In surprising news today, the Head of the Deparment for Exiting the European Union, Oliver Robbins has quit to take up a new role after a series of disagreements with David Davis.
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Sep182017
Sep182017
We need a new strategy to beat terror
In the wake of the recent terrorist outrages it’s clear that we need a bold change of strategy to defeat terrorism and counter violent extremism.
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Sep182017
School meal funding crisis puts 1.5 million West, Central African children at risk, UN agency warns
18 September 2017 – As the 2017-2018 school year starts, more than 1.5 million children across West and Central Africa risk going to school hungry or dropping out altogether, due to lack of financing for nourishing school meals, the United Nations food relief agency said today.
“By failing to fully fund school meals, we are collectively short-changing the next generation and Africa’s future,” said Abdou Dieng, West and Central Africa Regional Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in a news release.
“School meals are one of the best investments the international community can make to ensure a head start for young children in some of the world’s poorest countries.”
In many areas of the region, WFP is the sole or main provider of school meals. Over the years, however, WFP has shrunk its coverage for lack of funds.
In Burkina Faso, WFP’s school meals programme for nearly 83,000 children is 0 per cent financed, while the programme in Senegal is only five per cent funded.
In conflict-torn Central African Republic, the programme for more than 200,000 youngsters is half funded, and in Niger, the programme for more than a quarter of a million pupils is 19 per cent financed.
Other particularly at-risk countries include Liberia, Mali and Mauritania, but the funding dearth stretches across the region.
Altogether, WFP’s regional programme faces an $76 million funding gap, the agency warned, as experts were meeting in Montreal, Canada, for an annual forum on child nutrition, co-sponsored and hosted by WFP’s Centre of Excellence against Hunger.
The news release noted that repercussions are dramatic, since the hearty and nutritious WFP-provided lunches and snacks are the only meal many youngsters eat all day. More broadly, the funding crunch puts at risk a whole generation, with broader spill-over effects on national economies and development.
“This is a crisis for education, but also a crisis for nutrition and food security which are the fundamental pillars of development,” said Mr. Dieng,
Studies show the meals help improve attendance and performance rates. They are also a key incentive for parents to send their children – particularly girls – to school and to keep them there.
Sep182017
Brexit isn't the silver bullet that will end live exports – Keith Taylor MEP
18 September 2017
Keith Taylor MEP, Green Party animals spokesperson, has reiterated his call for an outright ban on live animal exports in response to an investigation by BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme [1].
Taylor, the vice president of the European Parliament’s Welfare Intergroup, joined campaigners from across the world who came together last week in opposition to live animal exports [2].
The ‘Stop Live Exports’ awareness day events were organised by Compassion in World Farming and supported by the RSPCA and other international animal welfare organisations.
Taylor has been a long-term campaigner against live exports and has written an article [3] urging his fellow campaigners not to be ‘seduced’ by the idea that Brexit will put an end to the cruel industry.
Commenting on the issue, he said:
“Live exports are barbaric and the latest heartbreaking exposé is shocking but, sadly, the practices uncovered are all too common. I continue to stand alongside the passionate and dedicated campaigners across Europe and the world calling for an outright ban on this cruel and unnecessary trade.”
“Live exports treat beautiful and sentient animals as ‘goods’ as if they’re no different from a bottle of whiskey or bar of chocolate. Greens want to see it banned outright.”
“All this suffering is entirely unnecessary. And, following the tumultuous EU referendum last year, there has been a misplaced buzz of excitement amongst British animal welfare activists that leaving the EU might finally offer an opportunity to ban live exports outright.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Brexit is unlikely to be the silver bullet that halts live exports.
“The Government is pursuing an extreme Brexit with Britain outside of the Single Market. Ignoring the disastrous economic consequences and the loss of vital environmental, workers’ rights and even animal welfare protections — if that comes to pass — Britain will become an independent member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).”
“As a member of the WTO, it’s as likely — if not more likely — that live animal exports will increase rather than decrease. The WTO governs the conditions, rules, and regulation of trade between countries and governments. There are currently no grounds to restrict trade, as a member of the WTO, based on animal welfare objections.”
“Other WTO member states, particularly those that profit from live exports, can challenge any proposed UK ban if they see it as a barrier to trade. Complicating this further is that it is entirely down to the UK government to explicitly include animal welfare standards in the language of future Free Trade Agreements (FTA).”
“We, therefore, as passionate, animal-loving Brits, need to continue fighting to strengthen animal welfare standards as members of the EU. We already have the necessary legislative tools at our disposal to help us in the fight — they were a gift from the EU, afforded to us by membership.”
“We are stronger working with our friends and neighbours, and we can — and should — continue to fight as part of the EU with the strength that our membership brings.”
Austria, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands have all backed the #StopTheTrucks campaign calling on the European Commission to review and update EU transport regulations and, so far, the campaign’s online petition has garnered the signatures of over one million EU citizens.
Notes:
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41281570
2. Keith also recorded a message in support of campaigners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfdeGpXvFlk
Sep182017
Performance of Domestic Airlines for the year 2017
Traffic data submitted by various domestic airlines has been analysed for the month of August, 2017.