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In today's MadTech Daily, we cover LinkedIn's launch of new video ad options, a US bill challenging Apple's app store dominance, and the EU's legal action against member states over failure to comply with the Digital Services Act.
In this episode, I speak with Louis McLatchie-Miller about critical political and societal issues affecting children's rights. We analyze the recent UK by-elections, reflecting on public discontent with traditional parties, and discuss transgender rights and treatments for minors, highlighting potential risks and the need for clarity around biological definitions of sex. Lois McLatchie serves as a senior legal communications officer for ADF UK . She works with journalists and press representatives to advocate for fundamental freedoms in the “court of public opinion”, both in written pieces and through public speaking. Before beginning her current role, Lois was a legal analyst on ADF International's UN Advocacy Team at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. There, she provided Member State representatives with key legal resources and amendatory language which promotes the inherent value of every person. She is an alumnus of ADF International's Veritas Scholarship, under which she she completed training on on international law, communications and argumentation. Lois also holds an LLM Human Rights Law with distinction from the University of Kent, and an MA (Hons) International Relations from the University of St Andrews. During her studies, she participated in Areté Academy and Blackstone Legal Fellowship, where she completed extensive research on bioethical issues, including surrogacy. Connect with Lois and ADF UK...
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces that her government will be challenging the constitutionality of the federal government's net-zero electricity regulations in court. The premier also faces questions from reporters on her recently proposed legislation that makes it easier for Alberta to separate from Canada. The legislation was tabled on April 29, the day after the federal Liberals won a minority government in the 2025 federal election. She is joined at the news conference in Edmonton by provincial ministers Mickey Amery (justice), Rebecca Schulz (environment and protected areas) and Nathan Neudorf (affordability and utilities). British Columbia Premier David Eby announces new legislation that aims to speed up building permit approvals to allow the province to deliver key infrastructure projects faster. Priority projects will include schools, hospitals and major transportation infrastructure. He is joined at the news conference in Victoria by Bowinn Ma, the province's infrastructure minister Peacekeeping Chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix today (24 Apr) told reporters in New York that the Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025, taking place in Berlin on 13-14 May, will be “a very important opportunity” for the UN and Member States to determine how to address challenges to ensure peacekeeping remains an “important, viable, credible and effective tool of the United Nations and multilateralism in the future.” Lacroix said another issue to be discussed will be “how we can make peacekeeping more cost effective, because we are aware that we are operating, and we will be operating under increasingly severe financial constraints.” He confirmed that Secretary-General António Guterres “will be participating in the Berlin meeting in two weeks' time.” Joining Lacroix, Germany's State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence, Nils Hilmer said, “we are convinced that UN peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most important tools the international community has an international crisis management. However, we still face many challenges with regards to changing conflict dynamics, disinformation campaign, or targeting missions. Hence, it is all the more important to discuss about the future of peacekeeping.” Hilmer said, “we want to provide a forum for Member States to discuss how we can continue making UN peacekeeping strong, effective and fit for the future,” adding that “by participating at the Berlin Ministerial, delegations can underline their political support for UN peacekeeping, contribute to closing critical capability gaps, and reinvigorate UN peacekeeping reform efforts.” The results of the discussions, he said, “will provide important input to the UN Secretary-General's review on the future of all forms of peace operations mandated in the Pact for the Future.” The goal of the Berlin Ministerial, Hilmer explained, will be to “ensure UN peacekeeping remains at a sufficient level of preparedness for both current and potential future missions, and we want to increase overall mission effectiveness while enhancing safety and security of our personnel deployed.” Germany's Director-General for International Order, United Nations, and Disarmament at the Federal Foreign Office, Katharina Stasch, said the Berlin Ministerial's aim, “is really to provide a follow up to the Pact for the Future. Actions must follow words.” Responding to journalists' questions, Lacroix said, “the United States is and has always been a very important part, and I should say, also a very important supporter of peacekeeping operation throughout the years. And we look forward to continuing cooperation with the United States. Now, when it comes to finances, I think that in any case, we are looking at times where financial resources will be limited. I think a very important challenge, to all of us really, is how we can improve the cost efficiency of peacekeeping.” He said, “we operate on mandates, you know, those mandates are given to us by Member States, by the Security Council. We keep telling our Member States, please prioritize those mandates. You know, make sure that, you know, we know what are the key mandated tasks from your point of view that we have to implement. And then please give us an adequate level of resources, and please pay on time and in full.” Leading up to the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and marking the 10-year anniversary of the Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping, the 2025 Berlin UN Peacekeeping Ministerial is the latest in a series of meetings held at the Head of State, Government, or Ministerial level. The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial will serve as a high-level political forum to discuss the future of peacekeeping and for Member States to express and demonstrate their political support. It will also provide a platform for delegations to announce substantial pledges in support of closing capability gaps and adapting peace operations to better respond to existing challenges and new realities, in line with the pledging guide.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.
So it was a real pleasure to invite CEIP's Stewart Patrick back into the Virtual Studio to talk about the shape and influence of the BRICS, or BRICS+, as it is often referred to these days. Stewart Patrick is senior fellow and director of the Global Order and Institutions Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP). His primary areas of research focus are the shifting foundations of world order, the future of American internationalism, and the requirements for effective multilateral cooperation on transnational challenges. Stewart is an expert in the history and practice of multilateralism. He is the author of a number of volumes and most recently he has led the research at CEIP for the volume: “BRICS Expansion and the Future of World Order: Perspectives from Member States, Partners, and Aspirants”. Stewart has authored many articles, essays, chapters, and reports on problems of world order, U.S. global engagement, the United Nations and other international organizations, and the management of global issues.
Global outcry at ICJ as Israel faces accusations of starving Palestinians At the International Court of Justice, South Africa accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon in Gaza, calling it a breach of international law. Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Spain echoed concerns, citing Israel's disregard for humanitarian obligations and UN rulings. Representatives warned of a collapsing aid system and worsening famine, urging global action and reaffirming support for Palestinian self-determination amid what was described as an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. Israel, in its genocidal war, has killed more than fifty-two thousand three hundred Palestinians since October 2023 and wounded hundreds of thousands of others. UN chief urges two-state solution in Israeli war on Palestine United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pushed countries to "take irreversible action towards implementing a two-state solution" between Israel and the Palestinians ahead of an international conference in June. "I encourage Member States to go beyond affirmations, and to think creatively about the concrete steps they will take to support a viable two-state solution before it is too late," Guterres told a Security Council meeting on Tuesday. France and Saudi Arabia will co-host the conference at the United Nations in June. Daesh-linked militants attack mourners in Nigerian village, killing 15 A wave of terror engulfed Kwaple village in Nigeria's Borno State when Daesh-linked militants stormed in on motorcycles, unleashing a hail of bullets on mourners and killing at least 15 people. "The ISWAP militants opened fire on the mourners and pursued them on motorcycles into the bush as they tried to flee," Ayuba Alamson, a community leader in Chibok, said. Local leaders are gripped with dread, warning that the true death toll may be far higher, with scores still missing in the chaos. Trump marks 100 days, promises defence investments US President Donald Trump kicked off a pair of events in Michigan, celebrating his first 100 days in office. Speaking to a packed rally in Macomb, Trump touted the country's economic growth, declaring, "Companies are coming back to Michigan." Highlighting a $1 trillion defence investment, he praised Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for securing the Selfridge Air National Guard Base. While his approval rating dropped to 42 percent, according to a Reuters-Ipsos poll, Trump continues to promote his administration's successes, claiming the best start in US presidential history. BRICS unites in opposition to Trump's tariff policy BRICS foreign ministers, including those from China and Russia, criticised the growing "trade protectionism" during talks in Rio de Janeiro, a direct response to US President Dondald Trump's tariffs. Brazil's foreign minister, Mauro Vieira, emphasised the group's ""strong rejection"" of such policies, without naming Trump. Amid escalating tariffs, China has imposed 125 percent duties on US goods, while the US has slapped 10 percent tariffs on numerous countries. The ministers agreed on a unified stance against trade conflicts just ahead of the leaders' summit in three months.
Haiti is facing a ‘point of no return', says the UN's special envoy to the country, María Isabel Salvador. She also said that Member States must increase support to Haiti's security forces, particularly the Multinational Security Support Mission, "not as a matter of choice but of necessity”. What does this mean for Kenyan officers on the ground? Also, Amnesty International says Ethiopia's so-called “corridor development” project is sparking fear and uncertainity amongst residents And what are Ponzi schemes and why do so many people fall victim to it? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Philip Bull Producers: Richard Kagoe in Nairobi. Tom Kavanagh and Yvette Twagiramariya in London and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
Since the seminal 2018 Portuguese Judges case, it has been established that violations of values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) can be litigated before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Currently, proceedings are ongoing in the European Commission's infringement action against Hungary, the argument being that its anti-LGBTQI+ laws breach provisions of the internal market, several Charter rights, and, importantly, the common values enshrined in Article 2 TEU. The case, known as Valeurs de l'Union, has been hailed as the “largest human rights battle in EU history.”In this RevDem Rule of Law podcast episode, our co-managing editor, Dr. Oliver Garner, discusses the enforcement of the Union's values at the Member State level as well as at the Union's institutional level with Dr. Luke Dimitrios Spieker.Dr. Spieker is Senior Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law and Postdoctoral Researcher at Humboldt University in Berlin. In his monograph, EU Values before the Court of Justice, published by Oxford University Press, he analyzes the foundations, potential, and risks of the mobilization of Article 2 TEU.
As Canada strengthens ties with Europe’s defence industry, Monocle’s Toronto correspondent, Tomos Lewis, joins Chris Cermak to discuss rumours that Canadians now want to officially join the bloc. Plus: the death toll mounts in Gaza as ceasefire negotiations continue, the future of Radio Free Europe, Indian film ‘Santosh’ and Fernando Augusto Pacheco’s ‘The Global Countdown’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dawn raids are an evergreen in the world of competition law. EU competition authorities use this powerful investigative tool to uncover cartels. A dawn raid is also a process in which the inspectors are more experienced and the staff under extreme pressure. It can lead to costly mistakes as the authorities protect their investigative powers by imposing hefty fines for non-cooperation. In the first episode of the Competition+ podcast, we discuss how to avoid making mistakes during a dawn raid that can severely damage a company. As competition authorities nowadays focus their efforts on collecting electronic evidence, we give examples of mistakes that various companies have made when providing inspectors with electronic communications from their employees. We discuss recent cases from the European Commission as well as Member State practice (Germany and Poland) and summarise what companies can do to better protect themselves. Stay tuned for the next episodes!
In this webinar Ms Lucilla Sioli, Director of the EU AI Office, addresses the Institute on the enforcement of the EU's new AI Act. Ms Sioli explores the enforcement framework for the AI Act and how this legislation will be implemented in practice. Ms Sioli focuses particular attention on the role of the EU AI Office and how it can help to ensure coherent cooperation between regulators across different sectors and Member States. About the speaker: Lucilla Sioli is the Director of the AI Office in Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content, and Technology (DG CONNECT) in the European Commission. She was previously the Director for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Industry within DG CONNECT, where she was responsible for the development of AI policy, including the AI Act, and for the digitisation of industrial strategy. Ms Sioli holds a PhD in economics from the University of Southampton (UK) and one from the Catholic University of Milan (Italy) and has been a civil servant with the European Commission since 1997.
Grammy-winning singer Roberta Flack died on Monday. She was 88, Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan crashed out of ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025, An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 hit the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday morning, Donald Trump on Monday said the 25 per cent tariffs planned for Canada and Mexico, United States' two biggest trading partners, will go ahead as planned next month, India was among the 65 UN Member States that abstained on the resolution.
