Published Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 09:18
by
rikkeindenmark 
(988 views and 2 comments)
How do we turn our
political ideas and visions into great campaigns?
In my view, this is the next big challenge that PES activists are
up for! Since October last year PES activists have discussed the
PES manifesto and what issues and ideas should be in it -
'online' on Yourspace as well as 'offline' at manifesto meetings
all over Europe.
We have lots and lots of amazing ideas and I almost can't wait to
get started on the campaigning! Before long we will have to pick
from our ideas and select the issues which we would like to give
special attention in future international PES activist campaigns.
Are some issues more 'suitable' for cross-border, grassroot
campaigning than others?
A few days ago I gave a presentation at the ECOSY summer camp (ECOSY is the European Young Socialists which gathers socialist youth movements from all over Europe) where I suggested four basic principles which, in my view, should guide the 'transition' from visionary manifesto process to succesful campaigning. Here goes:
Tags: activists, campaign, youth
File:
handouts_ECOSY_26072008.pdf
Published Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 14:50
by
Editor
(960 views and 0 comments)
The consultation process on the PES manifesto for the European Elections has recently ended and the final manifesto will be presented to the PES Council, in Madrid. It has been a tremendous success and the PES is now in a better position going into the 2009 European elections. Check out PES leaders' evaluations of the manifesto consultation process here on Yourspace,
Portuguese PM José Sócrates French PS leader François... » read more ...
Published Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 12:43
by
Editor
(1079 views and 0 comments)
This year ECOSY Summer Camp is taking place in Carpentras, near the French city of Avignon from 25-31 July, and it has already received over 2000 participants.
During the Camp several workshops themed "Social Europe for
Everyone"were organized; campaigning was not forgotten as the
European elections approach.
Zita Gurmai, President of PES Women, participated in one of the conferences and had a discussion with women representatives from ECOSY member organizations about the working conditions that young women endure in Europe.
PES press and campaign advisor, Julian Scola, spoke at a workshop on media work and campaigns, and at the PES stand 180 young people signed up as PES activists.
So, rendez-vous assured for 2009 at the next ECOSY Summer Camp!
Published Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 10:00
by
julian_schaerbeek
(988 views and 1 comments)
"International
solidarity is the principle that unites us" said Jacinda Ardern,
President of the International Union of Socialist Youth at a
meeting on international solidarity at ECOSY summer camp. Without
international solidarity other principles such as peace, democracy,
social justice and equality are meanginless she added. Citing the
case of workers in the Phillipines who work 24 hour shifts for 75%
of the national minimum wage because they are classed as
"apprentices", Jacinda pointed out that employment, economic growth
and poverty were not mutually exclusive. Now there is a message for
the world trade talks that look like having new life... trade alone
won't lift people out of poverty - we also need strong trade unions
and good employment and social policies. We all know it but it's
important to be reminded.
Tags: development, employment, globalization, workers' rights
Published Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 09:57
by
julian_schaerbeek
(1055 views and 1 comments)
"The biggest problem
in Poland now is lack of tolerance" was the startling statement of
Polish social democratic party leader Grzegorz Napieralski at ECOSY
summer camp. The young, recently-elected party leader said that
there was a lack of tolerance towards sexual minorities, and a lack
of tolerance for other religions apart from Catholicism. He added
that Poland didn't have a problem with migration - which implied to
me that there would be a lack of tolerance to migrants if there
were any!!!Tags: discrimination, ECOSY
Published Monday, July 28, 2008 at 16:44
by
Editor
(1004 views and 1 comments)
With the freedom of movement that citizens enjoy within the European Union there are thousands of PES member party members living, working or studying in other European countries. With the right to vote in their country of residence, what better time than the European elections for socialists and social democrats from different European countries living in the same city to come together? The PES sees enormous potential to mobilize in their country of residence party members and supporters abroad. Many of our member parties agree, and want to work together to get all socialist and social democratic party members to work together regardless of their nationality. Already parties such as the Portuguese PS and Romanian PSD are working to integrate their... » read more ...
Tags: campaign, expatriates
Published Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 09:21
by
carl0s
(863 views and 3 comments)
With the far-right on the rise across the EU, as socialists we need to look at ourselves in the cold light of morning. History tells us that fascism and its derivatives are fuelled by anger and disillusionment. What have we all done to contribute to this situation? Don't get me wrong - there's no justification for racism, violence or intolerance. But the current flaring of these sentiments across the EU may have causes to which we have contributed...
Read the rest of this article here
Published Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 18:02
by
Editor
(1024 views and 1 comments)
The following
article was pulished by our friends in the Fédération du Parti
socialiste de Loire-Atlantique. They have created a section in
the Federation's weekly entitled "Socialists in Europe,
Socialists in the World." The article was written by Karine
DANIEL, Secrétaire Fédérale Europe International, and Cyril
HUNAULT, Délégué Fédérale Europe. For more of the articles, click
here.
