Some new photos
I’ve added some photos from Gay Pride 2009 in Brussels.
What’s coming next?
I’ll shortly be adding an article about the European Citizens’ Consultations, an initiative to get people to contribute towards policy in the EU. It didn’t go as planned but I think some important lessons have been learned, by some at least.
Commissioner Wallström gave me an interview after the event where she spoke with her customary frankness. That’ll be on the site tomorrow. These articles are, of course, also in New Europe.
I’m going to be on a live briadcast on Radio Cumbria, the station with the highest number of sheep listeners outside New Zealand, for a programme on the European elections.
And today, I’ve got to knuckle down to an article on subsidiarity.
Long Weekend
We’ve had some lovely sunny days in Brussels and it’s been hard to stay inside researching and typing away. It’s been a busy couple of weeks as, apert from writing for New Europe, I’ve had to get a couple of articles done pretty quickly for Together magazine. One piece was not in my usual brief and it did come out very different than the editor, James Drew imagined. But he liked it and that’s all that counts.
The European elections are almost upon us and it’s gone strangely quiet as MEP’s are seeking re-election or relaxing if they’re not running again. I’m hoping to write a series of articles on reporting on the Parliament and on the elections.
In the UK it’s common to write Europe off as a mess, the parliament as people who fill their snouts in the trough. Sadly this is not accurate and disuades people from voting.
The EU does impact everyone’s lives and what the parliament decides affects us all, more so if the Lisbon Treaty is adopted. Lisbon may not be perfect but it is a real improvement on the existing system that is beginning to fail, and it’s the only game in town.
The election is important and if you don’t vote, then you’ve got no right to whinge about the EU.
A busy week ahead
I’m off to a Google press event today, they’re unveiling a new product to mark 5 years of Gmail. It has been pointed out that this is something new and multilingual, so it won’t be announcing that Gmail is finally out of beta. I hope to blog something around 4:30
Later this week, we’ve got the Global Progressives forum and Bill Clinton is in town for that one. No doubt there’ll be a large turn out of stagieres.
In between, there’s a meeting on enlargement, europe and Iraq and a screening of a film, held by the highly regarded UK Green MEP, Caroline Lucas.
Mannekin Pics
I also run a photoblog, where I post photos from Brussels a couple of times a week. It’s great fun and over time, does show an off-beat view of this city.