In this episode, we speak with Yasha Maccanico a researcher and journalist at StateWatch, a UK-based charity focused on civil liberties, human rights and democracy in Europe. We talk about a proposed EU law that could make it easier for states to criminalise acts of solidarity with people on the move. Yasha also talks to us about abuses of state power in Europe under the guise of lowering immigration, the externalisation of the EU's borders in Africa, and much more. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social Instagram: thecivilfleet info@civilfleet.com civilfleet.com --- Show notes --- For more on StateWatch, check out their work here: statewatch.org Follow them on BlueSky: @statewatch.bsky.social Ben misquotes the late left-wing politician Tony Benn, who once said: “The way a government treats refugees is very instructive, because it shows you how they would treat the rest of us if they thought they could get away with it.” In fact, the phrase may have been misattributed to Tony Benn. You can watch one of Tony Benn's most famous speeches against the US-UK' illegal invasion of Iraq, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ciGW7h7PI&ab_channel=PoliticsJOE Yasha mentions the an independent media company Bristol Cable. You can read their work here: thebristolcable.org Ben and Yasha talk briefly about the toppling of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol in 2020. You can read more about that here; https://exhibitions.bristolmuseums.org.uk/the-colston-statue Here's where you can find out more about Migreurop: https://migreurop.org/?lang=en Ben mentions an episode of The Civil Fleet with Jihed, a Tunisian activist with Alarm Phone and Louise Michelle. Check out episode 48 for that. For more on Frontex, the European Border and Coastguard Agency, check out episodes 54, 52, 50, 34, 31, 23, 15, 7 and 1 Ben mentions previous The Civil Fleet Podcast episodes with people who have been arrested and given ludicrous sentences for driving boats or cars across borders. Check out episodes: 56, which focuses on Homayoun Sabetara, a father who fled Iran to be reunited with his daughters in Germany and was sentenced to 18 years behind bars in Greece after he was forced to drive across the border. 53 with Nadia, a young refugee woman from Lebanon who husband was arrested by the Greek authorities and accused of human smuggling after spending 10 days adrift in the Mediterranean. 35 with Hanad, a Somalian refugee who was senteced to 142 years behind bars for trying to stop his boat from sinking in the Aegean Sea and saving the lives of 33 others Here are the links Yasha sent: EU: New migrant smuggling law to ensure criminalisation of solidarity (December 2024) https://www.statewatch.org/analyses/2024/eu-new-migrant-smuggling-law-to-ensure-criminalisation-of-solidarity/ A new EU law on the criminalisation of migrant smuggling will be examined by the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council. The Council is due to approve its position for negotiations with the European Parliament. The existing law has been criticised for failing to prevent the criminalisation of migration and acts of solidarity with migrants and refugees. The new text, obtained by Statewatch and published here, appears likely to worsen the situation. ----- EU: Council lowers threshold for migrant smuggling prosecutions (July 2024, with PICUM) https://www.statewatch.org/news/2024/july/eu-council-lowers-threshold-for-migrant-smuggling-prosecutions/ EU institutions are discussing proposed changes to the law criminalising the facilitation of irregular migration, which has also been used to criminalise migrants and individuals acting in solidarity with them. The Belgian Council presidency presented a revised draft to other EU member states at the end of May, which would simplify the criminalisation of irregular entry, amongst other things. The draft will serve as the basis for further discussions within the Council, with Hungary now in the presidency role until the end of this year. ----- Viewpoint, Hindering humanitarianism: European Commission will not ensure protection for those aiding sans-papiers, Chris Jones (April 2017) https://www.statewatch.org/media/documents/analyses/no-311-facilitation-directive.pdf ----- The shrinking space for solidarity with migrants and refugees: how the European Union and Member States target and criminalize defenders of the rights of people on the move (TNI, Yasha Maccanico, Ben Hayes, Samuel Kenny, Frank Barat, September 2018) https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/web_theshrinkingspace.pdf ----- Libya/elmasri: including full text of Shatz/Branco submission to the ICC against Italian ministers: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2025/february/italian-ministers-should-face-justice-for-freeing-fugitive-war-criminal-says-legal-complaint/ ----- Secrecy: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2024/november/italy-has-nullified-the-right-to-transparency-regarding-borders/ ----- Tunisia: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2024/november/tunisia-no-to-the-criminalisation-of-solidarity-with-migrants/ ----- Deportations (aka returns): http://www.statewatch.org/news/2025/january/deportations-new-role-for-frontex-as-eu-pushes-for-more-voluntary-returns/ ----- Egypt: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2025/january/eu-police-cooperation-with-egypt-sacrifices-people-s-rights-and-freedoms-for-security/ ----- “Outsourcing borders” externalisation bulletin project, bulletins and documents archive: https://www.statewatch.org/outsourcing-borders-monitoring-eu-externalisation-policy/ ----- To challenge border militarisation (with partners, 2023/24), Telling the story of EU border militarisation, https://www.statewatch.org/media/4000/eu-border-militarisation-narrative-guide.pdf ----- Europe's techno-borders (2023 with EuroMed Rights) https://www.statewatch.org/publications/reports-and-books/europe-s-techno-borders/ ----- Frontex and interoperable databases: knowledge as power? (2023) https://www.statewatch.org/frontex-and-interoperable-databases-knowledge-as-power/ ----- Empowering the police, removing protections: the new Europol Regulation (2022) https://www.statewatch.org/publications/reports-and-books/empowering-the-police-removing-protections-the-new-europol-regulation/ ----- Interoperability, eu-LISA and the biometric state (2022) Building the biometric state: Police powers and discrimination https://www.statewatch.org/publications/reports-and-books/building-the-biometric-state-police-powers-and-discrimination/ ----- Background docs selection on interoperability and the EU JHA policy field http://www.statewatch.org/observatories/interoperability-eu-big-brother-database/ ----- Secrecy and externalisation of EU border control (2022) https://www.statewatch.org/media/3781/secrecy-and-externalisation-of-migration-control.pdf ----- Renditions observatory http://www.statewatch.org/observatories/rendition-the-use-of-european-countries-by-the-cia-for-the-transport-and-illegal-detention-of-prisoners/
War leaves scars not only on people but also on the land. In Ukraine, vast fields are littered with explosive remnants, threatening the future of farming. Tiphaine Lucas, a Programme Coordinator for FAO's Mine Action and Land Rehabilitation Initiative, is on a mission to collect and analyze soil samples, ensuring the land can once again grow wheat and sustain communities. Watch how science and resilience are helping Ukraine rebuild. Financing challenges are at the heart of the current sustainable development crisis. The International Commission of Experts on Financing for Development, a group of experts on Financing for Development, will launch its report on pathways to resolve this crisis on Tuesday, 11 February 2025, at 1:15 p.m. (EST). The launch will take place on the sideline of the 3rd Preparatory Committee Session of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), which will take place at UN Headquarters from 10 to 14 February 2025. The report provides innovative ideas and fresh perspectives critical to shaping the future of financing for development, putting forward proposals for concrete actions across a range of areas, including debt restructuring and strengthening the global safety net. The International Commission of Experts on Financing for Development comprises 14 distinguished experts, including Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Laureate and Professor at Columbia University. Chaired by Professor José Antonio Ocampo, the Commission has developed a comprehensive set of recommendations to support all stakeholders involved in the substantive preparations and negotiations of the outcome document for the upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain. The Commission was set up by the Spanish Government, in support of its commitment to advancing the Financing for Development (FfD) process and welcomed by the UN Secretary-General. The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov today (10 Feb) told the Security Council that the “volatile situation in the Syrian Arab Republic is of great concern, especially as there is a risk that stockpiles of advanced weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists.” Briefing the Council on the threat posed by Da'esh to international peace and security, Voronkov noted that the Syrian Badia region “continued to serve as a centre for Da'esh external operational planning and a critical region for their activities.” He also expressed concern over the situation in detention camps and other facilities in the north-east of the country. On Afghanistan, Voronkov said ISIL- Khorasan “has continued to pose a significant threat in Afghanistan, the region and beyond,” as supporters have “plotted attacks in Europe and were actively seeking to recruit individuals from Central Asian States.” He stressed that no State can confront terrorism in isolation, and noted that Member States “must prioritize comprehensive, long-term responses that address the conditions conducive to terrorism while strengthening the rule of law and upholding international human and humanitarian rights.” Also, addressing the Security Council on the twentieth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da'esh to international peace and security, Natalia Gherman, the Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, highlighted the UN's efforts to support Member States in addressing the challenges. Gherman said, “the challenges posed by Da'esh remain complex, with humanitarian, security, and governance concerns persisting across regions affected by its activities.” She said, “after devastating so many parts of the world for more than a decade, Da'esh and other terrorist groups now pose the most significant threat to peace, security and sustainable development across the African continent.” For her part, United States Ambassador Dorothy Shea said, “countering ISIS and other terrorist groups around the world is a top priority for the Trump Administration. President Trump has already taken decisive action in conjunction with the Somali government by directing precision airstrikes against ISIS in Somalia on February 1st. President Trump's message is clear: The United States always stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.
In the last decade the Court of Justice of the EU has rapidly developed its case-law on the enforcement of EU values. Following multiple cases in which the Court enforced provisions that instrumentalize the Rule of Law in actions involving the 'backsliding' Member States of Poland and Hungary, the question now arises as to whether EU action may be justified to protect the co-foundational value of democracy during national elections in the EU's Member States. The upcoming elections in the Federal Republic of Germany in February will bring these issues into sharp relief. In the latest RevDem Rule of Law podcast, Oliver Garner discusses these themes with Miriam Schuler (King's College London), whose PhD research analyzes the protection of values within the European Union.
It's not often that biodiversity legislation grabs international headlines, but thats what happened repeatedly in 2024 with the European Union's new Nature Restoration Law. It happened first because of the ambitious nature of the law; and then because of the political tussle around its rejection and eventual approval. Along the way it gathered a trail of detractors and supporters, and has raised hopes as well as concerns, depending on who you speak to. The law's overarching target is for Member States to put in place restoration measures in at least 20% of the EU's land areas and 20% of its sea areas by 2030.Brian MacSharry, who was also my guest for episode 10 on protected areas, is Head of the Nature and Biodiversity Group at the European Environment Agency and he has had a birds-eye view of the development of the law. He kindly agreed to respond to some of the critiques of the law, but first he goes into some detail about its content and its journey through the political process.Links to resourcesNature Restoration Law - Outline of the law on the website of the European CommissionVisit www.case4conservation.com
As part of the D.C. Bar International Law Community's historic year of elections* initiative focusing on global principles and standards for national elections, Brief Encounters hosted Thomas Garrett and Tova Wang, global democracy experts to discuss how this historic year of elections is now transitioning into a historic year of governance in the United States and around the world.We considered trends in voter access, assessed the benefits and risks of decentralized election laws and governance, noted the potential dangers of lengthy count times, emphasized good comparative practices, and stressed the role of law and lawyers in bolstering trust in democratic institutions and upholding democratic governance standards.For more, please visit the International Law Community's webpage of key resources on Global Elections and Electoral Standards here, including guidance for legal frameworks, equal access to voting, protections for election observers and electoral workers, electoral integrity and accountability, as well as links to organizations who work on elections and democratic governance promotion.*This year over half the globe's population has already or will be voting in over 80 national elections, for more information click here to view more. Making 2024 the biggest election year in history, and the largest election cycle until 2048. Speakers bios:Thomas Garrett is currently a Practitioner in Residence and Distinguished Global Democracy Lecturer in the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy. He is the immediate former Secretary General of the Community of Democracies, a global intergovernmental coalition of Member States (including the US) coordinating efforts on the rule of law, democracy, and human rights. In 2024, the Government of Romania conferred the National Order of Merit–Grand Officer on Thomas for his work on behalf of human rights and democracy. Previously, Thomas was Vice President of Global Programs at the International Republican Institute (IRI), a nonpartisan organization supporting elections, civil society, and democratic governance around the world. An enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, he began his national career at the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs as the Director of Congressional and Legislative Affairs and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs.Tova Wang is the Director of Research Projects in Democratic Practice, with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, at Harvard Kennedy School. Tova previously served as Director of Policy and Research at the Center for Secure and Modern Elections, where she worked on voter registration reform and led research on how to develop transformative strategies for increasing political participation among marginalized groups. She has over 20 years of experience working on improving democracy and has focused on issues related to greater political inclusion in the United States, including major studies on increasing voter participation rates among low income people, communities of color, naturalized immigrants, women and Native Americans. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book, The Politics of Voter Suppression: Defending and Expanding Americans' Right to Vote. She has advised international organizations on voting rights, election reform, and constitutional reform in countries around the world. Her commentary on voting and participation has appeared in myriad media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Hill and Politico, and numerous national television and radio news shows. Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations. Thank you to our sponsor!CASEpeer is a comprehensive practice management software for personal injury law firms, optimizing workflows and increasing productivity with robust and intuitive case management and business operations features.
