Archives: December 2007

  • See you in the New Year!

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    Rating: 5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Friday, December 21, 2007 at 12:44
    by Editor (1040 views and 0 comments)

    Yourspace will be on holiday until January 7 2008. Thanks to all Yourspace users for being so active on this site – your posts, videos and comments are very valuable input. We wish you all a pleasant holiday and look forward to more debate in 2008.

    Tags: blogosphere, manifesto

  • Vox pop: why do we need a common manifesto?

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    Rating: 3/5 with 3 votes

    Published Friday, December 21, 2007 at 10:39
    by Editor (1070 views and 0 comments)

    Here are more video statements from PES activists. They explain why Europe's socialists and social democrats need a common manifesto for the 2009 European elections.



    Find more videos on the PES Youtube channel.

    Tags: citizens, council, democracy, PES

  • Developing markets is not a treat for international companies

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    Rating: 3.5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 11:30
    by Editor (846 views and 0 comments)

    ‘EPAs’ – the expression itself sounds harmless, but these trade agreements with poor countries are really a hot topic for debate!

    Right now the European Union is negotiating trade agreements with 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. If the developing world and the EU have not reached an agreement before the end of the year the 77 countries risk being left with a much less advantageous deal. The deadline for the negotiations has just been extended - buying both the EU and the developing countries more precious time to think.

    If you ask the poor countries signing the current offer from the EU is not exactly a dream come true either. EPAs will open developing economies to an extent never seen before. Poor countries are concerned that increased liberalization will allow international companies to ‘prey’ on their markets. ActionAid, an international NGO, fears consequences such as job losses, cuts in public services and government revenue losses.

    The issue gets more complicated as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its members have a word to say as well. Other developing countries - those who are not among the 77 offered EPAs - are... » read more ...

    Tags: Africa, development, fair trade

  • Europe needs an infrastructure for participatory democracy

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    Rating: 5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 10:13
    by Soren Winther Lundby (940 views and 1 comments)

    We need a ‘democratic infrastructure’ in Europe. This should be a top priority for PES. To be short:

    The Union and the member states will have to invest in a ‘democratic infrastructure’ that will make it easier for citizens to meet face-to-face in cross border political meetings.

    Top politicians and business people have the structures and the funding that makes it possible for them to conduct cross border political networks. This is good and fine, we should be in favour of that.

    The problem is that most citizens do not have this kind of opportunities. 9 out of 10 Europeans never discuss politics with citizens from other countries! This is what we have to change.

    PES should suggest that the EU and the member states invest €2 per citizen per year in a democratic infrastructure. We need true European political parties and a thriving European civil society. Unfortunately, these things will not drop from the sky. This is why PES should suggest a European democratic infrastructure.

    By the way, we also have to elect our PES candidate for the post as president of the European Commission. This we have to do before the end of 2008 (in January 2009 the European Council will elect "their" president)

    Check out New Europe's website for the initiative... » read more ...

    Tags: citizens, democracy, political parties

  • PES proposes Oil Forum for the EU

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    Rating: 5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 14:59
    by Editor (971 views and 2 comments)

    Breaking Europe’s dependence on oil should be the focus of an ‘Oil Forum’ bringing together politicians, industry, scientists and EU institutions say PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Swedish Social Democratic Party Leader Mona Sahlin.

    The Forum would draw up a programme to reduce Europe’s dependence on oil – identifying where EU-regulations come into conflict with efforts to end the dependence on oil, and propose new policies at the EU level.

    “Oil, together with other fossil fuels, contributes up to 90 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions” said Mona Sahlin. “To tackle climate change we must break our dependence on oil.”

    “The rising cost of oil poses a major threat to our economies” said Poul Nyrup Rasmussen “and has the potential to cause instability and conflict.”

    Read the full press release and the letter from Rasmussen and Sahlin to Commission President Barroso.

    What do you think about the idea of a European ‘Oil Forum’?

    Tags: environment, oil, PES

  • Treaty of Lisbon - walking in the right direction

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    Rating: 4/5 with 2 votes

    Published Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:04
    by marco Join PES activists (916 views and 0 comments)

    As you know, the Treaty of Lisbon significantly changed the organization and functioning of the European Union Institutions, namely the new Treaty generalizes - with few exceptions - the process of “co-decision” in which the European Parliament and the Council – formed by the ministers of member states – participate.

    On the other hand, the European Union Reform Treaty ordered that the voting will be done by qualified majority in forty issues – like the security of energetic supply and humanitarian emergency aid in critical areas of the world; however the unanimity will go on as general rule, namely in what regards tax, external politics, defence, social security and culture.

    Besides, the Treaty will strengthen the democratic control of the EU, since it grants more important functions whether to the European Parliament or the National Parliament. Moreover, the citizens will have the right, for the first time, of proposing the Commission to adopt a specific legislative initiative. Finally, there will be established a high representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, being a new institutional figure that will simultaneously perform two offices: the office of high representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the office of Vice-President of the Commission. Without doubt we are on the right track!

