PES Manifesto http://manifesto2009.pes.org// Description en Webadmin 3.0 beta What sort of EU do we want? Fri, 09 May 2008 11:36:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/european-democracy-and-diversity/post/410 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/european-democracy-and-diversity/post/410 In a PES statement for Europe Day, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said the real debate was not for or against Europe but what sort of European Union do we want. Zita Gurmai, President of PES Women underlined the PES commitment to develop a new agenda for Europe for the next European elections in June 2009 that recognises citizens’ aspirations and concerns for the future.

Read the press release here

]]> rikke EU PES Intercultural dialogue in the EU: What does it mean to you? Fri, 09 May 2008 11:33:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/european-democracy-and-diversity/post/411 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/european-democracy-and-diversity/post/411 Often we express our political ideas in words and rarely in images. Now the PES Group in the Committee of Regions gives you the chance to express your visions for Europe in a more creative way. Today, on Europe Day, the PES Group launches a photo competition on intercultural dialogue seen through the eyes of young Europeans.



If you are between 18 and 25 years old you are invited to share your vision of the dialogue between cultures in their city and region.

The competition is organized within the framework of the “Europe Works” project, in collaboration with the think tank Notre Europe and the photo agency Agence VU'.

For more information on the photo competition and how to participate, please visit the website of the PES Group in the CoR.

]]> rikke diversity EU multiculturalism Flemish social democrats have their say Thu, 08 May 2008 17:27:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/in-the-spotlight/post/409 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/in-the-spotlight/post/409 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.

Among other things the evening featured testing of ‘carbon footprints’, videos, debates with NGOs, labour unions and politicians, and speeches by Caroline Gennez, leader of the Sp.a, and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, PES President.

See more pictures from the evening in Brussels here]]> rikke activists manifesto political parties Åsa Westlund: Think global - act local Thu, 08 May 2008 12:07:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/save-our-planet/post/408 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/save-our-planet/post/408 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, and for that it takes more than just a personal responsibility. The consumers need accurate information, easy understandable and trustworthy labelling, and support by laws to put pressure on the local and the global market.

What do you think the PES should do in order to make it easier for people to take responsibility by making environmental-friendly choices?

]]> asa.westlund blogger of the week climate change consumer environment Lissy Gröner: Getting young people involved in European politics Wed, 07 May 2008 16:57:24 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/european-democracy-and-diversity/post/407 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/european-democracy-and-diversity/post/407 Lissy Gröner is a Member of the European Parliament for the German social democratic party, SPD. Among other things Lissy Gröner has been working a lot with youth issues - in the video interview below she gives her suggestions to what the PES manifesto should say about youth:

]]> rikke democracy discrimination European Parliament youth Linda McAvan and WWF: The future is in our hands Wed, 07 May 2008 11:23:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/save-our-planet/post/406 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/save-our-planet/post/406 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:

EU has proven to be on the right path in fighting against climate change but more has to be done. Achieving deep emission reductions in Europe by 2020 is not only a question of available technologies but rather one of taking right political decisions. At national level, governments have to create the right incentives to support energy efficiency and promote investments in low carbon technologies and renewables, while at the European level, the European Emissions Trading Scheme should form the central part of the overall European strategy.

If Europe is quite confident that they will move all together in the same direction, what about the others? We have to bear in mind that even if climate change is a global issue, developed countries have an historical responsibility towards developing ones. Therefore OECD countries have to help developing countries to decouple economic growth from greenhouse emissions and adapt to climate change phenomena. There are different possible approaches to prevent carbon leakage coming from other countries such as a “carbon tax” on imports or conditional allocations to industries. However, the better approach seems to be sectoral agreements, cooperation with other countries in specific sectors.

In your view what are the most effective means to fight climate change?]]> rikke climate change CO2 development environment About inclusion of women in the labour market Tue, 06 May 2008 14:34:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/new-social-europe/post/398 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/new-social-europe/post/398 Without improving the position of women in the labour market, it is hard to create a socially coherent Europe. A fundamental step in this direction is the inclusion of women in the labour market. Today the employment level of women differs across the Union, but the level is in general lower than it is for men. That is why an increased inclusion of women in the labour market must be an important principle in the PES manifesto for the 2009 European elections. The goal should be the elimination of differences in employment level between women and men. During the last decades women in general have gained a stronger economic position, but they have not received the same economic independence as men. The social environment in our society influences the economic equality between women and men; this is in particular true when it comes to the conditions in the labour market and in the educational system. The design of the transfer system and the allocation of unpaid work (at home) are other important influences.

