EUROPEAN UNION IN THE BALANCE

The delicate point at which the EU currently finds itself could develop into one of the most dangerous crises in its half-century of history, writes Joaquin Roy, Jean Monnet Professor and director of the European Union Centre of the University of Miami. In this article, Roy writes that the drama will unfold in May. First, on May 5, British prime minister Tony Blair stands for re-election. If the conservatives prevail, which is improbable, they will seek to halt the euro-train and force it back into the station of pure free trade, far from the federalist path. If Blair wins, he will have to convince the British to enter Europe for real. France presents a different problem if on May 29 it rejects the Constitution. A French rejection would unleash a torrent of collateral damage: a bad example for the new members, deception in Germany, slow erosion of the euro, and a death blow to foreign policy. Not even the alternative of an economic Europe would be safe, tied as it would be to political commitments. Without the prospect of a real EU, the justification of the common currency would collapse of its own weight. The richest countries, with Germany at the top, could not only consider the euro as a temporary mechanism but also oppose it on the grounds it only serves to protect the new, and poorest members. And without a constitution, a common foreign policy, not to mention an autonomous defence system independent of NATO, makes little sense.

THE WORLD MUST CHOOSE: ARMED SECURITY OR HUMAN SECURITY

Today\'s world faces an existential choice between armed security and human security, writes Sylvia Borren, Executive Director Novib/Oxfam Netherlands. In this article, the author writes that armed security means the elite of the world defending its privilege with guns, gates, and walls against the great majority of the world who live in abject poverty. Three figures give us a clear indication of where we are heading: 50 billion dollars a year are spent on aid, 350 billion dollars on agricultural subsidies in rich countries, and 900 billion dollars or more spent on arms. Borren calls for building a deeper democracy and local leadership; creating a national governance system which creates an enabling environment; and providing global justice, coherence, and stability. The Millennium Development Goals can actually be met quite easily if we approach them in a rights-based and gender-based way, eliminating agricultural subsidies and dumping, freeing indebted countries from debt, increasing development to 0.7 percent of GDP, and a number of other actions.

This column is related to World Press Freedom Day, which is 3 May: NEPAL: JOURNALISM IN A TIME OF EMERGENCY

On February 1 Nepal\'s King Gyanendra sacked the prime minister he had appointed, took power himself, and declared a state of national emergency, and Nepal\'s vibrant and free press was suddenly muzzled, writes Kunda Dixit, editor and co-publisher of the Katmandu-based weekly newspaper, Nepali Times. In this article, the author writes that constitutionally the emergency will lapse next week unless reimposed by parliament. But there is no parliament and no elected prime minister. There are strong calls from political leaders, activists, the media and the international community to have the emergency lifted and the press freed. King Gyanendra said his army needed the emergency to concentrate on defeating the Maoists. But muzzling the media has actually helped the Maoists because the censored press has lost credibility and few believe it even when the government is telling the truth. In addition, the media\'s reporting of Maoist atrocities are also not getting reported, and in the absence of facts wild rumours are rife. Prolonging the emergency will just bolster the argument of those who believe that it was not really designed to curb Maoism, but to put down pluralism. Lifting the state of emergency is in the interest of this country, its people, and its monarch.

THE ACEHNESE MUST GUIDE THEIR OWN RECONSTRUCTION

As the response to the overwhelming destruction in Aceh from the December 26 tsunami enters the reconstruction phase, the Indonesian government and foreign aid agencies must limit their roles in providing financial and technical assistance to the Acehnese, writes Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesia\'s leading novelist. In this article, Toer writes that the reconstruction work, including the generation of designs and setting of priorities, must be left to the Acehnese themselves, who know their territory best and what they need and how to achieve it. The Indonesian central government must respect what they say. This does not mean, however, that the money allocated and donated by foreign countries for reconstruction should be managed by the Acehnese. Corruption in Indonesia, whether in Aceh or in other parts of the country, is rampant. It should not be surprising if funds donated by foreign countries for tsunami victims are embezzled or stolen. To prevent this from happening, foreign donations for the reconstruction of Aceh must be managed by international non-governmental organisations.

