#eu values

[sofiaflorina2021]

Europe Must Be Strong

As I have written before, European values are in line with my personal values and therefore I will always support European values! These values are good and should be spread throughout the world with adaptations to societies outside Europe.

Every European country and its people must be strong in themselves. Europe as a whole must be strong on its own and this includes defence, which for many years has been heavily dependent on the United States. It's time for them to straighten themselves out from the United States.

This doesn't mean that I'm completely pro-Europe or Eurocentric, no. Don't get me wrong on that thing. I am an internationalist, I am for peace and freedom. Let's unite to make a better world for everyone. In varietate concordia, united in diversity.

[liesmyth]

second worst thing about the elections, beyond the results, is that most people just... don't care? they go through their lives thinking it's not a big deal. some of them are hateful bigots. some are clueless idiots just barely privileged enough to think they're not being directly affected. imagine just not giving a fuck

[child-of-hurin]

.

I DO get this post and I think many interesting things HAVE BEEN done with this concept, and it can be explored,

but there is something so fundamentally western about this post because cannibalism was and is one of the top 3 excuses for colonialism!! The very real and varied forms of exocannibalism and endocannibalism practices by the natives of the Americas was, and still is, the easiest route to dehumanize them and justify the atrocities committed against them!

Cannibalism is a powerful western taboo and I get the appeal of using it as a metaphor to talk about other taboos, and I do think such an approach could be done successfully and with nuance, and maybe I'm being unfair to a one-sentence post -- but oh the way this comes across in the context of the actual, real life history! The inescapability of discussing colonialism always on the moral playing field of the colonizers! What does signalizing the monstrosity of colonialism through cannibalism say about the colonized who ate, indeed, the flesh of other men?

[maryasmorevna]

why are you, as an adult in 2024, still hung up on reylo. why are you still mocking the shippers. why do you believe yourself to be superior only because you dislike a stupid ship from a fucking space fairytale. girl (gnc) get a grip

[yuri-for-businesswomen]

how are the posts about the eu elections literally more annoying than the ones about us elections. didnt think that was possible. and why is literally nobody differentiating the european union and europe. so you are politically invested but dont even bother to use the right terminology even though there are 20 different countries in europe that are not in the union? oh you worry the eu is going to become fascist now when it has been such a beacon of peace and freedom before? maybe im cynical but the takes i see make my eyes roll into my head. reverse the european union back to be a trade union im begging i cant do this anymore.

[kuronekonerochan]

Red and Green are children.

Red is up to 4.

No one can be a terrorist at that age. No one can be anything political at that age.

They can only be victims. Since this is not a natural disasters they aren't casualties. They are murder victims.

And in these numbers they aren't collateral damage either. Israel has drones, precise strike weapons and by their own admission one of the best if not the best intelligence service. They have no need for mass bombings if the goal was to target Hamas. They are targeting civilians, palestinians in general and children.

Children cannot be named in any other terms other than innocent murdered victims of a genocide.

"Israel has a right to defend itself". From children? From up to 4yo infants?

Fuck them and fuck every government leader that still supports or tries to justify this. I am specifically pointing the finger at the German prime minister. Israel is bombing the ambulances who were finally allowed to enter the Gaza strip.

That is another war crime to add to the neverending list that is being ignored or even supported by most first world democracies. Their response has been in some cases censorship of protests against this ongoing genocide. How very democratic of you.

names not numbers

The Palestinian Ministry of Health released a report on Thursday, including the names of more than seven thousand Palestinians who were martyred in the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip.

Red color highlights 0-4 years old age group

Green color highlights age group 5-17

White color highlights the age group between 18 and 59 years old

Gray color highlights the age group over 60

These are not just names, but people killed in the midst of a brutal war. Remember their names.

(Designed by @georgedeebstudios on insta)

[head-post]

EPPO seized €5m as part of fuel fraud investigation

In an investigation into a complex VAT fraud on imported fuel, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bologna, Italy, the Modena Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) this month seized €5 million worth of assets in the provinces of Modena and Ravenna, EPPO reports.