However, an increased inclusion of women in the labour market is not without problems. In the beginning of the PES discussion paper "New Social Europe" it is pointed out that more and more women are having no children or just one child, due to the difficulties of combining work and family life, economic insecurity and low support for child-rearing and childcare. The point is: at many times a woman does not make the free choice not to work, instead the circumstances force her to choose an unpaid work. In addition, women are usually – in comparison to men – carrying a heavy burden when it comes to the care of elderly family members. Taken all in all, women are often forced to choose between family life and work. This is a choice men usually do not have to make. From a European perspective it is unacceptable that so many citizens of the Union are forced to make this choice, because both options results in negative consequences. If women opt out from work the labour market looses potential labour; this at a time when many member states faces manpower shortage. Furthermore, such a decision tends to maintain structural inequality between women and men. If women instead opt out from family life, the birth rate might drop even further. This is not only negative for society; the personal and social cost for the individual tends to get very high.

A substantial increase in the employment level of women, without diminished conditions for family life, requires a common European approach on a number of matters. The necessity of childcare is only one example. Success is not possible without giving matters as childcare, the social insurance system et cetera a higher status. Such matters should be given the same political weight as other important parts of the infrastructure of the labour market. What is the point of investments in roads, Broadband Internet access or public transportation if the workforce stays at home because of the lack of childcare? Finally, a higher employment level for women does not automatically give equality between women and men, but it would help.

Uno Aldegren (SE), Member of the PES Group at the Committee of Regions
uno.aldegren@skane.se ]]> uno.aldegren women Åsa Westlund: A strategy to promote healthy globalisation Tue, 06 May 2008 10:56:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/new-social-europe/post/405 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/new-social-europe/post/405 Lawrence Summers. To put it simple he says that workers’ scepticism against free markets is logic, because although the economy in general terms benefit from free trade and globalization, there is no guarantee that the working class will. As countries have taken globalization as an argument to cut down on social security and tax levels, the working class are right in being anti-globalization in Summers´view. Therefore, he calls on the US to take the lead in promoting global co-operation in the international tax arena, and to end the race to the bottom on social standards and try to find an international co-operation to raise the standards all over the world.

I welcome free trade and globalization, but I also recognise that globalization and free trade demands much of each individual. In my generation people have had time-limited contracts for ten years. That puts people under lot of stress. Every person in the labour market nowadays has to be flexible, be able to educate themselves again and again, and to start new jobs again and again. But people can not be left to manage this totally be themselves. No, in the globalized world that we live in today the responsibility of the society is greater than ever. The society must ensure that in times of unemployment you will still have the money to support you and your family and you must constantly be given the opportunity to retrain and re-educate. If the society does no take up on this responsibility, it can not expect people to welcome the globalization.

But the real positive thing is that if the society takes on this responsibility it will not only have happy citizens, but also a competitive industry. An industry that is able to make quick and smooth adjustments to global trends, and a work-force that is highly skilled and full of self esteem, and thereby competitive on the world market. The OECD Employmment outlook for 2007 shows that a generous unemployment insurance makes economies more flexible and helps the productivity to grow. The matching works better as workers got time to search for more qualified jobs and don´t get stressed to search for low paid unqualified jobs.

I think that Summers’ suggestions for the US could be well included in the PES manifesto: Stop the race to the bottom in taxes, make sure that nation states has the ability to tax companies and people in order to be able to afford good education and welfare for everyone by initiating an international tax-cooperation. Stop the race to the bottom in social standards, start an international cooperation to raise them.]]> asa.westlund blogger of the week trade welfare Plutôt Schuman que Marshall ! Tue, 06 May 2008 09:34:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/eu-in-the-world/post/401 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/eu-in-the-world/post/401 S’inspirer de soixante années d’expérience de la construction européenne pour avancer un nécessaire projet d’Union Méditerranéenne est, à première vue, une idée excellente. Vigilance pourtant au moment de manipuler le vocabulaire et les méthodes de la success story européenne.  L’Europe des pères fondateurs ne se résume ni à quelque technique habile, ni à quelques mots magiques, pas plus qu'à des partenariats économiques tous azimuts. Elle oblige génétiquement à un partage de souveraineté sur ce qui fait mal.  L’Europe politique n’est pas née seulement et durablement des moyens financiers offerts par le plan Marshall. Elle s’est imposée dans le sillage d’un geste politique historique, celui de la déclaration Schuman. Or, cette initiative allait bien au-delà du champ économique. Il ne s’agissait pas d’annoncer la restauration du théâtre de Bayreuth avec des prêts bonifiés ! A cette époque, on voyait plus loin, on visait plus haut. On confiait à une autorité politique nouvelle ce qui avait servi à tant faire couler le sang des Européens : le charbon et l’acier.  De même, aujourd’hui, la réconciliation Europe/Méditerranée passe par un acte politique fort. L’ambition européenne pour la Méditerranée doit, à la manière du geste de 1951, offrir une réponse politique à la seule question qui importe, et que personne n’ose trancher franchement. Hier le charbon et l’acier, aujourd’hui l’immigration économique. Et comme hier, cette réponse politique doit se servir d’un cadre institutionnel supranational ad hoc qui conforte l’Etat de droit et l’expansion économique. 