In today's episode of AI Lawyer Talking Tech, we explore how 2024 has reshaped the legal technology landscape, driven by generative AI, evolving regulatory frameworks, and strategic tech adoption across firms of all sizes. From the promise of enhanced efficiency and work-life balance through tools like Aloe, to AI's transformative potential in contract analysis, due diligence, and legal research, the legal profession is on the brink of a significant shift. We'll also discuss emerging competition in legal AI, the call for modernizing ethical rules to encourage innovation, and how law firms are moving towards strategic, firm-wide tech deployments. With AI's ethical implications and data security at the forefront, join us as we break down the trends and challenges defining legal tech's path forward. Naughty or nice? The future of Generative AI in Real Estate law17 Dec 2024GenAI-LexologyIronclad's new GC on career changes and how AI will make lawyers better17 Dec 2024Legal Dive - Latest News4 Ways ALOE is Redefining Work-Life Balance for Legal Professionals17 Dec 2024Bigfork TechnologiesWill DOGE's Aim at Thomson Reuters Hurt their Legal AI Business?17 Dec 2024Legaltech on MediumJenifer Swallow: “We're moving next year into a strategic deployment approach”17 Dec 2024Legal IT InsiderVeritext Legal Solutions Releases Exhibit Share 4.017 Dec 2024Legal Technology News - Legal IT Professionals | Everything legal technologyAI in Legal Tech: Past, present and future17 Dec 2024Legaltech on MediumAI Legislation: Italy Sprints, Brussels adjusts the track and sends a message to Member States on national AI initiatives18 Dec 2024Hogan LovellsAI Regulatory Update: Q4 202417 Dec 2024Kramer LevinDemand surge propels data center financing boom17 Dec 2024White & CaseLawNext: In Which Gen AI Takes Over this Podcast to Discuss Law Practice Management Technology18 Dec 2024LawSitesIP Protection, Secure Transactions, and Bored Apes: NFTs with Cameron Pick17 Dec 2024HB Litigation ConferencesCPO Super Episode #3: How CPOs are Leveraging AI18 Dec 2024Products That CountAI Contract Review Tools: What Junior Attorneys Need to Know Before Integrating Tech into Their Workflow17 Dec 2024Firsthand.coSmaller law firms should “compromise profits today” to invest in tech18 Dec 2024Legal FuturesYoung Attorneys Using AI: The Benefits And Best Practices18 Dec 2024StrettoProfessional Responsibility Lawyers Call on ABA to Modernize Model Rule 5.4 to Allow Fee Sharing with Non-Lawyers17 Dec 2024LawSitesThe legal tech trends that defined 202417 Dec 2024ABA JournalHouse task force releases sweeping end-of-year report on AI17 Dec 2024The HillWith Uncertainty Regarding the Future, CFPB Finalizes Open Banking Rule17 Dec 2024Cullen and Dykman LLP
International law is a live instrument in the current global geopolitical crisis. This latest RevDem Rule of Law podcast, conducted by Konstantin Kipp with Professor Tom Ginsburg, reflects upon the potentially authoritarian nature of international law in its function of enabling relations between states. Authoritarian regimes have traditionally been reluctant to engage in robust forms of international cooperation. Reasons for this may include strong nationalist views, and concerns that cross-border engagement could invite interference in domestic affairs or constrain the government's autonomy. Consequently, international law has largely been shaped by liberal democracies. However, this stance appears to be shifting in the 21st century. Just as authoritarian regimes once recognized the strategic value of adopting new constitutions and utilizing seemingly democratic institutions in order to gain legitimacy, they are now beginning to see international law as a potential tool to legitimize their policies and strengthen the pursuit of their preferences. This development was identified by Professor Tom Ginsburg in his 2020 article “Authoritarian International Law?” published in the American Journal of International Law. Half a decade on from this publication, Professor Ginsburg discusses his findings on this still-emerging phenomenon and considers its potential future developments. Past, Present, and Future Authoritarian International Law Ginsburg provides an introduction to the history of Authoritarian International Law (AIL), highlighting the pivotal turning point as marked by the year 2006. He claims that this was the peak for global democracies and that subsequently the story is one of decline. The conversation explores current developments in international law, raising a concern that the United States' potential shift towards isolationism could cede the international playing field to authoritarian forces like China or Russia, thereby fueling the development of AIL. Ginsburg describes AIL as “designed to extend the survival and reach of authoritarian rule across space and/or time.” AIL is seen as having the potential not only to secure the persistence of existing authoritarian regimes, but also to be a possible trigger for further authoritarianism. The podcast addresses the extent to which this feature is inherently embedded within AIL, given that liberal democracies tend to pose a challenge to authoritarian regimes. Ginsburg reflects upon whether there is a danger that authoritarians might create entirely new international legal systems and institutions, or else seek to capture and transform existing bodies. While an American return to isolationism might fuel the development of AIL, there is also significant concern that the U.S. could veer toward dictatorship during Donald Trump's second presidency. Statements by President-elect Trump, such as suggestions that people “won't have to vote anymore,” imply at the very least authoritarian aspirations. Ginsburg reflects upon whether U.S. isolationism is truly the main danger to international law, or instead whether a government under Donald Trump may actively engage in promoting AIL. Ginsburg offers his view on why, despite his authoritarian nature, Donald Trump will not be able to become the dictator of the United States of America. Authoritarian European Union Law? While the European Union continues to embody relatively strong democratic values among most Member States compared to other regions, right-wing populism with authoritarian aspirations has also been on the rise. The EU's most notable authoritarian leader, Viktor Orbán, has recently advocated that right-wing populists should “occupy” Brussels. Ginsburg considers whether the emergence of authoritarian EU law may be possible. One of the EU's current strategies for addressing “backsliding” on its values, including democracy and the Rule of Law, is financial conditionality. It remains to be seen whether this tool may effectively halt the trend towards authoritarianism in the long term, or whether it may indeed exacerbate it. Ginsburg concludes his reflections on the supranational dimension of AIL by musing upon whether the Eurasian Economic Committee, discussed in his 2020 article, could evolve into a serious competitor that promotes authoritarian rather than democratic values in the Europe-Asia region. Preventing the Emergence of Authoritarian International Law Tom Ginsburg suggests that there is a strong possibility that the 21st century will be known more as an authoritarian century rather than a democratic one. The notion that international law guarantees a right to democratic governance has faced substantial criticism; Ginsburg challenges this idea as well. The podcast concludes with reflection upon the options for democratic countries to prevent international law becoming authoritarian. Could civil society – whether or not such societies aspire to be ‘open' or not – prevent the authoritarian transformation of international law? Ginsburg concludes his contributions by emphasizing how recent developments in South Korea illustrate the vital role of civil society in the struggle for democracy. Such struggle, for democracy and against authoritarianism, is set to continue in the second half of the 2020s.
In this episode, Associate Professor Marta Andhov and Professor Willem Janssen discuss the intersection of public procurement and contract law. The topic of the research project PurpLE (Purchase Power – Sustainable Public Procurement Through Private Law Enforcement) led by Marta. This episode provides an introduction to an upcoming series of episodes that will dive deeper into its individual aspects. The hosts provide a general overview of how public procurement contracts are perceived across the EU within its many Member States, differentiating between the two models of approach - the administrative approach present in, for example, France or Spain, and the more civil commercial one presented in the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, and across Scandinavian Countries. They outline the need to differentiate two phases; the pre-contractual and post-contractual, as legal frameworks differentiate between them. Marta & Willem briefly introduce what type of practical and relevant issues arise in each of the mentioned phases, for example, the possibility of culpa in contrahendo, the issues of interpretation, and termination to name a few. Finally, for dessert, they switch gears and talk about the instances where public procurement appeared in the entertaining world of pop culture. How the pop culture references can be used and what should be your new movie, or series to watch if you want to combine your passion for procurement with some entertainment?
The European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD), a non-profit NGO in the disability sector, promotes the views of over 20,000 social services and their umbrella associations. The EASPD aims to promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high-quality service systems. On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Kirsi Konola, President of the EASPD, provides a comprehensive overview of the EU framework for disability policy and looks at examples of structures in different Member States and European countries to support disability services. She highlights the EASPD's role in empowering its members to transform service delivery and to implement innovative practices on the ground. Drawing on her experience in Finland, Ms Konola reflects on collaborative efforts to advance disability policy and services at national and international level. About the Speaker: Kirsi Konola is the President of the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) and the CEO of Tukena Foundation. Tukena is one of Finland's largest value-based social service providers, dedicated to promoting the good life of people with disabilities. Kirsi is deeply committed to advancing the human rights of persons with disabilities and transforming services and service structures to enable their full realisation. Her work focuses on developing inclusive, human rights-based services in collaboration with broad networks and particularly with individuals, their families, and professionals. She brings extensive leadership experience, with expertise in strategic and value-based leadership as well as change management. Kirsi is particularly skilled at bridging policy and practice to drive the vision and objectives of organisations and advance the broader goals of the sector.
He discusses the challenges posed by this fragmentation, as well as the potential for innovative solutions to harmonize and strengthen Europe's position. Watch the full episode here
The President of the UN Human Rights Council has a critical mission: fostering consensus among Member States on pivotal human rights issues while navigating geopolitical tensions that often threaten the Council's work.Independent and impartial, the President also helps bridge divides, promote cooperation, streamline priorities, and above all, guide Council meetings efficiently and in line with its rules and procedures.Against this background, UN News' Vibhu Mishra spoke with Omar Zniber, the current Council President, about what his work entails and how he is keeping vital human rights issues in the spotlight.The veteran diplomat from Morocco started off by explaining his role and that of his Office.
It is important to call a genocide a genocide, UN experts told the UN Palestinian Rights Committee during a Briefing “International legal responsibilities for preventing genocide, holding perpetrators of war crimes accountable, and for ending the unlawful occupation of Palestine” on 31 October 2024 as they called on all States to examine their relationships and avoid being complicit in this crime being committed by Israel on the Palestinian people in Gaza.“If you go to a doctor because you have cancer and you are diagnosed with fever, you have a big problem — it's the same with the people who are being genocided,” said Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territory Occupied Since 1967, during a briefing on the international legal responsibilities for preventing genocide, holding perpetrators of war crimes accountable, and for ending the unlawful occupation of Palestine.Describing herself as “a reluctant chronicler of genocide,” Ms. Albanese said the international community must recognize what is happening in Gaza as a genocide and “understand the bigger design behind what's happening in Palestine today”. It is not simply war crimes and crimes against humanity that the Palestinians are experiencing — “they have experienced those through their entire life,” she said, but the current situation is different. At the beginning of the meeting, Cheikh Niang (Senegal), Committee Chair, commended the work of UN experts in investigating and documenting what has been happening. They have sifted through vast amounts of documents and testimonies, gathered evidence and separated facts from misinformation. Their “efforts are vital, not only for telling the story of Gaza, but more importantly for ensuring accountability”, he said. More details: https://www.un.org/unispal/briefing-i...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/depictions-media--4208927/support.
