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EUROPE>Ethics
Europe | Germany | Ethics

Faulty rifle puts minister in crosshairs

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Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen is struggling to maintain her credibility as critics have blamed her for lobbying and cover-ups within the ministry over the army's faulty G36 rifles. A scandal has been brewing around the weapon for months after von der Leyen admitted in March that the rifle loses accuracy at high temperatures. In April von der Leyen announced that the G36 had “no future” in the Bundeswehr. In the meantime the media have been reporting that the Bundeswehr covered up information, based on internal reports that showed the weapons had shortcomings. It is said i
Europe | Great Britain | Ethics

‘Consent in childbirth is a joke’: How British women are silenced in the delivery room

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The case of an American woman, who was unwillingly cut by doctors during birth, has shocked many. But this problem isn't confined to the US, says Milli Hill. British women find it just as hard to get their voices heard. Two years ago, in a California hospital, a woman named Kelly was told she needed an episiotomy while giving birth. Kelly questioned the decision to make the cut in her perineum – between her vagina and anus. “I haven’t pushed yet”, she exclaimed. But the doctor approached her with scissors, saying, “I’m the expert here”. Although the 27-year
Europe | Germany | Ethics

Is Merkel working for Germany’s National Interests?

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The claims that Merkel's government knew about German state intelligence spying on behalf of the Americans against the country's own industrial interests raise disturbing questions about the integrity of German government leaders. The apparent betrayal of German national interests by Chancellor Angela Merkel is not only evident over the recent industrial spying scandal on behalf of America. The slavish pursuit by Merkel of Washington's anti-Russian policy over Ukraine -- in contradistinction to her country's national interests -- also cogently suggests that the chancellor is serving a for
Europe | Great Britain | Activism

Women’s war stories are finally being told. But let’s not pretend war is romantic

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If you accept, as I do, the notion that feminism is by nature anti-war, then the increased presence of women in warmongering action blockbusters like Man Of Steel (which was used by the National Guard as a recruitment drive) and Battleship should not be applauded. This “feminising” of traditionally boys-own pop culture ties into the ongoing debate about whether or not it is a “feminist issue” to have women on the front line. On the one hand, there’s a school of thought that says equality is reached when female soldiers are considered as capable as their male counterparts. The logi
Europe | Great Britain | Ethics

Royal succession shake-up makes female monarchs more likely

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Thanks to a radical shake-up in the U.K.’s royal succession rules, a new law has been enforced to remove male bias. With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge expecting another baby, the rules were altered to ensure that if their second child is a girl, she won’t be overtaken by any future younger brothers. The law to change the rules of succession was passed by parliament in 2013. However, all countries in which the Queen is head of state were required to pass it before the rule came into effect. Before now, the ancient rules of male primogeniture meant that male sons took precedence o
Europe | Great Britain | Ethics

Fair pay, ma’am! Queen’s staff prepare to take industrial action over low pay

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For the first time in history, the Queen could face industrial action among disgruntled palace staff. Workers at one of the royal family’s most iconic residences, Windsor Castle, are preparing to ballot in a dispute over pay. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) confirmed more than 100 of the lowest-paid workers at Windsor Castle are due to be balloted from Tuesday, and will decide whether to take non-strike action in a dispute over pay. Mark Serwotka, the PCS general secretary, called the royal family’s treatment of workers “scandalous.” “These workers are loyal t
Europe | France | Culture

The ‘moderate’ imam who claims ‘all women are selfish’

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An imam in France has claimed in a sermon that selfishness is part of “the nature of women”, comments that have shocked all the more because of his reputation as a progressive influence on Islam in the country. “No matter how much good you bestow upon a woman, she will deny it. Her selfishness drives her to deny it.” These were the words of Imam Mohamed Khattabi, delivered during a Friday sermon at the Aicha Mosque in Montpellier, southern France, on March 6, two days before International Women’s Day. Standing high in the mosque’s minbar (pulpit), Khattabi continued: “This
Europe | Scotland | Ethics

Nicola Sturgeon: I’m SNP leader, not Alex Salmond

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Nicola Sturgeon has been forced to reassert she is the SNP leader after Alex Salmond undermined her demands for propping up a minority Labour government after the general election. The First Minister insisted that her predecessor is merely a member of her “team” and “I’m leading the SNP campaign” after he said he would install Ed Miliband in Downing Street regardless of whether a power-sharing deal was reached. His comments undermined Ms Sturgeon’s key campaign message.
Europe | Germany | Business

Why women in Germany need Equal Pay Day in 2015

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Despite legal support and public visibility, women are still paid less than their male colleagues in Germany - and at an alarming rate. On Equal Pay Day 2015, Germans took to the streets in protest. Germany doesn't seem to shy away from tackling women's issues - after all, there's a healthy amount of parental leave guaranteed by the government, and at an average rate of pay that's higher than most countries. There's also a new quota for women in boardrooms to tackle the drastic gender gap in top level management. And equal pay, regardless of gender, is enshrined in Germany's 1949 Basic Law.
Europe | U.K. | Corruption

Mothers Watch Your Children: More than 260 charged in online child abuse operation

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Teachers, civil servants and police are among 264 people that have been charged following an probe targeting those accessing child abuse images online. A total of 745 suspected paedophiles have been arrested in the National Crime Agency's Operation Notarise, launched just over a year ago. The agency said 518 children had been protected as a result. Of those charged, 47 were employed in positions of trust or voluntary roles with access to children, the NCA said. NCA director general Keith Bristow said the volume of work related to online paedophile cases had placed a strain on invest

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