Tatyana Novikova has been fighting an unsafe nuclear power plant right on the country's border with Lithuania. She spoke to Chris Garrard about her campaign, the official persecution of anti-nuclear activists, and her invocation of the Aarhus Convention to the anti-nuclear cause.
Belarus - fighting nuclear power in the shadow of Chernobyl Chris Garrard | 28th July 2014 Comment Nuclear Power Belarus Russia EU Human Rights Lithuania tatiana-aarhus-cut.jpg Tatyana Novikova has …
After an apparent cave-in to Europe's pesticide industry, the European Food Safety Authority's latest guidance on pesticides conflicts with European law, writes Georgina Downs - by ignoring the real-life agrochemical exposure of rural residents. Commission President Juncker must step in and demand the withdrawal of this disgraceful document.
Negligent and unlawful: EFSA's latest guidance on pesticide use and exposure Georgina Downs | 4th December 2014 News Food Farming EU Corporations Law Regulation Toxics windy-day-spray-cut.jpg …
The UK government is determined to bring GMOs to England', writes Pat Thomas, and changes in EU rules mean this could happen as soon as next year. The way to keep them out is people power - so go ahead and declare yourself 'GM FREE ME'!
… are not activists and academic papers are not campaigns. Raising the volume What we need is …
One the eve of the EU elections, 120 European campaign groups have rejected the TTIP trade negotiations between the EU and the US as a threat to democracy - and called on negotiators to ditch all, or at least key elements, of the proposed agreement.
120 groups demand: 'ditch the TTIP EU-US trade deal' The Ecologist | 21st May 2014 News Trade USA EU Regulation stop-ttip-cut.jpg One the eve of the EU elections, 120 European campaign groups have …
Across Europe water is going public - no silly, going into the public sector! Except in England, writes David Hall, where politicians (except the Greens) adhere rigidly to the failed, expensive model of corporate water supply ...
… The initiative is the latest step by campaigns against water privatisation which … in developing countries as a result of campaigns . They have also suffered the … - although there have been successful campaigns against water privatisation …
The TTIP - a massive trade and investment deal under negotiation between the US and the EU - could be the end of democracy as we know it, writes Morton Thaysen, as corporate rights will supplant those of ciizens and elected governments. Join a global day of action today!
… and has previously worked for two years as a campaigns assistant for Action Aid Denmark. He …
Ecocide is a global problem, writes Bukola Saraki, and laws are desperately needed to hold companies to account for the damage they cause. Nigeria - long despoiled with impunity by the oil industry - is just the place to start.
Fighting ecocide in Nigeria Senator Dr Bukola Saraki | 5th February 2014 Comment Ecocide Africa Nigeria Oil Fossil Fuels EU oil-flare-niger-delta.png Ecocide is a global problem, writes Bukola …
Campaigners today today delivered Commission President Juncker a 'birthday card' with 1.1 million signatures from EU citizens. Yes, it really is his birthday today - but the real message was calling on him to back off from negotiations over the TTIP and CETA trade deals with the USA and Canada.
TTIP - Juncker's 1.1 million signature 'birthday card' The Ecologist | 9th December 2014 News EU Trade Finance stop-ttip-juncker-cut.jpg Campaigners today today delivered Commission President Juncker …
An unholy alliance of pro- and anti-GMO countries have struck a deal that will sweep away the obstacles to genetically engineered crops in the EU, writes Lawrence Woodward.
Deceitful compromise clears the way for GMO crops in Europe Lawrence Woodward | 31st May 2014 Comment EU UK GMOs Farming Politics avebury-oilseeds-cut.jpg An unholy alliance of pro- and anti-GMO …
A 300-strong coalition of civil society groups is taking the European Commission to the European Court of Justice, claiming that its refusal to register a official 'Citizens Initiative' opposing the EU-US TTIP trade deal was unlawful.
… been launched by trade unions, social justice campaigns, human rights groups and consumer …
The appointment of Spain's Miguel Arias Cañete as the EU's Energy and Climate Commissioner is in doubt as MEPs rally against the man dubbed 'petrolhead' by the Sunday Times. Adding to his woes, an Avaaz petition against him has topped 438,000 signatures, and counting.
'Petrolhead' Cañete's top EU climate job in doubt EuroActiv | 3rd October 2014 News Politics EU Spain miguel-arias-caã±ete-cut.jpg The appointment of Spain's Miguel Arias Cañete as the EU's …
Sanctions against Russian natural resource tycoons could be good for the environment, writes eco-campaigner Konstantin Rubakhin - if only they would target the right people. But so far, the EU has been turning a blind eye to powerful Kremlin insiders with an open licence to pollute and destroy.
Western sanctions could help Russia's environment - but will they? Konstantin Rubakhin | 19th September 2014 Comment Russia EU Mining Oil Finance Law konstantin-rubakhin-cut.jpg Sanctions against …
The Greens are now running at 12% in the polls - 2% more than the LibDems, and up 3% in as many days - in the run up to Thursday's elections, reports Elise Benjamin. And their policies are the most popular of all the UK's parties. The Greens are breaking through!
