The EBCO has made a call for the military to stop. They said that “In times of pandemic, EBCO (European Bureau for Conscientious Objection) and Movimento Nonviolento come together to say that there is always a useful distancing: that of our consciences from war and its preparation. What does it mean? It means spending in sectors that defend us from real threats to society and our lives, as this virus is overwhelmingly showing us. It means supporting conscientious objectors to military service who refuse to train to kill others. It means defending and promoting human rights, such as the right to health and the right to life especially for the most vulnerable.
What can you do?
Take a photo with one of our wonderful signs and share it with us by tagging our Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Buddhism has flourished in the world since it was brought to India by the Buddha, his teacher, many thousands of years ago. In the West, however, it has not been as popular for several reasons, not the least of which is its religious and metaphysical connotations. However, it has experienced a resurgence in recent years and the rapid growth of Buddhism in Europe demonstrates that it is the religion of choice of an increasing number of people.
Buddhism has never been more popular in Europe than it is today. With the rebirth of Christianity in the West and the subsequent birth of a new faith in Asia, there has been a surge in the number of Europeans who are keen on the spirituality of Buddhism. According to many, it is the religious symbolism of Buddhist philosophy and rituals that has made it appealing to Westerners. It is also true that the relative lack of religiousness of Buddhism in Europe makes it more acceptable.
Of course, the rise of Buddhism in Europe does not prove that it is the most popular religion in the world. There are other religions in the world that have a far higher level of popularity. Still, if there is any religion that has the potential to grow exponentially in terms of influence and popularity over the next few decades, it is Buddhism. There is a reason why Buddhism is the second largest religion in the world.
Buddhism in Britain is far from a new phenomenon. This may be due to the fact that many Britons learned about Buddhism in the West. It could also be because many Christians in Britain have converted to the religion in recent times.
In America, meanwhile, Buddhism is on the rise. Though Buddhists make up only a tiny proportion of the country’s population, it has now surpassed Christianity as the second largest religion in America. If the country’s demographics hold true, it is only a matter of time before the Buddhists of Britain will surpass the number of Christians in the country.
In other parts of the world, however, Buddhism is not so popular. It is not as widespread as it is in Europe. The belief is that it is still too ‘worldly’ for many people to become involved with. Despite this, however, Buddhism is slowly gaining more adherents in countries like Russia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
One of the main reasons why the followers of Buddhism in Europe are growing so rapidly is because people who would never have even considered becoming Buddhists are starting to discover the wonders of the religion. There is no denying that Buddhism is a religion that is pretty esoteric. While it has its roots in Hinduism, there are many who find it hard to connect with.
As a result, it is growing in popularity in places where it had previously failed to catch on. For these reasons, the interest in Buddhism in Europe is rising. A large part of this is down to its growing attractiveness to people who would otherwise be unfamiliar with it.
Up to 200 plastic bags are thrown away every year by the average European, most of them after having been used only once. The tiny particles these bags are made of can enter water or even the food cycle. To reduce these risks, the EU wants to restrict the use of plastic bags. MEPs and the Council have agreed a deal, which the environment committee will put to a vote on 31 March, ahead of the plenary vote in April. Watch the meeting and check out our chart on the use of plastic bags in the EU
What is the best way to improve the EU so that it is better able to meet future challenges? Find out what ideas Parliament and others have come up with.
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Travelling over the Christmas holidays can prove a real headache when ticket prices go north, temperatures go south and you go nowhere. Luckily, you enjoy rights under European legislation when your flight is delayed or cancelled. However, there is always room for improvement. On 17 December the Parliament’s transport committee voted in favour of strengthening these rights. Read on to find out what the current situation is and how it could change.
Citizens often turn to the European Parliament to ask what the European Union (EU) is doing to fight disinformation and the ‘infodemic’.
A growing number of governments, as well as foreign and domestic non-state actors such as extremist movements, are using increasingly sophisticated techniques, including algorithms, automation and artificial intelligence to spread disinformation (meaning deliberately deceptive information) in Europe. With the war in Ukraine, foreign and particularly Russian actors are increasingly interfering in the media and on social networks. One of their main aims is to create confusion and polarise society, thus undermining democracy. The EU has stepped up its efforts to protect its democratic processes from manipulation.
The European Parliament has consistently pushed for a joint European response to disinformation and called for more resources to fight disinformation in EU countries and its neighbourhood. It has done so via its budgetary powers, as well as through hearings and resolutions (further details are available here).
In a resolution of March 2022, based on the work of a Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE), Parliament acknowledges that the EU’s lack of awareness and counter-measures makes it attractive to interference by malicious foreign actors, endangering democracy. It therefore calls for:
a common strategy and a series of specific measures, such as, banning Russian propaganda channels and requiring platforms to do their part to reduce information manipulation and interference,
more public funding for independent, pluralistic, and widely-distributed media and fact-checking institutions,
preventing foreign actors from hiring former high-level politicians.
In March 2022, Parliament set up a new special Committee on Foreign Interference (INGE2). The committee will identify gaps in EU legislation that could be exploited for malicious purposes. It will have a year to present its recommendations.
