Hanneke: I actually think that the Netherlands is much more advanced than Denmark when it comes to LGBT rights. Thanks for the insights - and I agree: there's much more to do, also in the countries that see themselves in front!

 You are fully right to question the situation that a single parent can adopt, but a gay couple cannot. This is actually why gay couples were also given the official right to adopt in the Netherlands by law in 2005... It was felt that it is ridiculous that a single parent can adopt a child, even if this single person would be gay, but when he or she starts a relationship he/she would no longer be eligible... That makes no sense, and would be discriminatory. And in fact, the European Court of Justice overruled France when it denied the right to adoption to a gay person, judging it to be illegal discremination. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1706514,00.html?xid=feed-cnn-topics. In reality however, same sex couples were allowed to adopt children before that too. It was just a matter of adjusting the law to reality.

 The Netherlands, like the Nordic countries, are very forward with this type of regulation, and of course there are criticisms. As the discriminitory objections can no longer be supported, let's look at the other argument that comes up: children from same sex parents would get picked at in school, and would suffer the consequences. This means that the problems is not the children, but it's how other people react to them? Shouldnt we focus on creating more tolerance and real human rights, changing the reactions that other people might have, instead of denying children in need a good home?

 It is clear discrimination, and even though it unfortunately takes time, I am convinced the whole of Europe, and beyond that, will see reason. So yes, policitical lobbying would be a great idea!

See you in Vienna!

nice to heare that you will be doing a workshop.

It is indeed very important that PES activist learn to use the internet for campaigning. Whit the EU election we will face a different campaign across borders, and learning to use internet and other new sources is very usefull.

I will try to go to your workshop, looking forword of seeing you again

kim

Regards Jørgen

En tout cas, pour les verts, et pour l'europe, ça pimenterait bien le débat...avec peut etre l'assurance d'intersser davantage les citoyens, comme j'en revais a vois haute dans un article de mon blog.

Mais ce sont la des bonnes nouvelles... 

Je pense qu'il a une idée de qui pourrait être le candidat des verts ...

pour le Modem il faudrait obtenir le soutien de Quitterie et du Général Mourillon.

De toute façon si le PSE adopte l'idée du chef de file, tête de liste et l'idée de J Delors dans une plateforme programatique, le message serait fort et clair.

aujourd'hui, voila le schema

1- Peuple -> parlement

2- Parlement -> president

3- le conseil fait ce qu'il veut

Dans l'optique de Delors :

Peuple -> parlement -> president = le conseil doit accepter la volonté populaire dont le parlement est le representant !

J'espere que les socialistes feront avancer cette idée, car elle est simple et ne depend que de eux !

Pas de negociations interetatiques, de reformes compliquées, de referendums a risques.

il suffit de prendre le pouvoir la oui il est.

ça me parait necessaire dans la mesure ou si le PSE est le seul à presenter un candidat...cela perd tout son sens.

on ne peu presenter tout seul "son candidat", mais cela n'aura pas le meme impact que si tous les partis s'y mettent. Dans ce cas, a l'echelle de l'europe, l'idée s'imposera de facto et mettra le Conseil au pied du mur !