Green policies top UK polls Elise Benjamin | 20th May 2014 Comment Politics UK EU public-services-cut.jpg The Greens are now running at 12% in the polls - 2% more than the LibDems, and up 3% in as …
The EU's Fuel Quality Directive is set to be the first casualty of the TTIP trade talks, writes Derek Leahy. Canada and the US have threatened to pull out unless the EU ignores the massive emissions of oil from tar sands - and the EU is collapsing under the pressure.
Ignore tar sands emissions! EU buckles under US, Canada pressure in TTIP talks Derek Leahy | 23rd July 2014 News Oil Canada USA Fossil Fuels EU Climate Change Trade alberta-refinery-cut.jpg The EU's …
Major world trade deals now under negotiation would allow corporations to sue governments for billions if they tighten up laws and regulations, writes Thomas McDonagh. But increasingly countries are rejecting these dispute mechanisms that undermine sovereignty and democracy.
Governments must not sign away their democratic and sovereign rights Thomas McDonagh | 3rd May 2014 Comment Trade Law EU USA transatlantic-corporate-bill-of-rights-cut.jpg Major world trade deals now …
Air pollution in London and other British cities is intolerable, writes Caroline Allen. Faced with the same deadly problem Paris has just imposed restrictions on cars - but here politicians do nothing. It's time to elect some who will act for public health!
British cities deserve clean air! Caroline Allen | 16th March 2014 Comment Pollution Transport EU Law UK Cities nelsons-col.png Air pollution in London and other British cities is intolerable, writes …
A pilot study of American mothers' milk has found levels of the herbicide glyphosate around 1,000 times higher than allowed in European drinking water. Campaigners are demanding a ban on the use of glyphosate on food crops.
Glyphosate found in breast milk The Ecologist | 28th April 2014 News Food Farming Water Regulation USA EU mothers-milk-cut.jpg A pilot study of American mothers' milk has found levels of the …
Spain's Coto Doñana shows the value of EU conservation law, writes Laurence Rose, as the UK tries to get rid of the Birds and Habitats Directives. Both have proved essential to the protection and restoration of one of Europe's greatest wetlands.
Thanks to EU laws and money, Coto Doñana rises from disaster Laurence Rose | 4th June 2014 Activism Spain Birds Water Pollution Farming Law EU Conservation Mining cd-storks-cut.jpg Spain's Coto …
The European Commission has launched legal proceedings against the UK for persistent air pollution problems - specifically its failure to cut toxic oxides of nitrogen, known as 'NOx'.
Pollution - EU takes UK to court The Ecologist | 5th March 2014 News Pollution Air Quality EU UK Transport Law cycling-oxford.png The European Commission has launched legal proceedings against the UK …
The effort to raise 1 million votes across Europe to compel EU institutions to progress a law to prevent ecocide has failed. But a powerful movement has taken shape - and the campaign will continue.
Ecocide: 112,000 vote to criminalize ecological destruction The Ecologist | 23rd January 2014 News Ecocide EU The effort to raise 1 million votes across Europe to compel EU institutions to progress a …
The Commission's refusal to 'register' a European Citizens Initiative demanding an end to negotiations over the TTIP trade deal is more than just an affront to the 'democratic values' that Europe is meant to represent, write Mary Fitzgerald & Michael Efler. It is also unlawful, and the legal challenge filed today at the ECJ is richly deserved.
TTIP - challenging the European Commission's unlawful intransigence Mary Fitzgerald Michael Efler | 10th November 2014 Activism EU Law Trade USA Canada stop-ttip-logo-cut.jpg The Commission's refusal …
The UK tried to make the EU relax its rules on State Aid to allow subsidies to nuclear power. Now we know - it failed. The chances that the Hinkley C power station will ever be built have fallen another notch.
New EU rules hammer UK's nuclear ambitions The Ecologist | 10th April 2014 News Nuclear Power EU Regulation Energy Finance hinkleyb-ca-thin.png The UK tried to make the EU relax its rules on State …
The European Parliament votes today on the TTIP 'trade' deal, described as a 'Bill of Corporate Rights' that will undermine democracy in both the EU and the US, writes Polly Jones. But given the extraordinary secrecy that shrouds the negotiations, few of the MEPs themselves really know what they are voting on.
… else. Polly Jones is Head of policy and campaigns with Global Justice Now . This …
The growing trend for GM crops incorporating herbicide resistance now threatens to flood Europe's crops and groundwater with the Agent Orange chemical 2,4-D. The madness must stop now.
Keep Agent Orange herbicide out of our food! Christoph Then Helen Wallace Hans Muilerman | 28th January 2014 Comment GMOs Gm Food Farming EU Regulation crop-spray-wind.png The growing trend for GM …