Published Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 11:52
by
Ezmanovich 
in Debate (406 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
read morePublished Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 10:22
by
elwira30
in Debate (712 views and 1 comments)
Marek Siwiec, Vice-President of the European Parliament and
member of the Socialist Group in the EP has initiated an action
"Good Bag".
Throughout his constituency in the Wielkopolska region Marek
Siwiec's assistants and members of local bodies of Democratic
Left Alliance (SLD) have been distributing eco bags of the PSE
Group in the EP with attached letters of the MEP and leaflets
with environmental tips.
Also, the inhabitants could take part in a survey and find out
about their Carbon Footprint.
The action, very much liked by the inhabitants, will be conducted
in 30 districts.
read more
Published Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 15:53
by
Editor
in Debate (1066 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?
read morePublished Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 12:04
by
Editor
in Debate (1493 views and 0 comments)
Didn't make it to Vienna Forum? Miss it already?
Relive the moment and check out comments and interviews from the Vienna Forum with PES activists from across Europe on our Youtube page and stay tuned to Yourspace for more forum videos on themes such as online campaigning, emocracy and diversity, Europe in the world and Saving our planet.
read morePublished Monday, July 14, 2008 at 16:28
by
Editor
in Debate (1137 views and 0 comments)
In the panel
on “Save our Planet”, keynote speaker Michael Mueller, State
Secretary in the German Environment Ministry, explained that a
social-environmental policy could potentially garner support of
55-58 percent of voters. When social democrats and greens in
Europe achieve less than this result, this is due to the
outdatedness of the majority of the programmes of the political
left. According to him, the current environmental challenges need
to be combined with the legacy of left-wing policies. We must
take the lead in designing new strategies, following long-term
tendencies.
The classical welfare state was linked to the national state and to an immense exploitation of nature. Now, we have to construct a new vision on how a better life is possible. The Greens are focusing on how to combine ecology and economy, but the real challenge is of a social nature. In an increasingly unequal world, the richest fifth of the population spends only 2.5% of their income on energy; the poorest fifth spends 9%. Given these facts, Europe should not orient itself towards an American or Asian model.
Louis Lemkow, director of the Institute for Environmental Science and Technology at...
read morePublished Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 23:23
by
Editor
in Debate (1193 views and 3 comments)
The issues raised by the speakers fuelled a very lively debate. Jeremy Rifkin, president of the Foundation on Economics trends and advisor of different European governments on environmental and economic issues, said that “we have to leave aside a burden sharing and benchmarks approaches and start to talk about commercial opportunities, otherwise in Copenhagen in 2009 we will fail”.
EU has the potential to lead the world into the transition to a third industrial revolution. The introduction of renewables, the functioning of buildings as power plants and the setting up of a smart transmission grid which will take up the internet technology, are the main pillars of the “third industrial revolution” strategy. There was consensus among the public on the importance of decentralising energy policies, creating the opportunity to collect and generate energy locally. In this respect, the building sector could play a major role. To put into...
read morePublished Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 09:36
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1293 views and 0 comments)
Last months, participants agreed on the need for a radical shift both on the production and the consumption side. The whole exploitation and processing of resources must be rethought.
Setting standards for measuring the risk of a pollutant manufacturing process or use of a product was proposed by several manifesto supporters. Another alternative is the use of a 'climate label’ for products which are, for example, produced in climate neutral and using energy efficient processes.
We need to change our consumer habits. According to Carlo Petrini, President of Slow Food, agricultural products should be produced and consumed locally in order to respect the needs of the farmers and the environment.
read morePublished Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 14:40
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1204 views and 2 comments)
MEP Linda McAvan presents EU initiatives to tackle Climate Change and put forward the priorities for the manifesto2009.
Do you agree with Linda when she says this can be a unique opportunity to reach a new international agreement on climate change? Leave us your comments!
read morePublished Monday, June 9, 2008 at 16:50
by
SARNOUX
in Save our planet (829 views and 0 comments)
Notre avenir, notre unité, notre marché commun sont en danger du fait de la crise énergétique qui, si nous ne faisons rien, si nous ne proposons rien, détruira notre espace commun social et humaniste. Tout ce qui a été crée ou pensé volera en éclat et nous irons vers la guerre de l'énergie, la guerre de la faim et la guerre de civilisation par l'émergence des nationalismes renforcés.
Notre devoir est de proposer une Politique Energétique Commune pour donner, de nouveau, un visage, une âme et une vision pragmatique de l'Europe à nos concitoyens. L'Europe du concret et de la preuve doit être notre credo !
