Archives: November 2008

  • PES Council: European Socialist and Social Democratic Parties Launch Joint Manifesto for European Elections ’09

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    Rating: 5/5 with 4 votes

    Published Thursday, November 27, 2008 at 18:59
    by Editor (633 views and 0 comments)

    On December 1st in Madrid Europe’s socialist, social democratic and labour parties will adopt a common manifesto for the European elections in 2009. It will be a joint political platform for 33 parties from 27 EU countries under the umbrella of the Party of European Socialists (PES).

    ‘People first: A new direction for Europe’ won’t be some lowest common denominator but a powerful document in which the PES


    •    sets out a new, progressive direction for Europe,
    •    offers a clear choice between the PES and its conservative, liberal and populist opponents,
    •    puts forward a serious alternative to 5 years of conservative majority in the European Union.  

    We created a common Manifesto thanks to all of you and the contributions you sent us!
    Do you want to continue participating, but you cannot come to Madrid?

    The PES set up several ways to allow everyone to get involved:

    Follow the public adoption of the PES manifesto via the live streaming, available on PES website on Monday the 1st of December from 12.30 to 14.00 (central European time)

    Have your say. Ask your question to the PES leaders attending the... » read more ...

    Tags: activists, campaign, EU, European elections, manifesto, PES, programme, voting


  • Democrats of the Left (Italy) for two days

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    Published Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 22:46
    by cariuli Join PES activists (574 views and 2 comments)

    DS (Italy) Companions, for the next 1 and 2 December 2008 will return your party. On that date will be held in Madrid, the Council of Party of European Socialists (PES) for the official accession to the Manifesto 2009 and for the official opening of the campaign for the European Parliament elections. Since Veltroni can not put his signature to the ratification of the election manifesto, for internal problems in the Democratic Party, will resurrect the Democrats of the Left (DS) and the charge covered by his last secretary - liquidator, Piero Fassino .  It will be just him to sign the Manifesto of the Socialists, of course, not on behalf of PD but as secretary of DS, forgetting for two days he had dissolved the party and formed the Democratic Party. Since the European elections are upon us, I think it's time to make clear not to appear ridiculous and to protect the policy of PSE in Italy.

    http://cariuli.ilcannocchiale.it/

    Tags: activists, campaign, electoral lists, European elections, European Parliament, manifesto, PES, programme, voting


  • Save Talkline!

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    Rating: 4/5 with 1 votes

    Published Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 11:07
    by mochinho Join PES activists (398 views and 0 comments)

    The announcement by Freenet that the northern German telecom company Talkline in Elmshorn will be closed-down has been a shock for the region.

    After about 20 years this may, but should not, be the end of this successful and profitable enterprise! It is encouraging that both the town and the politics are working on a solution for the highly skilled employees.

    Let us hope that there will be a future for these people! Let us call for action for them!

    Tags: employment, Freenet, globalization, Talkline, work


  • Global Trends 2025 & Europe

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    Published Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 01:19
    by Ari Rusila (481 views and 0 comments)

    I just took a glance at very interesting new report published on 21st November 2008 by the United States National Intelligence Council - Washington's main intelligence body.  The report, Global Trends 2025: A World Transformed, is published every four years to give U.S. leaders insight into looming problems and opportunities. This agency of agencies, formed in 1979, brings together analysis from each of America's multiple intelligence organizations to develop mid- to long-term strategic thinking for the country's security community.

    Highlights

    Here only few highlights of this 120 pages analysis:

    • The whole international system—as constructed following WWII—will be revolutionized. Not only will new players—Brazil, Russia, India and China— have a seat at the international high table, they will bring new stakes and rules of the game.
    • "Europe by 2025 will have made slow progress toward achieving the vision of current leaders and elites: a cohesive, integrated, and influential global actor," but not be a major military player. The European Union will be a "hobbled giant" crippled by internal bickering and a eurosceptic citizenry.
    • "Europe will remain heavily dependent on Russia for energy in 2025, despite efforts to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy and lower... » read more ...

