Published Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 09:18
by
rikkeindenmark
in Debate (499 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:
It's pretty...
Published Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 14:50
by
Editor
in Debate (480 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 Hollande
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Published Monday, July 28, 2008 at 16:44
by
Editor
in Debate (581 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 members abroad into local party sections in their countries...
read morePublished Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 16:27
by
Editor
in Debate (675 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.
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Published Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 12:04
by
Editor
in Debate (580 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 (606 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 morePublished Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 09:52
by
carlosmoret
in European democracy & diversity (537 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...