At issue is the suspected Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC) fraud, a complex criminal scheme that exploits EU rules on cross-border transactions between member states because they are exempt from value added tax (VAT).

The investigation began following a tax audit by the Guardia di Finanza, Modena’s economic financial police unit, which revealed that the suspect company had imported fuel at a particularly favourable price through a fraudulent chain of so-called absentee traders – shell companies set up for the sole purpose of evading VAT.

The suspected company then allegedly sold fuel to petrol stations at prices far below market prices, thus gaining an illegal advantage over honest economic operators. The scheme is estimated to have caused a loss of around €14 million to the Italian budget.

At an earlier stage of the investigation, the company’s headquarters were searched and €120,000 in cash was found in the car used by the company’s legal representative.

All persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty before the competent Italian courts.

EPPO is an independent prosecutor’s office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and sentencing offences against EU financial interests.

Read more HERE

[tumblasha]

first time i opened linkedin in a million years in the Hopes of finding job postings in spain. i might be starting a madrid era???

[rachymarie]

We need laws in NZ protecting us from getting those pesky marketing emails we didn't consent to: marketing list, cart reminder, whatever other bullshit they can think of. It's not "converting the sale", it's just turning me into the Incredibly Angry Hulk lol.

And often there is no way to unsubscribe. Grr.

Might do that thing that was suggested in a YouTube video once and make a rule to send all emails that say unsubscribe to a separate folder to be dealt with when spoons.

I even got this super creepy one from a site saying they saw I was browsing and am I still interested in X + Y item - i got the major ick + basically vowed never to buy from them again lol. Plus they cost too much for quality control worse than dropshippers/AliExpress etc.

[hiitsyourneighborhoodbi]

Just for clarification on the SPF thing: I don’t know where @bits-and-pieces-of is from, but many countries like AUS/NZ, the EU, China, South Korea, and Japan cap SPF labels at 50+. In AUS/NZ (and I think the EU), SPF 50+ means the measured SPF is at least 60. In CN/SK/JP, it just means that the measured SPF is greater than 50.

For all of the northerners that stood up for Texas during our freeze and said, "Don't make fun of them, they've never dealt with this before. Their infrastructure isn't made for snow and freezing."

This one is for you.

Where I live 108°F with 80% humidity with no wind is normal.

Pacific North West is dealing historic best waves 35-40°C or 95-105°F.

First of all. Don't make fun of them for bitching about the heat. Just like Texas isn't built for a freeze and our pipes burst, Pacific North West isn't built for heat and a lot of their homes don't have AC.

If you live somewhere with a high humidity like 80+ HUMIDITY IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. The "humidity makes it feel cooler" is a lie once it gets beyond a point.

If you live somewhere with a lower humidity, misters are nice to cool off outside.

Once you get over 90°F (32°C) a fan will not help you. It's just pushing around hot air. (I mean if you can't afford a small AC unit because they're expensive as hell, by all means a fan is better than nothing).

If you have pets, those portable AC units aren't safe. If your pets destroy the outtake thing, it'll leak CO2. Window units are safer.

Window AC units will let mosquitoes or other small bugs in. Sucks, but that's life.

Now is not the time to me modest. If you have to cover for religious reasons, by all means. If you don't, I've seen people wear short shorts and a swim top. It's not trashy if it keeps you from getting heat stroke.

If you do have to cover up for religious reasons, look for elephant pants or something similar. They're made with a breathable material.

Shade is better than no shade, but that shit it just diet sun after some point. Don't think shade will save you from heat stroke.

I know the "drink your water" is a fun meme now, but if you're sweating excessively you need electrolytes. Drink Gatorade, Powerade, or Pedialite PLEASE. I don't care if you're fucking sitting in one spot all day. That shit WILL save you from heat stroke.

Most importantly. RESEARCH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAT STROKE AND HEAT EXHAUSTION PLEASE!

