NEWSLETTER #10

29 November 2005

www.democracy-international.org

 

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Content

 

0) EDITORIAL: FORWARD ME

1) INSIDE BRUSSELS - PARALYSED EU INSTITUTIONS

2) OUTSIDE BRUSSELS - SOFIA AND BERLIN

3) NEW CONVENTION

4) BOOK ABOUT DIRECT DEMOCRACY

5) EVALUATION: REFERENDUMS IN FRANCE AND THE NETHERLANDS

6) POPULAR INITIATIVE IN AMSTERDAM

 

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0) EDITORIAL: FORWARD ME

 

by Ronald Pabst

 

On several occasions I have talked to Belgian activists about a

book written by Jos Verhulst. His words inspired them to start

working for direct democracy. Now we are translating and

publishing this book in six languages. We are happy to present it

from the beginning of 2006 on. I am currently proofreading the

German version - and I can already understand the enthusiasm

of our Belgians friends.

This month’s newsletter covers interesting events inside and

outside Brussels as well as our proposal how to proceed with the

European integration. Furthermore, we have expanded our series

of monitor reports. You find two new papers evaluating the

referendums in France and the Netherlands.

We finish with a report about the introduction of the Popular

Initiative in Amsterdam.

 

This is the tenth newsletter of democracy international.

Please help us to get more readers. Simply forward this mail

to people who are interested in questions of (European) democracy,

write a few lines about your connection to us and ask them to subscribe at:

 

www.democracy-international.org/newsletter.html

 

Thank you

 

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1) INSIDE BRUSSELS - PARALYSED EU INSTITUTIONS

 

This time Lars Bosselmann writes about a meeting held in the

European Economic and Social Committee: The European

Citizens’ Initiative got a lot of support.

 

www.democracy-international.org/insidebrussels-nr2.html

 

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2) OUTSIDE BRUSSELS - SOFIA AND BERLIN

 

In cooperation with other partners we are organising a series of

meetings about direct democracy in Europe.

We are preparing a conference in Berlin on January 27 & 28, 2006:

“Democratising Europe - the role of direct democracy”

Subsequent to it we will organize the next meeting of democracy

international on January 29.

You will get soon more information…

 

report about the first conference in Sofia

democracy-international.org/sofia-conference.html

 

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3) NEW CONVENTION

 

We propose a democratic procedure that should lead to a result

accepted by a majority of the Europeans. We will spread an

appeal to parliamentarians all over Europe.

Please join this discussion. Send us your feedback, sign it and

spread the idea in your country. It is currently available in three

languages.

 

www.democracy-international.org/new-convention.html

 

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4) BOOK ABOUT DIRECT DEMOCRACY

 

Around a century ago, most countries in the Western world introduced

universal voting rights. Since then, the opportunities for citizens to take

part in the political decision-making process have basically never been

further extended. But society has definitely evolved considerably during

that time.

Our new up-to-date book pleads for a major democratic step forward.

It will be available from beginning of 2006 on. We will sell the paper

edition for 10 Euro (including post an package to anywhere in Europe)

and offer a free online edition.

 

www.democracy-international.org/book.html

 

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5) EVALUATION: REFERENDUMS IN FRANCE AND THE NETHERLANDS

Our monitoring reports evaluate the fairness of the process

in Spain, France and the Netherlands using internationally

recognized standards for such referendums.

 

www.democracy-international.org/papers.html

 

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6) POPULAR INITIATIVE IN AMSTERDAM

 

In 2001 a group of 7 young inhabitants of Amsterdam decided to

start a campaign under the banner "Amsterdams Initiatief" (AI) to

improve the possibilities for citizens to have a direct say in local

politics.

They succeeded: the improved law went into effect in October 2004.

Now, one year later, one of the initiators tells us the story.

Arjen Nijeboer draws a disenchanted conclusion.

 

www.democracy-international.org/amsterdamsinitiatief.html

 

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Ronald Pabst / Carsten Berg

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