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Irish Independent
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: Hundreds of thousands speak up for voiceless in Gaza, but EU can do more
No one can say for sure how many unarmed civilians have been killed by Israel's missiles, drone bombs, tank shells and shootings. The current estimate is at least 55,000 people dead. Many more have been maimed and left homeless. There are also many dead under bombed buildings. On May 29, volunteers near the Palace of Westminster read out the names of 16,000 children killed in the war in Gaza. It took 18 hours. It was to also highlight the starvation of Palestinian children and the indiscriminate bombing in Gaza. On June 7, around 300,000 people marched in Rome. They believe Italy's government has been too silent on the war in Gaza. One of their banners read: 'Stop the massacre, stop complicity.' On June 15, about 150,000 people marched in The Hague. Meanwhile, 100,000 people marched in Brussels. The EU is not united in taking action against Israel's horrific war in Gaza. EU countries including Ireland and Spain speak out independently. So does Norway. The founders of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which came into being in 1951 and evolved into the EU, worked for economic co-operation for peace in Europe. They are long gone, but I hope they would want the EU to be a strong voice for a tormented population in Gaza. The war is aimed very much at them, possibly to push them out of Gaza where they have lived legally for generations, as recognised by the UN. I hope Hamas will return the remaining Israeli hostages. It needs to show humanity too. ADVERTISEMENT Mary Sullivan, College Road, Cork Complex history of Israel's war in Palestine goes back a lot farther than 1948 Your editorial of July 1 ('Netanyahu must be stopped, and only the US has the power to do it'); Sam Kiley's comment piece ('Trump isn't the guide out of horror landscape that Palestinians and Israelis so desperately need', July 3); and Raymond Deane's letter ('Peace does indeed need two sides to make it work, so why let Israel off the hook?', July 3) all illustrate clearly the frustration of people all over the world at the atrocious and by now undeniable genocidal attacks on innocent Palestinians, our fellow human beings. Mr Deane, like many, thinks the Israel war on Palestine began in 1948. In 1960, Jamal Nasir (1922-2014), a former justice minister and acting foreign minister of Jordan, published The Embittered Arab: The Bitter Story of the Holy Land. In it, he stated that the war began in 1920. This book details historical events in Palestine, from the Sykes-Picot Agreement to the aftermath of World War II (the British-Palestine Mandate) and the UN Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The only respite from violence in Palestine was from 1939 to 1945, because of Arab support for the Allies. Chapter five in the book finishes with Dr Nasir's warning: 'Public opinion in the world should realise that Israel is marching with dreadful certainty to a clash over her determination to embezzle and to encroach on Arab territory and rights in the Middle East, which is more likely, than any other single event, to precipitate a Third World War.' I sincerely hope this is not a prescient warning. Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia Jews were expelled from Arab countries en masse over two millennia ago The history of Israel did not begin in 1948. The Jews were twice expelled from their lands over time, in 586BC by the Babylonian empire and in 70AD by the Romans. They spread throughout the Middle East and Europe. Over 950,000 Jews were expelled by the Arab countries between 1925 and 1950, when 70pc of Jews returned to Israel. Let's not forget the Hebron Massacre in 1929 when 69 Jews were slain by Arabs. The history of this complicated conflict between Arabs and Jews started long before 1948, but it suits some to suggest otherwise. Anthony Costello, Galway Kneecap failed to see that profanity can be a useful tool when used sparingly Mary Kenny is right to argue that swearing, when used sparingly, can carry weight ('Swear words can signal lack of respect, but foul language sometimes has its uses', July 3). I've always found that when someone who never curses suddenly does, it makes me focus. The word lands differently. It means something. That's precisely why I found the Kneecap Glastonbury performance so off-putting – it was not the sentiment, but the sheer volume of profanity. It was gratuitous, repetitive and ultimately dull. It reminded me of Madonna on the Letterman show in the 1990s, when she used the F-word 13 times in a single interview. Swearing may have its place, but like most things in life, less is more. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh A memorable seven-day forecast on dreary Ireland from a sorrowful mother Reading Ian O'Doherty ('Welcome to the Irish summer, when the showers of rain become slightly warmer', July 2) reminded me of a story from many years ago. It goes as follows. A young man, an only son, emigrated to America, leaving behind his sorrowful mother, who had been recently widowed. His mother, in a letter to her son, said the weather hadn't been too bad in recent times. It had only rained twice last week, once for three days, and then for four days. In his return letter to his mother, the emigrant son replied that she was very lucky indeed that it hadn't poured rain for the whole week. Tom Towey, Cloonacool, Co Sligo Reeves's tears are reminder of Thatcher's comment on politics lacking sympathy There is much we still don't know or understand about what happened in Westminster on Wednesday, when UK chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves was in tears beside prime minister Keir Starmer. I am reminded of the words of former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher: 'There are no personal sympathies in politics.'
