Difference between revisions of "Eija-Riitta Korhola"

From Powerbase
Jump to: navigation, search
(Conflicts of Interest)
Line 20: Line 20:
 
==Conflicts of Interest==
 
==Conflicts of Interest==
  
In September 2007, the Finnish environmental weekly magazine, Vihrea Lanka reported that Korhola had “received money from the nuclear industry for her euro-election campaign in 2004.” The paper wrote: “Korhola says that the nuclear industry gave her money, because they knew she was good at her job and she was running [the] right things. ‘I don’t owe them anything’, she says.” The paper continued: “Korhola can’t say exactly how much money she received from the nuclear industry. ‘It’s better for me mentally, that I don’t know’, she adds.”<ref>[http://www.vihrealanka.fi/node/728 Jussi Karmala, “Eija-Riitta Korhola Sai Vaalirahaa Ydinvoimateollisuudelta,” ''Vihreä Lanka'', 27 September 2007], cited in [http://spinwatch.org/images/too%20close%20for%20comfort.pdf Too Close for Comfort?] by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.</ref>
+
In September 2007, Jussi Karmala, writing in the Finnish environmental weekly magazine, Vihrea Lanka, reported that Korhola had “received money from the nuclear industry for her euro-election campaign in 2004.” Karmala wrote: “Korhola says that the nuclear industry gave her money, because they knew she was good at her job and she was running [the] right things. ‘I don’t owe them anything’, she says.” Karmala continued: “Korhola can’t say exactly how much money she received from the nuclear industry. ‘It’s better for me mentally, that I don’t know’, she adds.”<ref>[http://www.vihrealanka.fi/node/728 Jussi Karmala, “Eija-Riitta Korhola Sai Vaalirahaa Ydinvoimateollisuudelta,” ''Vihreä Lanka'', 27 September 2007], cited in [http://spinwatch.org/images/too%20close%20for%20comfort.pdf Too Close for Comfort?] by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.</ref>
  
 
Later Korhola denied taking nuclear money directly and issued a statement saying that “unlike the paper Vihrea Lanka lets people understand, I did not get support from the nuclear industry for my campaign.”<ref>''Finnish Daily Press Review'', European Parliament in the media, Main National News, “MEP Korhola Denies Receiving Financial Aid from the Nuclear Industry,” 29 September - 01 October 2007, cited in [http://spinwatch.org/images/too%20close%20for%20comfort.pdf Too Close for Comfort?] by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.</ref> However, transcripts released by Vihrea Lanka record Korhola saying: “It may be that there are such [nuclear] sources involved. It's very possible… I can't say that nuclear industry's interests didn't touch the moneypot, because in the energy field they do so often.”<ref>Jussi Karmala, ''Communication with Andy Rowell'', 28 September 2007, cited in [http://spinwatch.org/images/too%20close%20for%20comfort.pdf Too Close for Comfort?] by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.</ref>
 
Later Korhola denied taking nuclear money directly and issued a statement saying that “unlike the paper Vihrea Lanka lets people understand, I did not get support from the nuclear industry for my campaign.”<ref>''Finnish Daily Press Review'', European Parliament in the media, Main National News, “MEP Korhola Denies Receiving Financial Aid from the Nuclear Industry,” 29 September - 01 October 2007, cited in [http://spinwatch.org/images/too%20close%20for%20comfort.pdf Too Close for Comfort?] by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.</ref> However, transcripts released by Vihrea Lanka record Korhola saying: “It may be that there are such [nuclear] sources involved. It's very possible… I can't say that nuclear industry's interests didn't touch the moneypot, because in the energy field they do so often.”<ref>Jussi Karmala, ''Communication with Andy Rowell'', 28 September 2007, cited in [http://spinwatch.org/images/too%20close%20for%20comfort.pdf Too Close for Comfort?] by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.</ref>
  
 
Korhola contradicts herself by saying that although she has “never” taken money off the nuclear industry, her campaign has taken money off a company that owns a nuclear company. She says “my campaign was supported in several small ways from many sides of industry including one clean-technology energy company that invests in biomass, wind energy, and is an owner of a nuclear company.” Korhola adds: “Even if a nuclear energy – or a company from any clean energy technology – were to offer to support me, such support would not change my views on nuclear.”<ref>Eija-Riitta Korhola, ''Communication with Andy Rowell'', June 2008, cited in [http://spinwatch.org/images/too%20close%20for%20comfort.pdf Too Close for Comfort?] by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.</ref>
 
Korhola contradicts herself by saying that although she has “never” taken money off the nuclear industry, her campaign has taken money off a company that owns a nuclear company. She says “my campaign was supported in several small ways from many sides of industry including one clean-technology energy company that invests in biomass, wind energy, and is an owner of a nuclear company.” Korhola adds: “Even if a nuclear energy – or a company from any clean energy technology – were to offer to support me, such support would not change my views on nuclear.”<ref>Eija-Riitta Korhola, ''Communication with Andy Rowell'', June 2008, cited in [http://spinwatch.org/images/too%20close%20for%20comfort.pdf Too Close for Comfort?] by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.</ref>
 
