Mole catcher cause goes to Brussels

The plight of a mole catcher, whose living has been wiped out by Brussels legislation, is to be taken up with the European Parliament.

Peter Brown used to go round 87 farms in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire each year catching moles using strychnine - but is no longer allowed to do so.

His case is supported by UKIP and its North West MEP, Paul Nuttall, is now taking the matter up with the EU.

Mr Nuttall is pictured here as he spoke with 57-year-old Mr Brown outside the Stockport office of LibDem MEP Chris Davies, who champions the rules which have destroyed Mr Brown's livelihood.

"I was appalled, but sadly not surprised, to learn about Mr Brown's situation. This is how the EU juggernaut rolls on without thought for those flattened by it," he said.

"He used to use strychnine, as mole catchers have done for 70 years, but now only trapping or the use of aluminum phosphide is allowed. The strychnine used to kill moles within 15 minutes but trapping takes twice as long and aluminum phosphide can take up to two days.

"And the cost of the aluminum phosphide is many times greater than strychnine and according to the manufacturers application is a two man job," said Mr Nuttall.

"Mr Brown has been left high and dry by these rules, brought in under the Biocides Directive and has also drawn a blank in his claim for compensation.

"I intend to pursue this matter with the EU's Petitions Committee which, under Article 194 of the EC Treaty, enables citizens to complain about EU matters which affect them directly," said Mr Nuttall.

Mr Brown, from Shaw, near Oldham, is angry at the way he has been treated and pointed out that a report showed that three children have died from aluminum phosphide poisoning.

"I have been told so much contradictory information by various authorities and given misleading answers that I feel there is a cover-up going on. There should have been a thorough impact study but instead of today's much-hyped 'openness and transparency' there has been a charade of democracy," said Mr Brown.

He has held regular protests outside the office to highlight his campaign for justice and his disgust at Mr Davies' inaccurate claims that moles just push up a few daisies.

"Moles are a pest because they push up soil which can then get into silage and cause potentially fatal listeriosis in cattle and sheep. Humans who eat infected meat can catch listeria," he explained.

Warning From Green Euro-MP As EU Governments Keep Door Open For Cloned Animal Meat

EU agriculture ministers meeting in Luxembourg today have agreed to include meat and food products sourced from cloned animals in the proposed 'Novel Foods Regulation', which is a potential stepping stone towards legislation to authorise such products.

UK Green MEP Caroline Lucas commented:

"It is deeply worrying that EU governments are keeping options open regarding the possible sale of meat from cloned animals on the European market. This flies in the face of consumer concerns and a European Parliament vote in favour of an outright ban.

"Cloning is an incredibly wasteful way of producing food, requiring the loss of many animal lives just to produce one successful clone. Animals that do survive suffer dramatically high rates of illness and premature death.

"A green light to produce food from cloned animals would ultimately lead to a reduction in breed and genetic varieties of livestock, which have already become restricted through current practices. Such variety offers an essential safeguard against epidemics and food scares.

"In upcoming negotiations, the European Parliament must stand firm in calling for a ban on meat from cloned animals. Animal welfare, food safety, consumer confidence and the future direction of agriculture are at stake.

The Green Euro-MP for South-East England concluded: "Today agriculture ministers also refused to take on board Parliament's demand to label products from GM-fed animals. If an animal is given genetically-modified fodder, then its milk, meat and eggs should be labelled accordingly."

SNP AHEAD FOR WESTMINSTER, HOLYROOD AND EUROPE

YOUGOV POLL SHOWS SNP SUPPORT SOARS

The SNP have hailed the latest opinion poll by YouGov published in the Sunday Times today which shows that support for the SNP has almost doubled from 18% to 31% since 2005. The poll of more than 1,000 Scottish voters also shows that support for Labour has slumped and would see the party lose nearly a third of its 41 Scottish MPs, with Scottish secretary Jim Murphy and Scotland Office minister Ann McKechin struggling to hold their seats.

Coming just a week after the SNP won the popular vote in the European Elections, SNP Westminster leader and party Business Convener Angus Robertson MP seized on the poll which shows the SNP, for the first time, ahead for the Scottish Parliament, Europe and Westminster.

