Seals and public morals: space for morality-based trade restrictions? The WTO Appellate Body in May upheld the EU’s seal products ban as being necessary to protect public morals. The question arises whether the protection of ‘cute and cuddly’ seals on this ground is a precursor to a de facto human rights clause in WTO law. Robert Wardle • June 24, 2014
Japanese whaling: ‘scientific research’ peer-reviewed Yet another clash at sea. Time to end Japanese whaling. Caspar van Woensel • February 18, 2014
Western governments, practice what you preach Some governments call for other governments to cease committing atrocities, the likes of which they also commit themselves. But does that hypocrisy affect the message they are sending? Janneke Vink • January 30, 2014 • 1 comment
‘Liberal’ parliamentarian: silence those who frustrate economic growth How liberal is a parliamentarian who makes a plea for restrictions on the freedom of expression and who justifies immense institutionalized torture? Janneke Vink • December 06, 2013
Dutch supermarket Albert Heijn fools customer ‘If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian,’ Paul McCartney once noted. That is exactly why Albert Heijn misleads its customers. Janneke Vink • September 26, 2013 • 4 comments
Monkey see, monkey do Just as Michael Jackson and his pet monkey Bubbles, Justin Bieber and his little monkey friend, Mally, are inseparable. Last week, unfortunately, Mally was seized by German customs and put into quarantine. Machteld Zee • April 04, 2013
Food for thought The meat scandal perfectly illustrates the irrational distinctions we make between species and how it influences the way we treat different kind of animals. But can we morally justify this different treatment? Janneke Vink • March 14, 2013 • 6 comments