Vive la difference -- French say need biggest condoms

The French say they need the largest condoms in Europe while Greeks get by on smaller ones, according to a Europe-wide study by a German consultancy that provides advice on condoms. Skip related content
The study by the Singen-based Institute of Condom Consultancy was done by asking 10,500 men in 25 countries to measure their penis and enter the number into a database.

The results show Frenchmen on average claim to need 15.48-cm (6.09-inch) long condoms, about 3 cm longer than Greeks, whose condom-size requirement was the most modest.

Jan Vinzenz Krause, the institute's director, told Reuters on Friday the data was collected over a period of eight months.

He did not want to comment on how honest he thought the Frenchmen had been in reporting the data.

The survey was aimed at educating youngsters about the importance of effective contraception.

The institute also offers online condom-size advice and hosts "Pimp Your Condom" -- an annual fair organized in cooperation with the national Aids Trust -- with the aim of educating teens about sexually transmitted diseases.

Krause was in the spotlight in the past when he produced a prototype of the "spray-on condom" -- an aerosol can which contains latex that creates a perfectly fitting condom. But the idea was not developed further.

http://www.shipping-freight-transport-france.co.uk/

Ferry port strike set to go ahead

Unite members and their families took part in rally on Saturday in Dover
Nearly 200 workers at one of the UK's busiest ports are planning to go ahead with a 48-hour strike in a row over the privatisation of their jobs.

Dover Harbour Board said it was confident it could run a "near full" service despite the walkout, due to start at 0700 GMT today.

But the Unite union said it did not believe people trained to cover for its members had the necessary experience.

Kent Police warned the strike could lead to freight and traffic delays.

Members of Unite voted about eight-to-two in favour of a strike over plans to transfer 190 jobs to the private sector in the New Year.

The harbour board said the port will remain open during the walk-out, due to end on Thursday morning, with managers and non-union staff trained in mooring and security standing in.

"We are confident we can maintain a good service to our customers and safety and security will not be compromised," said chief executive Bob Goldfield.

"The management of the port will do all it can to keep the port running.

"Freight movements, in particular, are critical to the UK economy and we have a duty to ensure this vital port in the country's supply chain is not disrupted by unnecessary industrial action."


http://www.shipping-freight-transport-france.co.uk/