    Tags: BalkanBlog, EU, Kosovo, US Foreign policy


  • FEPS Meeting for German Activists

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    Published Friday, November 21, 2008 at 23:30
    by FrederikP Join PES activists (437 views and 0 comments)

    I want to say thank you to the FEPS - Foundation of European Progressive Studies for organizing the great activist-meeting in Brussels from November 9 to 11.

    It was a very interesting event, I've met many interesting people and learned very much.

    So if the FEPS makes an event like this for activists in your country - participate!

    And maybe we'll see us at a meeting for socialist all over Europe.



    Best red regards from Germany-

    Frederik Palmer.

    Tags: activist, FEPS, meeting


  • Who will be the PvdA's front runner in next European Elections?

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    Rating: 4/5 with 2 votes

    Published Friday, November 21, 2008 at 15:28
    by Editor (528 views and 0 comments)

    Hannah Belliot, Thijs Berman, Kris Douma and Jacques Monasch are competing to be top of the list of the Dutch Labour - PvdA - candidates in the European elections.
     
    The decision is taken in a vote in which all PvdA members can participate. The vote is open from 8 -19 December.

    Until the 20th of December, the day when the winner will be announced, the four candidates are campaigning – just click on their name to visit their websites and know more about their opinions.
     
    PvdA is also organising some debates with the selected candidates all over the Netherlands - find out the closest to your own place and take the chance to participate!
     
    Sunday 23 November: Kerkrade
    13.30 – 15.30 hrs (During a congress of the Young Socialists)
    Location: Conferentieoord & Hotel Rolduc
    Heyendallaan 82, Kerkrade
     
    Saturday 29 November: Den Bosch
    16.30 – 17.30 hrs (During a regional training day)
    Location: Avans Hogeschool
    Onderwijsboulevard 215, `s-Hertogenbosch
     
    Sunday 30 November: Enschede
    13.30 – 15.30... » read more ...

    Tags: campaign, candidates, European elections, PES, pvdA


  • UN deciding over plan for Kosovo – which plan to select?

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    Rating: 4/5 with 2 votes

    Published Friday, November 21, 2008 at 10:18
    by Ari Rusila (486 views and 0 comments)

    Some 5.000 to 10.000 Kosovo Albanians protested on Wednesday in Pristina against the UN plan on the reconfiguration of Unmik. Last week, the United Nations put forward an amended 6-point plan for the deployment of the EU's EULEX mission. The United Nations’ six-point plan, negotiated between the UN Secretary General, Serbia and the European Union has been rejected by Kosovo leaders who argue it compromises Pristina’s sovereignty. On 18th Nov.2008 Kosovo’s separatist government offered own 4-point plan, saying final "no" on 6-points.

    Background

    Straight after Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence EU launched its rule and law mission EULEX. The idea was to deploy a new civilian mission in Kosovo to replace the UN administration. However UNSC did not replace resolution 1244 - which was adopted in 1999 when the international administration and peacekeepers enter the province and confirms Serbia’s sovereignty over the province - so new mission’s legal base was in doubt.

    Six-point-plan

    To deploy EULEX the Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon of UN proposed on July 2008 technical negotiations between UN and Belgrade and Pristina authorities over six issues – police, customs, judicial system, traffic-infrastructure, borderline and Serbian cultural heritage.

    Serbia outlined three... » read more ...

    Tags: Balkans, ESDP, Kosovo, Serbia, UNSC


  • One Seat

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    Rating: 5/5 with 3 votes

    Published Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 11:52
    by Ezmanovich Join PES activists (642 views and 5 comments)

    Hello European comrades,

    I would like to know your opinions about the "One Seat"-campaign for stopping moving and travelling the Parliament between Brussels and Strasbourg.

    Don't we believe that the money used on moving the Parliament could be used better than that? Don't we think that the citizens in the union deserves better than wasting our money by moving the Parliament to Strasbourg and back to Brussels?

    We can use those money better than that. We can build a New Social Europa with a flexible labour market, a social security for everyone, a new climate policy and a common responsibily of solving the big problems in the whole union.

    I would like to hear some opinions from you, pals!

