Danish minister questioned over Western Sahara trade

The Danish Minister for Development Cooperation was criticized by two Danish MP’s in regard to Denmark’s and the EU’s intent to ignore the European Court of Justice ruling on trade with Moroccan colony Western Sahara.

Last Thursday in the Danish European Affairs Committee, the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs was questioned on a Danish government document that referred to EU-negotiations in regard to trade with Western Sahara.

Don’t trade with Western Sahara says Danish parliament

Thursday the Danish parliament unanimously passed a motion on Western Sahara that urges Danish companies and the Danish public sector not to trade with Africa’s last colony.

During the debate that preceded the vote, Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristian Jensen said he would talk to Danish companies to ensure that they know of the motion and the position the Danish parliament has now taken on Western Sahara.

Beautiful light at the end of the tunnel

For Gladsaxe’s many cyclists, ‘tunnel vision’ will take on a completely new and luminous meaning in the near future, when tunnels are fitted with spectacular new interactive orange “wheels”.

Twelve tunnels will light the way of cyclists to spectacular effect in the Danish Municipality of Gladsaxe along the Farum Cycle Super Highway, a network of bikeways running through the Municipality of Gladsaxe parallel to a motorway. They provide commuting cyclists with a safe, smooth and comfortable ride with as few stops as possible.

Salt of the earth keeps conflict alive

Are a Danish company and three Danish municipalities helping to prop up Africa’s last colonizing power in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara, by buying conflict salt in violation of international law?

Where does the salt that arrived in Denmark from El Aaiun (Laayoune) Harbour in occupied Western Sahara on 2. February come from? This is a question that the Danish municipalities of Aabenraa, Haderslev and Tønder ought to be asking themselves, after they struck a deal with Danish salt distributor Dansk Vejsalt last year.

International youth organization calls for democracy in Swaziland

The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) passed a resolution at its 31st world congress that called for a process that would unban political parties, remove repressive legislation and introduce multi-party democracy in Swaziland.

The resolution, passed on Saturday, also called for an end to the systematic harassment, intimidation and incarceration of political activists and the unconditional release of political prisoners and return of exiles, as well as for the isolation of Swaziland until these demands are met.

Thorning didn’t save the children

Former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s appointment as chief executive of Save the Children has made headlines in Denmark because of her anti-immigration position and her party’s support of a new immigration bill. Many have criticized her policies, including the Danish branch of Save the Children.

“Children’s protection, rights and development have always been close to my heart, and I look forward to doing everything I can to help us deliver on our bold but simple ambitions: that no child under five dies from preventable causes”.

Swaziland documentary nominated for international award

“Swaziland – Africa’s last monarchy”, a documentary film about activist Bheki Dlamini by award-winning Danish investigative journalist Tom Heinemann, has been nominated in the short film category at the Al-Jazeera International Film Festival.

The main character in the documentary, young activist Bheki Dlamini, says that he is pleased with the nomination as well as with the publicity that the film has given the struggle for democracy and social justice in his homeland of Swaziland.