I am excited to welcome Emma Lovell to The Debra Shepherd Podcast. Emma is an author, master of ceremonies, speaker and business coach who supports people to combine business, travel and self-care in what she calls the ‘bleisure' lifestyle. The personal branding and remote business expert has run her consulting and coaching business for 15 years while travelling to 75 countries around the world. Her goal is to visit each of the 195 Member States of the United Nations by 2037. As host of the podcast The Emma Lovell Show, she has interviewed leading businesswomen and thought leaders from around the world. She is also a travel writer, with her articles appearing in national magazines. In this episode of The Debra Shepherd Podcast, Emma shares her story, and we talk about her new book, The Art of Bleisure. HIGHLIGHTS The importance of living a life you love, now! Why living a bleisure lifestyle is personal to you and how it changes depending on the season you're in. Emma's world stopped when she broke her back. Emma talks about the power of mindset, kindness and forgiveness in her recovery. Why Emma wrote The Art of Bleisure. Emma talks about the power of connection and what travel means to her. Common myths about combining work and travel. The importance of looking within yourself to stay grounded. Emma talks about success and what self-care means to her. Plus, more! LEAVE A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS If you enjoy the podcast, leave a 5 star review. Let me know your favourite episode, interview, biggest takeaway or most inspiring moment. Follow or subscribe to the show to be notified when new episodes are released. SHOW NOTES Get all episode show notes here: www.debrashepherd.com.au/debra-shepherd-podcast CONNECT WITH EMMA www.emmalovell.au www.emmalovell.au/book Connect with Emma on Instagram CONNECT WITH DEBRA www.debrashepherd.com.au Instagram @_DebraShepherd
Although the European defence industry is generally competitive, more than a decade of underinvestment has kept it from reaching its full potential. The significant under-investment in European defence is demonstrated by the severe difficulties the European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB) has in obtaining finance. Member States' defence budgets will continue to be the EDTIB's main source of funding; however, more collaborative actions and spending would enhance output and efficiency. - Original publication on the EP Think Tank website - Subscription to our RSS feed in case your have your own RSS reader - Podcast available on Deezer, iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, YouTube Source: © European Union - EP
PREVIEW: OCEANIA: AUSTRALIA: USA: Conversation with colleague Cleo Paskal of FDD re an unguarded exchange between PM Albanese of Australia and Deputy StateSec Kurt Campbell re the member states of the Pacific Island Forum. More later. 1944 Saipan
You can contact Women Talking About Learning through our website, womentalkingaboutlearning.com We're on Twitter @WTAL_Podcast You can buy us a coffee to support Women Talking About Learning via Ko-Fi. Or you can email us via hello@llarn.com Episode Links: Dive Into the AI Wave: How Everyday Creators Are Changing the Game Customer relationship management The Best CRM Software for 2021 How to use personas for Digital Learning Design How to Create an Effective Customer Journey Map [Examples + Template] What is Microlearning?: Definition, Benefits & Examples Series: The IP in AI Open discussion and dialogue with Member States on IP and Frontier Technologies and AI Artificial Intelligence - United Kingdom BMC Medical Education European Parliament How to get started with a Data and AI Transformation How to make the most of AI? Open up and share data Compliance Training Doesn't Have to be Boring - How to Make it Engaging What 8 Skills Do Marketers Need to Use AI Effectively? AI and Digital Transformation: The Future of Digital Marketing The Big Read: Call me maybe - Gen Zers, millennials favour texting over phone calls. So what? Leading in a Post Covid-19 Recovery The Returning to the Office after COVID: Rethinking How & Where We Work mckinsey-company-defines-key-skills-needed-for-future-workforce AI Marketing — The Complete Guide Challenges of AI in digital learning Digital marketing This week's guests are: Rita Sookrit. Rita has been in learning and development (L&D) for more than 20 years. She collaborates with global clients to align their business goals with learning solutions. Throughout her career, Rita has worked in many industries including not for profit, chemical, finance, oil & gas, and professional services. She has lived and worked in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Caribbean and at home in Canada. Rita's recent projects include digital learning solutions, AI and learning, and leadership development. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-sookrit Michelle Kamrath Fields is a Chief Marketing Officer with 20+ years of executive experience in marketing and ecommerce. She specialises in strategic guidance for digital transformation, brand development, and campaign execution. Michelle has successfully partnered with renowned brands like Ashley Furniture, Eddie Bauer, Nike, Napster.com, and John Deere. Her expertise makes her a trusted advisor for businesses seeking to enhance their marketing strategies. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekamrathfields/ Website: VicePresidentMarketing.com Tessa Hilson-Greener is a prominent thought leader in AI for HR, workforce development, leadership, and business innovation. As the CEO of AI Capability, she pioneers the integration of AI in HR, enhancing global HR functions and leadership strategies with psychological insights. Tessa is a regular speaker, author, and consultant on maintaining control over AI, sharing her expertise widely. Her audiences enjoy her warm engaging style and depth of knowledge, built over a global 30-year career in HR, learning and development and technology. Her focus ensures that organisations are adaptive, efficient, and ready to harness AI's full potential. Under her leadership, AI Capability is a model for ethical AI implementation, proving how advanced technologies can improve employee engagement, streamline operations, and promote continuous learning and inclusivity. Tessa's strategic leadership profoundly affects the present and future landscapes of HR and organisational development. She emphasises ethical AI deployment in HR, highlighting the need for human oversight to mitigate risks such as bias and privacy issues. Tessa advocates for AI to support, not replace, human roles, ensuring that AI enhances rather than undermines the workforce. Her work exemplifies the power of strategic thought leadership in transforming HR and organisational practices. Website: www.ai-capability.co.uk linkedin.com/in/tesshgreener
Hello and welcome again to yet another episode of the Migration & Diaspora Podcast, where we showcase projects and people from the field of migration and diaspora engagement. I'm your host Loksan Harley from Homelands Advisory, your independent migration and diaspora agency. India is one of the most interesting countries to study when it comes to migration. When I think of Indian migration, my mind jumps to the large Indian diaspora community in the UK, the migrant workers in the Gulf, historical indentured servitude in Africa, and Indian tech founders in Silicon Valley. One thing I don't think much about is India-EU migration. So I'm delighted to have Naozad Hodiwala on the show to tell us all about the emerging trends and growing potential of the India-EU migration relationship. About Naozad Naozad Hodiwala is the International Centre for Migration Policy Development's (ICMPD) Country Coordinator for India at the South and West Asia Regional Office. Since 2017, in this role, Naozad has been helping ICMPD to co-implement a project (the EU-India Cooperation and Dialogue on Migration and Mobility (EU-India CDMM) project) that supports the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM). Through the dialogue support initiative, Naozad has facilitated several high-level meetings on migration governance, including on migration data, remittances, student mobility, and welfare of Indians in the EU. And all this is part of his more than 17 years of experience in migration management across Asia and Africa. It comes as no surprise to me that, in 2020, Naozad was recognised as a Top 40 under 40 Leader by the Europe-India Centre for Business Industry (EICBI). When not jetting across the globe, he is an avid tennis fan, enjoys walks with his dog, and is a proud husband and father of two girls. Which is lovely to hear and you'll also learn more about his own fascinating migration and diaspora story in a moment. The ICMPD is an international organisation, with 20 Member States and working in more than 90 countries worldwide. Contributing to the development of better and safer migration policies and programmes, ICMPD takes a holistic approach to migration: structurally linking policy and research, cooperation, community outreach, and capacity development. With over 500 staff members, it takes a regional approach in its work towards efficient cooperation and partnerships along key migration routes, with a focus on Africa, Central and South Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Founded in 1993 with headquarters in Vienna and a liaison office in Brussels, ICMPD holds UN observer status and cooperates with more than 200 partners including EU institutions, UN agencies, Member States, and several countries. ICMPD receives contributions from its Member States and bilateral donors, the European Commission, UN partners, and other multilateral institutions. What we talk about In today's episode, we're talking EU-India migration, including: The migration trends between the two superpowers. The potential that migration holds for both sides in helping balance labour supply and demand. How that potential can be maximised through measures to facilitate and support migration in a way that can benefit Europe, India and those who choose to move. The EU-India Cooperation and Dialogue on Migration and Mobility project. And if your interest in India has been piqued by this episode, you can check out related Episode 29 on South Asian migration mega-trends with ILO's Shabari Nair. Links Episode 29 on South Asian migration mega-trends with ILO's Shabari Nair India-EU Cooperation and Dialogue on Migration and Mobility Phase II EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility Declaration Follow Naozad and ICMPD on Twitter: @NaozadH @BudapestProcess @icmpd @ICMPD_PolRes Connect with Naozad and ICMPD on LinkedIn: Naozad ICMPD ICMPD Silk Routes Tune into The Migration Podcast by ICMPD Options for Green-Skilled Migration Partnerships, CGD EU Blue Card Regional Outlook for South and West Asia, 2024: Top 5 Issues
Quantum technology specialists from across Europe are gathering at the Camden Court Hotel in Dublin city this week for a 3-day conference organised by the IrelandQCI Project Leads at Walton Institute in South East Technological University (SETU). Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, with special responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth T. D., was delighted to address attendees today, Tuesday, 2 July 2024, an audience made up of representatives from the European Commission, European Space Agency and technology specialists from across Irish and European industry and academia. The €10m Ireland Quantum Communications Infrastructure (QCI) project, almost one and a half years into its 30 month duration, is one of several EuroQCI projects across the European Union which sees the European Commission working with 27 Member States, as well as the European Space Agency, towards the deployment of a secure quantum communication infrastructure spanning the EU. The €10m project, co-funded by the European Commission and the Irish government's Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, is working to create an innovative quantum technology ecosystem, future-proofing Ireland's communications infrastructure against cyber-attacks. The IrelandQCI team is working to establish Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) infrastructure along a major network backbone from Dublin to Cork via Waterford using a quantum channel integrated with existing classical fibre systems. The project will trial 16 quantum security technology scenarios with key stakeholders across the general public, industry and academic sectors over the project duration. This week's QCI Ireland event in Dublin spans 3 days of industry and academic stakeholder engagement, workshops, training and technology specialist addresses from representatives of the European Commission's PETRUS network - the organisation coordinating the deployment of EuroQCI - and will see over 150 attendees each day. Opening remarks today were delivered by John Regan, Managing Director of ESB Telecoms, who then introduced Ossian Smyth T.D. who commented on the importance of the IrelandQCI project and Ireland's fantastic collaborative efforts with the EU and wider EuroQCI territories. Minister Smyth said, 'I'm delighted that the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is co-funding the IrelandQCI project with the European Commission. With the creation of a secure communication network, this project represents a major step forward in our ability to protect and encrypt communications. Working collaboratively with European partners through the EuroQCI initiative is a key pillar of the project and I'm glad to see members of other European QCI projects in attendance. I'd like to commend the Walton Institute for organising today's event which has brought together a wide range of stakeholders from across many different industries. Today's event will benefit both the IrelandQCI project and stakeholders in attendance through collaboration and knowledge-sharing'. Waterford's Walton Institute in SETU is leading the €10 million IrelandQCI project on behalf of SFI CONNECT. Several national universities and research centres make up the consortium of partners involved in the project, including quantum technology experts from Trinity College Dublin, UCC's Tyndall National Institute, UCD, Maynooth University and the Irish Centre for High-End Computing at the University of Galway, and industry partners HEAnet and ESB Telecoms. These academic and industry specialists are pooling their expertise and resources to achieve success in adding an extra security layer to Ireland's communications infrastructure and the data it transmits. Project Lead and Director of Research at Walton Institute, Dr Deirdre Kilbane, commented: "This event is an excellent coming-together of the quantum communication community not only from across Ireland but ac...
This latest RevDem Rule of Law podcast discusses the doctoral research of Dr. Maciej Krogel following the defence of his thesis “The intellectual sources of the European Union's response to the rule of law crisis in the Member States”. Maciej is a lecturer at the University of Amsterdam and he completed a re:constitution fellowship in 2022/23. Oliver Garner: Your Ph.D. traces the intellectual sources of the EU's response to the Rule of Law crisis in certain Member States. This is a topic that we have covered since the inception of RevDem. Could you summarise your key findings for our listeners and readers? Maciej Krogel: Thanks a lot for asking me about it. It is still brand new to me to be graduated from the EUI and I think you are the first person to ask me about my research in an interview. So, indeed, I have written my thesis about the background conditions for the response of the European Union institutions to the Rule of Law crisis in the Member States. A lot has been written about the Rule of Law crisis, about institutions, about judiciaries, and about the problems in the Member States in the recent years. However, I think what was lacking, and what is lacking still, is the critical theory of the origins of what the European Union institutions are doing. We have some very specific critical accounts of, for example, the overly legalistic response or the democratic credentials of the response. But I have decided to trace the origins of the Rule of Law response of the European Union to its earlier constitutional heritage, as I call it. What has been lacking most of all, I think, has been situating the Rule of Law reactions, and also scholarship, within the broader constitutional heritage, concepts, ideas, and discussions of the European Union from the past decades. For instance, on topics such as constitutional pluralism, constitutional change, and membership in the European Union. These were the three main strands that I selected for tracing the origins in my thesis.