C’est pourquoi je propose de créer une Politique Energétique Commune afin de créer des solidarités solides et concrètes pour limiter l'impact du prix de l'énergie sur nos coûts de production ou d'exploitation afin de proposer des bases saines de concurrence avec des règles précises.
Cette politique doit permettre de sectoriser les...
read morePublished Friday, May 30, 2008 at 16:09
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1669 views and 1 comments)
Claudio Martini,
member of the PES Group in the CoR (Committee of the Regions) and
President of the Tuscany Region in Italy, put forward his
priorities for the PES manifesto! For him climate change is the
most challenging topic to be addressed.
Which of the sessions of the PES Group meeting are you looking most forward to?
Claudio Martini (CM): In my opinion climate change is the biggest challenge for government right now and that’s why I am particularly interested in the debate on Save our planet. There is no doubt that we will face very serious problems in the future. I think it is highly important that we not only focus on the environmental problems caused by climate change, but also on the social, economic and geopolitical issues which will follow. Often environmental questions are seen as separate from other political areas, when they are really not. For every policy we need an environmental dimension.
What is the most important thing local government can do to improve the environment?
CM: Local and regional governments play an important role when it comes to solving environmental problems. The socialist political tradition is...
read morePublished Friday, May 23, 2008 at 11:23
by
Zita_Gurmai
in Save our planet (1022 views and 0 comments)
I represent the
Hungarian Socialist
Party (MSZP) in the European Parliament. MSZP took the PES
manifesto consultation very seriously. We have had a series of
debates in the country-side of Hungary and invited our activists
for an online consultation in their own language, thanks to
Edit Herczog, a colleague of mine in the European Parliament who
took the leading in the MSZP presidium. I think the Internet is a
very important means for reaching our grassroots. MSZP has also
sent representatives to Brussels to meet and discuss with PES
President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.
In the Hungarian debate one very important topic turned out to
the environment: how can we ensure more commitment in Europe to
make sure that our grandchildren will grow up in a clean and
healthy environment? My colleague in the European Parliament,
Gyula Hegyi, successfully took the lead on the debate on ‘Save
our planet’.
The MSZP also have a number of other recommendations for the PES
manifesto:
Published Friday, May 23, 2008 at 08:05
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1286 views and 0 comments)
Today from 9:30 you
are invited when politicians, experts and PES activists will
meet in
Stockholm to debate the Save our
planet theme of the PES manifesto consultation! If you're
living outside Sweden you can follow the debate via web streaming
from the website of the Swedish Social Democratic
Party. A completely free and eco-friendly way to participate
in the PES manifesto consultation!
Among the speakers are:
Published Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 10:35
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1064 views and 0 comments)
After having held a
conference on New Social Europe on April 8, the
PES Group in the Committee of the Regions met up again
to discuss the three remaining topics of the PES manifesto
consultation: Save our planet, European democracy and diversity and EU in the world.
The extraordinary meeting was held on 15-16 May in Turin,
Italy, at the invitation of Mercedes Bresso, President of the
Piedmont Region and President of the PES Group in the Committee of
the Regions.Published Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 17:59
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1069 views and 1 comments)
At the end of the day
eco-friendliness is all about improving our living conditions.
According to Michael Cohen, Mayor of Kalkara, Malta, this is easily
forgotten in everyday talk about bans and restrictions which will
help us save our planet – but at the same time force us to
fundamentally change our way of living.Published Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 10:36
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (882 views and 1 comments)
Last Wednesday
evening around 18h30. In the renovated Brigittines chapel in
Brussels Sp.a co-workers are getting nervous. This
evening we present our input for the PES manifesto. We have
worked hard to provide for an interesting program (attached), but
can it compete with the beautiful spring evening?
At 7 o’clock our fears prove to be unfounded. Sp.a International
Secretary Saïd
El Khadraoui can introduce the evening before approximately
80 people. We kick off with a debate about New Social
Europe. Europe has done pioneering work on certain domains,
but it turns out that a lot more can be gained at European level.
For example, the health services directive that we are still
waiting for. There is no discussion about the need for a more
social approach of the Lisbon objectives. But ambitious and
enforceable European objectives concerning social themes are a
logical next step. The conclusions run parallel: Europe has a lot
of instruments at his disposal, but lacks ambition and
decisiveness when it comes to social themes. Political action
pays off, that becomes clear in dossiers such as the adjusted
Bolkenstein directive. As...
Tags: democracy, energy, environment, health, political parties, transparency, treaty, welfare
File:
manifesto_spa_FR.pdf,
flyer_spa.pdf
Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 09:42
by
Duncan Anderson
in EU in the world (1170 views and 0 comments)
I don't want to suggest that PES/EU can solve this problem within one term of office. But I do think that the EU should start talking to other countries and organisations about dealing with the consequences of over population.