La Fédération du Parti socialiste de Loire-Atlantique contribue au manifeste du Parti Socialiste Européen pour préparer les élections de 2009. Notre contribution adoptée au Conseil Fédéral de mai porte sur deux aspects.
» read more ...
Published Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 16:31
by
Editor
(931 views and 1 comments)
At the PES activists Forum in Vienna, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen outlined how best to approach the migration issue. Recognising the need for "new minimum standards on how to treat migrant workers in Europe," he highlighted the importance of these being based on "rights and duties."
Judging from history, Poul noted that "When you play the fear factor it is always the conservatives who gain." Therefore, as Socialists, we need to play the future factor based on inclusivity and equality.
Check out the video and let us know what you think. What exactly should these new minimum standards be? What "rights and duties" need to be promoted to develop a sense of inclusivity amongst migrant workers?
Published Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 15:31
by
arktika
(902 views and 0 comments)
As today’s headlines were dominated by news that the European Commission is to withdraw hundreds of millions of euros worth of EU funding to Bulgaria and to withhold their right to manage such funds, Ari Rusila asks how much of the misuse of EU funds is really down to corruption and organised crime?
Ari claims that perhaps the real crime is preoccupation with details and bureaucracy, and that EU officials are the culprits.
... » read more ...Tags: Balkans, Bulgaria, corruption, EU funds, programme, project management
Published Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 12:40
by
thanos
(911 views and 0 comments)
The following
article by Thanos Kafkalides, political science student at
Université Libre de Bruxelles, hails the Zapatero government’s
policies for their positive contribution in the fight against
discrimination. In particular, discrimination based on sexual
orientation and the role played by education in this fight.
He notes that, in Greece, the debate on such discrimination has just been opened by the left and he invites PASOK to follow PSOE’s lead by proposing innovative and progressive policies to promote equality and combat discrimination.
Δυστυχώς, στην χώρα μας δεν μιλάμε συχνά για θέματα σεξουαλικής ταυτότητας και αυτά, μόλις τον τελευταίο καιρό άρχισαν να εισέρχονται πιο δυναμικά στην πολιτική ατζέντα των κομμάτων της αριστεράς. Από την άλλη, ο ρόλος... » read more ...
Tags: discrimination, equality, equality, PASOK, PSOE, Zapatero
File:
We are Europe.pdf
Published Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 16:27
by
Editor
(1096 views and 0 comments)
After a successful workshop on online campaigning at the Vienna Forum, several activists offered us their ideas. Jon Worth pointed to the need for further online debate and commentary in the run up to the 2009 elections. Aidan O’Sullivan highlighted the need for grassroots activist to activist campaigning using all available media. One activist suggested the creation of a Europe wide holiday.
Published Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 15:53
by
Editor
(1007 views and 0 comments)
How best to “Save Our Planet”? What contribution can the EU make to this global challenge? In Vienna, PES activists from across Europe had their say on this crucial issue. Anton Muyldermans encouraged innovation in combining social and ecologic measures in efforts against climate change. Jan Hofste suggested the foundation of a European institute to coordinate these efforts and an innovative way to finance it.
Any suggestions on how to balance social and ecological policies? Would you like to see a new European institute to fight climate change?
Tags: activists, energy, environment, forum
Published Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 10:29
by
Editor
(960 views and 1 comments)
During the forum activists showed their interest in a number of round-table discussions, one of which on ‘EU in the world.’
On development, Laura Sullivan said that aid must be “genuine” and “effective.” EU aid policy must take into account the positions of NGOs and trade unions. Also on the subject of development, Emmanuel Drouin expressed the urgent need for a European policy on Africa in order for development to be socially just and democratic.
Barbara Revelli highlighted the importance of the Mediterranean in external relations and asked what contribution the EU can give to the Mediterranean Union. This, of course, is... » read more ...
Tags: activists, Africa, China, development, forum, Mediterranean
Published Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 17:24
by
Editor
(852 views and 1 comments)
Often people complain that Europe is not democratic. But is this the case? At the Vienna Forum, one activist rejected this commonly held view, stating that there are indeed existing democratic mechanisms available to activists in the EU. Rather than complaining about a democratic deficit, activists must use these mechanisms to their full potential in the fight for a better Europe.
Julia from the SPÖ highlighted the role of fear in European politics, particularly in the debate on immigration. She argued that the EU must foster an image of “the good guy” in the form of a Social Union.
What is your image of the EU in the context of globalization? What can Europe do to better protect it's citizens from the negative effects of globalization?
Is there an institutionalised democratic deficit or do you agree that the problem is that we are simply not taking advantage of the mechanisms available to us?
Tags: activists, democracy, forum, globalization
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