Ireland has joined a European-wide effort to underscore the importance of plant health. The #PlantHealth4Life campaign is led by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Commission (EC), and is active in 22 European member states. PlantHealth4Life, European Initiative Speaking about the campaign, Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity with special responsibility for Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said: "We are proud to stand alongside our European partners to raise awareness of the profound interdependence between plant health and our collective well-being. This collaborative effort is a unique opportunity to engage citizens from all walks of life - be it the intrepid traveller, the conscientious gardener, or the vigilant parent - in safeguarding plant health." Ms Louise Byrne, Chief Plant Health Officer for Ireland, added that the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine conducts comprehensive inspections on imports of regulated plants and plant products. Importantly however, a critical element is educating the public across all spectrums, from commercial importers to amateur gardeners on the need for heightened awareness of the issues at stake and to not attempt to import unchecked plants and plant products that pose a risk to Ireland. The campaign urges travellers not to bring back any plants, flowers, seeds, fruits, or vegetables from outside the EU, as these items may harbour plant pests or diseases detrimental to native flora. Additionally, consumers are advised to buy plants and seeds online only if accompanied by a valid phytosanitary or plant health certificate. Embracing good plant hygiene practices and promptly addressing signs of plant pests or diseases in home gardens and communal outdoor spaces will also prevent their spread to neighbouring plants and natural habitats. Speaking on Ireland's involvement in the campaign, leading Irish garden designer Diarmuid Gavin, who was appointed as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' Goodwill Ambassador for Ireland in May 2022, said: "Safeguarding Irish plant health is paramount. As gardeners, we hold the power to effect change - by allowing our gardens to flourish naturally, propagating your own plants from seeds, sourcing plants responsibly, and vigilantly monitoring for abnormalities, we can collectively protect our botanical heritage." Tobin Robinson, Head of EFSA's PLANTS Unit added: "Plant health impacts not only the environment, the economy, and the European food chain but also our present and our future - by keeping plants healthy, we are protecting life. It is therefore a source of pride to see how Europeans are engaged in the topic, as demonstrated by the unprecedented participation of Member States in the #PlantHealth4Life campaign." Claire Bury, Deputy Director-General for Food Sustainability of DG SANTE stated: "Informed European citizens armed with accurate information on plant health can help protect and preserve our biodiversity. Plant health is a priority for the European Commission within the One Health approach. By informing people about the importance of not importing pests into the European Union and empowering them with the knowledge to take appropriate actions, we can make a difference." Visit the #PlantHealth4Life campaign at www.efsa.europa.eu/en/plh4l and discover how to safeguard plant health. About the campaign #PlantHealth4Life is a multi-year and multinational campaign developed at the request of the EC and based on an in-depth analysis of perceptions and behaviour on plant health across the EU. This year, the campaign involves 21 Member States and a candidate country, doubling the reach from the previous year: Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Montenegro. About EFSA The European Foo...
The East African Legislative Assembly is calling for countries that have failed to pay their yearly dues to be sanctioned. The move comes after the regional assembly approved the community's budget on the eve of the deadline. Moses Havyarimana reports from Arusha.
Cultural commentator and senior communications officer at ADF UK, Lois McLatchie Miller returns to Hearts of Oak to give us her analysis of the past weeks doom and gloom in the news, articles and from her social media, and there is plenty to get stuck into including... - Christians in politics are treated terribly - the UK should be utterly ashamed - BBC Debate: One thing is certain. If Labour get into power, your finances are going to get hammered - An elitist white man tells a black woman to "shut up": David Tennant's narcissistic posturing laid bare - Sunak Says: "If you're calling for women to shut up and wishing they didn't exist, you are the problem - What is a woman? Labour frontbencher refuses to answer eight times when asked which lavatory a trans woman should use - Dear Celebrities... There is no such thing as a trans child - Abortion is not healthcare - Germany: Woman convicted of “offending” migrant gang rapists receives longer prison sentence than the rapists - Birth rates in the world's rich economies have more than halved since 1960 to hit a record low - Farage: Second and third Covid lockdowns were UK's biggest peacetime mistakes Lois McLatchie serves as a senior legal communications officer for ADF UK . She works with journalists and press representatives to advocate for fundamental freedoms in the “court of public opinion”, both in written pieces and through public speaking. Before beginning her current role, Lois was a legal analyst on ADF International's UN Advocacy Team at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. There, she provided Member State representatives with key legal resources and amendatory language which promotes the inherent value of every person. She is an alumnus of ADF International's Veritas Scholarship, under which she she completed training on on international law, communications and argumentation. Lois also holds an LLM Human Rights Law with distinction from the University of Kent, and an MA (Hons) International Relations from the University of St Andrews. During her studies, she participated in Areté Academy and Blackstone Legal Fellowship, where she completed extensive research on bioethical issues, including surrogacy. Connect with Lois and ADF UK... X x.com/LoisMcLatch x.com/ADF_UK SUBSTACK tradical.substack.com WEBSITE adfinternational.org Interview recorded 28.6.24 Connect with Hearts of Oak... WEBSITE heartsofoak.org/ PODCASTS heartsofoak.podbean.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA heartsofoak.org/connect/ SHOP heartsofoak.org/shop/ *Special thanks to Bosch Fawstin for recording our intro/outro on this podcast. Check out his art theboschfawstinstore.blogspot.com and follow him on X/Twitter x.com/TheBoschFawstin Links to topics... Christians in politics https://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/ann-widdecombe/1915279/christians-politics-terrible-uk-ashamed If Labour https://x.com/LoisMcLatch/status/1806059064864002210 Shut uphttps://twitter.com/Jonnywsbell/status/1805578232067969221 You are the problemhttps://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1805862183626031297 What is a woman? https://x.com/HeartsofOakUK/status/1806375147684630730 Dear Celebritieshttps://x.com/LozzaFox/status/1806011206144008460 Abortion https://x.com/LoisMcLatch/status/1805584488027533772 Woman Convicted https://www.thepublica.com/germany-woman-convicted-of-offending-migrant-gang-rapists-receives-longer-prison-sentence-than-the-rapists/ Birth rateshttps://x.com/cb_doge/status/1804191685708255636 Faragehttps://archive.ph/yp10o
The recent European elections came at a pivotal time for Europe and its relations with the rest of the world. In the continent, the economic squeeze, along with the public's concern around security and migration, drove the outcome of the elections. Across the world, the rise in protectionist and nationalist ideology threatens the future of the multilateral system. At risk is the global commitment to the climate crisis and human rights. The Brussels policy debate is highly Eurocentric, but has extraterritorial impact, often with unanticipated consequences, across the globe. There is an urgent need for European Institutions and Member States to navigate these challenges effectively, to shape a European response. In this episode of the Think Change podcast we discuss the outcome of the European elections and how this will influence the EU's foreign policy; the future of the multilateral system; and how dialogue and more equal partnerships with the rest of the world is essential to maintain Europe's standing in the world. Guests:Sara Pantuliano, Chief Executive, ODIAmbassador João Vale de Almeida, previously Ambassador of the European Union to the United Nations; Ambassador of the European Union to the United States; and following Brexit, the first head of the future EU delegation to the UK.Professor Carlos Lopes, Honorary Professor at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance Faculty of Commerce at the University of Cape TownSuzanne Lynch, journalist and author of POLITICO's Global PlaybookRelated resources: Where next for feminist foreign policy on funding feminist movements?Supporting Ukraine is costly – but Europe should be clear on the risks of letting Russia winCan the Displaced Talent for Europe pilot address green skills shortages in Europe?Can ‘the West' be trusted? The future of European humanitarian aid
The EP Elections came and went, now it's up to Arianna and Federico to pick up the rubble and make sense of the 27 simultaneous elections held across the Member States. Let's recap what happened to voter turnout, what where the biggest surprises, and most importantly what happens next in this last bonus episode before the summer break. NB: The opinions presented in this show are of the authors themselves and don't represent the position of EU&U Music Credit: Gleb Raglevich
PREVIEW: #EU: #VOTE: #UKRAINE: Conversation with colleague Judy Dempsey of Carnegie in Berlin re the rising EU far-right parties in member states andBrussels support for Ukraine war-fighting and rebuilding. More detail tonight. undated Brussels
Saving Our Next Generation- If you're concerned about government indoctrination of your kids and grandkids in the public schools and want to find out what you can do to stop it, this episode is for you. Discover what you need to know about homeschooling, as we interview Hollywood actress, international model, filmmaker and homeschooling advocate Sam Sorbo https://www.samsorbo.com/ about steps you can take to make your children flourish and reach their full potential, out of the reach of the public school system. Also, ... Who's WHO- Wendy Patrick & co-host Larry Dershem interview World Health Organization expert James Roguski http://www.jamesroguski.com/ about the WHO's latest attempt to override the national sovereignty of its 194 Member States when it comes to governing the world's response to pandemics. Find out the latest results of the 77th World Health Assembly that just concluded in Geneva, Switzerland, and the status of the WHO Pandemic Agreement and International Health Regulations amendments, and what you can do to stop them from stealing American sovereignty when it comes to healthcare. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Millions of voters across the EU's 27 member states are heading to the polls to elect a new parliament. The ballot will return 720 MEPs who could have a major effect on the bloc's political direction. Joe Biden accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of purposefully prolonging the war in Gaza. Plus: this year's new Serpentine Pavilion is unveiled and Egypt bids to be the first African nation to host the Olympics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There's only a few days left from the 2024 European Parliament elections and as you listen to this episode some citizens in certain Member States are already casting their ballot. In order to celebrate the end of this podcast we thought it would be a good idea to talk to the man responsible for the entire election campaign of the European Parliament. In this episode Arianna and Federico talk to Jaume Duch Guillot, the Spokesman and Director General for Communication at European Parliament, about what it takes to plan a communication campaign simultaneously in 27 Member States. We learn more about how DG Comm works, the secrets behind the EU election video, and why some careful optimism is always the best remedy. Enjoy this last episode of the EU elections podcast. Don't worry we will be back soon to talk about everything that happens once the polls close! Music: Gleb Ragalevich
Speaker: Professor Eleanor Sharpston KC, Advocate General, CJEU (2006-2020) and Goodhart Professor, University of Cambridge (2023/2024)Abstract: As an AG Professor Sharpston worked on religious discrimination and employment matters, delivering an opinion in one of the first two hijab cases (Bougnaoui) and then the ‘shadow opinion' in Wabe and Müller, which she posted via Professor Steve Peers' EU law blog after leaving the Court. She has already compared Achbita and Bougnaoui to the decisions in Egenberger and the Caritas hospital case (IR v JQ) in her festschrift contribution for Allan Rosas. Unsurprisingly, she has been keeping an eye open for further developments in that case law (WABE and Müller, S.C.R.L (Religious clothing) and, most recently, Commune d'Ans (Grand Chamber, 28 November 2023). Additionally, she has also been looking at what the Court has been saying in relation to ritual slaughter of animals (as required for meat-eating observant Jews and Muslims). Notable cases include Liga van Moskeeën, Oeuvre d'assistance aux bêtes d'abattoirs (OABA) and Centraal Israëlitisch Constistorie. The case law of the European Court of Human Rights also addresses these issues: Eweida v UK on religious symbols in the workplace, and the very recent decision (13 February 2024) in Executief van de Moslims van België and Others v Belgium on banning ritual slaughter of animals without prior stunning. The cases are constitutionally important in terms of the deference shown to Member States; and in some respects, they are troubling for anyone who is religious and non-Christian.Discussion chaired by Dr Markus W. Gehring, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law and Member of CELS.For more information see:https://www.cels.law.cam.ac.uk/weekly-seminar-series