If you're diabetic and can't drink Gatorade, mix water, fruit juice, and either lite salt or pink salt

If you can afford it, cover windows with thick curtains to insulate the house

If you have tile floors, lay on them with skin to tile contact. If you don't, laying your head on cool counters works too.

If the temperature where you're at is hotter than your body temperature, don't wear heat wicking clothing. Moisture wicking is safe though.

Check your medication labels. Many make you more susceptible to sun and heat

-Room temperature water will get into your body faster. This is something I learned doing marching band in high summer in Georgia, and it saved all of our asses. Sip it, don't gulp it, especially if you're getting into the red; same goes for whatever fluid you're drinking. And just in general drink during the day.

-If you are moving from an air conditioned space to an un-air conditioned space, if at all possible try to make the shift gradual. When my dad and I were working outside and in un-ac houses a few years ago, he'd turn the air down to low in the truck about ten-fifteen minutes before we got where we were going. This way your body doesn't go from low low temps to high temps. S'bad for you.

-If you can, keep your lights off during the day. Light bulbs may not generate a lot of heat, but the difference is noticeable when it gets hot enough. I literally only turn my bedroom light on in the evening when it gets too dark.

Don't be afraid to just like... pour water on yourself if you need to. The evaporation will cool you off.

Put your hand to the cement for 15 seconds. If you can't handle the heat, it'll burn your dog's paws. Don't let them walk on it.

Dogs with flat faces are more prone to heat stroke. Don't leave them out unsupervised.

Frozen fruit is delicious in water.

Wet/Cold hat/handkerchief on your head/neck will help you stay cool.

Pickle juice is great for electrolytes! You can even make pickle juice Popsicles!

Heat exhaustion is more, "drink water and get you cooled off." Heat stroke is more "Oh my god call 911."

Image Description provided by @loveize

[Image description: an infographic showing the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The graphic is labeled "Heat Dangers: First Warning." Signs of heat exhaustion: faint or dizzy, excessive sweating, cool, pale, clammy skin, rapid, weak pulse, muscle cramps. If you think you or someone else may be experiencing heat exhaustion, get to a cool, air-conditioned place, drink water if conscious, and take a cool shower or use cold compress. Signs of heat stroke: throbbing headache, no sweating, red, hot, dry skin, rapid, strong pulse, may lose consciousness. If you think you or someone else may be experiencing heat stroke, call 911. End description]

Be safe.

-fae

[tmarshconnors]

Romanian Presidential Election So Predictable

The headlines are ablaze: "Far-Right Candidate Takes Shock Lead in Romania's Presidential Election!" Pundits gasp, commentators wring their hands, and politicians scramble to understand how this "could have happened." Yet, for those of us paying attention, this isn't shocking at all. This is what happens when the political elite force so-called "progressive" policies onto populations without ever asking if the people actually want them. 

The Romanian Context 

Romania, like many nations in Central and Eastern Europe, has been at odds with the relentless push from the EU and global institutions to adopt social policies that often feel disconnected from the cultural and historical fabric of these nations. This includes everything from controversial stances on gender ideology to immigration policies that many Romanians perceive as threats to their national identity. 

It’s not that Romania—or any other nation—wants to exist in a bubble of isolation. It's that they want change to reflect their values, not to be dictated from outside or imposed top-down by self-appointed technocrats. 

The Rise of the Far-Right: A Reaction, Not an Anomaly 

When people feel ignored, they react. The far-right’s surge isn’t a cause; it’s a symptom. Across Europe, we see this pattern over and over again. Hungary, Poland, and Italy have all experienced pushes towards nationalism and conservatism in response to heavy-handed progressive policies. Romania’s current "shock" should have been anticipated.

For years, the mainstream political establishment has ignored concerns about national sovereignty, family values, and traditional culture in favor of advancing their vision of what Romania should be, rather than listening to what Romanians want it to be. Whether it’s the EU’s rigid stance on “wokeness” or an elite class dismissing legitimate concerns as “backwards,” the end result is the same: voters turning to the only candidates who promise to defend their way of life.

