's fastest-growing Catholic community. Twenty-one cardinals are from Latin America, a group that now exceeds the long- dominant Italian bloc by one. Some Italians are eager to see the papacy restored to Italy. Until John Paul, Italians had served as pope for more than 450 years, and some say it's time to put an end to the "Polish experiment." In a Latin-Italian showdown, both factions would have to strike alliances with other groups to win. A Third World coalition, with 11 African cardinals joining the Latin Americans? Or might some of the "Old Europe" representatives back the Italians? Choosing a pope from Latin America or Africa, or even Asia, the argument goes, would send a message of moral support to parts of the world where the faith is growing but also facing challenges from Islam and evangelical Protestantism. And it would underscore the vast reach of the Catholic Church. Several Latin American candidates are frequently mentioned, including Claudio Hummes, the Franciscan archbishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil; Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Jesuit archbishop of Buenos Aires; Dario Castrillon Hoyos of Colombia; and Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, a Honduran. The cardinal always named as a potential candidate from Africa is the amiable and conservative Francis Arinze of Nigeria, who for the last few years has headed an important Vatican department that oversees worship and sacrament practices. But many analysts here think the time for a black pope is not yet nigh. "Psychologically and spiritually, the West is still not ready for a black pope," Cardinal Bernard Agre told reporters in his native Ivory Coast. Because all campaigning for pope is discreet and done largely in secret, any speculation about leading candidates is purely, well, speculative. Furthermore, it would be a mistake to assume that blocs form by nations or continents. Geography is a consideration, but it is more likely that ideology, or, as the cardinals put it, "pastoral concerns," will divide and shape the electorate. For example, some Latin American cardinals, who have overseen a church that John Paul sought to rid of leftist ideology, are more likely to align themselves with staunch political conservatives, such as Spain's Herranz, one of two Opus Dei cardinals. Opus Dei is a conservative, evangelical order that received unique favored status from the late pope. The only other Opus Dei cardinal is Peru's Juan Luis Cipriani. Some cardinals have been telegraphing hints about the way they are leaning. Often, cardinals in a conclave look to remedy areas neglected by the just-ending pontificate. The camps appear to break down more or less this way: •  Reformers who favor returning to some of the spirit of the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s, including greater decentralization of church authority. They chafed a bit under John Paul's penchant for concentrating power in the Curia, or Vatican administration, and would like to see more autonomy for bishops. •  Conservatives who are especially concerned about secularization eroding the uniquely powerful standing of the Catholic Church. Like Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the dean of the college, they would favor continued centralized control. •  Gap-bridgers who appeal to colleagues in both camps and can represent compromise. They also were not as enamored of John Paul's enthusiastic pursuit of dialogue with other faiths. Some observers put Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Milan, in the latter category. He is the most frequently mentioned Italian candidate, a strict moral theologian also known for his affability. Marco Politi, veteran Vatican specialist for the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, said the Italians made good candidates because they were flexible and knew well the workings of Rome. "Many 'foreigners' want a less demanding pontificate," he noted. "The Italians would find the right words to introduce gradual reforms." The problem for the Italians, with several potential candidates in addition to Tettamanzi, is that they could end up canceling one another out. That's what happened in 1978 when factions repeatedly deadlocked behind two rival Italian candidates, clearing the way for a relative unknown to emerge: Karol Wojtyla of