Published Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 09:18
by
rikkeindenmark 
in Debate (377 views and 0 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:
It's pretty...
Tags: activists, campaign, youth
File:
handouts_ECOSY_26072008.pdf
Published Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 12:43
by
Editor
in Debate (471 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!
read more
Published Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 18:02
by
Editor
in Debate (495 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.
D’une part, nous demandons que le PSE et ses...
read morePublished Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 16:27
by
Editor
in Debate (578 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.
read more
Published Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 15:53
by
Editor
in Debate (512 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 Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 10:29
by
Editor
in Debate (472 views and 0 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 of particular relevance issue in light of French...
read morePublished Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 17:24
by
Editor
in Debate (414 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?
read morePublished Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 12:04
by
Editor
in Debate (500 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 09:43
by
rikkeindenmark
in Debate (551 views and 2 comments)
Think Obama,
not Blair!
Be careful with negative campaigning, but not afraid of it!
Online campaigning is as much hard work as traditional
campaigning!
Keep moderation of online fora to a minimum, but make sure
that 'trolls' don't spoil the fun and limit participation!
These were just a few of the conclusions from the workshop on online campaigning at the recent PES activist forum in Vienna.
The workshop's panel consisted in four PES activists sharing
their experiences with online tools: Jon Worth from the UK,
Esteban Romero from Spain, Victor Negrescu from Romania and
myself, Rikke Skovgaard Andersen from Denmark. All speakers are
heavily involved in online campaigning activities.
The presentations varied from general advice on online
campaigning and use of social networks to presentations of
concrete, online activities and tools that PES activists can use.
The panel answered several questions from the audience - among
other things the debate adressed topics such as 'critical mass'
for an online debate forum, advantages vs. disadvantages of
online polls and the feasibility for 'Obama-style' fundraising
via small, online donations.
There's a lot of potential in online campaigning - something which workshop participants were certainly aware of. Online tools...
read moreTags: activists, campaign, European elections, forum
File:
jon.zip,
rikke.zip
Published Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 09:52
by
carlosmoret
in European democracy & diversity (491 views and 0 comments)
The
Vienna forum was a very rich encounter. As for me the
presentation of activist campaigning was especially interesting,
since I tend to get easily involved. On the one hand there is the
manifesto2009, well under way that gives us a common platform for
the parliamentary elections, but that does not give me clues as
how to campaign. The Manifesto is an excellent tool, but we have
to sell it.
In the presentation "Experience Europe - Cross-border campaign exchanges" the panel was formed by four activists presenting different aspects of their campaigning in Ireland, Spain, Portugal and France.
Adrian O'Sullivan presented us his experience with PES activists
coming to Ireland to help in their election. I wasn't planning to
make a report, and therefore took no notes, just took pictures.
Adrian mentioned that integrating the non Irish activists was a
priority. There were the logistic...
Tags: activists, campaign, forum, PES
File:
J_Reis_Santos_vienna.ppt
Published Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 09:33
by
desmondotoole
in European democracy & diversity (463 views and 5 comments)
Immediately
following the NO vote in the recent Irish referendum activists
from the Irish Labour Party, French Parti Socialiste and others
have set up PES activists Dublin. We were
already planning such an initiative but the referendum result
gave added urgency to our work. We recognise that this is
potentially a defining moment in Ireland's relationship with the
EU and as a consequence in the structure and dynamics of Irish
politics.
The inaugural meeting of PES activists in Ireland was held on
Tuesday 24th June in the Labour Parliamentary Room in Leinster
House, Dublin - the home of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament). We
met below a mural which showed the early and more modern leaders
of the Irish labour movement grouped around an image of Marianne
leading the French people in the Revolution of 1830. Ireland's
republicanism and our socialism owe much to the example of the
French revolutions and meeting beneath this mural was our way of
paying homage to that tradition.
