EuroParlRadio

Ukraine: Anti-nuke protester “shocked to the core”

A protester who once climbed the anchor chain of a Russian nuclear warship says she is “shocked to the core” by the new nuclear threat. Grace O’Sullivan was a Greenpeace campaigner and a crew member aboard the Rainbow Warrior. In the mid-1980s she says she took to climbing the chain of a Russian warship in protest against the use of nuclear. Since the start of the current Ukraine conflict, there have been growing concern about both nuclear weapons and nuclear power stations including Chernobyl. Now a Green MEP, Grace O’Sullivan, says the anti-nuclear movement is needed again to push for global peace.

Out words: Rise up again

Dur: 0’21”

Daly-Wallace heads in sand on Russia & invasion - Andrews

The Irish MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace are using “the very democratic protections that Russia seeks to destroy, in order to criticise the European Union”.

That’s according to Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews who says democracy is under attack in Europe and around the world.

He argues that both Clare Daly and Mick Wallace are drawing what he calls “a false equivalence” between the West and Russia. And he says they were wrong about Russia and its intentions to invade Ukraine.

Out words: the West

Dur: 00:20

Europe must support “coalface” of human tragedy – Kelleher

Europe must do more to support Ukraine, and the countries on the front line receiving refugees – that’s the message from Billy Kelleher. The Fianna Fáil MEP has just returned from a visit to Ukraine. He says he witnessed thousands of people struggling to get to Europe’s border and we must help them.

Out words: Human tragedy

Dur: 0’22”

Kelleher defends Ukraine visit

Billy Kelleher has defended his decision to travel to Ukraine despite it going against government advice. The Fianna Fáil MEP spent time near the border witnessing the stream of refugees queuing to get into Europe. Now back in the European Parliament, he spoke in the first debate this morning calling for more EU support. The Department of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel to Ukraine. Billy Kelleher says he had good reason to go and bring back a strong message.

Out words: Anybody for that

Dur: 0’21”

EU must reduce Russian dependency - Clune

The EU must reduce its dependency on Russia, says Deirdre Clune. The European Parliament will vote this week on plans to improve the life cycle and recycling of batteries. Devices with batteries currently glued in place, like those in many mobile phones, will in future have to be removable and recyclable. Fine Gael MEP, Deidre Clune, says aside from the environmental benefits, making better use of resources will also cut our demand to buy from countries like Russia.

Out words: Next two years

Dur: 0’15”

Recyclable mobiles, scooters and car batteries - Clune

Europe will need four times the number of batteries by 2030 and they must be recyclable – that’s according to Deirdre Clune. The European Parliament is voting this week on the making of a new law to improve battery recycling. Currently, only 47 per cent of recyclable batteries in Ireland are recycled. That compares to 90 per cent in Croatia. Fine Gael MEP, Deridre Clune, wants to see that improved. And for batteries in all devices to be part of the so-called circular economy.

Out words: Role in that

Dur: 0’19”

Ukrainian writer’s address to European Parliament – PODCAST

The Ukranian writer Oksana Zabuzhko told the European Parliament this morning (Tuesday 8/03) that women in Ukraine are giving birth in bomb shelters under the supervision of doctors giving them advice online.

Speaking in Strasbourg, Ms Zabuzhko  warned a new Hitler was ready to pick up where the previous one had left off. She pleaded for protection of the sky above those fighting to free Europe from what she called the spectre of a new totalitarianism.

In the following podcast you can now hear some of that powerful address.

Out words: left off

Dur: 07:36

Every moment of hesitation & coffee break, costs a life - Ukrainian writer

The Ukrainian writer Oksana Zabuzhko told the European Parliament this morning that many lives could have been saved if the EU and the US had woken up eight years ago when Russia invaded Crimea.

Speaking in Strasbourg, she warned a new Hitler was ready to pick up where the previous one had left off. Ms Zabuzhko pleaded for protection of the sky above those fighting to free Europe from what she called the spectre of a new totalitarianism.

Out words: someone’s life

Dur: 00:31

 

Babies born in bomb shelters dying of sepsis – Ukrainian writer Oksana Zabuzhko

The Ukranian writer Oksana Zabuzhko told the European Parliament this morning that women in Ukraine are giving birth in bomb shelters under the supervision of doctors giving them advice online.

Speaking on International Women’s Day, Ms Zabuzhko told MEPs that women in Ukraine are now fighting right alongside the men against the Russian invasion.  

And she said, Ukrainian doctors have created Facebook pages offering instructions on how women over 37 weeks pregnant might safely deliver babies in bomb shelters. It was an image she said that was almost biblical.

Out words: more hygienic

Dur: 00:24

Daly slams MEPs’ report on foreign interference in EU democratic processes

Dublin MEP Clare Daly this morning slammed a European Parliament report on foreign interference in EU democratic processes including disinformation.

The report is the outcome of work by the European Parliament’s Special Committee on Foreign Interference which was set up in 2020.

The report states “it is deeply concerned about the growing incidence and increasingly sophisticated nature of foreign interference and information manipulation attempts”. And it says “they are conducted overwhelmingly by Russia and China”.

However, Clare Daly says the Committee’s inquiry “was used to inflate threats of Russian and Chinese interference”. And she says the report itself constitutes “disinformation” because she claims it “lacks balance and objectivity”.  

Out words: everything else

Dur: 00:36