Poland. Another potential setback for someone like Tettamanzi is the perception he is a front-runner. In the arcane and ritualistic procedures of the Vatican, to appear ambitious usually kills the deal. Some potential candidates defy easy categorization. Such hybrids include Brazil's Hummes, a conservative on church doctrine who speaks passionately in behalf of the poor and landless, as do several of the Latin Americans. In the conclave, the assembled cardinals will cast ballots as many as four times a day. A two-thirds vote is required for a candidate to win, but in the rules that John Paul rewrote in 1996, after several rounds of voting, if no one has been chosen, a simple majority can elect the pope. In theory, that would allow maneuvering wherein the supporters of a single candidate who can't muster the two-thirds vote could simply hold out until a final round. George Weigel, senior fellow at the Washington-based Ethics and Public Policy Center and author of a major biography of John Paul, said he doubted that the political jockeying would become that cynical. "They are acutely aware that the church and the world expect things from a pope that weren't expected 27 years ago," he said in an interview before John Paul died. "They understand they are electing a pope for the world and not just for themselves." Another factor that the cardinals may consider this time is the age of the man who will be pope. Many are said to be reluctant to launch another papacy the length of the one just ending. Such thinking, plus a desire among some Catholics to continue John Paul's most rigid teachings, has given rise to a movement promoting Ratzinger as the next pontiff. Ratzinger, who turns 78 next week, is the most powerful person at the Vatican. For 24 years he has been the chief enforcer of church doctrine, and Friday he led the funeral Mass of his dear friend John Paul. He is also directing the daily meetings of cardinals since the pope's death, where all the pressing issues of church leadership are being decided. All of this has led to mounting speculation over his chances of becoming what is called a transitional pope, that is, one who would not be in office for more than a decade or so. Just as the buzz about Ratzinger was getting out of hand last week, the German-born prelate's brother, conveniently, spoke out to dampen expectations. The timing was seen as fortuitous. After all, in the campaign to be pope, one does not want to peak too early. * (BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX) Choosing a pope, then and now The conclave to elect the new pope will still be dominated by Europeans, but its Italian segment will be smaller than in the election of John Paul II: 1978 Nations represented in conclave: 48 Cardinal electors in conclave: 111 2005 Nations represented in conclave: 52 Cardinal electors in conclave: 117* * Number eligible; Cardinal Jaime Sin of the Philippines is not expected to attend because of illness -- Where cardinals electors are from EUROPE: 1978: 50% 2005: 50% LATIN AMERICA 1978: 17% 2005: 18% NORTH AMERICA 1978: 11% 2005: 12% AFRICA 1978: 10% 2005: 9% ASIA 1978: 7% 2005: 9% OCEANIA 1978: 4% 2005: 2% -- Largest delegations Italy 1978: 25 2005: 20 United States 1978: 9 2005: 11 France 1978: 7 2005: 5 Brazil 1978: 6 2005: 4 Germany 1978: 5 2005: 6 Spain 1978: 4 2005: 6 Mexico 1978: 1 2005: 4 -- Days of decision No modern conclave has lasted more than five days or 14 ballots: Year Days Ballots Elected 190347 Pius X 1914 3 10Benedict XV 1922 4 14 Pius XI 1939 2 3 Pius XII 1958 4 11 John XXIII 1963 3 6 Paul VI 1978 2 4 John Paul I 1978 3 8 John Paul II -- Strong influence The youngest member of the conclave electing the new pope is 52. The cardinals are almost all appointees of John Paul II. Age of cardinal electors: 70-79: 67% 60-69: 29% 50-59: 4% * John Paul II appointees: 114 Paul VI appointees: 3 -- Sources: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; catholic-hierarchy.org; "Conclave" by John Allen; Times reporting. Graphics reporting by Tom Reinken ** (BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX) Key events April 2: Pope dies April 3: Body lies in state April 4-7: Public viewing of body April 8: Funeral and burial Today: Nine-day period of mourning begins April 18: Conclave to select a pope begins. The voting could take days or weeks. Source: Times reporting