Mr Robertson said:

“This is a fantastic poll result for the SNP. For the first time ever, we are in the lead for Westminster, Holyrood and the European Parliament all at the same time, and on the back of last week's historic election victory.

“It shows that the people have confidence in the Scottish Government and its assured performance in stark contrast to the chaos, infighting and meltdown at the heart of Gordon Brown’s Downing Street.

“Scottish Labour MPs will be looking at these results fearfully, with the party set to lose more than a third of its MPs, while the Tories’ talk of making inroads is looking more like a dead-end. Lib/Dem support has also collapsed, showing all the Calman parties all in trouble.

“Increasingly, it looks as though the SNP may well hold the balance of power at Westminster, and that the Tories and David Cameron will have no mandate in Scotland, regardless of how they perform elsewhere.

“With Labour and the Tories making no secret that they plan to make damaging cuts to Scottish spending, people know that SNP success at the General Election can stop these cuts completely and ensure we are well placed to recover strongly from the recession.

“SNP success is taking Scotland forward, and we will continue to make the case for independence and equality as the best future for our nation.”

Osborne sets out plans for EU spending transparency

George Osborne has launched a new transparency drive ahead of the European elections taking place this Thursday.

The Shadow Chancellor promised to “shine a spotlight on where our money goes” in Europe.

And he outlined a series of measures which build on the transparency initiatives already announced by our MEP candidates:

• Transparency on the cost of Britain’s contributions to the EU, with the cost of transfers to the UK published at each Budget
• Transparency for EU spending administered by the UK government, and a push for more spending transparency across the EU as a whole
• Real accountability for EU budgets, with Conservative MEPs continuing to refuse to approve the EU accounts until they have been signed off by the auditors
• Transparency for MEPs’ and Commissioners’ expenses, including the British EU Commissioner, with all expense claims published online

George promised that no longer would "British taxpayer's money (disappear) into a Brussels black hole”:

“We will have a right to know: how much money we're giving to Europe; where it's being spent; and that the accounts show it's not being lost in fraud. And we're going to make sure that Britain's top Eurocrat and MEPs set an example to the rest of them by publishing their expenses."

There hasn't been an EU Parliament for a month no but still the laws keep on being passed.

Here's a revelation about how the European Union really works. There's been no European Parliament since 4 th May, as all prepare for the elections on 4th June.

Does that mean that there have been no new laws in this period? Of course not!

Legislative totals for May 1st - 31st:

Regulations - 94

Directives - 18

Legislative Instruments - 17

Decisions with legislative effect - 69

For a total of 198 new pieces of legislation while there is no European Parliament.

So we've got a system that continues to spew out laws whether there's a Parliament to pass them or not.

Euro-Parliament Backs Green Calls For Action On 'Unchecked' Nanomaterials

The European Parliament adopted a Green report in plenary today which calls for tougher regulation on nanomaterials used commonly in everyday products throughout the EU (1). The South East's Green MEP Caroline Lucas, who has campaigned for better protection for consumers against potentially harmful nanomaterials, welcomed the vote. She commented:

"It is encouraging that an overwhelming majority of MEPs backed the report of my Green colleague addressing the Commission's unacceptable 'wait-and-see' attitude towards nanomaterials. MEPs have agreed that we need a complete overhaul of EU legislation within two years to ensure nanomaterials are safe.

"Nanomaterials find their ways into more and more consumer products - in particular highly sensitive ones such as cosmetics, cleaning products and textiles. It is neither safe nor responsible to allow such products on the market with almost no information about their use and their safety, and no specific legal provisions to ensure they are not harmful.

"It is particularly irresponsible for the Commission to suggest that general Community legislation covers the risks of nanomaterials and that we need only improve the implementation of current laws. In truth, the Community legislation is devoid of nano-specific provisions and is effectively blind to its risks.

"While the use of nanomaterials comes with the promise of many (yet to be proven) benefits, they may also present significant new risks due to their minute size, such as increased reactivity and mobility, possibly leading to increased toxicity in combination with unrestricted access to the human body.

The Green MEP concluded: "The resolution adopted today by the European Parliament is more than a wake-up call for the Commission and the chemical industry: it is a loud and clear demand that the Commission needs not only to revise its stance on nanomaterials, but that it needs to revisit all relevant Community laws in the next two years to ensure safety for all applications of nanomaterials during their life cycle.