Show notes and Transcript Lois McLatchie Miller is the senior legal communications officer for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) UK and is a regular media commentator. She joins us to discuss the work of ADF who's tagline, “Protecting everyone's right to live & speak the Truth in the UK”, is needed more than ever. Are Christian freedoms really under threat in the UK? Lois discusses a number of issues which are off limits legally. Speaking up for the rights of the unborn. SIlent prayer on a public footpath. Common sense factual statements on gender and sexuality. Asking people if they want to talk about the sanctity of life. Criminalising thoughts that are the wrong emotion. So many views and actions have been attacked by this so called conservative government. And where is the church amidst this woke wave of censorship? Lois McLatchie serves as a senior legal communications officer for ADF UK . She works with journalists and press representatives to advocate for fundamental freedoms in the “court of public opinion”, both in written pieces and through public speaking. Before beginning her current role, Lois was a legal analyst on ADF International's UN Advocacy Team at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. There, she provided Member State representatives with key legal resources and amendatory language which promotes the inherent value of every person. She is an alumnus of ADF International's Veritas Scholarship, under which she she completed training on on international law, communications and argumentation. Lois also holds an LLM Human Rights Law with distinction from the University of Kent, and an MA (Hons) International Relations from the University of St Andrews. During her studies, she participated in Areté Academy and Blackstone Legal Fellowship, where she completed extensive research on bioethical issues, including surrogacy. Connect with Lois and ADF UK... X x.com/LoisMcLatch x.com/ADF_UK SUBSTACK tradical.substack.com WEBSITE adfinternational.org Interview recorded 5.4.24 Connect with Hearts of Oak... WEBSITE heartsofoak.org/ PODCASTS heartsofoak.podbean.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA heartsofoak.org/connect/ SHOP heartsofoak.org/shop/ *Special thanks to Bosch Fawstin for recording our intro/outro on this podcast. Check out his art https://theboschfawstinstore.blogspot.com/ and follow him on X https://twitter.com/TheBoschFawstin?s=20 Transcript (Hearts of Oak) I'm delighted to be joined today by Lois McLatchie-Miller. Lois, thank you so much for your time today. Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. Great to have you on and followed you on Twitter, on your many, many different media outlets in the UK, GB News and Talk TV, Talk Radio. People can follow you. There is your Twitter handle and all the links are in the description. You're the Senior Legal Communications Officer for ADF, Alliance Defending Freedom. I followed ADF for many, many years. And it's ADF.UK, but everything is there. And I think the tagline on ADF on the Twitter is protecting everyone's right to live and speak the truth in the UK, which is under attack. And that's truth with a capital T. Maybe we'll touch on that as well. I said before, I've had the privilege of doing work with Paul Coleman, who's your executive director. Great to have you on and discuss this whole area, which I don't know if we've talked about for a long time on Christian freedoms. But maybe I'll ask you a simple question that the left trans say, of course it's not, and that is freedoms, specifically Christian freedoms. How are they actually under threat in the UK? Yeah, well, thanks for that question. Well, I think looking around us as Christians in the UK, we can sense that there is a changing culture, which is fine. Christians at the church have survived throughout thousands of generations of many different challenges. But the one that faces us today is one that's particularly sensorial. I say that because of a lot of the legislation that has been brought in recently in my home country in Scotland, most notably, but also across the UK, where the ability to speak truth. We're taught to speak in grace and truth is increasingly being reduced for the fear of offending somebody sometimes or because, more likely, different ideologies set to take precedence. I think, in Western countries, there has always been one belief or one ideology that is dominant. In and many years ago, that was the church. The church had in place blasphemy laws back in the 1600s. It was wrong to stop people from challenging or questioning the church or even having conversations about what different interpretations of the Bible might mean, of course. We should have allowed those conversations. It was wrong to always impose blasphemy laws with very harsh sentences. But what we're seeing today is in the West, in the UK and across different countries like Finland and across the European Union; we're seeing laws come in which actually just reverse that and we have situations where we can't speak out against what are considered to be the true dogmas or the the most popular narrative views of our day. Whenever we're in a situation like that uh that's a disadvantage to everyone because we don't get to have the conversations about important societal issues that we need and especially right now it is a disadvantage to Christians who are commanded and who love to be able to speak about their beliefs and share and exchange them with other people. And maybe you want to touch on the role of Alliance Defending Freedom. I know that you work here in the UK, but I initially saw it as as a U.S organization. I think it's expanded now to to many parts of the world. It's to my mind, it's probably the major Christian organization defending individuals' rights to speak truth in many areas in society. And the attacks are becoming wider and wider in every area. But maybe our viewers in the UK may not be so aware of ADF. Do you want to just let the viewers know what ADF is and what actually it does? Yeah, absolutely. Well, ADF stands for Alliance Defending Freedom. And the US reference that you mentioned, well, we as an organisation began in the US over 25 years ago. But, 10 years ago, we started up a new branch of ADF, called ADF International, which is headquartered in Vienna. We, as a new international organization, have an eye to keep the right to live and speak the truth free all over the world. So, we have an alliance of over 4,000 lawyers who we support. Whatever their challenges are in their own country, to the concept of being able to speak the truth. They can come to us and we can support them in being able to take these things through courts. And we also have in-house legal teams based in situations of political significance: at the European Union, at the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg, or we have a big office in Washington DC because of the Latin American jurisdictions there or the institutions there. Here in London, we have an office ADF UK, and we work in-house to be supporting these rights, to be serving serving those individuals who are dragged through courts unfairly because of their faith. Or to be promoting in the media and in politics, these foundational ideas that are core. For example, over here in the UK, freedom of speech has been a core value to the Brits for a long, long time, as well as supporting things like the right to life, again, which has been secured in our understanding of human rights law in the West for a long, long time. Although, we have an international presence in each location that we're based in, we work locally with a local team working on local issues with local laws. I think there's a big difference between stateside and over in Europe where in the States you wear your faith on your sleeve more. The conversations are, I think, more vocal and more public, where certainly in the UK, your faith is supposedly a private thing that you keep away from your public life. Is that one of the reasons why we've got to where we're going; Christians taking themselves out of the public sphere? I think probably these things are symbiotic aren't they. As laws and culture and this kind of concept of cancel culture increases it can put pressure on Christians and others of minority beliefs to stay quiet and then that can perpetuate the kind of myth that these views are outdated and don't really exist and therefore legislation comes in to make it even more difficult to express our faith and therefore this cycle kind of continues. And that's one of the reasons why it's so important for Christians to be standing up for their freedom of speech. Sometimes, this can be seen as kind of an icky thing to do to be engaging in our rights and we were supposed to, you know, we are called to be persecuted and some people feel awkward or difficult about speaking up for their rights but we're encouraged to do so, because Paul the apostle when he was under pressure for assessing his beliefs he called on the Roman Roman justice system and invoked his rights as a Roman citizen. And it wasn't because he was afraid of going to prison or afraid of suffering, but it was because, for many reasons, firstly, upholding justice in a country is important. Secondly, because this can be an opportunity to share our story with a wider group of people and to secure the right for them too, to be able to live and speak the truth, to share their faith. It's important to engage in the structures of society that we have around us. And of course, we know that the message of Christianity can have a phenomenal impact, not only in the lives of individuals and in us loving our neighbour to be able to share the truth like this, but also in societies. If you look to pre-Christian Rome, for example, the culture was more hedonistic and awful than today. They were engaging in child sacrifice in some instances. Women were treated as about the same worth as a loaf of bread. Babies were exposed on rubbish heaps if they weren't wanted simply because they were girls. Yet, Christianity came in with a transformative message and instituted this first concept that we ever had of having human rights, of having the equal dignity of each person just because they are human. That is a message that we still carry with us today, the equal dignity and worth of each person, no matter black, white, male, female, born, unborn, child, adult, all of these things. We believe that they have equal dignity and worth. We believe that no child has ever been born in the wrong body, for example. And these are values that can be positive and make a hugely positive impact on those around us. There are great reasons to be upholding this freedom, to be able to share our faith, to be able to share this perspective in society and help shape the laws around us to be the best that they can be for the flourishing of everybody. I've been surprised. I mean, I remember back when I was working at Christian Concern and engaging with churches. And you're kind of thinking, well, surely churches should be engaging in this fight. But it seems as though often, and maybe Americans may think, you've got to stay at church. You're in a wonderful position. Well, it's not necessarily so. And it seems that the church have retreated and left the fight to organizations like ADF. That's your job to speak truth and we'll quietly have a Bible study on a Wednesday evening and that's kind of our job ticked. I mean, how do you see that? Because, really it should be the church that are standing up for rights and freedoms and truth in the world. Yeah. So, the church has a commission, doesn't it, to be sharing the message and making disciples of those who believe. And I don't think that everybody in the church has the same necessarily frontline role in the politics that I do. I think that we all are called to have different parts of the body, but especially when we have state churches. But the church as an institution in society does have freedom to be able to speak into the societal issues of our day and to be sharing a perspective about how lives can be approved for everybody. And I think that church leaders have perhaps lost confidence in their ability to do that, that they do have a voice, that they can speak to politicians, they can speak to newspapers, to society and share their perspective and that it isn't wrong to do so. I wonder if there's been a little bit of a shyness over the last 50 years and speaking externally, but also internally about some issues that can be seen as controversial and maybe not having the language to articulate these things well. It is so important that we do so because we know, we believe the Bible as a church, not just because it's the Bible or because we're told to do so, but because we fundamentally do think it's true. We do think it holds valuable knowledge about how to best support everybody in society, best point them towards the way that they can be flourishing the most. If we truly believe that truth, then it is unfair, unjust and unkind of us to not be sharing that message, to not be speaking out. So, if we take our mission seriously, if we think that this is good for society, then we must be speaking about these issues in compassion and grace and holding out the wisdom that we've been taught. 100% Many of our viewers, not necessarily Christian viewers, may be non-Christian, but I think certainly the response we've got is many people looking for what truth is and looking for certainty in life, especially during the last four years of COVID chaos and trying to find that certainty. I want to talk to you about the the pro-life conversation and the Christian freedom conversation wider. I do need to ask you as a scoff of the the chaos that's north of the border. We've all read about uh it wasn't an April fool's joke it was actually the SNP going fully woke and restricting all conversation. As been reported on a lot, but maybe you want to just mention that, firstly, as an example of this wave against the right to speak what you believe. Sure. Well, like I mentioned earlier, it was 1697 that the last man in Scotland was condemned for blasphemy. He had, Thomas Aitkenhead, a 20-year-old Edinburgh student who had questioned the validity of the miracles of the Bible and made some jokes about Scripture. He was condemned for that, and that was absolutely wrong. That law went defunct for hundreds of years nobody used it in 2021 it was repealed finally, but on the same day that it was repealed a new blasphemy law was put into place. That came into action on the 1st of April this year. That law creates a new offense called stirring up of hate. I certainly don't like to be hated. I don't like anyone else to feel hated either and obviously we've talked about Christianity. Christians should never be called to be stirring up hate in any measure. The problem with this law is that we don't know exactly what kind of language can be seen to come under this. There's no definition of what it means to stir up hate and essentially it's been left wide open to abuse for the government to decide what speech they don't like and to ban that now JK Rowling very famously tested this law right in the morning that it came out. She tweeted, of course, some some fiery tweets about trans activists. She asked the police to come and arrest her if she had done anything wrong. The police investigated these tweets that had been reported as a hate crime. They found that they did not meet the threshold and that is good. It is really good that we've had that benchmark set for feminists that these particular tweets did not meet the threshold. However, we don't actually know, because there is no clear definition if different tweets were worded differently on a different day. And perhaps even might I add, coming from somebody who isn't as famous or on a big platform, or doesn't have the world's attention watching them. We don't know if the police will find a different reason as to prosecuting tweets as hate crimes and we don't know also about other topics that haven't been tested so JK Rowling talked about um trans activists and their link to criminality. We haven't tested this out when it comes to speaking about marriage we know one of the protected categories within law is obviously transgender identity and sexual orientation so we don't know about Christians who might speak out about marriage being between a man and a woman and if in different contexts. That could potentially meet the threshold. There's many Questions about this law that we have not been bottomed out. Police of Scotland had three years to clarify you know to a greater extent what this law was really going to mean for us and really all the best they came up with was a kind of campaign about a hate monster and watching out that the hate monster doesn't doesn't get you doesn't cause you to accidentally commit a hate crime I think it's very disappointing from our establishment that we're in this situation. I do see it as a new form of blasphemy law and that can essentially be used in the future to to criminalize people who are simply expressing their beliefs and it creates it's a culture I think of kind of you can't say that. You know, we'll chill conversations about important societal issues even in the home. This reaches into the family dinner table. Where it still applies, and if kids were to report their parents for their quote-unquote hateful beliefs if that's what they've been taught in school or hateful beliefs, then their parents could be ended up in trouble for what they've said there too. I think it's a very far-reaching law. It is something to be concerned about. And it's frightening that a government are trying to legislate feelings. Maybe the first government in the world to say a certain feeling or a certain emotion is wrong. I guess we'll be told what emotions are right and you must feel those emotions at certain times. And then it falls on the police and in some ways although it's the bobby on the beat that they will have to implement this. They're probably thinking this there are no guidelines this is not explained properly and it it's dangerous. We see it time and time again. Legislation coming in that's worded so badly, so widely, that actually it's up to any individual. And on a Monday someone could be arrested, on a Tuesday they're not and that's frightening. I guess no safeguards and it's so subjective. Yeah, that's right. I mean we've seen this actually with hate speech laws across the world, so we kind of have a flavour of where this is going already. ADF International was supporting a case in Finland and still is a politician a parliamentarian of 20 years and a former Home