Tea’s Got a Brand New Bag Published: September 13, 2006 (Page 2 of 2) Thomas Sullivan, the New York tea merchant who is credited with inventing the tea bag about 100 years ago, used the bags at first to send samples to his customers. The idea caught on, and by the 1920’s the tea bag was commercially established. But companies began compromising quality, and before long the little paper pouches were filled with the lowest grades of tea. Consumers did not object. In fact, they liked the fact that the minute particles in tea bags required but a few seconds in hot water to produce deeply colored, strong flavored liquid. In 1929 Lipton began packing tea in paper tea bags. In 1954 the company introduced its patented double-wall tea bag, which exposed more of the tea to the hot water and took even less time to brew. Brewing tea from fine tea leaves takes longer, as much as five minutes, for the infusion to develop. And the leaves themselves require more space to unfurl, which is why the better teas are put in pyramid-shape bags, or larger pouches, often made of silk, muslin or nylon mesh (and some hand-sewn). You can see the leaves swell as they come in contact with the hot water. Tea’s Got a Brand New Bag By FLORENCE FABRICANT Published: September 13, 2006 THE tea bag, a clever enough idea at first, went terribly awry somewhere along the way, at least in the view of people who love to savor their tea. Now it is in the process of large-scale reinvention, and some of those who currently shun it with almost ostentatious disdain are very likely to be won over. Skip to next paragraph Tony Cenicola/The New York Times Garret Lown for The New York Times CHANGE IS BREWING Harney & Sons’s pyramid-shape pouches hold longer tea leaves. At age 100 or so, the old bag is increasingly being filled with fine whole leaf tea, the kind connoisseurs brew in their teapots, and the bag itself has been redesigned in shapes that are not only elegant but constructed to allow those flavorful leaves to show what they’ve got. With tea sales in the United States now four times what they were a decade ago — about $6.2 billion annually, according to the Tea Association of the USA, a trade group — the American tea drinker seems ready for a change for the better. The change, some say, is overdue. Look closely at a conventional tea bag in your cupboard or in the paper cup from the local deli. Chances are that instead of leaves it is filled with indistinguishable bits, the detritus left after tea leaves are sifted and graded. The tea industry calls it dust, and the beverage it makes is likely to be rusty-looking and often bitterly tannic. But it no longer has to be, nor is it necessary to brew a whole pot of tea to achieve something better tasting. Perhaps the surest sign that the tea world is changing is this: Lipton, the world’s largest tea company and a division of Unilever, will start selling tea bags containing long leaf teas in supermarkets nationwide next month. Instead of paper, the leaves will be enveloped by nylon mesh bags in a delicate pyramid shape. Lipton is following the lead of American businesses like Harney & Sons, Mighty Leaf, Adagio and the Highland Tea Company, which for several years have sold tea bags filled with high-quality full-leaf teas, ones with complex, often floral, herbaceous, spicy or fruity nuances. Smelling a trend, new companies, like Revolution Tea, Numi Tea, Two Leaves and a Bud, and Tea Forté, have formed expressly to sell fine teas in tea bags. Harrisons & Crosfield, from England, and the luxury Parisian tea purveyors Le Palais des Thés and Mariage Frères have also introduced tea bags. “We decided to put some of our teas in tea bags because that’s the way most people drink tea,” said Wanja Michuki, the president of the Highland Tea Company, in Montclair, N.J., which sells fine teas from Kenya, the leading exporter of tea worldwide. James Wong, a Unilever vice president and general manager of Lipton, in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., said the company’s research showed that “every consumer is becoming a gourmand.’’ “They want long leaf tea, but they can be intimidated by buying and brewing it,” he said. “We saw an opportunity to simplify it, making it convenient and accessible, and it’s appealing to new consumers as well as tea lovers.” Lipton’s new line, called Pyramid, took the company two years to develop. It offers six varieties of long leaf tea, all but one flavored with bits of dried fruit or other seasonings. Only Black Pearl, a black tea blend, is unflavored. “Consumers have reacted positively to the flavorings,” said John Cheetham, Lipton’s Royal Estates tea master, who selects and blends teas. “And we have Black Pearl to appeal to the purist.” Even the best tea companies have introduced flavored teas in response to consumer demand, but over the years their reputations have been based on the quality of their oolongs, Darjeelings and senchas. Mr. Cheetham acknowledged that Lipton’s flavored varieties were “entry level” teas. And they are a far cry from Harney & Sons’s Dragon Pearl Jasmine or Mighty Leaf’s Darjeeling Choice Estate, which are sold in bags that cost 30 cents to $2 each and available at tea shops, fancy food shops and online. Lipton’s Pyramid teas, at $3.49 for 20 tea bags, cost less than 20 cents a cup. Ordinary tea bags average 2 to 8 cents a cup. “Lipton’s Pyramid will bring premium tea to the masses,” Mr. Cheetham said. That is the very attitude that drove the company’s founder, Thomas Lipton, an English tea merchant. By buying his own tea estates in the late 1800’s, he made tea, which had been an aristocratic beverage, more affordable and popular. Like coffee lovers who moved up from making instant coffee to grinding their own estate-grown beans fresh for each cup, many American tea drinkers have graduated to whole leaf teas. Though there are myriad gadgets on the market, like little metal infusers, for brewing a single cup from whole tea leaves, they do not eliminate the chore of cleaning up the soggy remains. Recognizing the demand for convenience, Ito En, a Japanese tea company that has a store on Madison Avenue, has introduced fine nylon mesh bags, $1 each, that can be filled with a cup’s worth of tea, brewed and discarded. Somewhat surprisingly, English tea companies appear to be the slowest to catch on to the trend of fine tea in tea bags. The English often drink tea with milk and sugar, so they like it dark and strong, just the way cheap tea bags make it. “The English consumer is less adventurous than the American,” Mr. Cheetham said. Until recently, Americans considered the English to be the standard-bearers for proper tea drinking. But the influence of Japan, which was a bigger supplier of tea to the American market before World War II, has grown in recent years. Many Americans got their first taste of green tea at a sushi bar and have come to appreciate its refined delicacy and earthiness. Since 1998 sales of green tea have increased at a faster rate in America than any other kind of loose or bagged tea. Joseph P. Simrany, the president of the Tea Association of the USA, which is based in Manhattan, said tea sales are projected to grow 10 percent a year for “the foreseeable future,” fueled in part by ready-to-drink bottled iced tea and by an increasing belief that tea, especially green tea, is healthful. Tea bag sales are lumped in with figures for loose teas, so there are no statistics for the growth of the tea bag segment of the market. But, Mr. Simrany said, “the new tea bags are changing consumer attitudes toward tea; the snobbism is gone.” And even though the better tea bags will produce an excellent cup of tea, some of the finer points of tea making have been lost, like the different water temperatures and steeping times required, depending on whether the tea is black, oolong or green. An exception is the tea made by Le Palais des Thés: a suggested temperature and brewing time is printed on the foil packets that contain the muslin tea bags. But how many tea drinkers pay attention to those arcane details anyway? “People like good tea but not the work,” said Michael Harney, a vice president of Harney & Sons, in Millerton, N.Y., a company that his father, John, founded. “We see our customers switching from loose tea to sachets all the time now.”