     

    Young regards,

    Jakob Esmann

    - Leading Media Effort Coordination Assistant for Danish Prime Candidate to the European Parliament MEP Dan Jørgensen
    - Chairman, The Social Democratic Youth of Denmark (DSU) - Kolding department
    - Member of The Social Democrats of Denmark

     jakob(AT)dsukolding.dk

    Tags: Brussels, citizens, democracy, Denmark, environment, European Parliament, flexicurity, New Social Europe, One seat, social security, Strasbourg


  • March of Equality and the harmful consequences

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    Rating: 4.7/5 with 3 votes

    Published Monday, November 17, 2008 at 15:34
    by Editor (633 views and 3 comments)

     The annual March of Equality walked through the city of Poznan, capital of the Wielkopolska region.
    Approximately three hundred people took part and 350 policemen protected them. But apparently it was not enough.
    Right after the conclusion of the demonstration, a few young activists holding banners: ¨Diversity YES, Intolerance No¨ bearing PES were attacked by thugs and hooligans.
    » read more ...

    Tags: activists, campaign, PES


  • The EU – like a pair of shoes?

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    Published Monday, November 17, 2008 at 11:40
    by julian_schaerbeek Join PES activists (479 views and 0 comments)

    The EU is like a good pair of shoes – the best for us to walk to a better future said Frans Timmermans, Europe Minister of the Netherlands at the Dutch Labour Party’s Europe Day in Groningen on Saturday. He said that if you have a stone in your shoe, after a while the only thing you are aware of is the stone digging into your foot. That’s like Europe, people complain about problems like the Parliament moving between Brussels and Strasbourg, and forget Europe’s amazing achievements.

    Over 300 people from all over the Netherlands turned up for the Europe Day which was also addressed by MEPs Ieke van den Burg and Jan Marinus Wiersma, by PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Dutch Labour Party leader Wouter Bos. It was also the first public debate of the four people who are competitng to be selected as head of the Dutch Labour Party list for the European elections.    

     

    Tags: activists, campaign, candidates, European elections


  • L'ange au sourire continue à se marrer

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    Rating: 5/5 with 4 votes

    Published Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 18:48
    by Gwendoline (565 views and 0 comments)

    Voilà, le Congrès du PS vient de se terminer à Reims. 2 jours de discussions avec des hauts et des bas, un peu de suspens, mais pas trop, avec des huées, mais pas trop, avec des surprises, mais pas trop...

    Ils étaient 4 au départ, il sont (presque) 4 à l'arrivée. On a cru que Benoît, Bertrand et Martine allaient parvenir à créer le T.S.S. (Tout Sauf Ségolène), mais non, les egos ont été, une fois de plus, les plus les forts, et chacun ira de son côté.

    Vendredi, François Hollande a appelé au rassemblement et nous a dit au revoir. Samedi, Bertrand Delanoë a parlé, mais celles qui étaient vraiment attendues étaient Martine et Ségolène. A l'applaudimètre, Martine a remporté le duel. Ségolène a un peu agacé avec ses airs de Vierge Marie "tous ensemble, nous rallumerons tous les soleils et les étoiles du ciel". Il faudrait commencer par rallumer la flamme de l'unité au sein du Parti. Si elle gagne, Ségolène promet d'en appeler aux militants pour décider si oui ou non, il faudra envisager une alliance avec le... » read more ...

    Tags: France, PS


  • Powergame in EU-Russia summit

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    Published Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 02:47
    by Ari Rusila (434 views and 0 comments)

    EU summit meeting with Russia in France Friday 14th Nov. was designed to reopen talks on a pact of cooperation after the crisis in relations caused by the Georgia conflict on August 2008.  Before meeting hard words have been changed over Kaliningrad missiles, Nato radars and EU/OSCE monitors in Georgia.  However the core question can be the energy game.  A day before summit EU came out with its supergrid plan and Russia questioning Baltic Pipe.  Southern energy corridor is an other battleground.
    Power supergrid plan

    EU’s Power supergrid plan is partly designed to decrease EU’s dependence about Russian gas. The Timesonline got look about plan and describes it as follows:

    The building blocks of the proposed supergrid would be new cables linking North Sea wind farms, and a network patching together the disparate electricity grids of the Baltic region and the countries bordering the Mediterranean, according to a blueprint drawn up by the European Commission. EU states will also be asked to pay for at least two ambitious gas pipelines to bring in supplies from Central Asia and Africa. The plans also call for a Community Gas Ring, or a network allowing EU countries to share supplies if Russia turns off the taps.

