Carola Boehm & Richard McCarthy

Shows

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS2: European Union - Green Deal Part 4/4Rich and Carola have accepted the fact that the EU will probably implement their whole Green Deal before the Dithering Team finishes reviewing it. But undaunted by the extensiveness of the deal, they soldier through two policy areas which should be so much more at the heart of any green economy than the Green Deal makes them out to be: Building & Renovation, and Sustainable Mobility. However, Carola and Rich are not impressed by these two expressions of policy-oriented interventions. If the EU Green Deal is supposed to shift behaviour of member states to chose more green solutions for...2020-11-2336 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS2: European Union - Green Deal Part 3/4In this third of four episodes, Rich and Carola explore sustainable industry, as part of the EU’s Green Deal? As Carola says, faffing time is done. They talk about digital agriculture, algae, sweat, bioenergy, the textile industry, electronics and reusability, plastics, waste policy, and yes, running naked and other green tips. (Wasn’t there a film with that title?). And is there a market advantage to be the market leader in green solutions? Also, a long discussion on how to make cement and steel sectors more sustainable. In this episode we will cover Sustainable Industry Eliminating pollution This deal co...2020-10-2537 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS2: European Union - Green Deal Part 2/3Union’s Green Deal was announced by Ursula von der Leyen back in 2019 and voted in by the European Parliament in January of this year. In this second of three (or will it be four?) episodes, Rich and Carola explore EU's Sustainable Agriculture, they explore policies in this area and what exactly is digital agriculture? This was a very long episodes, so we cut it in two. This one covering only Sustainable Agriculture, leaving Sustainable Industry, and another long discussion on cement and steel, for the next episode. This deal covers 9 policy areas, and in E32, Carola and Rich...2020-10-0533 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS2: European Union - Green Deal Part 1/3(now correct upload) Union’s Green Deal was announced by Ursula von der Leyen back in 2019 and voted in by the European Parliament in January of this year. In this first of three episodes, Rich and Carola touch on the politics of getting to this point and explore three policy areas of the deal: Clean Energy; Farm to Fork; and Biodiversity. Time to get foxy. Who is the pain-in-the-butt nation that the EU is glad to see the back off? And will there be a time again where we can fly without guilt? This deal covers 9 policy areas, and...2020-09-111h 01

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS2: Labour Party UK - Green Industrial Revolution Part 3/3This is the third part of their exploration of the UK Labour Party’s “Green Industrial Revolution”, which was part of their 2019 Manifesto. Rich and Carola give their thumbs up and thumbs down for various policy sections. Bringing back essential services into public ownership and going big on renewables get a big thumbs up, but funding seems to be the missing link. This manifesto sections covers (Green Industrial Revolution): Economy and Energy Transport Environment Animal Welfare This episode, concluding our look at Labour’s GND document, contains Environment and Animal Welfare. Key Links and Resources A green Ind...2020-08-2833 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS2: Labour Party UK - Green Industrial Revolution Part 2/3This is the second part to their exploration of the UK Labour Party’s “Green Industrial Revolution”, which was part of their 2019 Manifesto. Rich and Carola give their thumbs up and thumbs down for various policy sections. Bringing back essential services into public ownership and going big on renewables get a big thumbs up, but funding seems to be the missing link. This manifesto sections covers (Green Industrial Revolution) - Economy and Energy - Transport - Environment - Animal Welfare Because the section on economy and energy took up a whole episode, this episode only contains transport. The next episode will cover th...2020-08-1423 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS2: Labour Party UK – Green Industrial Revolution Part 1/3In their journey to find the perfect Green New Deal, and having put the bar high with the Green Party’s GND covered in the last two episodes, they move on to the Labour Party’s vision for a Green New Deal. The UK’s Labour Party integrated their “Green Industrial Revolution” into the 2019 Manifesto pledges, and Rich and Carola give their thumbs up and thumbs down for various policy sections. Airport expansion and HS2 get a firm thumbs down, but the commitment to various public ownerships get a thumbs up. There is also that thing about football pitches…. This mani...2020-07-3137 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS2: Green Party of England and Wales - Green New Deal Part 2/2Recording this on Super Saturday, and not going to the pub, Carola and Rich are exploring the second half of the GND of England and Wales, and although they