One of the good things about listening to the World Service news is that it cuts through the nonsense of most domestic news. One story that I mightn’t have otherwise heard is that Russia and Georgia didn’t just fight their summer war with guns.

Both sides apparently employed media relations companies in Brussel to fight their cause with the press. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Twenty-four hour news output on all platforms imaginable makes having some form of control on what goes out there important, and professional PR firms certainly aren’t foreign in other areas where you might not expect them to operate.

Europe & Russia

Recent events in Georgia have led European media to widely discuss the possibility of a second Cold War. Café Babel has an interview with Georgi Khaidrava, a former minister in the Georgian government. The Euranet radio partnership also covers the similarities of the present situation to Cold War rhetoric. Euractiv also carries an interview with Andrew Stroehlein, of the International Crisis Group.

Regional News

Turkey

Turkish police are reported to have used oppressive tactics against a legal environmental gathering, Ecotopia.

Sweden

The leader of Vänsterpartiet has called for co-operation between his party and the Greens and Socialdemokraterna (Social Democrats) in the run-up to the 2010 election, with the possibility of an alliance.

Germany

Electricity companies, RWE and E.ON are lobbying the government to cancel its planned phase-out of nuclear power.

Baltic Sea Region

Baltic states have been criticised in a report by WWF for failing to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea.

Global

United Nations climate talks are underway in Accra, Ghana. Friends of the Earth International has warned of flaws in the carbon trading system, and of the risk of land-rights abuses from the inclusion of forests in carbon markets. The UN has stated that “modest progress” has been made in the talks.

And Finally…

An elderly woman is reported to have placed herself on the luggage belt at Stockholm Airport, believing she was correctly checking in to her flight. It is not reported if she was flying Ryanair, in which case, she may have been right.

War in Georgia

Young Greens from across Europe have called for peace in Georgia, and an end to fighting by all sides. The Romanian Young Greens have also reported a statement from the Foreign Ministry of Georgia that Russian forces “have dropped fire-setting bombs in the woods of the Borjomi district”, severely damaging a unique ecosystem.

Regional News

Ireland

One of the founding members of the Irish Green Party has died. Máire Mullarney, an educationalist who played a large role in promoting home education, was a member of Dublin County Council for eight years. Green Party Press Release, Irish Independent article.

The Minister for the Environment, John Gormley TD, has been criticised in an article in The Herald for his handling of recent flooding in Ireland.

France

The French island of Réunion has set a target to use 100% renewable electricity by 2025, and also to use 100% renewable energy sources for transport by 2050.

Europe

Belarus, Europe’s last remaining dictatorship, has released and pardoned two political prisoners, in an attempt to improve its image for the EU.

The European Parliament at Strasbourg joined The Scottish Parliament in the distinction of having part of the chamber roof collapse. This time the chamber was not in use, though the result was slightly more dramatic.

Australia

New Tasmanian Green MP, Cassy O’Connor has made her maiden speech in the State Parliament of Tasmania.

And finally…

UK newspaper, The Independent has ‘put its foot in it’ with Italy, after writing a piece about a recent tightening up of municipal laws and their enforcement around the country. The article has been described by Italian Deputy Culture Minister, Francesco Giro as “insulting”.

Georgian War

The European Green Party has called for unconditional ceasefire in Georgia. The Co-operation & Development Network of young greens in Eastern Europe has also spoken against the conflict, and plans an action in Hungary to call for peace and remember those killed in the fighting.

Berlin Neo-Nazi Parade

A Neo-Nazi group in Berlin has announced plans for a protest march through an immigrant district, against the construction of a Hindu temple. Derek Wall blogs about it here, and a Facebook group has been formed also.

Party News

Ireland

Questions over the Lisbon Treaty rumble on in Ireland, as an email is sent to Party members, asking for their views on the controversial treaty. The Irish Times covers the story.

Meanwhile, there are concerns over changes to the student-finance system, with a demonstration being planned, involving the Irish Young Greens. Again, the Irish Times have the story.

UK

Caroline Lucas MEP featured in an article in The Independent on Monday, in which she answered questions from members of the public (and a few party members).

Europe

The European Green Party has criticised the attendance of European leaders at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing.

France has laid out plans for progress on environmental measures during its presidency of the European Union.

The EU is in the early stages of examining a ‘supergrid’ electricity distribution system to bring solar power from the Sahara to European states.

László Kovács, EU Taxation Commissioner, has supported the concept of windfall taxes on oil companies, to compensate the poor for high fuel costs.

Rules limiting power consumption for some electronic devices while on standby are expected to be approved by the EP later this year, probably taking force in 2010.