Il revient sans doute à la génération des petits enfants de Jean Monnet d’œuvrer à substituer à la néfaste proposition de guerre des civilisations celle plus humaniste d’un modèle social euro-méditerranéen partagé au travers d’une mobilité économique et de son corollaire juridique à inventer : une citoyenneté économique, qui soit un préalable et une propédeutique à de futurs partenariats politiques.  La mobilité économique euro-méditerranéenne proposerait un espace de libre circulation économique sans frontières migratoires, mais, dans le cadre d’un projet de mise en place et de financement par tous d’une solidarité sociale partagée pour le 21ème siècle. Ainsi, la mobilité euro-méditerranéenne (MEM) offrirait la possibilité de converger vers un système commun de solidarités sociales, plus étendu et mieux équilibré démographiquement que nos vieux systèmes nationaux et de ce fait, bien plus pérenne à terme.  Ainsi l’objectif d’une citoyenneté économique euro-méditerranéenne ne viserait pas une union politique actuellement sans fondement, mais s’appuierait sur le constat suivant : la solidarité entre les personnes est une valeur commune à l’ensemble des référents culturels du monde méditerranéen, au-delà de sa diversité culturelle ou de l’immaturité démocratique de certains de ses gouvernements. Profitons-en ! Un tel acte modifierait radicalement, on l’espère, la perception et la mémoire de l’immigration au sein des populations européennes. Egalement, un tel acte donnerait un sens nouveau à l’engagement des Européens en matière d’investissement et de co-développement au sud de la Méditerranée. Il apporterait un profit social aux délocalisations industrielles des opérateurs économiques européens en offrant une alternative socialement plus féconde à l’émigration massive des industries européennes vers l’Asie. Des hommes, voilà soixante ans, ont eu le courage politique de changer le regard que des populations entières portaient les unes sur les autres depuis des siècles. Et cela au travers de la mutualisation des outils mêmes de leurs conflits. Aujourd’hui, ce même courage politique est nécessaire pour s’adresser à « l’autre bord de la méditerranée ».

Quelle que soit sa dénomination, une organisation euro-méditerranéenne supranationale appelée à formuler une Mobilité économique méditerranéenne, avec ses droits et ses devoirs, dans le cadre d’un partage de souveraineté limité et désignée au moyen d’élections transparentes constituerait un triple message loin de toute démagogie. Un message envers les populations du Nord inquiétées par le délitement des mécanismes de l’Etat-providence. Des espoirs de liberté et de prospérité pour les jeunes du Sud. Et au passage aussi un message que la France doit à ses banlieues.

Yohann Abiven, Fabien Chevalier, Henri Lastenouse
Membres de Sauvons l'Europe (France)]]> yoan.abiven citizens economy immigration security solidarity New online community for European socialists Mon, 05 May 2008 15:55:32 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/in-the-spotlight/post/402 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/in-the-spotlight/post/402

PES activists Romania is welcoming socialists and social democrats to a new online community! Visit the brand new virtual community here. ]]> rikke activists Åsa Westlund: There is more to the environment than global warming Mon, 05 May 2008 12:22:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/save-our-planet/post/400 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/save-our-planet/post/400 Sometimes I wonder if we only can discuss one environmental topic at the time.

Right now we discuss Climate Change.

It’s great. Combating Climate Change is a matter of survival. We can already see the effects. Heat waves in Europe killing thousands of people. Hurricanes killing thousands people in the US and leaving thousands more homeless. Droughts in Africa and parts of Asia with devastating effects on millions of people and whole regions.