    The EU Energy Security Plan notes that Europe imports 61 per cent of its gas, a figure projected to rise to 73 per cent by 2020. Russia sells... » read more ...

    Tags: Balkans, Baltic Pipe, Caucasus, energy, EU, Nabucc, Nord Stream, Russia


  • News from the New World - See you on 20th January 2009!

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    Published Friday, November 14, 2008 at 19:02
    by Editor (522 views and 0 comments)

    Obama + 8

    See you on 20th January 2009!




    “Why don’t you come again and participate in the inauguration of the new US President on 20th Jan 09?” said my friends in Washington DC. I know that this will be a truly historic moment for the US, for Europe and the PES, for the all world.


    I will combine this visit with further work to strengthen our progressive cooperation. So thank you very much. I will be with you to salute the new President of hope, B.O.

     

    So America, see you again on 20 Jan 2009. I think and I feel feeling that the PES really can make a good contribution to a better future with all progressives. And our next step will be the PES Council in Madrid on 1-2 Dec.

     

    Thank you to all, reading my blog from the US, thanks to all PES activists reading my journey. See you soon.

    Tags: Obama, PES, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, US


  • News from the New World - Moving together and Wouldn’t it be wonderful?

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    Published Friday, November 14, 2008 at 14:56
    by Editor (489 views and 0 comments)

    Obama + 8

    Moving together


    Speaking at the University of Columbia with Professor Joseph Stiglitz (in the photo) about the financial crises, it is very striking how close our analysis is from both sides of the Atlantic. The consequences of this, the worst speculative crises since World War II! What went wrong? Why did it went disastrously wrong? What must we do to avoid a new disaster in the future?


    I see that the ideas and proposals of the PES to regulate were well received here in the US, among progressives and Democrats. In the progressive environment of universities: from Stanford and Berkeley in California where I was participating in a conference three ago, to Columbia University in New York now!

    Now, way forward is clear for me: we need to start on two road maps for regulatory reform, one in the US, one in Europe. But lets do it in such a way the two road maps are complementary. That is exactly what I am here trying to obtain a common direction. And we are definitely making big progress.


    Obama + 8

    Wouldn’t it be wonderful?


    I am standing at the corner of 33rd street and 2nd Avenue reading the headlines of a fake... » read more ...

    Tags: financial crisis, Iraq, Obama, PES, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, US


  • News from the New World - All in the same boat, including Private Equity

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    Published Friday, November 14, 2008 at 13:20
    by Editor (630 views and 0 comments)

    Obama + 8

     All in the same boat, including Private Equity

     

    No matter who I ask, from the chair of NY Fed, former CEO of SEC, former chief of the FED, the best progressive brains dealing with finance, Nobel prizes winners in economics,  leaders of the international institutions, they all confirm that  Private Equity were implicated in the crisis.

     
    Leverage and debts, through highly geared lending, are used to buy companies and withdraw money from the purchased company for the PE fund managers . That “activity” has  heavily damaged the credit market.

     
    We are faced with new financial market defaults: the corporate lending market is in trouble due to the many companies, who are now in trouble because of debt overload made by Private equity funds. They can’t get their loans recapitalized and the risk of default and company bankruptcy increases every day.

     
    That is also why PE must be covered by new and effective regulation, here in the US and in Europe, as we have insisted in my report to the European Parliament. 

     

    Obama + 8

     Finally Paulson gave up buying bad loans

     

    Paulson now admits that the bail out package of 700 billions USD to buy bad loans was not a good idea! We knew... » read more ...

    Tags: financial crisis, Obama, PES, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, US