A campaign aimed at encouraging young people to get involved in politics has taken its message to Europe.

Bite the Ballot was in Brussels yesterday to speak to members of the European Parliament about developing links in other EU countries.

Dartford teacher Michael Sani spearheaded the scheme in 2010 after his own pupils told him they were not interested in politics.

Catherine joined fellow Lib Dems on the campaign trail as they work hard to help Vivian Achwal win the Winchester Southern Parishes seat on Hampshire County Council.

She said: "The team was out in force in Wickham on Friday, despite the icy rain, and there was a great deal of positive response on the doorsteps.

Euro MPs last night insisted Governments pay the price for failing to protect biodiversity.

The European Parliament has called for a 'No Net Loss' principle, so countries which damage nature also compensate for the hit.

It came as a report revealed the "silent crisis" of biodiversity loss costs the EU around 450 billion Euros every year.

Under threat Post Offices across the South East have been offered a lifeline, thanks to a new deal announced today.

Liberal Democrat business minister Ed Davey said a ten-year agreement with Royal Mail meant the signs were "extremely encouraging" for the future of the Post Office.

It offers additional certainty to sub-postmasters and covers the full range of Royal Mail products available at post offices such as first and second class post, parcels, air mail, recorded and special deliveries.

Campaigners today told of their disappointment after two people traffickers were ordered to pay back a tiny amount of their ill-gotten gains.

OXCAT (Oxford Community Against Trafficking) said profits from trafficking should be seized and spent on the campaign to stop human exploitation.

Anastassios Papas and Graham Cochrane ran the Fun Girls in Oxford escort agency, which offered Eastern European women for sex in hotels and clients' homes.

A world record breaking ocean rowing team has hammered home the message about human trafficking, South East MEP Catherine Bearder said today.

The Row for Freedom crew became the first all-female team to cross the Atlantic Ocean unaided following 45 days at sea.

More people have flown into space and climbed Mount Everest than row across an ocean, but the quintet successfully pulled into Barbados this morning (SUNDAY).

Euro MPs today backed tougher action to tackle the spiralling problem of dangerous electronic rubbish.

It came after South East MEP Catherine Bearder last night told the European Parliament it was "time to stop dumping on our neighbours".

Around one million tonnes of so-called e-waste from old TVs and radios to trashed mobile phones and computers are thrown out in the UK each year.

Opposition was today mounting against plans for a £50 billion airport in the Thames Estuary.

It was reported the Government is becoming "increasingly interested" in a proposal for an airport on the Isle of Grain in North Kent.

However, Liberal Democrats have said they are opposed to the idea, which has been dubbed 'Boris Island' after the London Mayor's support for the scheme.

A pledge to enforce a ban on battery hens across the European Union has been welcomed by South East MEP Catherine Bearder.

Cramped cages were supposed to be banned from this month, but the European Commission looked set to let some member states off the hook.

The decision had angered many UK egg producers who had already spent around £400m on larger cages for their birds.

Catherine has written to UEFA President Michel Platini in an effort to encourage the Euro 2012 organisers to raise awareness of sex trafficking ahead of this summer's tournament...

Dear Mr Platini,

Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine is an opportunity to showcase football as well as the diverse communities in our continent to the rest of the world.

Strategies to discuss the protection of lions were discussed today by representatives of the charity LionAid and the European Commission in a meeting arranged by South East MEP Catherine Bearder.

Catherine has been working with LionAid towards a ban on the import of lion trophies into the EU and arranged the meeting with members of the EU's Environment Commission so they could raise their concerns and discuss the options for the future.

A lifeline to save sinking ferry firm SeaFrance is vital to protect jobs and maintain competition in cross channel travel, South East MEP Catherine Bearder said today.

Around 130 Dover jobs including office workers and check-in staff could be lost after the ferry operator went into liquidation.

It came as a French court rejected a plan by SeaFrance workers to set up a co-operative and revive the loss-making business.

An extra £1.4m for social care in Oxfordshire will mean people can leave hospital earlier and receive better care at home, South East MEP Catherine Bearder said today.

The cash comes from an extra £150m announced by the Coalition Government this week to be spent on shortening hospital stays across the country during the busy winter period.

President Obama has declared January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, in a move welcomed by South East MEP Catherine Bearder.

The Whitehouse has pledged to work harder in its efforts to stamp out trafficking networks in the US and around the world.

President Obama said: "We recommit to bringing an end to this inexcusable human rights abuse."

A message was sent to the European Commission today: end torturous journeys for exported animals.

Catherine Bearder, a Liberal Democrat MEP for the South East, spent the day in Ramsgate with campaigners from Kent Action Against Live Exports (KAALE).

The group is urging Europe to put an eight hour limit on live exports and toughen up on its rules for animal welfare.

A petition demanding an eight hour limit for animal exports has attracted almost one million signatures.

Catherine Bearder, a Liberal Democrat MEP for the South East, will meet campaigners on Thursday (December 22) to help hit the target before the petition's deadline next month.

The petition is an EU Citizens' Initiative which - if one million signatures are gathered - would force the European Commission to consider new legislation.

Cancer survival rates have improved by 3.7 per cent across the South East in ten years, figures showed today.

The study showed 66.4 per cent of people diagnosed with cancer in the region beat the illness in 2009 compared to 62.7 per cent in 2001.

South East MEP Catherine Bearder found out how the rates were being improved during a visit to the Southampton Cancer Research UK Centre on Friday.

Ahead of talks between Ministers at the EU Council meeting this week, Catherine Bearder has written to Norman Baker to urge the UK government to stand firm against the lobbying of the Canadian oil industry and remain committed to being the greenest government ever.

The letter said:

"I write to you in view of your department's current consideration of the European Commission's proposal to implement provisions of Article 7a of the EU Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) and the forthcoming meeting of Energy ministers at the EU Council.

Speaking in a debate in the European Parliament on the EC-Uzbekistan agreement and bilateral trade in textiles, Catherine Bearder choose to remind the Commission of the scale of forced child Labour in the Uzbekistani cotton industry.

Catherine's Speech was: "Jordan, a schoolgirl from my constituency speaking about forced child labour last week, said

Just how healthy is your favourite fruity drink?

That is the question South East MEP Catherine Bearder demanded juice makers answered today.

Euro MPs voted at Strasbourg in favour of putting in place stricter rules on the composition of fruit juices and ensure companies stick to stricter labelling guidelines.