Still, there is more to sustainable development than combating Climate Change. And sometimes the different topics are linked together. And very often they have social dimensions.

Let me take three examples.

Air pollution in major cities kills. Particles and gases in the air get to your lungs and make our lives shorter. Most vulnerable to bad air quality are young, older and individuals already suffering from different illnesses. The EU is responsible for making most of the decisions relating to this cross-border problem. Air pollution also increase the problems created by global warming.

Chemicals make us and the environment sick. I think ETUC has said that 30 percent of work-related illness is due to dangerous chemicals. Although our life in the modern society is dependent on a lot of chemicals, we should therefore make our best to reduce the exposure of dangerous chemicals. The framework for safer use of chemicals – REACH - is now in place, but there is room for improvement, especially when it comes to chemicals used in every-day products as clothes and food.

Our lives depend on biodiversity. We might not think about it everyday, but this is the case. Every plant and every animal has its own place in making this world go around. The climate change poses a great risk to biodiversity and with less biodiversity we are even more vulnerable to climate change.

As an MEP I can say that the socialist group in the European Parliament has played an important role in strengthening the environmental legislation in these areas, but we could do more and we need to be stronger to improve it even further. Therefore I miss these questions in the discussion papers and the debates preparing the PES manifesto for the European elections in June 2009.

Don’t forget all other environmental issues when combating Climate Change. ]]> asa.westlund blogger of the week climate change environment Mayors without borders Mon, 05 May 2008 12:17:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/in-the-spotlight/post/396 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/in-the-spotlight/post/396 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. ]]> noelhatch activists citizens Il faut en finir avec les énergies fossiles Mon, 05 May 2008 11:55:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/save-our-planet/post/397 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/save-our-planet/post/397
En outre gouverner c’est ce fixer des priorités et pour préserver les générations futures la priorité est évidente : éviter que le Changement climatique ne soie désastreux. Tout le monde, ou presque, admet que l'excès de gaz à effet de serre modifie le climat. Il augmente la température, ce qui, au mieux, amènera un climat plus dure et moins fertile, au pire, une extinction massif d'espèces, y compris les humains. Mais même le meilleur des scénarios, c'est une production agricole en baise et surtout plus aléatoire, l'épuisement des énergies facilement disponibles, la perte de terres habitables, des catastrophes naturelles plus fréquentes … Le tout avec une augmentation de la population. En claire, le meilleur des scénarios est déjà une tragédie comparable à la pire des guerres.

Rappelons aussi que les humains ont peu de réserves car ils les ont grandement épuisées. En effet, l'actualité nous rappelle que nous sommes dans un monde avec 850 millions d’affamés chroniques et qui se dirige ver 1,2 milliard de personnes souffrant de la faim et la malnutrition. Pire encore l’augmentation est très rapide. Dans le monde le marché alimentaire est tendu depuis des décennies. D’autres causes s’ajoute à la croissance démographique mondiale. Le changement de régime alimentaire de ceux qui peuvent sur le modèle des pays riches ou les agrocarburants. Ainsi pour la première raison l’Inde et la Chine passent d’exportateur de produits agricoles à importateur ; les Etats-Unis d’Amérique pour la seconde. En un an selon la FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) le prix des céréales a grimpé de 131 %. Ce qui entraîne des révoltes et bientôt des guerres. La dégradation du climat c’est tout simplement des dizaines de millions de morts. Peut-être même des centaines ! En plus, de tous ceux qui meurent aujourd’hui.

La perte de terre habitable est presque aussi redoutable. En effet, au moins 200 millions de personnes vont migrer à cause du réchauffement climatique d’ici 2050 (320 millions d’après le dernier chiffre des Nations unis). On n’a jamais vu de déplacement aussi massifs. Le Bangladesh par exemple sera en partie recouvert par la mer (20 % selon le ministère du développement durable français et jusqu'à 70 % selon des sources associatives) et il a 147 millions d’habitant. Dans tous les cas il s’agit de dizaine de millions de personnes. Ils vont aller où ? Le principal pays frontalier l’Inde a déjà dit qu’elle les refuserait. Ce qui une fois de plus peut entraîner des conflits. De plus, la disparition de petits pays ou de régions peut entraîner la disparition de leurs cultures.

L'humanité ayant échappée aux moyens de régulation naturels, la guerre est-elle son nouveau moyen de régulation ?

