WARSAW: Greenpeace on Thursday said it had filed a complaint with the European Union against Slovakia over bear culling near its border with Poland.
The Slovak government approved the culling of 350 Carpathian brown bears in April, citing dangers to humans as well as rising bear populations.
Greenpeace “has filed a complaint ... against the Slovak government as these bear shootings occur very close to the border with Poland,” where this animal is protected, Katarzyna Bilewska, Greenpeace’s spokeswoman in Poland told AFP on Thursday.
Bears “very often cross the border with Slovakia. The Slovak government’s decision to proceed with mass bear culling... threatens the population of this species living in Poland,” numbering around 130, according to Aleksandra Wiktor, an activist from Greenpeace Poland.
“Bears do not understand the concept of borders,” she said.
Poland officially requested Slovakia to refrain from culling bears at least within a 30-kilometer (19-mile) border zone but this has gone unheeded.
Slovakia is obliged to follow a European Union directive which only allows bear culling when they cause material damage or threaten human life, and only when no other solution is applicable.
Around 20 attacks have been recorded since the beginning of the year in Slovakia, resulting in several injuries.
Slovakia has a population of between 1,000 and 1,275 bears, according to official figures.
Ninety-two bears were culled last year and another 160 this year in the EU member country of 5.4 million inhabitants.
Greenpeace files complaint with EU against Slovak bear culls
https://arab.news/47zbd
Greenpeace files complaint with EU against Slovak bear culls
- The Slovak government approved the culling of 350 Carpathian brown bears in April
- Greenpeace “has filed a complaint ... against the Slovak government as these bear shootings occur very close to the border with Poland“
Thai coffee chains cut default sugar content in coffee and tea drinks in a new health push
- The Health Department says Thais consume 21 teaspoons of sugar daily, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended six teaspoons
- Officials warn this increases obesity and diabetes risks. A survey found iced coffee and bubble tea contain high sugar levels
BANGKOK: For many Thais, a meal doesn’t feel complete without an iced coffee or tea so sugary it could pass for dessert. The government, concerned about the health consequences, wants them to dial it back.
Starting Wednesday, nine major coffee chains across the country have pledged to cut the default sugar content in some of their drinks by half in a government initiative aimed at tackling excessive sugar consumption.
According to the Health Department, Thais consume an average of 21 teaspoons of sugar per day, more than three times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of six teaspoons. Health officials warn that such high intake increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and other diseases.
The initiative is the first significant step to change consumers’ sugar consumption behavior, said Amporn Benjaponpitak, the director general of the department.
Pakorn Tungkasereerak, the department’s deputy, said 2025 data show that about 45 percent of Thais aged 15 and older are obese, while 10 percent of the population has diabetes.
A survey by the Bureau of Nutrition found that a 22-ounce (650-milliliter) iced coffee contains an average of nine teaspoons of sugar, while a 10-ounce (300-milliliter) serving of bubble milk tea — an iced milk tea with tapioca pearls known as boba — can contain as much as 12 teaspoons.
Sirinya Kuiklang, an office worker, said she approves of the changes. She already orders her drinks at just 25 percent of the standard sugar level, but she is aware that many others consume too much sugar.
“It’s good for Thai people,” she said.
Another office worker, Porwares Tantikanpanit, said he has enjoyed his non-coffee beverages at their current sugar levels but is willing to adjust if shops reduce the sweetness.
However, putting the policy into practice may prove challenging. Officials have said each brand can apply the initiative as they see fit.
Some customers have expressed confusion in response to social media posts promoting the initiative, asking how to order drinks with the level of sweetness that they prefer. Several brands said that the reduction applies only to certain menu items.
