VOL. 65, NO. 2 Mars – March 2006 - AAFI-AFICS, Geneva - UNOG

I thought I might do a Romeo and climb up the drain pipe, but it looked most wobbly. So was I. (A few weekslater, my wife equalized the score by getting locked out of our Geneva building. As Sir Francis Walsingham,the notorious spymaster of Queen Elizabeth I, said: There is nothing more dangerous than security.)Why do we need to make ourselves into a fortress? I asked. Are we expecting Osama Bin Laden to attack?Don’t be silly, I was told. It’s those kids who come to use our swimming pool. They use very nasty hair oil.So back to Geneva. The key to the outside door is not really a key; it resembles a can opener. You press aknob at one end into a socket and a disembodied voice announces Vous pouvez entrer. And as you entrer,you murmur politely, Merci beaucoup. How kind of you to let me into my own building.While this system was taking shape, a barrier was being erected at the entrance to our parking space. Wediscovered that we needed a telecommande like a TV remote control, far too large for a pocket, even with ahole in it. Or another key; or both. My key ring now looked like one used by the jailers of Sing Sing. It toreholes in my pockets thus allowing my loose change to escape.I was gingerly using my can-opener key and waiting for the phantom voice to speak, when a fellow-inhabitantcame out. He carried a slim, elegant briefcase. I admired it.I’ve used it for years, he said. But now it’s too small. I have to carry the keys and devices for our apartment,the garage door, the cellar door, the entry doors, the lift, the parking space, my ID cards for the UN and myown organization. I need a much bigger briefcase, perhaps a suitcase. I am on my way to buy one.Can I come with you? I asked. I need one too.Of course, he said. We must be sure to get big ones. There’s going to be a new key for the undergroundgarage. And of course you’ll need a key for the brief case itself.I shall get a sea trunk like we used when we were young, I said.Those have very large keys, he said. You’ll need an extra brief case just for that.15 January 2006. Aamir Ali.►►►◄◄BOOK REVIEWSLa Démocratie-Monde: Pour une autre gouvernance globale”, by Pascal LamyWe draw our readers’ attention to Jean Hanus’ review of the above book, written by Pascal Lamy, former EUCommissioner and now Director-General of the World Trade Organization. We recommend it to those of ourEnglish-speaking members who read French.It is published by “Editions Seuil” as part of their collection “La République des idées”, and costs 10.50 eurosin France.►►►◄◄39