Pour éviter ce futur, il faut diminuer la production de gaz à effet de serre pour limiter l'augmentation de la température à 2 °C. C’est le seuil qui garantie une situation contrôlable d’après les scientifiques du Groupement international d’expert sur le climat (GIEC) réuni par l’ONU. Le principal gaz étant le CO2 d'origine fossile il faut donc réguler sa production. Le calcul actuel est que pour maintenir l'augmentation de température à 2 °C, il faut diminuer les émissions de gaz à effet de serre (tout les gaz) de 3/4 d'ici 2050. Toutefois, ce calcul se base sur les données d'aujourd'hui. Si les pays pauvres se développent, souhaitons leurs, il faudra faire mieux. Aussi avec la croissance économique de la Chine et de l’Inde ce chiffre sera sans doute réévalué à la hausse. En outre, les stockes d'énergie fossile ne tiendront peut-être pas jusqu'à 2050. Leur épuisement étant inévitable il faudra bien s'en passer. Aussi, diminuer la consommation de carbone fossile de 75 %, c'est juste se donner un délai ; au prix d'une difficile question. Quels seront les privilégiés qui vont bénéficier du dernier quart ou du dernier 10ème ?

Comment va-t-on déterminer quel sont ceux qui vont profiter du pétrole restant et des dernières résistances climatiques de notre planète ? Par la diplomatie ? Par le marché ? Par la guerre ?

Une première guerre conséquence de la pénurie d’énergie fossile est déjà engagée : en Irak. Ce n’est pas encore une guerre causée par la fain, ni même par l'épuisement des réserves. Simplement, le dernier gouvernement des Etats-Unis d’Amérique veut maintenir la croissance et le train de vie des Américains (25 barils de pétrole par an et par habitant). Comme on ne peut plus augmenter la production de pétrole, ou alors de façon marginale, et que de plus en plus d’humains en consomment (Chine et Inde), il faut prendre la part des autres. On se bat pour la répartition du gâteau. Bientôt, la production de pétrole traditionnel (pas les pétroles lourds) va diminuer inexorablement car la réserve s’épuise. Quelle sera la première guerre de la fin des pétroles facilement disponible ? L’Iran ? Le Venezuela ?

J'en conclu donc que l'étape, diminuer les rejets de gaz à effet de serre de 75 % d’ici 2050, est inutile. Note objectif doit être d'en finir avec l'usage des énergies fossiles d’ici 20 ans, 30 maximum. Nous devons prendre nos responsabilités et avoir le courage de dire les choses tel qu’elles sont. Il faut dès maintenant commencer à expliquer pourquoi ce choix s’impose même s’il est difficile. Même si la taille du chantier décourage parfois les bonnes volontés, il faut aller au bout de nos convictions et convaincre de la nécessité. Faire le travail de fourmi qui constitue le sommet du militantisme : parler à l’intelligence des individus. Les britanniques ont je pense trouver la bonne formule : « il faut se préparer à penser l’impensable ».]]> FrancoisC climate change CO2 environment oil Blogger of the week: Åsa Westlund, Sweden Mon, 05 May 2008 11:35:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/in-the-spotlight/post/399 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/in-the-spotlight/post/399 Thanks to Esteban Romero and Spanish PES activists for blogging on Yourspace last week!

This week Åsa Westlund, Sweden, will be sharing her thoughts on the PES manifesto. She is a member of the European Parliament for the Swedish Social Democratic Party since 2004. Among other things she is a member of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Welcome to Yourspace, Åsa!]]> rikke blogger of the week blogosphere ETUC: Improving workers' rights Thu, 01 May 2008 11:35:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/new-social-europe/post/394 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/new-social-europe/post/394 For International Workers' Day Yourspace welcomes the European Trade Union Confederation - or ETUC in short - to have their say! Advisor Ronald Janssen shares ETUC's visions for the PES manifesto:

Read the written contribution from ETUC here.

What do you think is the most significant challenge for workers' rights in Europe?

]]> rikke NGO wages workers Raul Canay: For a true knowledge society Thu, 01 May 2008 11:30:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/new-social-europe/post/395 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/new-social-europe/post/395 Here's another post from the Spanish PES activists:

The expression of “the European knowledge society” has become commonplace ever since the Lisbon and Barcelona Summits (held respectively in 2000 and 2002). You hear it all the time and almost in every context. But is it enough to talk about it to make it a reality?