Over population or having more people on the planet that it can sustain was a topic of discussion during the 1970s and China responded. I'm not saying that we or other countries should follow China's route.
But over population is at the core of many global problems. We need to use artificial fertilisers and G.M. products to feed the world and even then a lot of people starve. There is insufficient water to both grow food for people and for them to drink. We can't provide enough energy for everybody without damaging the planet.
Question, how do we address the twin problems of having a sustainable level of population on this planet? Answer, I don't know, but I'm interested in listening to there people's views.
If it is decided to reduce the population we have to consider the demographics of having more older people who are above a working age - but still need food, water and energy - than younger people who would be generating income and therefore taxes to pay for the water, food and energy of the older people.
But until we start discussing these concepts, both amongst ourselves and with other countries we're not going to fully understand the problems and therefore we won't find the correct answers.
read morePublished Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 12:07
by
asa.westlund
in Save our planet (1182 views and 3 comments)
Almost
daily we hear alarming news about one of the biggest challenges
of our time – the one about the global warming. As citizens and
consumers we have a responsibility to act. A responsibility not
always easy to handle. Scientific reports from governments,
companies and others are sometimes contradictory, and it’s easy
to lose hope and feel powerless. This is where the EU, as a big
actor on the world wide market has an important role to play. It
is here we see the necessity of political action rather than just
letting the free market decide.
But it is not enough- It must also be easier for all European
citizens to make environment friendly decisions and thereby
taking their own responsibility! The environmental crisis is to
enormous and complex to be solved on just one political level.
Its first when we act both individually, locally, in larger
regions and globally that we can make a change. It does not mean
that we can wait for someone else to take responsibility, rather
that we all must take action now. We have to act as a united
front. Many citizens are trying to take action. With everyday
actions, like leaving the car at home and travel by bus, or
buying locally produced and bio grown products, everyone can make
a difference.
At the same time it has to be easy to make the right choice,...
Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 11:23
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1033 views and 0 comments)
Socialists are pushing for
more action on climate change, since it is necessary to act now,
leaving aside the disastrous “business as usual approach”.
Socialist MEP Linda McAvan (Labour UK) hosted the WWF debate “EU
Climate action : Do 30% NOW!” on 6 May 2008. Here are a few
conclusions from the meeting:Published Monday, May 5, 2008 at 12:22
by
asa.westlund
in Save our planet (1456 views and 4 comments)
Sometimes I wonder if
we only can discuss one environmental topic at the time.Published Monday, May 5, 2008 at 11:55
by
FrancoisC
in Save our planet (1320 views and 2 comments)
Tags: climate change, CO2, environment, oil
File:
Il faut en finir avec les énergies fossiles (PSE).rtf
Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 09:22
by
eromerof
in Save our planet (1149 views and 0 comments)
Willy Brandt: “Democratic socialism has the ability to make new beginnings possible”.
Democratic socialism has been able to respond to new challenges and to a new a state of affairs through equality and social justice. Just as pacifism or feminism were integrated as new elements in the cluster of socialist values, the time has now come to include sustainable development as a central element of our socialist thinking and political practice.
The Left should take into account the consequences of environmental degradation for our planet and introduce solidarity as a fundamental principle in the implementation of a model of sustainable development that is fairer and more responsible. The challenge for the 21st century no longer is to achieve a better redistribution of wealth and fight for equal opportunities but also to respond to the more complex challenge of making the environment healthier both at local and global level. Ecosocialism should therefore be understood as a question of solidarity between and among generations, both in time and space.
A NEW MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT
Europe has paved the way for environmental policies aiming at
‘cleaning up’ the environment. However setting limits to
polluting emissions or working on water and waste management...
Published Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 11:30
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1088 views and 1 comments)
Sometimes it takes old
technologies to solve the problems of modern life! This is the case
in the Greater Manchester Region, United Kingdom, where good
old-fashioned rail helped the regions out of its problems with
traffic congestion and pollution.Published Friday, April 11, 2008 at 10:31
by
noelhatch
in New Social Europe (987 views and 0 comments)
However, the economic layers of governance have been eroded by
globalisation. There is an increased pressure on costs. If we
debate the reform of the European social model, we need to debate
the reform of globalisation. Economic globalisation increases
within and between countries.
How can we develop a politics of international
redistribution?
Henning proposed that we needed a politics of national and
international redistribution - we need to explore a global social
politics. This includes:
Published Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 10:25
by
martina
in Save our planet (2146 views and 2 comments)
Climate neutrality, or, in scientific terms 'CO2 neutrality',
describes processes by which the global CO2 balance remains
constant (source: Wikipedia).