The European Parliament’s anti-disinformation team monitors and analyses disinformation, cooperates with other institutions and civil society, and organises training and awareness raising activities. The unit can be contacted at [email protected]. The Parliament also has a webpage on ‘How to fight disinformation‘ and shares in-house research as well as information on media literacy and reliable sources through its social media channels.
more support, including funding and training, for quality journalism and media literacy,
a code of practice on disinformation (see related Q&A) between leading social networks, online platforms and advertisers. The signatories commit to employing best practices against disinformation, taking down fake accounts and reporting on their actions. In May 2021, the Commission published guidance to strengthen this code – more information in this press release),
a digital services act, proposed by the European Commission in December 2020. This aims to create a safer digital space in which the fundamental rights of all users of digital services are protected (more information here).
the InVID project (which stands for ‘In video veritas‘ – or ‘In video, there is truth’), partly funded by the EU. The project aims to tackle the problem of fake videos on social media, which spread conspiracy theories and other falsehoods. The platform allows users to carry out a reverse image search of videos to detect whether the images have been used in a different context and/or manipulated.
an EU-supported Social Observatory for Disinformation and Social Media Analysis (SOMA), bringing European fact-checking organisations and researchers together to fight against disinformation.
Action taken by the European Council
Faced with the threat of Kremlin disinformation campaigns, the EU set up an ‘East Strat Com Task force‘ in March 2015. The Task Force exposes false claims from actors close to Russia that seek to undermine the EU and manages a debunking site called ‘EUvsDisinfo‘.
Further reading
How to spot when news is fake, animated graphic available in all EU languages, European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), February 2019
Foreign interference in democracies, Topical Digest, Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE), September 2020
New NGO status empowers MEJORA, the Foundation for the Improvement of Life, Culture and Society, to add to accomplishing the objectives of the UN Economic and Social Council and the helpful points of the Scientology religion.
Mejora signifies “improvement” in Spanish, and Fundacion MEJORA is an adept name for the association that has quite recently accomplished Special Consultative Status to the United Nations. Its complete name is Fundacion MEJORA: Foundation for the Improvement of Life, Culture and Society, and MEJORA’s new NGO status furnishes the Church of Scientology with more prominent chance to contribute legitimately to the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC, one of the six head organs of the United Nations.
The Foundation MEJORA was established in 2015 by the Church of Scientology of Spain. It is enlisted in that nation’s National Registry of Foundations.
In its application to the UN, the establishment asserted its duty to:
“human improvement through regard for and perception of Universal Human Rights just as the utilization of fundamental beliefs, for example, human rights, balance, resilience, regard for human life, harmony, vote based system, and individual opportunity.”
The Foundation’s strategic to “protect, advance, educate and disperse Human Rights as remembered for the Spanish Constitution just as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other global agreements; to advance logical Scientology esteems and practices created by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard focused on progress of the individual and society, and to advance resistance in all parts of common society.”
At the European level, the Foundation is enlisted in the Transparency Register of the European Union. MEJORA has effectively taken an interest in the Faith and Freedom Summit NGO alliance, whose last occasion was held at the European Parliament in Brussels. MEJORA likewise takes an interest in various different activities, occasions, and gatherings in encouraging its strategic.
“to advance sober minded Scientology esteems and practices created by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard focused on progress of the individual and society, and to advance resilience in all parts of common society”
This year points MEJORA’s sixth yearly Religious Freedom Awards introduction, booked for September 6. Awardees remember researchers and unmistakable authorities dynamic for advancing and securing the opportunity of religion or conviction.
The UN Economic and Social Council is one of the six head organs of the United Nations. Built up in 1945 by the UN Charter, the ECOSOC is liable for the bearing and coordination of the financial, social, philanthropic, and social exercises did by the UN.
With this acknowledgment, the Foundation currently has official portrayal at the UN in Geneva, Vienna and New York, with the capacity to introduce composed and oral articulations to different organs, for example, the UN Human Rights Council, and to arrange meetings of its own inside the United Nations.
On February 13, 2019, Bahram Hemdemov, 55 years old, was released from prison in Turkmenistan after serving a four-year sentence in Seydi prison (LB-E/12). He is now reunited with his wife, Gulzira, and their four children. Mr. Hemdemov was arrested on March 14, 2015, simply for holding a peaceful religious meeting at his home in a suburb of Turkmenabad and was convicted by the Lebap Regional Court on May 19, 2015. The Turkmenistan government granted amnesty to prisoners three times a year on average during Mr. Hemdemov’s imprisonment but overlooked him each time—even though convicted murderers were among those freed. On August 15, 2016, Mr. Hemdemov filed a complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR), which is still pending consideration. Eleven of Jehovah’s Witnesses remain in prison in Turkmenistan for refusal to perform military service despite ten CCPR decisions issued against the government for persecuting and imprisoning young Witnesses who are conscientious objectors.
Marking Women’s Day 2020, MEPs are looking at achievements and challenges in gender equality since the 1995 adoption of the Beijing Declaration.