To reach this objective, we all have to take up our responsibilities, not just the academic world or the companies. Life-long learning in such areas as languages, information and communication technologies, the environment or gender equality will not only allow us to better know and use our civil rights but it will also allow us to create the society we really want to live in, beyond the limitations of a “knowledge-based society”.
The PES should therefore fight for the goal of enhancing life-long learning programmes, which lay special emphasis on those groups of society that remain excluded for various reasons. Our farmers, our elderly, our linguistic minorities, etc. , should be able to have access to this kind of training through specific programmes. If we manage to reach this goal, the European knowledge society will be a reality for all. And we cannot be content with anything less than that.

A Spanish version is attached to this post.

Raul Canay is an economist, a PSOE activist and a member of the manifiesto2009.es network.

]]> rikke blogger of the week education Francisco Polo: The importance of being Earnest Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:52:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/european-democracy-and-diversity/post/393 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/european-democracy-and-diversity/post/393
This is the most important point of the matter. We are not talking about the fact that some rights are being recognized for a part of the population and that homosexual people enjoy the same rights. We are talking about a greater benefit. And this benefit is the one I just mentioned: The fact that we are talking about the same marriage - the importance of being married.

That importance has to do with the fact that the extension of a right to a part of the population that was not enjoying them, is forcing to the most reticent heterosexual population to make a pedagogical effort at the same time. Today there is no possibility of treating homosexual people differently in Spain. Since the law is recognizing that there is no room for differentiation the possibility for different treatment of homosexuals in any other social aspect is evaporating.

As it happened in the works of Oscar Wilde, there is an importance in the fact of being Earnest; there is an importance in the fact of being married (and not anything else). We, the socialists, must challenge any institution with a different name. Permitting institutions that are not a marriage is to perpetuate the difference is to keep open the possibility of a discriminatory treatment

It is a subject that has been debated on a lot of occasions but there is no room for this kind of discussions anymore. Would we ever consider naming women’s right to vote differently than men’s?

Same dignity, same rights. No difference.

Find a Spanish version at manifiesto2009.es

Francisco Polo is a PSOE activist and a member of the manifiesto2009.es network.]]> eromerof blogger of the week diversity gay LGBT Ignacio Henares: Democratic socialism and sustainable development Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:22:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/save-our-planet/post/392 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/save-our-planet/post/392 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 is not enough. Even a greater efficiency of plans and programmes adopted in the framework of a preventive environmental policy would not suffice.

Likewise, the creation of Natura 2000 and the adoption of a whole batch of measures for the preservation of green areas and species are not enough to preserve our biodiversity.

It is now urgent to define a new generation of environmental policies that should be mainstreamed in all European areas (energy, mobility, agriculture, industry, RDI, and tourism, etc.) and which should orient them towards an economically sustainable, environmentally healthy and socially fair model of development.

A NEW CULTURE
Consumerism and inefficient production patterns are major obstacles to overcome the present model. After having satisfied basic fundamental needs, the increase in consumption does not lead to greater happiness. New social and economic development goals should be set, which are no longer based on GDP and energetic consumption per capita as “progress” indicators. Welfare should be measured according to new parameters that are based on the true quality of life of citizens, such as the air or water quality, the number of parks and gardens in their cities (or of protected natural areas) or the access to healthcare, education and culture for the whole population.

TRANSFORMING A PROBLEM INTO AN OPPORTUNITY
The present environmental challenge can become an opportunity for progress. Fighting against climate change, mitigating its effects and adapting to the global changes that are occurring can put Europe at the forefront of a new era of social and economic progress. By anticipating measures against climate change, we can decrease its related costs and in addition, it can put Europe at the helm of such strategic sectors as energy or transport.

Find a Spanish version at manifiesto2009.es

Ignacio Henares is a biologist, a PSOE activist and a member of the manifiesto2009.es network.

]]> eromerof blogger of the week climate change environment renewable energy sustainable energy Mario Perales: We need a strong Party of European Socialists Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:00:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/european-democracy-and-diversity/post/391 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/european-democracy-and-diversity/post/391 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 Spanish version at manifiesto2009.es

Mario Perales a PSOE activist and a member of the manifiesto2009.es network.

]]> eromerof activists blogger of the week globalization PES Josep Borrell: We need to promote fair trade Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:37:00 +0200 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/eu-in-the-world/post/390 http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/eu-in-the-world/post/390 Josep Borrell is Member of the European Parliament for the Spanish socialist party, PSOE. He was President of the European Parliament 2004-2007 and in this video he gives his ideas for the PES manifesto:



Do you agree with Josep Borrell's suggestions for the PES manifesto?]]> rikke development European Parliament fair trade solidarity