Bulletins and News Discussion from October 14th to October 20th, 2024 - Paper Tigers

In a serious violation of Danish labor and health laws, a company in Western Zealand employed two children, aged 14-15, to remove asbestos roofing from a large structure without proper safety measures. The incident was discovered by the Working Environment Authority during an inspection in Sønderborg. The children, who were part of a school internship program, were found handling 550 square meters of asbestos-containing materials, which can cause fatal lung diseases when inhaled. They were working without supervision or protective equipment. Asbestos has been banned in building materials in Denmark for decades due to its severe health risks. The authorities, including the police, tax office, education agencies and municipal authorities have been alerted.

New data from the European Union show a troubling rise in mesothelioma cases, a type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Between 2013 and 2021, the EU recorded over 13,500 cases, with the number of new diagnoses increasing again after years of decline. In 2021 alone, 1,409 cases were diagnosed, and 2,380 people died from asbestos-related diseases in the EU. Denmark had 49 deaths from mesothelioma that same year. Despite asbestos being banned in construction, many workers, especially in the renovation and demolition sectors, are still exposed to the material in older buildings. The European Parliament warns that deaths from asbestos exposure could rise to 120,000 annually by 2029 if stricter regulations are not enforced.

The succdem-led right-wing regime is moving forward with a plan to sell CO2 emission quotas as part of its efforts to fund climate initiatives under the so-called "Green Denmark Agreement." The scheme allows companies that have not used all their emission quotas to sell the excess to others struggling to meet their targets, essentially allowing wealthier, larger corporations to buy their way out of making necessary reductions. Critics, including climate economists and media outlets, argue that this approach will lead to increased CO2 emissions across Europe by shifting the problem rather than solving it. The plan is part of a broader agreement on climate policy involving agriculture, industry, and environmental groups, but it is seen by some as a loophole that favors factory farming and heavy industry.

Several succdem mayors from the municipalities hardest hit by oxygen depletion in coastal waters have criticized the succdem-led right-wing regime's green tripartite agreement, claiming it lets the agricultural sector off too easily. The mayors, citing a leaked draft of the agreement, argue that the chosen nitrogen reduction model is too lenient and will not do enough to restore life to damaged fjords and coastal areas. Agriculture accounts for 70% of Denmark’s nitrogen emissions, which are a major cause of oxygen depletion and marine life death in Danish waters. The succdem-controlled Ministry of Finance has proposed three scenarios for nitrogen reduction, but only the most ambitious scenario meets the targets set by environmental groups like the Danish Society for Nature Conservation. However, the regime seems inclined to pursue less stringent measures, which the mayors say will perpetuate environmental damage.

Greenpeace activists staged a protest at the headquarters of Danish Crown, one of the world's largest pork producers, to draw attention to the company's significant methane emissions. Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas, and Danish Crown's emissions are equivalent to 83% of Denmark's total methane output from animal production. The protest involved pink smoke and banners with slogans like “Danish Crown, your methane cooks our climate.” Greenpeace accuses Danish Crown of contributing heavily to global warming, noting that methane is responsible for about one-third of global temperature increases. The protest was part of a larger international campaign targeting major meat and dairy producers for their environmental impact.

A significant portion of the Danish public opposes the regime's plan to raise the retirement age to 70 by 2040. In a survey two-thirds of respondents said they would prefer the retirement age to either remain at 67 or be lowered. Only 8% support increasing the retirement age in line with rising life expectancy, while 18% favor a more gradual increase. The regime's proposal, aimed at addressing demographic shifts and fiscal pressures from ab aging population, faces strong resistance from citizens who worry about the physical and mental strain of working longer, especially in physically demanding jobs.

A survey conducted by emergency services corporation Falck reveals that work pressure is becoming a major concern for Danish workers, with one in six workers frequently feeling overwhelmed. The survey, which included 3,000 respondents, found that 70% feel their workplaces lack a culture of openness around mental health and well-being. The report highlights that prolonged periods of high work pressure can have negative impacts on personal lives, creating a vicious cycle of stress and burnout. The survey also shows that 80% of employees believe their employers are not doing enough to support mental health.

Denmark’s largest public-sector union for academics, representing 75,000 employees, has withdrawn from the public sector central negotiation body FF. The union, which includes professionals such as doctors, physiotherapists, and psychologists, decided to leave due to disagreements over wage policy. The academics' union has been critical of proposals to reduce wage gaps by raising wages for low-paid workers and for female-dominated professions and has opposed proposals to reform the current model of giving raises as a percentage of wages. The decision to withdraw comes after the union negotiated separately during recent public sector wage agreements. Leaders of FF expressed disappointment, emphasizing the value of solidarity in collective bargaining.

In October, a new political party, the Revolutionary Communist Party (RKP), was founded in Denmark during a political festival in Copenhagen. The party is based on Marxist principles and aims to represent the progressive side of Denmark’s growing political polarization. Victor Murray, a party leader, explained that while the right-wing has many reactionary parties, the left lacks a party that fully expresses the progressive side of the polarization. The RKP joins a crowded field of communist parties in Denmark, including the Danish Communist Party, the Communist Party, and the Workers’ Communist Party, but it hopes to carve out a distinct space on the far-left of Danish politics.