cannot agree on whether the six headings represent ‘pillars’ or ‘categories’, they agree on what is their favourite aspect of this GND. This deal covers · ENERGY · HOUSING · TRANSPORT · INDUSTRY · FORESTRY AND FARMING · INCOME The last three are covered in this episode. Links Green Party of England and Wales, Manifesto 2019 https://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/Elections/Green%20Party%20Manifesto%202019.pdf UK Green New Deal Group https://www.greennewdeal...2020-07-1733 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS2: Green Party of England and Wales - Green New Deal Part 1/2Carola and Rich are exploring the GND of the Green Party of England and Wales. It is so comprehensive that they had to discuss this over two episodes. This deal covers ENERGY HOUSING TRANSPORT INDUSTRY FORESTRY AND FARMING INCOME The first three are covered in this episode. Links Green Party of England and Wales, Manifesto 2019 https://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/Elections/Green%20Party%20Manifesto%202019.pdf UK Green New Deal Group https://www.greennewdealgroup.org The Green New Deal Group, The Green New Deal : A Bill to make it happen https...2020-07-0427 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS2: What if we were the government?In this episode: Could Britain move from a Furlough in lockdown to a Universal Basic Income (UBI) ending up in a green economy? It seems to solve so many weaknesses of the current schemes, especially considering our climate catastrophe just around the next corner. Sources Universal Basic Income, Wikipedia Article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_income Examples of UBI like systems – Alsaka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Permanent_Fund Finland Pilot – Guardian Article from 2018 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/23/finland-to-end-basic-income-trial-after-two-years 2020-06-2126 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS2: It’s all in a name: Green New Deals or Environmental and Social Justice?As we all prepare to move into a new socially distanced world, Carola and Rich debate how exactly the economy should be rebooted. Introducing the theme of the season, they are already dithering when deciding on the name of the theme, or is it about concepts? They cover a short history of the term “Green New Deal” and explore some of the existing tensions between different political views on what a Green New Deal should include and what it shouldn’t. In preparation for a season of dissecting various contemporary Green New Deals, they set themselves up to be the contemp...2020-06-1422 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Season Finale and Post-Election BluesThe UK general election has come and gone. We are still here but have a bit of a post-election blues. We also will Brexit by the end of the month (gulp). But we also have some plans for the next phase of our podcast and thus we will take a short break as we prepare for the next season. As we head into carving out a new relationship with our European Union neighbours, the dithering will likely continue, and so will our Dithering podcast. Stay with us, stay subscribed and we’ll soon kick off the new season. 2020-01-1307 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: “You wake up after the General Election on Friday 13th and….”Carola and Rich imagine four different outcomes of the General Election. With this, they prepare themselves for the worst, the best, the ‘meh’ and the ditheringly ‘ughhhh’. Last minute manifesto checks? Here are some links: Sky News - General Election 2019: Compare policies with our interactive manifesto checker - https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-2019-compare-policies-in-our-interactive-manifesto-checker-11864909 Institute of Government - General Election 2019: manifesto tracker - https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/manifesto-tracker A site with links to all manifestos - https://www.brevity.marketing/politics-and-election-marketing/ 2019-12-0930 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: EU Apps (2/2): Taxlandia, Innovation, European TV, European Jobs and a Relocation AppRich and Carola continue to explore all sorts of mobile apps that help people get to grips with what the EU is all about. They test their ability (in a game) to tax a country in order to ensure its citizens' happiness. It does not go too well, and they have to build a dam and face an environmental catastrophe. But the game allows them to get to grips with the benefit of taxes. They also test an app that lists innovation projects, and another one that lists jobs in Europe. They marvel at European TV and explore an app t...2019-12-0133 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: SHORT DITHER: Coffee and TeaOne of our short 'ditherings'. Nothing important, nothing timely. We just captured the moment we discussed our own coffee and tea habits, and how this small part of our culture has something to say about the more significant aspects of UK vs German wealth distribution. How do you have your coffee and tea? Tell us at Twitter @DitheringE 2019-11-2406 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: EU Apps (1/2): Charter, Maps Quiz, EP Research Service and EU Region StatsDitheringE is going digital(er). Rich and Carola are exploring all sorts of mobile apps that help you get to grips with what the EU is all about. Whether you want to test your knowledge of European capitals, recite the articles of the charter, investigate case law, hear stories from across Europe or watch the newest guides about how the EU goes about its EU things, these apps have you covered. IPHONE Apps on the Apple Store (all free) EU Charter App by European Union Apps European Countries Maps Quiz by Andrey Solovyev EP Re...2019-11-1732 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Ursula von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines (6/6): A new push for European DemocracyUrsula von der Leyen’s agenda for the European Commission. This is a big chapter and - we fear - a long episode. The last chapter (and last of our episodes on v.d.Leyen’s political guidelines) is all about democracy; about securing our democracy and safeguarding our European democratic electoral processes, which of course is very fitting as the UK’s political parties have gone all out for their own general election campaigns with various stories already emerging about referendum validity, foreign interference and manipulation of the electorate. Rich and Carola try desperately to not get hung up...2019-11-101h 01

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Ursula Von Der Leyen’s Political Guidelines (5/6): A stronger Europe in the worldCarola is still working from sunny but cold Turku in Finland, and Richard joins from rainy UK. They cover the fifth chapter of the guidelines, starting by making sense of the controversy around the commissioner titles, especially the commissioner for “Protecting our European Way of Life”, which of course was the subject of the last podcast episode. Getting entangled in the definitions of multilateralism, they managed to extract themselves simply to ensnare themselves back into a discussion around free trade. And what exactly should fair trade be in an era of green new deals, and can one use trade agreements to a...2019-10-1344 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Ursula Von Der Leyen’s Political Guidelines (4/6): Protecting our European Way of LifeCarola and Rich join across two seas, Carola connects from Turku in Finland, and Rich is still in dizzyingly chaotic Brexitland. But they don’t let the current stunts by Boris Johnson, a parliament prorogation and (non-)constitutional battles phase them and they keep focussing on EU Commission President Von Der Leyen’s Political Guidelines, including chatting about how open and closed borders should be, border and internal security, and whilst ranting about supermarkets and Amazon, they make a case on how trade should always refrain to be an end in itself, as Von Der Leyen suggests, and aim to supp...2019-09-0827 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Ursula Von Der Leyen’s Political Guidelines (3/6): Europe fit for the Digital AgeHaving just come off recording the third take of this episode (yes, finally this has also happened to us), Rich provides a silly start to the show. They both explore Von Der Leyen’s agenda for a Europe fit for the Digital Age, including 5G Standards, Internet of Things, Digital Service Act, Cyber security and the European Education Area, including Erasmus. Main Source Ursula Von Der Leyen: Political guidelines for the next Commission (2019-2024) - "A Union that strives for more: My agenda for Europe" 16 July 2019 (English Version) Digital Europe and 5G Standards European Commission, Digitising the Europ...2019-08-2621 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Ursula Von Der Leyen’s Political Guidelines (2/6): Who keeps our banking system in check? A vision of an economy that works for peopleRich and Carola discuss the published priorities ("Political Guidelines") of incoming EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and cover her vision of an “EU economy that works for people”. Many feel-good policies are mentioned, such as fairer taxes, social rights, and strengthening the social in a market economy, but Rich and Carola also scrutinise and voice their concerns – albeit with some acknowledged lack of expertise – over the suggestion of completing the EU Banking Union by adding some pieces that were perceived to be missing, including a Capital Markets Union. There seem to be some inherent tensions between sections of her polit...2019-08-1832 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Ursula Von Der Leyen’s Political Guidelines (1/6): Who buggered up the planet? The EU Green Deal and Ursula Von Der LeyenRich and Carola are discussing the published priorities of incoming EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen. As they have different views on her leadership, this discussion should be interesting, especially has they get stuck into the EU Green Deal. They cover the EU Emissions Trading System, Carbon Border Taxes, the EU Circular Economy, the frictions between Green and Global, and what this all means for individual households. On top of all these feel-good policies, they discuss if the recent EU-Mercosur trade deal between South America and