Secretary, and a grandmother mother. Paivi Razanen, tweeted in 2019, she tweeted a Bible verse and she challenged her church leadership as to whether they should really have sponsored the Pride parade in Helsinki. She felt that that was perhaps an inappropriate thing for a church to be doing. She was charged for hate speech. She was dragged to the court. She's been acquitted twice at the district court and the court of appeal, and her case has been appealed a third time to the Supreme Court in Finland. The charge that she has been, or what she's been charged under carries a potential sentence of up to two years in prison. We don't think that she would get the full sentence, but the fact that that hangs in the air is quite phenomenal. We've seen where this lands of grandmothers being dragged through courts for years for tweeting their beliefs. Again, in Mexico we've seen this with politicians out there who we've supported, who were convicted actually of gender gender-based political violence for having expressed their beliefs on biological reality. Their are cases being appealed to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, but there are two politicians whose careers have been severely jeopardised because they simply tweeted their well-founded beliefs about reality. They spoke the truth. We know where this goes. We know how the story ends. For Scotland and Ireland are now looking at putting in place their own hate speech law as well. It is concerning, but we're going to have to wait and see how this shakes out. Of course, like you say, it comes down often to an individual police decision on the day, and Police Scotland are now a centralised unit. There's no kind of peer review between different forces in Scotland. It really is down to just one hive mind making the decision on what could count as offensive in the future. The police recently in Scotland said that they were no longer going to be investigating over 24,000 crimes including some examples of theft, because they simply don't have the resources, but we're told that they are going to be investigating every single report of hate speech that comes in. And we've had over 4,000 so far. Bear in mind that this law has been enacted for four days. If you can compare the before and after the effect this is going to have on our resources of policing in the country when it comes into looking about who said what on Twitter. It's a phenomenally interesting place for a country to be, but we're going to see how it shakes out in the next few weeks, I imagine. It really is weird whenever politicians are more concerned of hurdy words than rape, because the rape convictions are, what, one and a half percent, I think, is a conviction from an allegation to conviction. And yet, it's falling over themselves to find a word that may cause someone offence somewhere and to go after that. It is unbelievable the waste of finance and police resources of going after something while you've got these massive problems in society and simply turning a blind eye to it. Yeah, no, absolutely. And you're right. Hate isn't a human emotion. It's a motion of the human heart. It'd be as well trying to ban greed or envy or lust. Hamza Yusuf. Justin Trudeau. Simon Harris. All of these guys can try to ban hate, but that's not essentially what it's going to make the difference in society. Do we have societal issues, societal tensions, of course we do, but resolving those conflicts is going to take more conversation not less. Telling people that that their views or that they are bad people for expressing beliefs is not going to be helpful in engaging those societal conversations. If we let bad speech go underground and be hidden, then it festers into even worse speech for the issues that the government is concerned about. Having conversations out in the open is really the best place for a democracy to be. We need to have these types of conversations and the marketplace of ideas will sort itself out. The ideas that need to be fleshed out can be done so with debate and discussion. I think that's the direction the West needs to be headed. It was certainly historically where we seem to be headed for a long time when we've taken this U-turn back to a kind of more authoritarian, censorial approach, which I think is going to not have the desired consequences of our government. I want to move on to life. Lots of conversation, probably in the UK more on what they call assisted dying or assisted suicide, which is assisting someone to end their life, so to murder. We've seen that, especially probably during COVID, it's becoming even a bigger conversation. I see a number of MPs just get rid of the older members of society and that fixes us, the survival of the fittest. It's a frightening. I guess, where the conversation goes when you don't have any Christian ethos or belief of the value of life. But the value of life at the beginning as well; I mentioned to you before we went on we've had uh some great individuals: Scott Klusendorf and Seth Gruber, and Janique Stewart. It's always great to drop this in the conversation, because when you look at the other alternative media, I think this is a topic that people are afraid to go on and choice seems to trump life and the right to the individual. Maybe you want to touch on what the situation is in the U.K for me for U.S audience who aren't sure. What is the life abortion situation in the U.K? Legally speaking our uh our laws in effect allow abortion for any reason up till 24 weeks. Then after 24 weeks there's three reasons why it could go all the way up to birth. One is in cases of disability. For the child, one is if the mother's life is at risk, and one is if there's a risk of serious risk of physical or mental injury to her as a result of the pregnancy. That's as things stand now. We are are a bit of an outlier in Europe. Average kind of benchmark for European abortion caps between 12 and 15 weeks. At 24, we're almost double. We are much, much more liberal in our abortion law than others. But an amendment has been put forward as part of the criminal justice bill in our parliament by a politician who would like to see abortion decriminalised all the way up till birth in the UK for any reason. Whether you count yourself as pro-life, or pro-choice, or pro-abortion or whatever label you hold, this iteration of an abortion law is extremely dangerous and should be opposed. The reason is that it puts women's lives in danger. We have a scheme in the UK called Pills by Post. Since the pandemic and now permanently, a woman can call up an abortion provider, say that she is less than 10 weeks pregnant, and the abortion provider will be able to administer her by the post Misoprostol pills for her to perform her own abortion at home. The danger with this, of course, without saying obvious, is also that a woman can essentially acquire these medicines very easily, even after the 10-week mark all the way up to the 40-week mark. And this has happened in various instances. There was a case over the summer of a lady called Carla Foster who performed an abortion by obtaining pills in this way on, I think it was, between a 33 and 35 week old baby I believe. She had a very traumatic experience performing her own abortion in her bathroom at home and she talked she later named her baby who she had to give birth to of course, after having performed the abortion she named her baby Lily. She talks about the traumatic experience that was. Now, if we we take away laws which prevent women from doing this, because a small number of women have got around the system to do it. If we take away laws that prevent many more women from doing it, we'll have so many more women like Carla who obtain a very dangerous style of abortion at home like this. It would be an absolutely traumatic result for women. So, no matter what your ideological stance on abortion is, this is something to write to your MP and oppose, because no woman should be going through an abortion alone at home. We're told it was meant to be safe, legal and rare. There seems to be none of those things. Now, there's also been another amendment proposed to the same bill that MPs will have to pick between. The second amendment looks at this 24-week mark and says, well, hang on. This means that now that babies are surviving from 22 weeks outside the womb. We now have situations where in the same hospital; there can be a woman having a 23, 24 week baby aborted whilst the same age of baby is fighting for their lives and we're supporting them to survive. How can we just be discriminating against these two children simply because one is wanted and one is not. That doesn't seem just at all. They're taking the very they made the very modest and moderate proposal of simply lowering that limit on abortion from 24 down to 22 in line of the current state of viability in the UK. Now, of course this still makes us very much out of sync with Europe which is 12 to 15 weeks, but it is a step towards a more humane view of life. I think it's something that should be definitely supported by all MPs. Again, it's not even a defining ideological stance. It's not the Only pro-life. People should think this... It is just a reasonable measure to take to ensure that babies of all, at least at the same age, are treated equally. That no baby's life is being ended in the womb that could be surviving on the outside. My hope is that plenty of people in the U.K will see the sense in this, see the justice in this, and write to their MP and encourage them to support the amendment for 22 weeks and opposed the amendment for 40 weeks. Sorry, that was a lot of information in one go, but I hope that it came across okay. No, it did. And the changes in legislation are often incremental that you don't go for it straight away. It is a conversation and slowly you have to move people with you. But it's interesting, the state, the conversation in the legislation, acouple of states on the heartbeat legislation, and that goes around actually what is life? Can we define what life is? And I've been perplexed with conversations with those who are are absolute desperate for abortion. It's actually something that people are really fired up with, certainly in the left. And I remember touching on different issues, and it's fine, you touch on the issue of abortion, how dare you stop a woman taking the life of her child. But that conversation of life, and I don't see that as much in the UK, because the Harvard legislation, what is life? You feel the pulse, actually the heart's beating, and that makes sense. I would go down to conception, but hey, let's have a conversation. But no one seems to understand what life is and that seems to be the crux of the problem, I think. Yeah, and I think ideologically we're always put into this debate mould where we're told that we have to pick between a woman or her baby, you know, it's like pro-woman or pro-baby. Some people say that, you know, we should protect the woman at all costs and therefore if she doesn't want to have a pregnancy in her body at at all, then like it's absolutely her choice and the child gets no rights. There's not many people who go to the full extreme of saying that at any point up to birth, she should be able to make that choice or even after birth. Very few people would go to that extreme. But there are some. And on the other side, we have this kind of polar opposite opinion of only the child's life matters. And the woman doesn't matter at all. And forget about her. We just have to protect this baby's life. I personally never met anyone who said that, but I'm sure that there have been instances where that's come across. And that's obviously not right either. We're kind of locked into this strange polarization where actually very few people think on these extremes. And I think what most of us want to see is an option where we can protect both. Can we find solutions where we can protect both mother and baby? And I think that's what needs to come through far more in this debate into the mainstream and stop feeding this idea that we can now just have to pick a tribe and in fact look to solutions where we can support mothers and support babies far better. I know the U.S have a great network of pregnancy help centres, which I think do a great service to women, because many, you know, in one in five women in the U.K who have had abortions say that they didn't want to, they felt pressured or pushed into it. So, if we had better options of support, and I think we can all work towards situations where we can be doing more to support and encourage women to take the empowered step to choose motherhood, to choose life. In a culture where so often they're told that the only option is abortion and that they have no future apart from that. So, I'd love to see further changes in our culture towards supporting women. And I guess the danger is the organisations that provide abortion make money from it. BPAS are not going to provide a conversation with a mother saying, actually, these are your options. The option for them is one thing because that's their business. We don't seem to have a, mothers don't seem to be able to have a conversation, actually, of the options. And it seems to be if a mother is thinking of ending the life of her child, then she's kind of funnelled into one direction, and that is abortion. I think that probably needs to change. I guess that partially is the role of the church to have that conversation. Yeah, there's a lot more we can be doing for sure. I think we can all agree that women deserve far better than abortion. When we think about it no little girl ever grows up saying I would love to have an abortion when I'm older. It's never an ideal choice so, the fact that we are in a culture where one in three or one in four women are ending up having abortion is a great failure on society. It's a great failure in the rhetoric that, you know, my body my choice is so empowering when in fact it's really allowed men and family members and people that were meant to be rallying around women in crisis pregnancies to say, well, your body, your choice, your problem, I'm out. And the kind of abandoned woman to a responsibility that was always meant to be shared. So, I do think there's a lot more churches and charities and things to be doing, but we also, we do have great charities in the U.K who do volunteer support. Outside abortion facilities and have made a real life difference in the lives of many women who have chosen help and decided that they would like to continue their pregnancies if only they could have support. But unfortunately, we're seeing a clampdown on their work at a governmental level, which I think is the most anti-woman policy that this government has ever proposed. Completely. And you've written to Rishi Sunak. Have you got a reply back to your letter? I did not. You know it's so funny I I wrote that letter it wasn't an ADF initiative I would just write to my MP, but my MP is standing down and I knew that she wouldn't agree with me anyway on this. At the last minute I said, oh I'll write to Rishi, and I put it on on Twitter. So thank you for saying and noticing that, I'm glad I'm glad somebody did. Yes, no. I wrote to Rishi because I think that we've had a quote-unquote conservative government for 14 years in this country. But in the course of those years, we have seen the destruction of the family. We've seen no support for mothers. Our maternity policy, in essence, has really amounted to just cheaper childcare, which, of course, cheaper childcare is fine and good. But many women feel that they would love to be able to invest more in their families, in their children by staying home, by having tax rewards for being able to put those years into early motherhood. Yet we have very little support for the idea of a family other than getting women back into work as soon as possible. We've had an abortion rate that's only growing under the Conservative government. We've had pills by post implemented by this government and now potentially abortion up to birth under the the criminal justice bill amendment. So I think it's an absolute blight on any party that calls themselves conservative, who should be standing up for family, for freedom of speech, for life and for cherishing these values that are so important to so many of us in society. I felt frustrated that that had not been done. And so I wrote a letter. If only in the manifesto, all lives matter and both lives matter were two policies, I think, actually would have a very different society. You know, it's funny, in the Conservative