Greenpeace Germany activists projected the slogan “Stop driving the climate crisis #TransformTransport” onto the Germany Ministry of Transport in Berlin early this morning to stop the expansion of freeways and invest in infrastructure for climate-friendly alternatives such as rail, bus and bicycle transport. Under the leadership of the German presidency of the European Union (EU),…
Year: 2020
Safeguarding Taiwan’s democracy bolsters Taiwan-EU common values and interests
On September 14, the same day of the EU-China leaders’ meeting, Nathalie Loiseau, Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defense, and Reinhard Bütikofer, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the People’s Republic of China, together with seven other prominent European political leaders, scholars, and experts, wrote to mainstream newspapers…
In Praise of Female Firefighters
An increase in the number of female firefighters has been welcomed by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), but more progress needs to be made in this area. The latest figures published by the Home Office – covering the period from April 1st 2019 to 31st March 2020 – focusses on a range of workforce areas across…
Save the Dolphin!
NGOs warn that thousands of common dolphins in the Bay of Biscay face horrific deaths in fishing nets this winter if the EU Commission does not step in with emergency measures to reduce bycatch, the single largest cause of harm and death to these dolphins today. Despite the legal requirement to protect this species and…
Deterioration of Media Freedom
Media freedom within the EU has deteriorated recently, says the Civil Liberties Committee, concerned about journalists faced with violence, harassment and pressure. In a resolution adopted on Tuesday by 52 votes to 5 and 7 abstentions, the committee condemns “attempts by governments of some member states to silence critical and independent media”. MEPs denounce underhand…
Italy Probes Alleged Anti-Trust Actions by Google
The European Publishers Council (EPC) has welcomed the Italian Competition Authority’s investigation against Google for an alleged abuse of dominant position. The Authority questions the discriminatory use of the huge amount of data collected through its various applications, preventing rivals from competing effectively as well as adversely affecting consumers. In particular, the authority is focusing…
How will the US and the EU deal with China?
The frightening Global Empire of US Right Wing Groups
Trump’s top lawyer has spent millions on fighting women’s and LGBT rights across Europe with $270 million of ‘dark money’. This is revealed in a new report published today by the global news website openDemocracy. The report discusses how US Christian right wing groups linked to Donald Trump’s administration and peddlers of COVID-19 misinformation have spent…
Support Taiwan’s inclusion in the post-COVID-19 global public health network
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have more than 40 million cases and more than one million deaths around the world. The virus has had an enormous impact on global politics, employment, economics, trade and financial systems, and significantly impacted the global efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), writes Dr….
The responsibility of leadership
In the history of warfare, from time immemorial, the leaders of the participating countries take responsibility for their deeds, whether this means exulting in victory and triumph, or falling on their swords in bitter defeat, writes Philippe Jeaune. Such has been the case during the times of Alexander the Great, Tamerlane, Bonaparte and even Stalin….