the EU might bugger up any progress made, but they also take note...2019-08-0951 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: EU Charter (7/7) and five wishes for the European Union FairyLast chapter! Rich and Carola are celebrating with an extra-long episode (sooorrrry)….bickering about the ‘bindingness’ of charter articles and which of these have to be respected (rights) and which have to be observed (principles). They then get into a stroppy argument about Ursula von der Leyen, the new president of the European Commission. They chat about their own personal EU wishes for the next five years, all happen to be related to the climate change crisis. In short, that might just be an issue where dithering has disastrous consequences, whether outside or within the European Union. But being in certai...2019-08-0229 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: The European Union is under Construction (Ulrike Guérot)Rich and Carola chat about Ulrike Guérot’s concept of a future “Republic of Europe (still under construction)”, exploring contradicting meanings of the concept of sovereignty in the context of a European Union (state vs people). Guérot’s concept of a sovereignty of the people is based on decentralisation to regions as anchors for identity, productivity and equality, and Rich and Carola discuss how this type of devolution might just be what we need in the UK to resolve some of our socially democratic deficits. Link to the 2018 Lecture by Ulrike Guérot: Our last resort: a United Stat...2019-07-2619 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: The EU Charter (6/7) and tackling JusticeRich and Carola tackle their most challenging EU Charter article yet, the one about Justice. The amount of silences, fumblings and ditherings demonstrate how much they feel out of their depth but, as loyal EU citizens (still), they have a go. The dithering also does not stop Rich in criticising how our UK application of the law fails to meet these EU Charter standards and the blooper reel at the end shows that attaining justice in a European-wide context is simply hard to attain and even more difficult to explain…. EU Sources - European Parliament The European Charter of Fun...2019-07-1919 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: The EU Charter (5/7), EU Top Jobs and Citizen RightsRich and Carola chat top jobs, EU ones, and provide a handy cheat sheet of the top 5 EU jobs currently being agreed and negotiated. Then they move to cover the Chapter 5 of the European Charter, including whether Carola might lose her right to vote in local elections (gulp) once Britain exits the EU. Sources: Carola and Rich’s EU Top Job Cheat Sheet European Parliament The European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU EU Charter app - The FRA has developed an EU Charter app: a fundamental rights one-stop-shop for mobile devices. https://fra.europa.eu/en/char...2019-07-1028 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: EU Charter (4/7), James Bond on the Eurostar, Flight-shaming and SolidarityRich is a bit grumpy and Carola has “Flugscham”, as Carola has just flown back from a working trip to Switzerland, encountering a new terminology on signs around airport passport control. Both of them have a bit of a lengthy spat whether chapter 4 applies or not, attempting – probably without success – to make this rather convoluted issue less complicated. Rich puts forward the idea that everyone will need to channel their innter James Bond. But they also tackle the European Charter’s Chapter IV, titled Solidarity, and ask why social and economic rights contained in this chapter ended up being such a contenti...2019-07-0846 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: The EU Charter (3/7), Equality, Windrush, and News in LatinIn this Episode Rich and Carola are not dithering around…. well, actually they are. They can’t help it, so this episode is longer than usual but with less tea. Whilst covering Chapter 3 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Equality), they rant about UK detention centres, Windrush, and how the UK’s political shift to the right is threatening basic human rights. On a more pleasurable note, they cover some more interesting linguistic titbits, from the end of Finland’s News in Latin to the never implemented plans of making the Charter into an 80 minute epic, multi-cultural poem. Sour...2019-07-0632 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: SHORT DITHER: The Sound of DitheringOne of our short 'ditherings'. Nothing particularly illuminating here, just us trying to decide on sound effects for the podcast. So…… what does ‘dithering’ actually sound like. If you know, let us know on Twitter @DitheringE All tea-cup sounds made with 50's Villeroy & Boch Burgenland Blau Cups and Saucers, inherited from Carola's mother. For pictures see this antique shop or read up on the 1748 founded and still trading German ceramics pottery factory via this wikipedia article. 