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Hi ,
Is 9 January too late to wish you all a happy new year? If not, Happy New Year! If so, sorry about that.
The Ferret spent a restful holiday period in our investigative journalism burrow, but now we've come back into the light refreshed and ready to take on 2025.
We're starting the year with a series of articles looking at the impact of the so-called 'culture war' on Scotland.
Already, we've investigated attempts to influence Scottish politics by an organisation linked to Hungary's Victor Orban, and today we're looking at how misinformation about Scottish issues has been used as fuel for the global culture battle.
And keep at least one eye open next week for more stories about Scotland's place in this ideological conflict.
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Yours,
Ali |
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Story of the week |
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An in-depth look at a Ferret investigation |
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When MCC Brussels – a soft power outpost of right wing Hungarian president Viktor Orbán’s privately run “pet” University, Mathias Corvinus Collegium – launched in November 2022, its aims were clear.
From farming to migration and from “family values” to net zero, the topics that have increasingly polarised conservatives and progressives – as well as attracting conspiracy theories and misinformation from some quarters – were firmly in its sights.
The Brussels unit, led by director Frank Furedi, says it aims to win the ‘culture war’ “being waged on the values and aspirations of ordinary Europeans”, “unshackling Europe from environmentalism” and promoting sovereignty, “strong borders” and individualism.
In the last two years it has produced reports and events criticising the “takeover” of Europe by the “LGBT lobby”, the “perils” of net zero and Europe’s “attack” on free speech. Many of them involved UK academics and campaigners – including those calling for Scottish policy reform or working for Scottish Universities. |
| Read the full story |
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What did we dig up this week? |
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A round up of our investigations in the last seven days |
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How Scotland became a ‘culture war’ lightning rod |
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Hate crime laws, ‘illegal prayers,’ and even chickens — what makes Scotland a global lightning rod in the 'culture war'? |
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NHS contraceptive pills funding Orban ‘propaganda’ as Hungary restricts abortion |
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A pharmaceutical firm based in Budapest sells hundreds of millions of pounds worth of contraceptive pills globally each year. |
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Fighting for their culture: Govan’s Showpeople launch court of session eviction appeal
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In 2023 a proposed development on the site of their yard saw them facing eviction by Glasgow City Council. |
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NatureScot axes free service for people needing advice on bats
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From next April people will have to pay for guidance on how to manage bats roosting in their roofs following a decision by NatureScot to scrap its free Bats in Houses service. |
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Ghost fishing: How marine litter is choking Scotland’s sea
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Eerily-named ghost fishing is when abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear – such as nets, pots, rope, traps and lines – continues to catch marine life. |
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For Fact’s Sake podcast LIVE: How do we tackle online misogyny? |
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The Ferret hosted a panel discussion chaired by equality campaigner and researcher Talat Yaqoob, which we recorded for a special live For Fact’s Sake podcast. |
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Question of the week |
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Are you concerned about
foreign influence on Scottish politics?
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| No |
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We now have a platform exclusive for Ferret Underground subscribers where you can share ideas about future investigations, answer polls and more!
Create an account here to get access.
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Best of the rest |
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Investigations we've enjoyed from around the world |
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Elon Musk’s Boring Company is tunneling beneath Las Vegas with little oversight
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The powerful Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority greenlit the idea and funded an 0.8-mile route at its convention center. (ProPublica) |
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Meta eliminates fact-checking in latest bow to Trump
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The move will replace third-party fact-checking with user-written “community notes” similar to those on Trump backer Elon Musk’s social platform X. (Associated Press) |
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Scoop: Heritage Foundation plans to ‘identify and target’ Wikipedia editors
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The group plans to identify volunteer editors on Wikipedia who it says are “abusing their position” by publishing content the group believes to be antisemitic. (Forward) |
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Any comments? Have you seen something we could include? Email us at contact@theferret.scot.
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