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Catherine Bearder MEPMember of the European Parliament for South East England |
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My Agenda as an MEP
Valuing Our Environment
As the wife of a zoologist, I spent four years in the African bush helping my husband with his studies first on the spotted hyeana and then on bushbabies. This gave me first hand knowledge of how much, and how fast, the natural world is under threat from human activity. We now know that not only is the natural environment under threat, but our climate is changing as a direct result of mankind's activity.
I have grave concern about what is happening. It is this concern that got me into active politics in the very first place. So as a Lib Dem politician I have consistently put this passion and experience to use as an environmental campaigner, and I see the European Parliament the place to really tackle these issues. I see progress on climate change, biodiversity and sustainability - issues that can only be effectively tackled across borders - as the priority for my time as an MEP. Within the party I have worked to raise the green agenda as Vice-President of the Green Lib Dems, and now as an MEP for the South East region I have the opportunity to make a real difference.
Human rights and cross border crime
Being a member of the European Union has brought many benefits to the people of this country, as it has done to its over 450 million citizens and high among those benefits are the protection of human rights. However, in this age of terrorism and populist politics hard won human rights are again under threat. We need a firm and loud Liberal voice in the Parliament, defending the hard won rights of our citizens and getting further action on those who are currently left out of this agenda such as those facing persecution and victims of criminal activity.
How awful it is so soon after we celebrate the 200 years since Wilberforce won his battle against slavery that there are now more people in slavery worldwide than there were then. And there are many women and children held in the EU -being sold and abused over and over again. As this and other cross border criminal activity goes on apace the law enforcement agencies are restricted in what they can do across our open borders.
I pledge to work to help these people, defend all our human rights and stamp out abuses against our citizens and those fleeing for their lives from persecution.
Reforming the workings of the European Union
Whilst we have benefited from the European Union, we are also suffering from its now rather lumbering and outdated mechanisms. In the UK particularly we also suffer from a media that at best ignores the EU and at worst blatantly misrepresents it, The Liberal Democrats are perceived to be the 'pro European' party, and our criticism of its workings are drowned out.
As the South East Director for Britain in Europe I was tasked with raising the profile of the union and I came across so much misunderstanding about what happens and how the EU has benefited us all. We must be honest about what is good, and what is not, in the European parliament, in just the same way as we do about our Westminster parliament. As Liberals we have an agenda for change and we should not be afraid to voice that loud and clear.
In the parliament I will work to make it more efficient and openly democratic. And in the UK, I will be reporting to the local media about my work, supplying information about my work and about how the EU works, so that the voters of the South East region are better informed, and thus able to make informed decisions when it comes to voting on issues that affect them. I will also continue to work with local organisations and schools to help them raise the profile of the parliament.
And most of all, I will work with other Liberal Democrats across the continent to stop the time and money wasting trips every month to Strasbourg for the plenary sessions of the parliament.
I am already a signature of the 'Oneseat' campaign which has over 1 million signatures I encourage you all to join me in supporting this campaign.
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