Fiscaliser les indemnités journalières des accidents du travail de courtes durées revient à baisser le pouvoir d’achat des victimes déjà touchées par la douleur.

CAP21 condamne l’action concertée des parlementaires UMP et du Gouvernement et s’oppose à l’imposition des indemnités journalières pour accident du travail de courte durée.

CAP21 considère que taxer ainsi les victimes d’accidents professionnels, c’est diminuer leur pouvoir d’achat déjà fragilisé par la conjoncture actuelle.

Selon Benoît PETIT, Délégué national CAP21 « Social et Société », « ….Nous assistons là en direct à un véritable hold-up social prémédité, sensé renflouer les caisses de l’Etat sans ponctionner les plus riches. Le manque flagrant de considération à l’égard des situations personnelles pénibles des victimes est choquant et insupportable. Cette droite dure aura beau dire que les autres revenus de remplacement (maternité, chômage…) sont eux aussi taxés, l’idée d’égaliser les régimes d’indemnités par le moins-disant social – en pleine crise sociale mondiale – est tout simplement une atteinte frontale à l’idéal républicain de Justice sociale ».

CAP21 demande aux parlementaires de la majorité et au Gouvernement de revenir à la raison sociale et d’enterrer définitivement ce projet indigne.

CAP21 propose à Monsieur le ministre du budget, Eric Woerth de chercher les niches fiscales là elles se trouvent, en revenant sur le principe du « paquet fiscal » par exemple et de préserver les plus fragiles au bord du gouffre !