  
 
==Resources==
 
==Resources==

Revision as of 20:11, 15 November 2008

Eija-Riitta Korhola (born 15 June 1959, Lahti) is a Conservative Finnish MEP (Kansallinen Kokoomus - The National Coalition Party). She is vice chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection; a member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, Temporary Committee on Climate Change, and the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly; a substitute member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the Committee on Budgetary Control.[1]

Korhola holds a degree in philosophy, and has worked as development educator, publicist, and a media journalist/ educator until she was elected a MEP in 1999. She is chair of First Step Forum (human rights organisation) since 2002, and vice-chair of the National Coalition Party since 2006.[2]

Korhola is another of the more vocal pro-nuclear MEPs.


Background

In 2005, Korhola hosted a “Climate Change Seminar on Nuclear Energy” at the European Parliament along with the nuclear industry lobby group, European Atomic Forum (FORATOM).[3] Also, in a speech to her party in October 2006, Korhola said the rejection of nuclear was due to “political dogma”, adding: “There are groups that are born to oppose nuclear power and for them giving up this stance would mean giving up their political identity. We are not shackled like that.”[4]

Korhola also chaired a nuclear industry event in November 2006 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Nairobi. It was co-organised by the European Nuclear Society; Canadian Nuclear Association; Japan Atomic Industrial Forum; Nuclear Energy Institute and World Nuclear Association.[5] She has also been outspoken against nuclear critics, writing to the Commission over “alleged cooperation between the Commission and Greenpeace”.[6]


Register of Interests

  • Claimed to have receive money from the nuclear industry for her euro-election campaign in 2004.


Conflicts of Interest

In September 2007, Jussi Karmala, writing in the Finnish environmental weekly magazine, Vihrea Lanka, reported that Korhola had “received money from the nuclear industry for her euro-election campaign in 2004.” Karmala wrote: “Korhola says that the nuclear industry gave her money, because they knew she was good at her job and she was running [the] right things. ‘I don’t owe them anything’, she says.” Karmala continued: “Korhola can’t say exactly how much money she received from the nuclear industry. ‘It’s better for me mentally, that I don’t know’, she adds.”[7]

Later Korhola denied taking nuclear money directly and issued a statement saying that “unlike the paper Vihrea Lanka lets people understand, I did not get support from the nuclear industry for my campaign.”[8] However, transcripts released by Vihrea Lanka record Korhola saying: “It may be that there are such [nuclear] sources involved. It's very possible… I can't say that nuclear industry's interests didn't touch the moneypot, because in the energy field they do so often.”[9]

Korhola contradicts herself by saying that although she has “never” taken money off the nuclear industry, her campaign has taken money off a company that owns a nuclear company. She says “my campaign was supported in several small ways from many sides of industry including one clean-technology energy company that invests in biomass, wind energy, and is an owner of a nuclear company.” Korhola adds: “Even if a nuclear energy – or a company from any clean energy technology – were to offer to support me, such support would not change my views on nuclear.”[10]

Resources


Notes and References

  1. European Parliament website, MEP Directory: Eija-Riitta Korhola, accessed 15 November 2008.
  2. European Parliament website, MEP Directory: Eija-Riitta Korhola, accessed 15 November 2008.
  3. FORATOM Climate Change Seminar, 19 October 2005, accessed 15 November 2008.
  4. Eija-Riitta Korhola, Puhe EPP-huippukokouksessa Helsingissä, 19 October 2006, accessed 15 November 2008.
  5. FORATOM, Agreement Reached at Climate Change talks, Nuclear Industry Makes its Voice Heard], November 2006], accessed 15 November 2008.
  6. European Parliament website, Written Questions with Answer, 05 December 2007, Written Question E-4923/06, by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE), to the Commission Subject: Alleged cooperation between the Commission and Greenpeace, 15 November 2006, accessed 15 November 2008.
  7. Jussi Karmala, “Eija-Riitta Korhola Sai Vaalirahaa Ydinvoimateollisuudelta,” Vihreä Lanka, 27 September 2007, cited in Too Close for Comfort? by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.
  8. Finnish Daily Press Review, European Parliament in the media, Main National News, “MEP Korhola Denies Receiving Financial Aid from the Nuclear Industry,” 29 September - 01 October 2007, cited in Too Close for Comfort? by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.
  9. Jussi Karmala, Communication with Andy Rowell, 28 September 2007, cited in Too Close for Comfort? by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.
  10. Eija-Riitta Korhola, Communication with Andy Rowell, June 2008, cited in Too Close for Comfort? by Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, July 2008.