    Tags: citizens, democracy, treaty

  • Vox pop III: the number one priority for the PES manifesto

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    Rating: 5/5 with 1 votes

    Published Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 10:18
    by Editor (863 views and 0 comments)

    Previous to the PES Council we asked PES activists to send us video statements to be presented in the plenary on the last day. Here is a video we showed with activists from Paris:

    Tags: activists, citizens, council, democracy

  • All the best for 2008!

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    Rating: 4.4/5 with 5 votes

    Published Monday, December 17, 2007 at 11:14
    by Editor (1240 views and 14 comments)

     

    What are your wishes for the PES manifesto? Let us know by posting a comment. The PES wishes you all the best for the new year!

    Tags: None

  • Vox pop II: the number one priority for the PES manifesto

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    Rating: 3.5/5 with 6 votes

    Published Friday, December 14, 2007 at 16:42
    by Editor (838 views and 0 comments)

    Here are more PES activists giving their view on one important priority for the PES manifesto:

    Tags: activists, citizens, council, democracy

  • More buzz in Germany!

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    Rating: 4/5 with 4 votes

    Published Friday, December 14, 2007 at 15:15
    by Editor (772 views and 0 comments)

    Parteiblog by Martina Preuss is another German language blog supporting the PES manifesto campaign - danke schön!

    Tags: blogosphere, citizens, manifesto

  • Cash money for saving trees?

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    Rating: 5/5 with 4 votes

    Published Friday, December 14, 2007 at 11:03
    by Editor (953 views and 2 comments)

    Today is the last day of the UN climate conference in Bali. The big question that has driven the talks in Bali is whether world leaders can agree on a ‘new Kyoto’ – find common grounds for a new international agreement on how to deal with climate change.

    One of the major topics was how to deal with the reduction of forests. Forests are a major ally in combating global warming, since trees and other green plants take CO2 out of the air. When forests are cut down and trees are burnt it has a doubly damaging effect – not only are there less trees to remove CO2, but the carbon contained in the trees is released into the atmosphere.

    In Bali environmental ministers agreed that financial rewards for not cutting down trees should be a part of a new global climate deal. Money should be ‘bait’ for developing countries to preserve their rainforests.

    At first hand this may sound like a good solution. However, NGOs have aired concern that financial compensation is just a convenient excuse for rich countries not to take actions against emissions within their own boundaries. Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have, for example, suggested that instead of... » read more ...

    Tags: climate change, CO2, UN

  • On the road to Copenhagen - Bali afterthoughts

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    Rating: 4.7/5 with 6 votes

    Published Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 10:00
    by taipale Join PES activists (1056 views and 5 comments)

    Best regards from Bali. I was there last week to organize and speak in two side events on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment of Finland. The topic in both of the events was to highlight the energy and emission savings potential of buildings and construction. Big.

    Now, it is time to focus on Copenhagen, where the new climate protocol should be finalized and agreed upon in 2009. This is a huge challenge not only for the City of Copenhagen and Denmark hosting the meeting, but to Sweden’s EU Presidency and to the European Union as a whole.

    The EU needs it own “roadmap” towards Copenhagen, making sure that the EU not only upholds but strengthens its position as the world leader in progressive and innovative climate policies. This means including all aspects of sustainable use of energy, such as energy for development, fair mechanisms of technology transfer, and decent work. This also requires that the European Union is unanimous and strong in its positions.

    The EU should use its best diplomacy, most determined political cooperation, and financial bilateral mechanisms to make certain that developing countries, China and India in specific, will play a fair but... » read more ...

    Tags: climate change, CO2, environment, renewable energy

  • Vox pop I: the number one priority for the PES manifesto

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    Rating: 4.3/5 with 3 votes

    Published Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 16:55
    by Editor (793 views and 0 comments)

    At last month's PES Council the Yourspace team presented a series of videos with statements from PES activists and other socialists who told us their priorities for the PES manifesto. Here's one of them:



    Find more videos at the PES YouTube channel.

    Tags: activists, citizens, council, democracy

  • Hello to Germany once again!

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    Rating: 4.6/5 with 5 votes

    Published Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 16:19
    by Editor (871 views and 1 comments)

    A while ago the Yourspace team welcomed a Dutch blogger, living in Berlin. Now we have come across another blog from Germany, Rotes Europa - if you would like to discuss the PES manifesto in German, this is certainly a good place to be.

    Tags: blogosphere, citizens, manifesto

  • Another French blogger joins Yourspace

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    Rating: 4.7/5 with 3 votes

    Published Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 15:09
    by Editor (879 views and 0 comments)

    Nathalie Conan, representative of the Fouesnant area in France, mentions the PES manifesto campaign on her blog! Thanks for spreading the word!

    Tags: blogosphere, citizens, manifesto