Israel Agrees To Change Eurovision Song Lyrics

Mar 5 2024

After being threatened with potential exclusion from the competition this year, Israel has agreed to compromise and change the lyrics to the song ‘October Rain.’

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) hinted at rejecting Israel’s candidate Eden Golan, a 20-year-old Russian-Israeli singer, due to the political nature of her song.

The song referenced the Hamas 7th October attack on Israel, with lyrics like: ‘There’s no air left to breathe / There is no place for me’ and ‘They were all good children, each one of them’.

Israeli broadcaster KAN initially threatened to withdraw from the contest if the event organisers censored their entry, with president Isaac Herzog insisting that Israel’s voice must be heard from the Eurovision stage.

Since then, necessary adjustments have been quoted to be made to the song, allowing it to continue on in the contest. Second place finalist ‘Dance Forever’ will also be revising its lyrics, with Israel choosing a song to send to the committee.

The inclusion of Israel has faced a lot of controversy, with an open letter issued to the EBU and signed by over 1,000 Swedish artists calling for Israel to withdraw.

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BirdLife Malta Presents Finch Trapping Abuse Evidence To EU Court

Mar 5 2024

BirdLife Malta has compiled evidence of widespread abuse within finch trapping sites, intending to present it to the European Court of Justice. Despite a ban on trapping protected finches by the European Court of Justice in 2018, Malta proceeded to open the trapping season in 2020 under the guise of scientific research.

However, activists have criticized this “catch-and-release study” as a cover for poaching. Following Brussels’ announcement of taking legal action against Malta in 2021, a hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

BirdLife Malta has submitted a detailed report with video evidence from last year to the ECJ, revealing numerous illegal trapping sites beyond the 2,600 registered ones. Even legally operating sites were found to be abusing the derogation conditions, with captured finches not being released.

Estimates suggest over 51,400 finches were trapped and held captive without scientific purpose.

Moreover, BirdLife contends that even if birds were released, they were likely recaptured, undermining any scientific validity. The derogation also facilitated the illicit wildlife trade, with thousands of finches smuggled into Malta for decoy use.

Overall, BirdLife denounces the derogation as a sham, alleging it as a cover for illegal activities and unjustifiable bird killings, devoid of scientific merit.

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France Makes Abortion Rights Constitutional

Mar 5 2024

French lawmakers voted in a joint session of parliament to amend the Constitution, ensuring the right to abortion.

The amendment, which required three-fifths majority approval from both houses, garnered 780 votes in favour and 72 against, easily surpassing the necessary threshold.

This vote followed prior approval from the Senate and the National Assembly.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal expressed pride in the historic moment, emphasizing the inclusion of women’s freedom in fundamental law. National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet pledged to uphold this newfound freedom, both domestically and globally.

The constitutional amendment was prompted by concerns over threats to abortion rights, highlighted by the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022. The legislation draws attention to similar challenges in Europe, such as Poland’s near-total abortion ban following a 2020 court ruling.

Marta Lempart, a leader of the Polish Women’s Strike, praised France’s vote, seeing it as a beacon of hope for European efforts to address abortion rights.

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Government Launches Educational Campaign On Responsible Cannabis Use

Mar 4 2024

In a bid to promote responsible cannabis consumption and combat misinformation, the Maltese government has unveiled an educational campaign centered on the principles of harm reduction. This initiative, announced during a press briefing addressed by Minister for Social Policy and Children’s Rights Michael Falzon and Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg, aims to enlighten the public about the responsible use of cannabis while emphasizing the importance of prevention against substance abuse.

During the meeting, Minister Michael Falzon reaffirmed the government’s commitment to raising awareness about the risks associated with drug abuse. “We are here to continue reaching even those people who need help. We have strong services capable of helping a person get back on his feet,” stated Minister Falzon, underlining the significance of education campaigns in safeguarding public health.

Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg emphasized the objectives of the law on responsible cannabis use, highlighting its role in minimizing health complications associated with synthetic or contaminated cannabis. She stressed the importance of protecting adults who consume cannabis responsibly from falling victim to criminal drug trafficking networks, as well as shielding them from legal repercussions. Notably, Buttigieg referenced Germany’s adoption of a similar model with less stringent regulations compared to Maltese law.

“Despite this, unfortunately there is still a lot of misinformation about what our law says and therefore during the coming weeks an information campaign will be held so that everyone knows the purposes of the law and to ensure that the community is protected from any abuse,” said Parliamentary Secretary Buttigieg.

Leonid McKay, Executive Chairperson of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC), highlighted the authority’s investment of over one million euros in prevention campaigns and support for Sedqa, a national agency focusing on addiction prevention. McKay explained that licensed associations are permitted to distribute cannabis to adult members, with stringent regulations in place to ensure safety and responsible consumption.

“Cannabis is tested and its distribution is only done in packages or containers that contain several warnings to users including that cannabis is harmful to health, that it cannot be used if the person will drive and or during pregnancy,” clarified Mr. McKay. The packaging also provides information on where individuals can seek assistance if needed.

Jareth Grima, Sedqa’s Prevention Manager, expressed gratitude for the collaboration with ARUC, which has bolstered Sedqa’s resources for addiction prevention initiatives. Grima highlighted the agency’s outreach efforts, which include educational programs reaching over 12,000 students and engagements with 50 companies or entities.

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