"In doing so, the Parliament has backed the Green principle, 'no data, no market'. We just cannot allow nanomaterials to be put onto the market with no or inadequate safety assessments.

European Parliament backs Lucas over illegal logging

The European Parliament yesterday moved one step closer to banning the import and sale of illegal logged timber after it adopted a report (1) produced by South East Green MEP Caroline Lucas on the trade of illegal timber and wood products in the EU. Dr Lucas commented:

"I am delighted that MEPs have backed my proposals to transform the Commission's vitally important - but currently weak - proposal on illegally-sourced timber into meaningful and effective legislation.

"For years the EU has preached against illegal timber but continued to provide one of the biggest markets for it. Between 20% and 40% of global industrial wood production is estimated to come from illegal sources, and up to 20% finds its way into the EU - with biodiversity and forest-dependent peoples paying the price. The longer term effects are potentially even more serious, since deforestation accounts for nearly a fifth of the global total emissions causing climate change.

"The Amazon-sized hole in the Commission's existing proposal to address the problem is that it does not actually prohibit the import and sale of illegally logged timber. It also focuses all its attention on one particular point in the supply chain. Although my report maintains the Commission's suggestion that only operators who place timber and timber products on the EU market for the first time should be required to introduce a full due diligence system, it makes clear that all operators in the market share responsibility for trading only legally sourced wood.

"My report also fleshes out what this system would consist of and how risk assessment would work; improving traceability, monitoring and enforcement measures, and removing a totally inappropriate exemption for biomass. Finally, a comprehensive and harmonised system of penalties, including criminal penalties for gross infringements of the law, would give real teeth to the legislation."

Dr Lucas continued: "The spotlight is now on Agriculture Ministers to secure political agreement on the legislation by June. After years of delay by the Commission, MEPs have pulled out all the stops to complete their work in the shortest time possible - for which I am very grateful to colleagues. Unfortunately this sense of urgency has thus far not been shared by the Council, which has shamefully dragged its feet. It is imperative that the Czech Presidency now steps up the pressure, so that the Swedes can guide the process to conclusion this autumn.

"The central place of forestry issues in international negotiations for a new global climate agreement makes credible EU action on illegal logging all the more important. MEPs have today demonstrated that they respect their responsibilities here; it is now over to Ministers to do the same.

She concluded: "Notable exceptions to the support from MEPs were the Conservatives, who abstained in today's vote. This serves to highlight the hypocrisy of constant Conservative rhetoric about the importance of forest protection; when given a prime opportunity to vote in favour of concrete action to stem one of the major drivers of deforestation, they fail to do so."

Green MEP welcomes peace cyclists to European Parliament

Jean Lambert, London's Green Party MEP, greeted Peace Cyclists at the European Parliament yesterday calling for a suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement.

At a meeting hosted by Jean Lambert, the activists made a presentation to MEPs on human rights abuses carried out by the Israeli authorities, witnessed over the past five years in Israel and the Occupied Territories of Palestine.

Representing a wide range of backgrounds, ages, faiths and nationalities, the cyclists had travelled over 200 miles from the International Courts of Justice in The Hague to Brussels.

Believing Israel to be in serious breach of the terms of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, the Peace Cyclists delivered a petition calling for the agreement, which gives favourable trading terms to Israel, to be suspended immediately.

Jean Lambert, who is a Member of the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties and a long-time peace activist, said:

"The Peace Cycle is a real example of individuals taking constructive action on this divisive issue. I echo their call that we need to break the cycle of violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories of Palestine. To move toward peace we need governments to address the human rights abuses so that trust can be developed and built upon."

Ms Lambert, who visited Gaza last year, continued:

"The people of Gaza have been suffering for many years as a result of the Israeli blockade and many necessities including food and medical equipment are not getting through to people. Its effect is simply to strengthen the hands of the hard-liners and to undermine the ability of citizens to live in what we would all consider normal conditions. Lifting the siege is essential for both human rights and human dignity."

NEW REPORT REVEALS HOMOPHOBIA AND DISCRIMINATION STILL COMMON ACROSS EUROPE

Jean Lambert, London's Green Party MEP, has welcomed a new report from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, assessing the extent of homophobia and discrimination across Europe.