Our aim is to build European Left politics on the ground in
Dublin. Since June, more than 70 activists have joined our city
group. There is enormous interest both in Dublin and across
Ireland in what we are proposing. PES people are "on the move" in
Ireland! Two events in particular have brought in extra
members:...
Published Friday, July 4, 2008 at 10:05
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (335 views and 0 comments)
Vienna receives this weekend the first PES activists Forum. “Vienna 2008 – a strong voice for European social democracy” gathers together leading politicians from PES member parties, activists and experts to discuss the outcome of the manifesto2009 campaign. They will draw-up their ideas for a strong campaign for the next European elections.
The opening session of the Forum is scheduled for this afternoon. Tomorrow, four parallel sessions will take place on both “Manifesto” and “Campaigning” themes.
During the day, participants will discuss not only the four consultation themes – “Save our World, “New Social Europe”, “Europe in the World” and “European democracy and diversity” – but also other transversal issues such as “Experience in Europe – Cross-border campaign exchanges”, “Strike back on ultraconservative speech”, “Social networking over Internet or “A European dimension in European election campaigns”.
The Forum, organised together with the SPÖ, the Renner Institute and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), will close the PES manifesto consultation.
read morePublished Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 09:36
by
Editor
in Save our planet (790 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 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 09:25
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (430 views and 0 comments)
Don’t give up on New Social Europe!
The European social model needs to be renovated but its bases must be preserved. While we debate the reform of the European social model, we need to also debate the reform of globalisation. This includes, for example, the need for national and international redistribution and the need to stop the race to the bottom, both in taxes (so that states can afford good education and welfare for everyone) by initiating an international tax-cooperation, and in social standards by starting international cooperation to raise them.
We need concrete measures to ensure globalisation is politically controlled, such as a single EU representation in international financial institutions, the establishment of a UN Economic Security Council, and an efficient control over tax havens
Tackling social insecurity
read morePublished Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 14:25
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (362 views and 0 comments)
Members of the Romanian Social Democratic Party met to debate the PES manifesto2009 and the future of the European left.
The first day the Romanian social democratic foundation ‘Ovidiu Sincai’ invited for a debate at their headquarters in Bucharest. Around 30 students, intellectuals and party members took part in the meeting and shared their ideas for the future of social democracy in Europe. Among the speakers was the Director of Ovidiu Sincai Anne Juganaru, MEP Titus Corlatean and PES Secretary-General Philip Cordery.
On the second day the discussions moved to Brasov for a seminar for Romanian PES activists. Even though the event took place short time before the local elections, around 100 Romanian activists showed up to discuss the PES manifesto on ‘Europe Day’, 9 May. The PES Secretary-General insisted on the link between local problems and European solutions and expressed on this occasion support to PSD local candidate in Brasov.
Another hot topic was the free movement of workers and how mobility can be a threat to social and workers’ rights. The Romanian activists concluded that free movement and social rights should not be seen as opposites, but instead go hand in...
read morePublished Monday, June 9, 2008 at 16:30
by
Editor
in EU in the world (455 views and 0 comments)
The last months of the debates on EU in the world have again brought many proposals to include in the Manifesto to the 2009 European elections.
Global Disarmament
Several participants recommend that the Manifesto mentions Europe’s responsibility to ensure global disarmament and arms controls. Measures could include working towards a nuclear weapons-free Europe, reducing military expenses, focusing on conflict prevention, revitalising international processes and agreements (such as the non-proliferation and the CFE treaties), and banning small arms and light weapons (SALW) exports to unstable regions. But participants also agreed that the EU should develop its own military structures outside NATO to be able to independently carry out missions covered by the Petersberg tasks. Also, EU member states should press the US to restrain from engaging private contractors in conflict regions.
Towards democratic international...
read morePublished Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 16:50
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (352 views and 0 comments)
The manifesto2009 is on the frontpage of the last number of the newsletter issued by Comission Féderale Europe, the Paris PES activists magazine.
On this third number you will find an article regarding the aims
of the manifesto2009 but also many others reports on the
immigrants rights or elections in several european countries,
just to mention a few examples.
