What Nigel Farage told British expats in Spain

● Nigel Farage on Talk Radio Europe - click to hear

About two million Brits live, work, study or are retired in other EU countries.  Over 800,000 of them are estimated to reside in Spain alone; over one million if you include those who sojourn there for just part of each year. 

The numbers might now be higher, as the latest estimates* were published in 2010.  In addition, many tens of thousands of British own second homes right across the European Union – over 140,000 estimated to be in Spain and Italy. 

Understandably, these British expatriates are concerned about what will happen to them, and their homes abroad, if Britain leaves the European Union.  ‘Expat Forums’ are replete with anxious postings about just this subject. 

This month Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-EU UKIP party, was interviewed by Talk Radio Europe, which is based in Spain and broadcasts in English to British expats living there.

Jon Danzig's New Blog: 'EU ROPE'

I have a new blog about Britain's ties with the European Union. It's called 'EU ROPE' and appears on the website of the ‘Academic Association for Contemporary European Studies’ - UACES.  My first posting is about Daily Telegraph readers calling me me 'a moron' because I commented in support of the European Union.  Click to read:

Jon Danzig's new blog: 'EU ROPE'

Lost in Las Vegas

 Jon Danzig is bewildered by the city of sin 

● Jon Danzig gets lost in Las Vegas

I HAVE JUST ARRIVED IN HELL. Well, if it isn't, it's a bloody good imitation. 

This is the place where everything and everyone screams for your money. Signs shout buy me, try me, tip me, win me, play me, rent me, ride me, f**k me.

There isn't another place on the planet that has found more ways to take your money. But in this mob run desert strip, everything is a mirage, from the plastic Eiffel Tower to the plastic chips in every hotel.

The Brotherhood of Europe

On October 8th 1938, Britain's 'Children's Newspaper' ran a visionary pre-war editorial extolling the virtues of Europe as 'one Brotherhood' with a 'common interest which binds its people together'.

One year later, a vicious world war ripped Europe apart, from which it took over 60 years to recover.   If there's a lesson from history about this, it’s surely that ‘The Brotherhood of Europe’ should never be broken again.  Our strength is being united and together. 

End of the National Health Service?

Jon Danzig asks about the original aims of the NHS

Britain's cherished National Health Service, 'The NHS', was born in 1948 and pioneered by the UK's post-war Health Minister, Aneurin Bevan. 

Next Monday, 1st April 2013, the NHS in England will undergo enormous changes to the way it's managed and funded. Some claim it will be 'the end of the NHS as we know it.'

This week, at the Royal Society of Arts, LBC Radio broadcast a live debate about the future of the NHS.  Jon Danzig was the first in the audience to ask a question.  Click to listen: Jon Danzig asks about the NHS (1 minute 25 seconds; edited extract)

UK media needs a sex change

Columnist Richard Littlejohn wrote against transgender teacher, Lucy Meadows. Click to read. 

Last week transgender teacher, Lucy Meadows, was found dead.  It’s assumed she committed suicide following intensely personal attacks against her by some media commentators.   National press interest followed an announcement last Christmas by a north England junior school that their teacher, Nathan Upton, would be returning next term as Lucy Meadows.  

To escape reporters, Ms Meadows had to arrive at school early and leave late.  She complained in private emails about the trauma the press interest was causing her.  Daily Mail columnist, Richard Littlejohn, wrote, “He’s not only in the wrong body.. he’s in the wrong job.” 

Human Rights: What Are They?

This is a simplified version of the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  

After the appalling atrocities of the Second World War, the United Nations came into existence.  One of their first tasks was the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  It’s been translated into more languages than any other document.  Unfortunately, however, the principles of ‘human rights’ have yet to be translated into reality for most of the world’s 7 billion people.  Without enforcement, a ‘right’ is just a word.

See also: 'Why we must never abandon human rights'

Why we must never abandon human rights

This morning I saw for the first time a short 1950's French documentary screened at ‘The Cinema and Human Rights Days’ film festival at Birkbeck University, London.  

‘Night and Fog’ is shocking, harrowing and true.  It reveals a gnawing glimpse of the horror of the Holocaust.  This film needs to be seen, preserved and re-shown to every future generation, so that we never forget.

Are chemicals killing us?

Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals entering the environment. Photo: UNEP

Hormone disrupting chemicals used by humans in every-day life are becoming a “global threat” according to a major United Nations report published this week. 

A question of guns