NEWSLETTER #17

26 July 2006

www.democracy-international.org

recipients: 2047

 

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Content

 

0) EDITORIAL: A VISIT FROM BHUTAN

1) REPORT: DEMOCRATISATION FROM ABOVE

2) IRI ASIA: REPORT ON DIRECT DEMOCRACY

3) SOUTH TYROL: STRUGGLE FOR MORE DEMOCRACY

4) NEW CONVENTION, NEW SUPPORTERS

5) ECI: SUPPORTERS WANTED

6) GERMANY: FAIR ELECTION LAW

 

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0) EDITORIAL: A VISIT FROM BHUTAN

 

by Ronald Pabst

 

Democratisation from above. Can this work? A few weeks ago

a visitor from Bhutan came to Cologne. Kinley Dirji, editor of the newspaper Kuensel, visited Germany. He wanted to learn how

the Germans handle democracy. We had the pleasure to

welcome him because he wanted to know more about NGOs promoting citizens participation.

But we also learned from him:

In the Asian kingdom of Bhutan the king wants to establish a constitution. The population seems mainly reluctant to accept the modernisation. We got interested in the development of this small, mountainous country. Dr. Klaus Hofmann investigated further and wrote a report about the democratisation process.

The IRI Asia offers more information about the practice of direct democracy in other states of the continent.

 

Additionally, you find information about democratisation from

below in Europe. We report about activities in South Tyrol,

Brussels and Germany.

 

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1) REPORT: DEMOCRATISATION FROM ABOVE

 

Bhutan will get a constitution; the king of the country has

started this process. It seems, that a majority of the population

is reluctant. Find more details here:

 

www.democracy-international.org/bhutan.html

 

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2) IRI ASIA: REPORT ON DIRECT DEMOCRACY

 

The website of the Initiative & Referendum Institute Asia is

online. Several regional partners started to work on

questions of direct democracy in Asia.

www.iri-asia.net

 

Several publications are already available. We recommend

the following guidebook:

Direct Democracy in Asia: A Reference Guide to the

Legislation and Practice.

It is available online at:

www.iri-asia.net

 

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3) SOUTH TYROL: STRUGGLE FOR MORE DEMOCRACY

 

The Initiative for More Democracy (Initiative für Mehr Demokratie) prepares a campaign. The aim: an improvement

of the regulations introduced in 2005.

 

democracy-international.org/campaign-south-tyrol.html

 

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4) NEW CONVENTION, NEW SUPPORTERS

 

In the meantime we spread the call for a new convention. Find updates and a list of our current supporters here:

 

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

 

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5) ECI: SUPPORTERS WANTED

 

We seek your support for the preparation of our campaign:

Become a volunteer for the European Citizens’ Initiative.

 

democracy-international.org/eci-support.html

 

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6) GERMANY: FAIR ELECTION LAW

 

Please find new information about the struggle for an improved election law in Bremen and North-Rhine Westphalia.

 

democracy-international.org/update-election-law.html

 

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Ronald Pabst / Carsten Berg / Lars Bosselmann

 

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