This is Caroline’s updates page. It shows the ten most recent updates - older ones can be found via the site search by selecting ‘blog’ in the drop down menu.
February 1st, 2010
MEP News Bulletin - Winter 2009-10
Read all about Caroline’s recent work in her role as an MEP here.
January 8th, 2010
MEP News Bulletin - Autumn 2009
Read all about Caroline’s recent work in her role as an MEP here.
December 20th, 2009
Caroline is replacing her MEP blog with a regular e-bulletin, designed to give a comprehensive update on all the work she has been doing in the European Parliament on behalf of her South East constituents.
October 22nd, 2009
Isle of Wight protest visit - read more
Just a quick note to say that you can read about my recent visit to the ’magic roundabout’ protest site at the former Vestas plant on the Isle of Wight - and see pictures of my lovely picnic lunch with campaigners and ex-workers - at Ventnor Blog.
October 22nd, 2009
Ice man
Jean and I joined in a Greens/EFA Group initiative this week in Strasbourg to highlight the devastating impact of climate change - and urge EU leaders to get a grip on crucial environmental policy. It’s only a matter of weeks now until the UN’s climate summit in Copenhagen and we desperately need the EU to show serious commitment to tough emissions reduction targets and strong policies to green our economies. That rapidly-melting ‘ice man’ sculture behind us was around 2m high - to be honest, it didn’t look much like a man, but you get the idea!
October 12th, 2009
Reducing poverty through ‘decent work’
It goes without saying that wherever you are in the world, you should have access to productive employment and decent work for decent pay. But for many people, especially those living in poorer countries, this simply isn’t a reality. I recently supported a campaign in the European Parliament to raise awareness of the importance of providing opportunities for fair employment, in order to adequately tackle global poverty. Around 150 world leaders have already pledged to put this priority at the heart of their national and international policy-making.
For more on the campaign, visit the Decent Work website.
September 29th, 2009
Don’t punish Vestas workers for defending green jobs
Five Vestas workers are in court in Newport and Southampton today to face charges over their involvement in the campaign in August to save the Vestas plant on the Isle of Wight. The Save Vestas campaign has asked friends and supporters to gather in front of the courts to support those whose only ‘crime’ has been to support workers defending green jobs.
The decision to close the UK’s only major wind turbine manufacturing plant made a complete mockery of the Government’s claims to be rallying behind the renewable energy sector and investing in a greener future. Ironically, it came in the same week that ministers promised to expand UK renewable energy generation and create new green jobs.
I hope very much that the judges today recognise the validity of the protest against the Government’s failure to protect jobs in this sector - and find these workers innocent.
You can read the Save Vestas blog entry here: http://savevestas.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/five-in-court-this-tuesday-their-%e2%80%98crime%e2%80%99-supporting-workers-defending-green-jobs/
September 24th, 2009
No more tax havens!
Earlier today, I joined with colleagues in the European Parliament to sign a letter to President Obama in support of his pledge to crack down on tax havens. We call on the President to stand firm on this issue at the G20 meetings and fight to ensure that every citizen and company pays their fair share to society.
You can read the letter here.
September 17th, 2009
My nomination for Euro-Parliament peace award
Nominations have opened for this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, which recognizes the achievements of individuals and organizations in promoting human rights. Named after the Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, the prize was established in December 1988 by the European Parliament, with previous winners including Nelson Mandela, Reporters Without Borders and Sudanese human rights lawyer Salih Mahmoud Osman.
This year, I’m nominating Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Gazan gynaecologist and peace campaigner who has devoted his life to providing healthcare for both Palestinians and Israelis. A resident of Jabalia Camp, the largest Palestinian camp in Gaza situated two miles north of Gaza City, Dr Abuelaish became known worldwide when three of his daughters and a niece were killed in an Israeli bomb attack during the offensive in January.
At the time of the attack, the doctor was due to give an interview for an Israeli news channel in his capacity as an already well-respected medical professional. Amazingly, despite the personal tragedy he suffered, Dr Abuelaish continued with the interview, appealing on air for help for his family and revealing the human face of the atrocities occurring in Gaza. Following on from the attack, he created an international foundation called Daughters for Life to promote the education of women and girls, in memory of his daughters.
On a visit to the Parliament earlier this year, Dr Abuelaish impressed everybody who encountered him with his warmth, charisma and humanistic spirit. I’m nominating him for this prestigious prize in recognition of his extraordinary power to turn personal tragedy into the most inspiring commitment to build peace between Israel and Palestine, as well as his admirable work as a doctor and his tireless efforts to promote better education for women and girls.
September 10th, 2009
EU’s worrying U-turn over Honduras
The military coup which took place in Honduras on 28 June this year was 2009’s first such Central American coup. Following the installation of a de facto government, the EU firmly condemned the and made it clear that all negotiations for a preferential trade pact were to be suspended until the return of the ousted President Zelaya.
I was therefore shocked to learn that the COLAT (Committee on Latin America of the EU Council) has now decided to include Honduras in the negotiations on a future Association Agreement. Along with Jean Lambert and fellow members of the Greens/EFA group, I have signed an open letter to the European Council demanding that these negotiations are not resumed.
If the General Affairs Council (GAERC) confirms the COLAT decision, it would send out completely the wrong signal; basically, that we are happy to normalise relations with an antidemocratic military-imposed government, despite the fact that no Latin American country has recognised the Honduras coup administration, with the US also freezing its budgetary and military aid.
Until democratic order under the Honduran Constitution is reinstalled, the Greens want to suspend all economic, political and diplomatic relations with the de facto government of Honduras.
Several international human rights organisations working in Honduras have reported that the human rights situation has deteriorated during recent weeks, with the de facto government refusing to accept any of President Arias’ mediation proposals. If the EU decides to return to the negotiation table with the de facto government under these circumstances, the message is that the EU does not care about human rights and democracy, for the sake of business interests in the region.
