SCHENGEN & WHALES

Morning / afternoon / evening — Peter Dobbie here with news of todays World Have Your Say on air at the usual time: 1800 GMT. Today:

SCHENGEN & WHALES

First, 48 hours of celebrations are taking place to mark nine new states joining a European border-free zone. The Schengen agreement, which allows passport-free travel across the area, now embraces 24 nations. Some 2,000 people celebrated in the town of Frankfurt on Oder at Germany’s border with Poland, amid fireworks and the EU anthem, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.

(If you don’t know what that sounds like just dip into this site and click on play:

Anyway, we digress. The point of our debate today is one of security. This is a huge land mass, which, in terms of security, just got a lot bigger – more people can now move around more often, with more ease than ever before. Certain countries however have rejected fears that this might create a crime wave. And the European Commission says that one billion euros has been spent on beefing up security on the new EU frontiers, including the establishing of missions along the Polish and Slovak borders.

What do you think ? Does this make Europe safer or less secure ? Does it make Europe more attractive to criminals ? Will there now be an explosion of organised crime, covering everything from drugs, to people smuggling and terrorism ? Get in touch and tell us your thoughts.

Getting the hump…

…..a good day if you’re a humpback whale as the Japanese call off their hunt after pressure from around the world….but particularly in Australia. Proof of the power of pressure ? or unwonted intereference in other country’s affairs ?

Apple have shut down a “rumours” site after a long legal battle. The site was set up by fans of Apple and throws up a few issues like : is it wise to sue people who like your products ? and should bloggers have the same rights as journalists when it comes to protecting sources ?