Protecting Birds by Hunting Them with Binoculars

Hobbyists of all ages are working to identify birds in Latin America. Some 649 species could disappear from the region by 2020, say experts.

Drought Takes Toll on Transgenic Soy

Genetically modified soybeans proved to be the weakest variety in withstanding drought in Brazil. In some areas, as much as 80 percent of the transgenic crop was lost.

Ecobreves – CUBA: Sewage Treatment for Beach

The Sibarimar Program, led by the Cuban non-governmental group Pronaturaleza, aims to eliminate dumping of wastewater along Guanabo Beach, the most visited beach in the east of the Cuban capital.

Ecobreves – CHILE: Reforesting a Burnt Park

A month after the fire that destroyed 15,470 hectares of native forest in the Torres del Paine National Park, in the far south of Chile, efforts have begun to reforest the area with 'ñirres' (Nothofagus antarctica), 'lengas' (Nothofagus pumilio) and other native tree species.

Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Technical Forum on Water Issues

The Venezuelan Environment Ministry and the non-governmental organization Vitalis have set up a technical forum to improve water management in the country's poor communities.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Eco-Ed Campaign Launched

The National Association of Honduran Communication Media joined a campaign for education and prevention in response to the severe shortage of water in the two reservoirs that supply most of the water to the capital, where rationing is now in place.

Environment-Themed World Expo a First for the Millennium

Beginning Mar. 25, pavilions will represent the messages of 122 countries at the World Expo in Japan as they laud ''Nature's Wisdom''.

Whales Can't Hear Love Songs of Potential Mates

Whales along Italy's northwest Mediterranean coast are unable to reproduce. The culprit is severe noise pollution, which drowns out mating calls.

Ecobreves – ARGENTINA: Call for Nuclear Plant Closure

Argentine environmental groups are opposed to a project to extend the life of the Embalse nuclear plant by 20 years. The energy plant was slated for closure in 2010.

Ecobreves – COLOMBIA: Colombian Coffee Goes to Disney World

Visitors to Animal Kingdom park, one of the largest areas of the Walt Disney World recreational complex in the southeastern U.S. state of Florida, will have the opportunity to enjoy Mesa de Los Santos coffee, a delicacy among coffees from Colombia.

Ecobreves – MEXICO: Lightbulbs That Don't Pollute

Scientists from the Metropolitan Autonomous University of Mexico are putting the final touches on the first fluorescent light that is free of environmentally harmful gases and powders.

Ecobreves – GUATEMALA: Fire Threatens Mayan Biosphere

Environmental authorities will ask the Guatemalan Congress to declare a national emergency for the 239 hotspots detected via satellite in the northern jungles of the Petén department.

Ecobreves – PERU: Prize for Amazon Flower Grower

The Peruvian National Prize for Women in Microbusiness went to Margarita Ríos, 58, who for the past seven years has grown and exported exotic flowers in the northeastern Amazonian city of Iquitos.

Ecobreves – GUATEMALA: Eyes on Flora and Fauna

Over the next two months a biology center will be set up in the northern Guatemala department of Petén to gather satellite data on the plant and animal life of the Yaxhá Park.

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Transgenics Expand

Fields of genetically modified crops will see rapid expansion in Brazil now that the Biosecurity Law, approved by Congress on Mar. 2, legalizes channels for pursuing this form of biotechnology.

Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Dogs and Cats Poisoned

Hundreds of dogs and cats in Venezuela have died in recent weeks after consuming Dog Chow and Cat Chow, made by the transnational Purina, which accidentally distributed a shipment contaminated by aflatoxin, a poisonous substance that develops in corn as a result of excess heat and humidity.

Ecobreves – CHILE:: Forest Fire Leaves Devastating Bottom Line

The 16,000 hectares consumed by a fire in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park included native plant species like lenga, coigüe de Magallanes and ñirre, devastating forests and plains that are the habitat of guanacos, puma, fox and rhea.