More information on the activities, European policies and many other subjects - both from Paris and abroad - for you to read here!
read morePublished Monday, May 26, 2008 at 14:53
by
jose reis santos
in European democracy & diversity (495 views and 1 comments)
I am very happy to be the blogger of the week. It is not every day that one has the opportunity to be an active part of a project as the one the PES is promoting. I am talking about the Activists Project and the Manifesto 2009. Most of the people that read and consult this blog already know all about these projects, but I would like to take a moment and think about them.
Initial questions: what is the PES? It is the Party of the European Socialists. But is it really a party? Is it not the PES a confederation of national parties rather than a Political Party in classical terms? If we think about it and compare the party structures at a national and European level, we rapidly come to the conclusion that at a European level we are light-years away from the national organizations as they exists. Of course that one could say that we don’t need such an organized and complex party structure, because we don’t have to be prepared to exercise power. The PES is not running to govern nothing. We don’t run to manage local administrative government; as we don’t run to put forward any kind of European cabinet. We leave that responsibility to the national parties, both regarding the local and European affairs. So, what can we do as PES activists?
Bring EU to the next level
First we can start by thinking what the role is for political parties at an European level. When we think about the future of the European Union, do...
read morePublished Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:00
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (515 views and 0 comments)
Thanks to Corinne
Bord for sharing her ideas on Yourspace!
This week PES activist José Reis Santos from Portugal will be blogging on Yourspace. José is 33 years old and lives in Lisbon where he works as history and political science researcher. José committed to PES activists at PES Congress in Porto in 2006. Currently he is coordinating the Portuguese contribution to the PES manifesto.
read morePublished Friday, May 23, 2008 at 11:23
by
Zita_Gurmai
in Save our planet (536 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 (759 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 Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 12:14
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (456 views and 0 comments)
Big news for socialists in Spain! PSOE, the Spanish socialist
party, has launched a new online meeting place for
Spanish-speaking activists: Europeo, Socialista y Orgullos de Serlo (European,
socialist and proud to be so!).
The new website is the place to be if you want to keep updated on
PES activists Spain and the Spanish debate on the PES manifesto
consultation!
Published Friday, May 16, 2008 at 18:11
by
jose reis santos
in New Social Europe (666 views and 1 comments)
Last Saturday, the
10th of May, PES Activists Portugal held their first public
initiative regarding the Manifesto 2009 consultation in Algarve.
This session was dedicated to the New Social
Europe theme and had as Keynote Speaker Fernando Medina
(Secretary of State of Work); Maria João Rodrigues (Special
Adviser to the European Commission), Zita Gurmai (PES Women
Leader and MEP, PES), Jamila Madeira (MEP, PES), Manuela Augusto
(PS Women Portugal Leader), and Esmeralda Ramires (MP, PS).
The session was presided by the leader of PS Algarve, Miguel Freitasand there were presented some proposals by PES activists.The session was well attended, as all the invited speakers delivered high quality speeches regarding the future of the welfare state model in Europe. In particular, the questions of women in the workforce, the characteristics of the new labor relations, and the sustainability of the European social welfare model were some of the main topics focused. The idea that only the left could maintain and spread these social conquests was very strong, and from this argument came the concern of delivering a good political programme in 2009 and the importance that the 2009 European elections could have in shaping the near future of Europe. The importance of the PES...
read morePublished Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 16:39
by
alias77
in New Social Europe (474 views and 0 comments)
On the occasion of Europe Day (9 May 2008), over 100 Romanian PES activists,
academics, Romanian MEPs and the President of PSD, Mircea Geoana
took part in a debate in Brasov, Romania. The Secretary General
of PES, Philip Cordery engaged in discussion on the PES manifesto
consultation.