Korea Herald
12-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Keep Europe high on Korea's agenda, says outgoing EU ambassador
Outgoing European Union Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez called for Korea to continue keeping Europe high on its diplomatic and strategic agenda, marking the 75th anniversary of Europe Day in Seoul on Friday. Under the theme 'Partnering for Peace and Security,' the day celebrated 75 years since the historic Schuman Declaration, a 1950 speech by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman that laid the groundwork for European integration by proposing a European Coal and Steel Community. Remembering the declaration, Fernandez said the motto was to unite Europe by pooling coal and steel production to prevent future wars, support post-war recovery, and ultimately form today's 27-member European Union. 'Whatever government is in place, do not take us for granted. Europe is a reliable partner — principled, consistent, predictable — a partner you can trust,' underlined Fernandez. 'We are not only a partner for prosperity — Korea's third trading partner and top investor," she said. "We are also a partner for security — to promote peace and stability worldwide through diplomacy and cooperation,' Fernandez added. Recalling her tenure, Fernandez highlighted EU-Korea progress on digital trade agreements and cooperation on research and innovation. 'It is now time to put all these commitments into real action — the Ppali Ppali way! Let's invest in this relationship — in its people, its culture, and its heritage," she said, urging to engage the union's 27 countries. "Reach out to Korea,' she said, urging European countries to underline people-to-people ties and mutual trust amid global challenges such as war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo described the EU as 'a visionary and consistent partner,' noting Korea-EU cooperation in diplomacy, security, and trade, and stressed that 'the global community must uphold international rules and reduce harmful practices that undermine fair competition.' 'Now, it's the responsibility of the global community to support and reinforce that voice so that we all can prosper and strengthen our economies,' said Han. Norbert Behringer, a European resident in Korea since the 1970s, told The Korea Herald that small Korean businesses and young entrepreneurs interested in European technologies should meet people there. Taking the strength of small German companies specialized with products as an example, he said Korean companies should seek out new technologies from those "hidden champions." 'You can't rely solely on big companies like Hyundai or Samsung. Korea needs 100,000 small businesses — each with a unique product and specialized expertise,' he said, suggesting that Koreans focus on nurturing SMEs for long-term economic sustainability. The celebration brought together a diverse group of diplomats, business leaders, Korean officials, civil society actors, and media, reaffirming the enduring strength of Korea-EU relations. sanjaykumar@
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU Commission aims to tackle steel industry's economic challenges
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with representatives of the European Union's steel industry to address economic challenges including weak demand and price pressures. "Steel is everywhere, from wind power to defence," von der Leyen said, after the gathering with European industry leaders, social partners and stakeholders. "But European steelmakers are at a crossroads, facing the challenges of necessary decarbonization and partly unfair global competition," she added. The commission plans to present an action plan in two week's time to help the sector prosper and reduce its carbon emissions. "The steel industry is under great pressure," a commission press release said. Production costs in the EU have risen due to high energy prices while product prices have dropped due to a global overcapacity and decreased demand. "Consequently, the sector could not invest in clean steel, which is needed for the decarbonization of this industry," the statement read. The steel industry is responsible for around 5% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the EU and 7% globally, according to commission figures. US President Donald Trump's potential plans to impose a 25% tariff on aluminium and steel imports from the EU are causing additional concern. "The European steel industry, with approximately 500 production sites across 22 member states, contributes around €80 billion ($84.4 billion) to the EU's GDP (gross domestic product) and supports over 2.5 million jobs," a press release said. European steel products are used for automotive, construction, defence, net-zero technologies, electric vehicles and critical infrastructure, the commission stated. The forerunner of the EU was the European Coal and Steel Community, founded in 1951, which then became the first iteration of the current EU with the Treaty of Rome in 1957. Sign in to access your portfolio