manifesto; I checked in the 2019 manifesto and family is mentioned dozens of times as support for the family as this campaign was promised to us. But I personally have not seen any measures taken to support and uphold families. I've only seen the opposite. So I think that's a real miss by a government who could have done much better. Yeah, if only we could listen to Hungary and have the most family friendly policies in Europe, it could be quite different. I saw you, I think, recently, back in March, you'd been with, I think, Right to Life had been outside Parliament, highlighting what was happening. Just mention that because it's important for the public to come around initiatives and to try and let MPs know that there is vocal support for policies like this. Yeah, absolutely. I really encourage everybody in the U.K to be writing to their MP about this. The group right to life. I think it's https://righttolife.org.uk, have a tool on their website where you can very easily write to your MP. Put in your postcode and they'll let you know who it is and provide you with information that you can send on to your MP. It's very easy, just takes a couple of clicks and, yeah, even if you want to do it in a different matter you just get in touch. I think there's so many, I wasn't really aware until recently about the number of methods we do have available to us to engage in really important decisions that are made in Parliament. Writing to your MP can make a difference if they're on the fence, or at least letting them know that people in their constituency do care about this issue. It's something important to them and they of course are elected to represent you. There's also things like public consultations that frequently come up, and it's always worth just filling out that consultation and making your voice heard and engaging with these tools that we have before us, because other people do. And so if we're not voicing our own opinion in these measures where the government is looking for opinions, we won't be heard. I really encourage everyone to engage with those tools. Completely. And one MP who I saw you retweeted, a former guest of ours, Andrew Bridgen. His tweet was there should not be double standards when it comes to free speech, yet repeatedly we see evidence that Christian expression is harshly censored while the right to voice more fashionable views is protected. This was a sign, someone holding up a sign if you want to talk you can talk, and this I think fits in with the buffer, so do you want to fill the audience in on that? Yeah, of course he was referring to the case of Livia Tossici-Bolt Livia has been volunteering to help women outside an abortion facility for quite a few years now. She's a retired medical scientist, and so she frequently has has held a sign that says here to talk if you want, or she's provided information about a helpline and just giving women that chance to talk over their options to hear about resources available to them, if they want, to consider keeping their child if it's if they're at an abortion, but they're not sure about whether they want to go ahead. It's a chance just to look at other options. I think you know pro-life or pro-choice, especially if you're pro-choice, you should be pro having having these conversations, looking at all the true choices. However, Livia was recently charged and now faces trial because she held this sign near an abortion facility in Bournemouth, where there is a buffer zone, or a censorship zone, as we sometimes like to call them. Placed around the clinic. These buffer zones have been rolled out in five places across England and Wales so far, and under new legislation coming in soon, they will be rolled out across the country, and it makes it a crime to engage in influencing within 150 metres of a clinic. The law, the regulation that Livia was charged under prevents her from agreeing or engaging in disapproval or approval of abortion. So again, it's very, in both instances, it's very vague, ambiguous language and the authorities have deemed in Bournemouth that just by offering to talk. They're here to talk, if you want; that Livia has committed a crime. We're thrilled to be defending or to be supporting Livia's legal defence, because we believe that everybody should have the right to be engaged in these conversations. Nobody should be on trial just for having a belief about abortion or for offering to talk in any circumstance. The UK has public streets. We've always been able to express our views. We have a culture of democracy here and we can't understand why some issues are banned in certain places just because the government might not like what we have to say. So, that's one to watch out for. We're grateful that five politicians last week, as you alluded to, have spoken out for Libya. They've seen what happened in Bournemouth and they're aware that the new legislation coming in will roll this out across the U.K and we could see many more cases like Libya's. We've already seen a few. There was a priest, Father Sean Gough, who was arrested and put on trial, unfortunately vindicated, for holding a sign saying, praying for free speech. There was Isabel von Spruce, of course, most famously, also supported by ADF UK, who was arrested, actually twice, for a viral video for praying silently inside her head. So, this law has a very far-reaching consequence, even into the minds of individuals who are poor life. So something that whatever you think about abortion, we should be concerned about any form of censorship in our country and be able to keep those conversations open. Well, that, I mean, no one would have five years ago have said actually praying silently would be illegal in the UK. But in effect, that buffer zone legislation forced through by my MP, sadly to say, actually is, it means that prayer is now criminalised 150 yards from every abortion centre. That's how it's been acted on by the police. Well, we do have an opportunity to engage here for the better. So, the legislation that has been passed by the government bans influencing, like we talked about, very vague or unclear exactly what this means. Now, because it's so unclear the government are going to provide or the home office are going to provide guidance within the next few weeks to explain to police and prosecutors exactly how they should act outside of buffer zones and we know of course that freedom of thought is protected absolutely in human rights law as incorporated into the U.K law as well. It is wrong that Isabel was arrested for praying inside her head and the government have a chance to clarify here what the line is for being able to at least hold thoughts and conversations in public. Now, let's be clear for a second. We all disagree with harassment or intimidation or violence or anything like that. Nobody should be engaging in harassment of women in any situation. Of course, not here either. So, we're all comfortable with laws, which have already existed for a while, that ban that. But the government must clarify that while this legislation applies to harassment, It must not apply to silent prayer or simply peaceful prayer on the street or conversations like the one that Livia was trying to hold. A consensual conversation between two adults. So, that kindness is going to drop fairly soon. You know, there's still opportunities to engage with that. Again, you write to MP and encourage them to contact the Home Office about this and encourage them to do the right thing and clarify that we need freedom of thought and freedom of conversation. I mean, why not write to the Home Office as well and give your opinion? There is a chance still that we'll be able to preserve this and we'll have something to watch out for in the next few weeks. And just to finish, Lois, let me reiterate your comment about engage with MPs. You mentioned there was five and one of them, the awesome Carla Lockhart, DUP from Northern Ireland. And you realize there are voices, there are MPs who actually do have a belief. They are conviction politicians and they may be fewer of them than there used to be, but actually they are still there. And I think it's vital for us, whether you're watching it as Christians or not, whether you just believe in these fundamental rights that actually do engage with your MP, because you will you will find there are good MPs and you may be blessed by actually having a good MP different to Lois or myself that maybe don't have. Yeah Lois, there is, just want to reiterate that because there are good MPs and they will be fearless on speaking up on these issues. Yeah, yeah, absolutely I mean the the buffer zones debate in parliament before it was passed It was a very fiery debate and we were encouraged, although unfortunately the vote did not go in our favour when it came to the amendment. We were encouraged about the number who did stand up and in fact mentioned Isabel von Spruce by name in their speeches. So, we can see that these stories do have an impact. And hopefully because of the attention that has been shown to Isabel and the unjustifiable arrest that was made for the thoughts that she had inside her head. We hope this information will trickle through to MPs and government officials in places of power and we will be able to protect that freedom to pray silently at least. Lois, thank you so much for your time. It's great to have you on. As I said at the beginning, I followed ADF closely and people can find all the links. If they just go to your Twitter handle, they can find the links for ADF and find the links for your Substack and everything is there and it is in the description. So thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you so much. Thank you for all that you do.
There is an alarming resurgence of measles. In the WHO European Region, a startling uptick has been observed, with now over 50,000 cases reported across 41 Member States during 2023. This is a staggering increase from the 941 cases recorded throughout 2022, marking a more than fiftyfold escalation. Measles is a highly contagious virus. It can spread rapidly through breathing, coughing, or sneezing by an infected individual. The consequences of this disease can be severe, often leading to serious complications and, tragically, even fatalities.In addition to the suffering caused by measles, containing outbreaks is costly and detracts from other health care services. Of course, an illness which can last two weeks or more also impacts families directly.In a Region in which 33 countries are considered to have eliminated measles what are the reasons behind this surge in measles cases and what strategies are we exploring for curbing the spread of this virus. Joining us for discussion is Robb Butler, the Director of Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health at the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe.Find out more: https://www.who.int/health-topics/measles
Headlines: 1. His Holiness the Dalai Lama Returns to Dharamshala from Bodh Gaya 2. The UN China Review Finds Unprecedented Support for Tibetan Rights by Member States, While Beijing Shuts Down Criticism 3. 12th Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace Declares His Holiness the Dalai Lama “Universal Supreme Leader of the Buddhist World” 4. Sikyong Penpa Tsering Embarks on Official Visit to European Countries and South India 5. Chinese Liaison Officer Tsultrim Gyatso Participates in Symposium on “Non-Violent Resistance, High-Tech Totalitarianism and China's Future” 6. Representative Kelsang Gyaltsen Attends Forum to Discuss Current Status and Future Prospects of Tibetan Buddhism in Taiwan 7. Tibet House Brasil Hosts a Talk Session with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Originally from the suburbs of Toronto, Canada, Scott Shelley is a Physics Laboratory Instructor at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. He moved to the US in 1997. Scott has spent the last thirty years attempting to systematically visit every country in the world, while simultaneously minimizing the cost of flights. He believes that planning trips is half the fun. To date, he has visited 192 of the 193 United Nations Member States. He lives in an old house with his extremely patient and understanding wife Julie (who quietly worries but never objects when he chooses a dangerous location to visit) and their three cats: Kit, Glow, and Noodle. Apart from planning his global journeys, Scott enjoys seeing live music and collecting music memorabilia. On this episode of the show, Scott shares his one way ticket to, in his words “rainy, kind of dank, Manchester England in the early 1980s” to enjoy the music scene then and there. During the course of the conversation, Scott also shares: How and why he got started on his path to visit every country The best time to book air tickets How he leverages credit cards to fund his travels (he has no sponsors!) and to keep costs down The often times byzantine world of obrtaining visas The beauty of travel for travel's sake The sentimental item he never leaves home without Why Namibia is worth visiting twice His 193rd and last country he has left to visit. -
Late last month, Hungarian national Dániel Karsai, who has a progressive neurodegenerative condition, challenged Hungary's ban on assisted suicide before the European Court of Human Rights. Alliance Defending Freedom International has intervened in the case, standing up against the so-called “right to die.” In a recent press release, they described the current European landscape when it comes to assisted death: Of the 46 Member States of the Council of Europe, only six have legalized assisted suicide. The practice has been rejected by legislators in the vast majority of countries. …Countries that have legalized euthanasia now allow the intentional killing of children, those who are physically healthy, and those who have not given their consent. Historically, the “right to die” quickly devolves into a “duty to die” and compromises the conscience rights of physicians and caretakers. Christians must stand for life whenever and however we can. We must always be those who work to heal and never to harm.
Europe just took a major step towards totally removing your privacy. The European Parliament and Member States just reached an agreement on introducing the Digital Identity, #eID. Which includes a digital wallet. This move would give government unfettered access to everything you do.
"NUG Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister U Moe Zaw Oo's extensive clarification on important information regarding the project appeal sent to the European Union member states" (Radio NUG current affairs interview section).This item belongs to: audio/opensource_audio.This item has files of the following types: Archive BitTorrent, Metadata, VBR MP3
Brian and Jan are back for another entertaining episode. Brian first interviews Duncan Pickard about recent challenges concerning the representation of Member States at the United Nations [TIME 04:13]. Brian and Jan then react to the contribution from our listenership as they complete the sentence: “You know you work in arbitration when…” [TIME 36:03].
Dr. Etta D. Jackson was born in Kingston, Jamaica and migrated to the USA as a student in 1965. For twenty-five years she worked in education and retired in 1994 to travel. She has authored four books: Understanding Your Choice Unveiling the Secrets of the Feminine Principle The Role of Consciousness in Governance The Idea That Is the United States of America-Its Occult Foundation She founded an international NGO non-profit organization, The Institute for Conscious Global Change (ICGC) in 2007 to assist the United Nations and Member States in eradicating extreme poverty through development. ICGC is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. Etta holds a BA in Biology, MS degrees in Guidance and Counseling and in Administrative Leadership and Supervision. Etta holds a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. She has one daughter and one grandson. Website Mentioned during the interview: Builders of the Adytum Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Interview recorded July 8, 2023 Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow Bougainville 1940 Captured Zero #LondonCalling: After Putin's speech, will NATO increase each member state funding to 3% GDP? @JosephSternberg @WSJOpinion https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-21/biden-says-putin-will-never-find-victory-in-his-war-on-ukraine?srnd=premium-uk&sref=5g4GmFHo
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