The Lesson for Western Elites 

The Romanian election is a cautionary tale for Western elites who stubbornly refuse to heed the warning signs. This is what happens when globalism is forced on proud, independent nations. It’s not the people who are being unreasonable; it’s the political class that fails to understand that identity, culture, and tradition matter. 

What’s ironic is the disdain these leaders show when faced with such electoral results. Instead of asking why people vote for these candidates, they double down, demonizing anyone who resists their agenda as uneducated or intolerant. This strategy is not only ineffective—it’s dangerous. 

The Path Forward: Respect vs. Imposition 

The rise of far-right candidates like this one in Romania will not be a one-off event. It’s part of a broader wave of resistance sweeping across nations that feel patronized and disregarded. If the EU and other global institutions truly want to foster unity, they need to adopt a policy of respect rather than imposition. Sovereignty should not be treated as a dirty word, and values deeply held by millions should not be dismissed as relics of the past.

In the end, the people have the final say. Romania’s election is a wake-up call. Let’s hope the political elites start listening before they lose the trust of even more of their citizens.

[michellesanches]

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[dailyinsightsuk]

What is IOSS and why you should be thinking about becoming registered: Navigating the UK to EU markets.

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[eldrai]

hell island jokes are a lot less funny when you live here

[empresa-journal]

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[cathkaesque]

The local population in countries that export bananas typically eat different varieties grown primarily by small farmers. The ones for the Americans and the Europeans, Cavendish variety bananas, are grown in huge, monoculture plantations that are susceptible to disease. The banana industry consumes more agrichemicals than any other in the world, asides from cotton. Most plantations will spend more on pesticides than on wages. Pesticides are sprayed by plane, 85% of which does not land on the bananas and instead lands on the homes of workers in the surrounding area and seeps into the groundwater. The results are cancers, stillbirths, and dead rivers.

The supermarkets dominate the banana trade and force the price of bananas down. Plantations resolve this issue by intensifying and degrading working conditions. Banana workers will work for up to 14 hours a day in tropical heat, without overtime pay, for 6 days a week. Their wages will not cover their cost of housing, food, and education for their children. On most plantations independent trade unions are, of course, suppressed. Contracts are insecure, or workers are hired through intermediaries, and troublemakers are not invited back.

Who benefits most from this arrangement? The export value of bananas is worth $8bn - the retail value of these bananas is worth $25bn. Here's a breakdown of who gets what from the sale of banana in the EU.

On average, the banana workers get between 5 and 9% of the total value, while the retailers capture between 36 to 43% of the value. So if you got a bunch of bananas at Tesco (the majority of UK bananas come from Costa Rica) for 95p, 6.65p would go to the banana workers, and 38p would go to Tesco.

Furthermore, when it comes to calculating a country's GDP (the total sum of the value of economic activity going on in a country, which is used to measure how rich or poor a country is, how fast its economy is 'growing' and therefore how valuable their currency is on the world market, how valuable its government bonds, its claim on resources internationally…etc), the worker wages, production, export numbers count towards the country producing the banana, while retail, ripening, tariffs, and shipping & import will count towards the importing country. A country like Costa Rica will participate has to participate in this arrangement as it needs ‘hard’ (i.e. Western) currencies in order to import essential commodities on the world market.

So for the example above of a bunch of Costa Rican bananas sold in a UK supermarket, 20.7p will be added to Costa Rica’s GDP while 74.3p will be added to the UK’s GDP. Therefore, the consumption of a banana in the UK will add more to the UK’s wealth than growing it will to Costa Rica’s. The same holds for Bangladeshi t-shirts, iPhones assembled in China, chocolate made with cocoa from Ghana…it’s the heart of how the capitalism of the ‘developed’ economy functions. Never ending consumption to fuel the appearance of wealth, fuelled by the exploitation of both land and people in the global south.