jef - Over 110 cities against Europe's last dictatorship

Over 110 cities against Europe's last dictatorship

Over 110 cities against Europe's last dictatorship

The 5^th annual Free Belarus pan-European street action

1237393290_napoli [it].jpg WHO: Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)

WHAT: Young people take to the streets to gag statues with banners saying: "Europe, Give the People of Belarus a Voice!"

WHEN: On the night of 18^th-19^th March 2010 - the anniversary of Lukashenko's condemned election victory.

WHERE: Simultaneously in over 110 cities across Europe and the world.

WHY: In protest against Europe's last dictatorship; in defence of human rights & democracy.

Tomorrow, on Thursday 18^th March 2010, the Young European Federalists (JEF) and numerous global partners will protest against Europe's last standing dictatorship on the fourth anniversary of the disputed presidential elections in Belarus.

If you happen to come across a gagged statue with a sign demanding a voice for the citizens of Belarus – then you shall be witnessing how JEF and it's partners silently protest against the silence forced on Belarus's citizens by the dictator. In 2009, the action took place in around 120 cities all over Europe and the wider world. This year, over 110 cities have confirmed their participation; with actions taking place as far away as Jakarta, Islamabad and Baltimore!

"Such an enthusiastic turnout means Europeans are opposed to Lukashenko continuing to violate basic human rights on our doorstep. It also means we are growing impatient over a lack of a clear stance of the European Union on this issue. The EU needs an unambiguous foreign policy, and turning a blind eye does not qualify as one," action co-ordinator Elisabeth Velle is determined.

"We want to see a Belarus with no death penalty, no human rights violations, with truly democratic elections, freedom for press and NGOs, and freedom of speech enjoyed by everyone, instead of just Lukaschenko and his officials. A European Belarus is all we are asking for," says JEF-Europe president Philippe Adriaenssens.

JEFers believe it is on European Commission Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton to foster greater co-operation between Member States and European Institutions, and to assist Europe in assuming a more active role in international politics.

"The message of the fifth Free Belarus action is that actions always speak louder than words. It's time for a free Belarus, it's time for a single European foreign policy, and it's time to lift the suspension of sanctions on Belarusian officials!" concludes Velle.

[ENDS]

PRESS CONTACTS:

Philippe Adriaenssens, JEF Europe President, president(at)jef.eu, +32 472 33 41 27

Elisabeth Velle, Free Belarus Action Coordinator, elisabeth(at)jef.eu, +32 474 67 28 69

NOTES:

List of confirmed participating cities:

Alburqurque - USA

Baku - Azerbaijan

Bærum - Norway

Baltimore - USA

Belfast - N. Ireland

Belgrade -Serbia

Bergen - Norway

Berlin - Germany

Berne - Switzerland

Besancon - France

Birmingham - UK

Bonn - Germany

Bordeux - France

Bratislava - Slovakia

Bremen - Germany

Brugge - Belgium

Brussels - Belgium

Bucharest - Romania

Budapest - Hungary

Cadiz - Spain

Canterbury - UK

Chisinau - Moldova

Clermont-Ferrand - France

Copenhagen - Denmark

Derby - UK

Dortmund - Germany

Duisburg - Germany

Düsseldorf - Germany

Edinburgh - UK

Erfurt - Germany

Essen - Germany

Freiburg - Germany

Fribourg - Switzerland

Funäsdalen - Sweden

Geneva - Switzerland

Gent - Belgium

Grenoble - France

Haugesund - Norway

Helsinki - Finland

Iserlohn - Germany

Islamabad - Pakistan

Jakarta - Indonesia

Joensuu - Finland

Köln - Germany

Leicester - UK

Leuven - Belgium

Limerick - Ireland

London - UK

Lüdenscheidt - Germany

Luxembourg City - Luxembourg

Lyon - France

Madrid - Spain

Malmö - Sweden

Manchester - UK

Moscow - Russia

Mechelen – Belguim

Msida - Malta

Munich - Germany

Neuchâtel - Switzerland

Newcastle-Under-Lyme - UK

Nimes - France

Nis - Serbia

Norwich - UK

Nottingham - UK

Novi Sad - Serbia

Nyon - Switzerland

Omsk - Russia

Orenburg - Russia

Oslo - Norway

Oulu - Finland

Padova - Italy

Paris - France

Parma - Italy

Penza - Russia

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

Portstewart - N. Ireland

Prague - Czech Republic

Prishtina - Kosovo

Rennes - France

Riga - Latvia

Sanaa - Yemen

Sarajevo - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Semarang - Indonesia

Skopje - Macedonia

Sofia - Bulgaria

Split - Croatia

St Andrews -UK

St Petersburg - Russia

Stavanger - Norway

Stoke-On-Trent - UK

Strasbourg - France

Stratford - UK

Sydney - Australia

Tirana - Albania

Torino - Italy

Trento - Italy

Trnava - Slovakia

Tronheim - Norway

Turku - Finland

Valletta - Malta

Vienna - Austria

Vilnus - Lithuania

Warsaw - Poland

Washington DC - USA

Windsor - UK

Yogyakarta - Indonesia

Zagreb - Croatia

Zealand - Denmark

Zebbug - Malta

Zurich - Switzerland

JEF international seminar in Tarxien, Malta | 17-23 March 2010

“The ultimate solution for a better life: (im)migration?” is an international seminar organised by JEF-Europe and JEF-Malta in Tarxien, a small village in the south east of Malta from 17 until 23 October 2010.

When speaking about immigration it is important to make the distinction between legal and illegal immigrants. Despite the obvious difference in their legal status, immigrants in both categories often feel unwelcome and excluded from their host societies, which is closely linked to xenophobic attitudes widespread across Europe and openly manifested especially in recent years, but also the lack of adequate policies and assistance of governmental institutions in host countries.