I4C Trouble with Daly and Wallace

This week on the podcast we’re focusing on Ukraine and how the narrative of Russian aggression and encroachment into Europe doesn’t really chime with what has unfolded there. We also discuss the concept of disinformation and how it is used to silence dissenting voices, the strategic compass- the EU’s military and defence policy, and finally a new proposal on EU policing cooperation. Read the study "Rhetoric and Reality of Disinformation in the European Union" here: https://left.eu/issues/publications/rhetoric-and-reality-of-disinformation-in-the-european-union/

This week Mick and Clare are in Strasbourg for the European Parliament plenary. They’re joined by Oisin to discuss the election of the new European Parliament President, and the French Presidency of the Council of the EU. They also discuss EU High Representative Josep Borrell’s proposal to link the opening of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to the situation in Ukraine and why it’s a terrible idea, the recent report on the live transport of animals, the Irish Rail Review, and why trains are key in the green transition. Finally Clare fills us in on the new Digital Services Act. There will be two events launching the report “Rhetoric and Reality of Disinformation in the EU”: - an online event on Tuesday 25 January at 15:00 (Irish time), register here https://theleft-eu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TcKZaMmxQoyElYEnEw0hsQ - an in-person event on Saturday 25 January at 16:00 in the New Theatre in Temple Bar. Reserve a spot https://thenewtheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873630942

I4C Trouble is back to normal programming after the Christmas break. We discuss the situation in Kazakhstan, looming humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, tensions in Ukraine and the critical raw materials needed for the “green transition”- there are no silver bullets when it comes to the climate crisis.

We will be back next week with out first I4C Trouble Podcast for 2022. Meanwhile, we recommend you listen to this short podcast of Pushback with Aaron Maté - it’s an interview with a retired US Army Colonel and is a very clear analysis of the Russia/Ukraine issue. Worth a listen

In the last episode before the Parliament closes for Christmas, we discuss the EU’s refusal to share the vaccine technology with the Global South; Navalny winning the EU Sakharov prize for “freedom of thought”; tensions in Ukraine; yet another European Parliament resolution condemning Cuba; and proposed new powers for the Gardaí. We also discuss the country of the week- Spain.

links:European Council on Foreign Relations, essays on neutrality and European defence: https://ecfr.eu/publication/ambiguous-alliance-neutrality-opt-outs-and-european-defence/ Study on EU Border Regime: Profiteering from Dehumanisation and Mythologised Technologies: https://left.eu/content/uploads/2021/11/EU-Border-Regime-Profiteering-from-Dehumanisation-and-Mythologised-Technologies_.pdf 

It’s been a busy week at the parliament. We discuss Covid and the world going mad over the new variant, the European Parliament’s foreign interference committee and their report on social media disinformation by the EU’s so-called enemies- Russia, China and Iran, an anti-money laundering proposal to limit the use of cash which could have problematic implications for EU citizens, the EU “green” taxonomy for sustainable economic investments which is considering labelling gas and nuclear as sustainable- so not so green after all, finally, Julian Assange’s father visits Brussels, we hear some updates from that

We’ve got a second podcast for you this week, we discuss Covid, Vaccines, the Common Agricultural Policy, Tsikhanouskaya (Belarus’s Guiado) visiting the EP (again), and lovely Belgium.

Damien is back from the COP climate conference in Glasgow. We talk about the failure of the rich countries to address financing climate change adaptation and mitigation in the Global South.

This week Mick and Clare are joined by the wonderful Bethany Howard, another week, another host. They are just back from Lithuania at the trial of Algirdas Paleckis former journalist and MP accused of espionage. They fill us in on the trial and what they saw there.They also discuss the COP in Glasgow and the depressing reluctance of rich countries to take meaningful action on the climateFinally, Covid never went away but it’s back in full swing- they discuss how governments are handling it and the need for room for debate around the vaccine pass.