The main conclusion was that the European left should come with
an alternative solution to the right’s proposals that only split
up the society. The left should counter it or adopt a mediating
strategy. The activists showed great interest in getting involved
in concrete actions to reshape the left and bring it in the
forefront of the political stage. The left should better
communicate its goals, thus by leaving out the too politically
correct speeches and the 'wooden language'. The commitments and
actions need to be expressed better, in order to reach the common
people. The common language must be recaptured and allow the left
to better connect to its electorate.
The full article is available only in Romanian here!
Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 11:14
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (517 views and 0 comments)
A big thanks to
Åsa
Westlund for being last week's blogger!
This week Yourspace welcomes Corinne Bord from France. Corinne is 38 years old and became a member of the French Socialist Party after the Maastricht referendum campaign. She's a political activist, working to build a Social Europe. Corinne is Vice-President of the Léo Lagrange Federation, member of SOLIDAR and vice-president of the French platform CPCA, in charge of European affairs.
read morePublished Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 17:27
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (588 views and 0 comments)
Yesterday Flemish
social democrats concluded their debate on the PES manifesto. Over
the last month Sp.a, the Flemish social democratic party, has hosted
four debates on the themes of the PES manifesto consultation –
yesterday evening was the closing event, a final discussion of
common priorities for the 2009 elections.Published Monday, May 5, 2008 at 15:55
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (551 views and 1 comments)
Published Monday, May 5, 2008 at 12:17
by
noelhatch
in In the spotlight (430 views and 0 comments)
On 26 April Bertrand Delanoë, newly re-elected Mayor of Paris, visited London to support Ken Livingstone from Labour in the elections for Mayor of London. Read a full report and see more pictures on the homepage of Compass Youth
.
Published Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 17:00
by
eromerof
in European democracy & diversity (637 views and 0 comments)
Today, European Union is an economic reality but not a political one because the weight of European Institutions in the international scene is very frail. This situation is not very good for the people who believe that economic liberalism is too strong in the whole world thanks to the globalization phenomenon. Social globalization is not so strong as the economical one and this is a real problem for the “socialist family” since the values of socialism are based on a social way of thinking.
That is the reason because the European Socialists should work to build a very strong Party of European Socialists. We have to compensate for the excessive power of economic liberalism with a new model of social protection. European Union should take enough power to become one of the main international players (such as the United States, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, Japan, etc.) with real capacity of influence in the “international social agenda”. Today, decisions should be taken in a global way; socialists should bring together all their resources to push for a change in the European Institutions, and ways of acting of the European Union. Socialism must become global, as global as liberalism, otherwise our main institution (welfare state) will disappear.
Find a
read morePublished Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 13:52
by
eromerof
in European democracy & diversity (769 views and 1 comments)
But all this would be just another subjective comment if women were not constantly forced to prove themselves and if they were not there merely out of a simple strategy of political marketing. In addition, women must also prove their worth and show that they are not just puppets. In our society, in most cases, women must adjust...
read morePublished Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 10:12
by
markus.austria
in EU in the world (603 views and 1 comments)
Tags: activists, Africa, defence, democracy, development, multilateralism, peace, poverty, UN
File:
PES manifesto consultation.pdf
Published Monday, April 28, 2008 at 10:27
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (730 views and 0 comments)
Thanks a lot to
Isabella Frenning for being last week's
blogger!
This week Esteban Romero from Spain will be blogging on
Yourspace. Esteban is 29 years old and lives in Granada where
works as an assistant professor at the local university. He
committed to the PES manifesto campaign last year while he has
doing a traineeship in the European Commission. Currently he is
coordinating a Spanish-language blog about the PES
manifesto.
Next to Esteban a number of other PES activists from the 'Manifiesto
2009' blog team will be sharing their ideas on Yourspace. So
this week you get the chance to experience several voices from
Spain!
Published Monday, April 21, 2008 at 11:41
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (638 views and 0 comments)
Thanks to Brian
Booth for blogging on Yourspace last week!Published Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 11:48
by
Salvador E. Becker
in New Social Europe (877 views and 1 comments)
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