2019-06-3004 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: The EU Charter (2/7) & Freedom…..freedom…..freedomRich and Carola continue their exploration of the EU Charter but end up chatting about curtailing their son’s freedoms whilst advocating for EU fundamental rights. Their meanderings cover liberty, GDPR, freedom of expression, education and the four freedoms of the EU single market. Sources: European Parliament The European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU Department of Exiting the European Union Factsheet 6: Charter of Fundamental Rights Right by Right Analysis Information and Factsheets about the Withdrawal Bill Concerns by the Great Britain Equality and Human Rights Commission Brexit and the EU Charter of Fun...2019-06-2424 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Checking our EU Pulse: the Citizenship BarometerBetween cups of tea and checking out their own EU pulse, Rich and Carola dissect the Euro Barometer Number 89 – European Citizenship. Pondering about some surprising statistics: that BREXIT-land’s attitudes towards immigration is more positive than the EU average, as well as that the UK generally values cultural exchanges. Freedom of movement and Peace remains an ultimate priority and only 7% of European Citizens surveyed have expressed spontaneously that there were no achievements of the EU worth mentioning. The report is much more detailed and includes socio-demographic aspects, all very handy laid out in tables and graphs. Direct link to pdf of...2019-06-1617 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Dithering at a Spring Conference: Green Party Conference, Green New Deal, MEP Gina DowdingDithering on the Edge of Europe reports back from the Spring Conference of the Green Party of England and Wales, held in lovely (mostly) sunny Scarborough. Rich and Carola cover how much Brexit featured (or not), they joined in the celebrations of green waves, green surges, and green MEPs, and they have a good tip for campaigning against library closures. They report back from a panel discussing the Green New Deal and relish the fact that the Greens new tax and fiscal policy was passed to ensure climate justice. They met their newly elected Green MEP for the North West...2019-06-1022 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: The EU Charter (1/7) and The Beauty and Dignity of being European….Between cups of tea and some more dithering, Richard and Carola try to understand what it means to be a European family and live in the UK. In this episode, Rich and Carola gush over the EU Charter, its beautiful preamble and the first chapter “Dignity”. Source: The European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU 2019-06-0221 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Eurovision or European Parliament Elections?Between cups of tea and a lot of dithering, Richard and Carola try to understand what it means to be a European family and live in the UK. Carola and Rich still have clinking cups of tea but they could not resist and record their first reactions to the EU parliament elections. They ponder over election mathematics and what the share of the votes means for popular opinion about leave vs remain. They dissect the D’Hondt system, still not being as proportional representative as they would like, and they rant about those media channels who still act as...2019-05-2825 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Try saying 'citizenship-test' multiple times….Between cups of tea and dithering paper noises (yes, we are experimenting with what 'dithering' actually sounds like, this time with German Potteries’ Burgenland teacups) Rich and Carola talk citizenship; Carola's application for permanent UK residency; citizenship tests; passport differences; melting pot vs multi-diversity; and various stumbles over the word citizenship (try saying it 10 times…). And we have a chat about the fact that Richard is not exactly a UK citizen but a subject whilst Carola delights in the contents of a British passport, quoting Haynes manual: “One of the wonderfully quirky things about being a ‘loyal royal subject’ is the reassuri...2019-05-2621 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: European Parliament Elections and a very exciting Annex...We make a good attempt to understand how European Parliament Elections work in the UK. Rich reconnects with his inner Math-Teacher and explains (at length...) the D'Hondt method and what this means for UK regions, and we each get our three points in just under 40 minutes. Bare with us.... we missed our tea this time and will need to make up for it next time...... Sources being used are EU European Parliament Elections FAQ A guide to the European Parliament EU Elections: how many MEPs will each country get in 2019? and the very exhilarating Annex 1 (C...2019-05-1935 min

Dithering on the Edge of EuropeS1: Dithering on the Edge of Europe (4 min Teaser)Join Richard McCarthy and Carola Boehm in this second season of their podcast about what it feels like to be a multi-national European family and live here in the UK. Between cups of tea and a lot of dithering, this husband and wife team tries to make sense of political bits and pieces that invade their daily lives and the little multi-cultural incidents that allow them to explore what it means to be European. In the process of talking about it, they hope to tether themselves a little bit more firmly to Europe and invite listeners to join them on...2019-05-1903 min