THE lights don't go out in Germany and France until you switch them off. And that's most of what they have in common. Three-quarters of the electricity in France is nuclear; in Germany it's a quarter. France is adding to its nuclear capacity, Germany is committed to phasing out nuclear power altogether.

If ever a good Hindu should want to take the train between Linkoping and Vastervik in Sweden, it might be best not to think it runs on dead cows