Month: March 2023

My Octopus Teacher

by James Wilson
Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash The EU has been urged to help put an end to the world’s first commercial octopus farm. It is claimed that around one million octopuses will be reared at the proposed farm in the Port of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Spain. The plans have sparked claims that this will cause animal…

Time for a Happier Easter

by Philip Bushill-Matthews
Photo by Sophie Laurent on Unsplash

Photo by Sophie Laurent on Unsplash Around 35 years ago Melina Mercouri, then Greek Culture Minister, launched a campaign to return various marble pieces wrenched from the 2,500-year-old Parthenon frieze in the Acropolis. Pope Francis has just returned three fragments which had been in the papal museums since the nineteenth century: the British Museum, holder of the largest…

The historic significance of Kazakhstan’s recent legislative election

by Guest Contributor
Photo by Nurgissa Ussen on Unsplash

Photo by Nurgissa Ussen on Unsplash Article by our Staff Reporter The recent parliamentary election (19 March) in Kazakhstan was the fourth time that the country’s voters have gone to the polls in a little over two years, and the third time within the past nine months. While the treadmill of elections over this period manifested the country’s…

Healthy Eating for Schools

by James Wilson
Members of the European Parliament have been accused of “downplaying” the need to drastically change eating habits at schools. Euro deputies are also accused of failing to agree that plant-based milks and pulses must be part of an EU-funded healthy eating scheme. The attack was made by Compassion in World Farming EU, a Brussels based group that campaigns for animal welfare. Its head Olga Kilou told this site: “MEPs have voted to downplay the drastic change we need to see with our diets.” She added, “We can’t have our kids overeat on animal products in school, and then expect them to grow up with healthy eating habits and live within the planetary boundaries, in a planet that is already burning.” Kikou went on, “If schools were to continue to fail with this education, school canteens should at least give students the choice of plant-based meals and milks. MEPs now failed to recognise even this need. “The bar is obviously quite low in the Agriculture Committee. We can only hope the rest of the Parliament will be more ambitious when they vote on the file later this year.” In their recommendations on how the EU should change its funding for school meals, which were adopted on 22 March, the Parliament’s Agriculture Committee is said by the group to have “not only failed to acknowledge the need for plant-based meals and milks – it even stated that there should be educational campaigns to promote milk and dairy products.” The group, in a statement, added, “In light of the climate emergency and our diets heavy on animal protein, it is mind-boggling that such a position was adopted.” The European Commission is currently reviewing the EU scheme that supports the distribution of fruit, vegetables, milk and certain milk products to schoolchildren, from nursery to secondary school. As part of the process, CWF called on the EU to revise the scheme in order to shift dietary habits towards healthier and “more sustainable foods and engrain these dietary habits in future generations.” It says, “The position of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, however, does not go far enough for the EU to reform our food systems, as outlined in the Farm to Fork Strategy and the European Green Deal.” CWF campaigns for farm animal welfare and sustainable food and farming. With over one million supporters,it has representatives in 11 European countries, the U.S., China and South Africa.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash Members of the European Parliament have been accused of “downplaying” the need to drastically change eating habits at schools. Euro deputies are also accused of failing to agree that plant-based milks and pulses must be part of an EU-funded healthy eating scheme. The attack was made by Compassion in World Farming EU,…

Work and Residence Permits for Migrants

by James Wilson
Photo by Darren Wanliss on Unsplash

Photo by Darren Wanliss on Unsplash MEPs have backed draft EU legislation to issue work and residence permits more quickly for nationals of third countries and to improve their rights. With 47 votes in favour, 13 against, and no abstentions, the Civil Liberties Committee adopted a report updating the 2011 single permit directive foresees a single administrative procedure for…

Russian fighters flood European countries

by James Wilson
Photo by Ying Ge on Unsplash

Photo by Ying Ge on Unsplash Russia is deliberately introducing mercenaries, experienced in combat operations and committing terrorist attacks into Europe. The militants of the Wagner Group, notorious for their involvement in wars and conflicts around the world, occupy the palm of precedence. In particular, it is alarming that there is a sharp decline in the number of…

Russia’s Sympathisers in Europe are an Incentive for Vladimir Putin to Continue his War

by James Wilson
Photo by Ahmed Zalabany on Unsplash

Photo by Ahmed Zalabany on Unsplash Vladimir Putin has been planning the annexation of Ukrainian territory for years; long before the full-scale offensive he was preparing the ground to enable him to carry out his criminal actions as quickly as possible. It is for this reason that Russian money has been spent on creating a loyal environment in…

Time to Bin the Ban

by Philip Bushill-Matthews
Photo by CardMapr.nl on Unsplash

Photo by CardMapr.nl on Unsplash                 Having cancelled five national conferences because of Covid and then the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the UK Liberal Democrats finally took to the stage last week. Leader Sir Ed Davey’s speech met with strong applause, but when he delivered the line “If you…