Green Members of the European Parliament initially pushed for the research report to be carried out to provide a true picture of the situation across Europe to inform policy aimed at tackling discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

The report entitled Homophobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the EU Member States: The Social Situation, will be presented to the European Parliament's Civil Liberties committee on Tuesday 31 March.

The report shows that the current human rights situation for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transsexuals and transgender persons is worrying. According to NGOs and other stakeholders, many LGBT persons still experience discrimination, bullying, harassment and even physical attacks.

Attitudes towards transgender persons were found to be significantly more negative than attitudes towards lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. It also found that homophobic and transphobic crime, like other forms of hate crime, frequently goes unreported as in most Member States such crimes are not recorded or taken seriously.

Jean Lambert MEP, who is a Member of the Civil Liberties Committee and the cross-party Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights, said:

"It is disheartening to find that homophobia is still rife in many European countries. Incidences of hate crime still take place, bullying still exists at schools, harassment is still encountered in the workplace and, in retirement homes, there is little awareness of LGBT persons' needs.

"Under such circumstances people are afraid to come out and being 'invisible' becomes a survival strategy. This situation is simply unacceptable.

"European legislation is helping to move forward the political dialogue, but in many countries same-sex relationships are still not legally recognized and this also leads to problems if couples move within the EU.

"What we need now is for political leaders at EU and national level to take a firm stance against homophobia and discrimination against LGBT and trans-gendered persons to help create a positive shift in public attitudes and behaviour."

Later this week, the European Parliament will vote on a new report by Green MEP, Kathalijne Buitenweg, on the proposed anti-discrimination Directive.

Jean Lambert MEP continued:

"I hope that all MEPs will take this opportunity to vote in favour of the report to ensure that new, wide-ranging and progressive anti-discrimination legislation is developed as soon as possible."

Action demanded to combat female genital mutilation across Europe

The European Parliament has this week called for concerted action to ban female genital mutilation in the EU, by adopting a new report which also acknowledges the problem in EU immigration law.

Every year approximately 180,000 female emigrants in Europe undergo, or are in danger of undergoing, female genital mutilation (FGM). Although FGM is a violation of women's rights under various international conventions, and is prohibited under the criminal law of Member States, it is difficult to monitor on EU territory as it is carried out behind closed doors.

MEPs have now demanded a clear EU-wide strategy for combating FGM in the form of laws, prevention systems, education and social measures, and wide dissemination of information regarding the existing protection mechanisms available to vulnerable groups.

In a separate development, new policy calling for gender-related persecution, and specifically FGM, to be recognised when assessing claims for asylum in the UK, was unanimously passed this week at the Green Party conference. While the UK Government does recognise threats to women from certain countries, reports have found that persecution based on gender is
frequently overlooked.

Jean Lambert, London's Green Party MEP and a Member of the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee, said:

"When a woman is at risk of forced female genital mutilation, she faces a serious threat to her physical health and mental well-being. Many women never fully recover from this often violent act, frequently performed against their will.

"Other kinds of abuse against women must also be recognised in assessing asylum claims. Incidences of women suffering severe sexual abuse have failed to be sufficiently investigated by the Government and without the intervention of NGOs and other concerned individuals many women would find themselves in a fast-track system to be returned to their country of origin.

"New policy, which has been adopted by the Green Party, calls for gender-related persecution to be fully recognised and investigated when assessing asylum claims to avoid deporting women to on-going dangerous situations. I welcome this advance in Green Party policy and the recent
developments in the European Parliament."

Legislation on Cosmetics Set To Get Tougher As Greens Secure Safeguards Against Nanomaterials

South East Green MEP welcomes new 'safety-first' approach

A Green initiative in the European Parliament has led to revision of EU cosmetics legislation, which will provide for new and groundbreaking rules on nanomaterials.

No rules are currently in place for these tiny materials, which are classified as being around one tenth of a micrometre (or less) in at least one dimension. This is despite concerns about the effects of nanotechnology on human health, and the fact that cosmetic products are among the most likely to include such materials.

Commenting on today's European Parliament plenary vote in Strasbourg (1) to introduce new rules on nanomaterials, Green MEP for the South East Caroline Lucas said:

"We welcome today's European Parliament vote for new safeguards for nanomaterials used in cosmetics. Everyday cosmetic products which contain nanomaterials - such as sun lotions, lipsticks and anti-ageing cream - will at last be subject to rules on authorisation, safety testing and labelling.