In my opinion this CO2 balance no longer exists – we need to
bring back this balance before we can actually maintain it. In a
time of increased environmental awareness, this worthy goal can
nevertheless produce unusual ideas.
Our lifestyles are often careless: jetting off to remote
countries, taking the car to go to the bakery around the corner,
using the tumble dryer and all the other small things which makes
life easy. These actions need no longer give us a guilty
conscience. By spending a bit of money you can compensate for
your polluting sins. For example, take a look at Atmosfair,
Greenmiles, The Climate Company or My Climate. There are probably
more such projects, especially outside Germany. Yet a study from
Tufts
University in Boston revealed that only three of thirteen
such ‘compensation agencies’, including Atmosfair and My Climate,
are actually recommended service providers.
When travelling by plane, Atmosfair can help you obtain a cleaner conscience.
You can pay when you book, but also calculate and compensate for
your CO2 emissions later. When typing...
Tags: blogger of the week, climate change, CO2, electricity, energy, environment
File:
IT_climate_DE.pdf
Published Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 15:12
by
Wind Energy
in Save our planet (1535 views and 0 comments)
The world is facing
an energy and climate crisis. Globally, the energy sector emits 26
billion tonnes of CO2 each year and electricity production alone
accounts for 41% of emissions. The International Energy Agency
expects CO2 emissions in 2030 to have increased by 55% to reach
more than 40 billion tonnes of CO2. The share of emissions coming
from electricity production will increase to 44% in 2030, reaching
18 billion tonnes of CO2. Europe is going to be importing a growing
share of its energy at unpredictable but most likely higher prices,
from unstable regions, in ever-fiercer competition with the rest of
the world and at staggering environmental cost. Spare electricity
generating capacity is at a historic low. Europe has to invest in
new capacity to replace ageing plants and meet future demand. In
the period 2005-2030, the EU needs to install 862 GW of new
electricity generating capacity. 427 GW of generating capacity will
be retired in the EU and an additional 435 GW will be needed to
satisfy the growing demand for power. The required capacity exceeds
the total capacity operating in Europe (723 GW). Satisfying our
energy needs over the coming decades will be a big challenge. For a
region that currently imports 56% of its energy – and is on track
to reach 70% in the next 20 to 30 years – the challenge is big. Our
own...
read more
Published Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 12:00
by
noelhatch
in New Social Europe (982 views and 0 comments)
Published Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 10:16
by
cafeneaua.politica
in Save our planet (1423 views and 2 comments)
The most important matter of sustainable development doesn’t support the quantity of economic growth but the quality of an environmental, economic, social, and cultural development.A sustainable community effort consists of a long-term and integrated systems approach to developing and achieving a healthy community by balanced environmental, economic, social, and cultural issues. The Romanian (European) Social Democrats advocates a sustainable development of our planet and not the destruction of the environment and our resources.
It is necesary that the price of the different resources must cover all calculatable external costs. The government has to add the calculated charges so the different resources get the same conditions on the market. If the charges are creating an income, this income is to restitute to the inhabitants and to the companies (the same restitution per inhabitants or worker).
As basic measures we can talk about sustainable development when total production of the region is sufficient to provide for the inhabitant’s needs without requiring more resources than the area can regenerate (energies,...
read morePublished Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 09:40
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (1281 views and 1 comments)
A group of German PES activists are the first to send in a paper
with ideas for the PES manifesto. Read the German contribution in the documents section of
Yourspace.
The EU working group from the SPD in Berlin proposes eight 'building
blocks' for the PES manifesto:
Published Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 16:50
by
Poul_Nyrup_Rasmussen
in Save our planet (994 views and 5 comments)
The suggestion to
focus more on environmental issues is certainly a good one. I
usually refer to it as a new strategy for ‘smart green growth’, but
‘New Sustainable Europe’ and ‘New Social Europe is also Green’ are
also catchy headlines. Thanks to our PES activist for his
ideas!Published Monday, March 17, 2008 at 10:15
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1174 views and 0 comments)
Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 14:56
by
heisbo
in Save our planet (1538 views and 4 comments)
Even though discussion
paper 'Save our
planet' concentrates mostly on energy policy, I would like
discuss also about the influence of the traffic emissions.Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 11:52
by
AnneSofie
in EU in the world (1280 views and 0 comments)
The manifesto theme
'EU in the
world' was also on the agenda when PES activists from Denmark, Sweden and Norway met in
Jørlunde, Denmark on March 1st and 2nd. Here are a few
conclusions from this dedicated discussion group:
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