"Many products containing nanomaterials are already on the European market, despite serious concerns about the effects of these tiny particles on human health and the environment. Today's vote marks a radical departure from the current EU Commission position, which has so far argued that the existing EU legislation is adequate.

"The new 'safety-first' approach will mean nanomaterial products will have to pass strict safety testing if they are to make it onto an EU list to be approved for market. Consumers will also be able make an informed choice about such products, since specific labelling will become compulsory for all cosmetic products containing nanomaterials.

Caroline Lucas concluded: "However, while we welcome today's vote, the Greens are unhappy with the narrow definition being used for nanomaterials in this instance, so limiting the scope of the new provisions to 'insoluble' or 'persistent' nanomaterials. To provide full and effective protection, cosmetics legislation should cover all nanomaterials, not just some. The Greens want the Commission to quickly revise the definition to bring it in line with international definitions."

Working time: Greens support flexibility, but not on health & safety

Fresh negotiations have started between the European Parliament, Council and Commission to reach a common position on the Working Time Directive. The European Parliament voted to end the UK's opt-out from the Directive in December 2008, given concerns over health and safety related to long working hours.

London Green MEP, Jean Lambert, a Member of the European Parliament's Employment Committee, commented:

"Greens support the European Parliament position on working time, which already allows a good degree of flexibility for both workers and employers. Parliament must not extend this spirit of flexibility too far in its negotiations with an uncompromising Council: there must be no opt-outs on health and safety legislation. Opt-outs endanger workers and the public.

"Parliament has already found a solution on on-call time for emergency services that eliminates the need for opt-outs. Given that "on-call time" refers only to periods where a person must be at the workplace, it would be completely unreasonable to assert that this can be defined as rest or free time.

"A 48 hour average working week allows enough flexibility to cope with peak demands of work, while respecting the health and safety of workers and those around them."

European parliament committee backs extension of anti-discrimination protection

Yesterday evening, the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee approved the report by Dutch Green MEP Kathalijne Buitenweg on extending anti-discrimination legal protection beyond the workplace for discrimination grounds of age, disability, sexual orientation and religion or belief.

London Green MEP, Jean Lambert, who is a Member of the Committee and voted in favour of the report, commented:

"The adoption of this report marks welcome progress on equal rights, particularly on access to goods and services. However, certain issues concerning family law are not included and we may face difficult negotiations to secure support across parties, given the positions of largest political groups in the European Parliament.

"Since 2000, European legislation has outlawed all forms of discrimination in the workplace. However for too long there has been no legal provision at European level to ban discrimination on grounds of age, disability, sexual orientation and religion/belief beyond the world of work. This gaping hole in the legislation includes vital social services such as healthcare, but also commercial services.

"In these areas, we currently have an inconsistent and unacceptable situation where a black lesbian woman would be legally protected against discrimination if it was on the ground of her race or gender, but not on the basis of her sexual orientation. The new directive aims to remedy this situation and fill the gaps left open by the existing legislation. I hope it will be fully supported by the European Parliament as a whole when it comes for vote in plenary."

The European Parliament plenary session vote is due on 2 April. ____________________________

Sri Lanka: MEPs call for immediate ceasefire so civilians can leave combat zone

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution on the situation in Sri Lanka calling for an immediate ceasefire by the Sri Lankan army and the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Ealam (LTTE) in order to allow the civilian population to leave the combat zone.

It is estimated that 170,000 civilians are trapped in the battle zone
between the Sri Lankan army and the forces of the LTTE without access to the most basic aid.

Jean Lambert, London Green Party MEP and Member of the Human Rights Sub-Committee in the European Parliament, said: "The Parliament has today sent a strong message to both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government that it condemns the attacks on civilians. MEPs are very concerned about reports of serious overcrowding and poor conditions in the
refugee camps and we have called on both sides to respect international humanitarian law.

"The civilian population urgently needs protection and assistance and humanitarian organisations must be granted full access to the area. We call on the Sri Lankan Government to cooperate with countries and aid organisations to evacuate those civilians in need of medical assistance or
who wish to leave, and provide aid and support to those who stay."

___________________