[Campaignforrealdemocracy] Fwd: EU vs Democracy?

Thu Nov 25 08:47:31 UTC 2010

  I don't normally go for these, as real democracy is deeper than referenda
powers but this seems like a sensible use of e-petitioning. Presumably
Avaaz, with its big e-following could become very powerful with this ECI
mechanism in place...

Begin forwarded message:

 *From: *Luis Morago - Avaaz.org <http://avaaz.org/> <avaaz at avaaz.org>
*Date: *24 November 2010 12:59:26 GMT
*To: *"m.edwards at ucl.ac.uk" <m.edwards at ucl.ac.uk>
*Subject: **EU vs Democracy?*

Dear friends,

  <http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_citizens_initiative/?cl=840782654&v=7623>

Right now, the EU is deciding the fate of *a ground-breaking new democratic
reform* that could change the way Europe is run, and counter the influence
of powerful vested interests. But some officials are trying to pass *rules
that would undermine citizen participation. Sign the petition* to protect
our rights to shape EU policies that affect us all:

[image: Sign the
petition!]<http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_citizens_initiative/?cl=840782654&v=7623>
Right now behind closed doors, European officials are deciding the fate of *a
ground-breaking democratic reform* that could change EU politics, up to now
dominated by an elite of governments, powerful companies and lobbyists.

*The European Citizens' Initiative* (ECI) requires the EU commission to act
when it receives a request from over 1 million citizens. It's a radical
innovation in EU governance, but it *has some officials scared. They're
trying to bury the ECI in a mountain of red tape* - throwing up damaging
barriers to citizens' participation.

Several members of the European Parliament are passionately fighting to
protect the ECI. *We urgently need a massive citizen outcry* to weigh in on
their side and shame the blocking governments and officials into creating
the direct democracy that citizens want. Sign the petition below -- *MEP
Gerald Häfner, who is at the forefront of the negotiations, will present our
petition in every Brussels back room meeting* where it can make a
difference:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_citizens_initiative/?vl<http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_citizens_initiative/?cl=840782654&v=7623>

For decades the European Union has been accused of suffering from overly
complex, undemocratic decision-making processes that make EU politics
inaccessible to citizens. But now, the ECI, introduced by the Lisbon Treaty
last year, *could be a real turning point in efforts to address the EU's
democratic deficit*.

Some member states, who fear greater citizen participation in the
legislative process, are *insisting that each ECI signer should provide the
number of their ID card or passport number* - a requirement that would
radically decrease participation. Independent data protection bodies in
Europe say ID numbers are not necessary for verifying signers -- in fact
gathering this data is *intrusive and can lead to identity fraud*.

The European Commission has also proposed a short timeline and unnecessary
country quotas for signatures that would de facto exclude many citizens’
groups from using the ECI. The Parliament has countered these with citizen
friendly requirements -- a 18-month deadline for signature collection, and
country quotas in just one fifth of all EU Member States.

Avaaz is already using the ECI to improve European democracy --
we've gathered over 1 million signers and are submitting *the first ever ECI
* to freeze all genetically modified crops from entering Europe. But this
and every other future initiative we build could be crippled if the
officials manage to railroad through their stringent conditions.

Negotiations are at the critical last phase -- let's make the ECI work, and
make European governance work for us. *Sign the petition now, and forward
this message to everyone*:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_citizens_initiative/?vl<http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_citizens_initiative/?cl=840782654&v=7623>

With hope,

Luis, Benjamin, Alice, Paula, Alex, Ben, Pascal, Ricken and the entire Avaaz
team.

*SOURCES:*

European Voice, "MEPs look to make it easier to launch citizens'
initiatives":
http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/meps-look-to-make-it-easier-to-launch-citizens-initiatives/69310.aspx

Initiative for the ECI, "Parliament can still prevent member states
weakening ECI":
http://www.citizens-initiative.eu/?p=374

More information about the "Campaign for a citizen-friendly European
Citizens’ Initiative (ECI)":
http://www.citizens-initiative.eu

Democracy International promotes direct democracy, and is the umbrella
organisation sponsoring the ECI-Campaign:
www.democracy-international.org

---------

*Support the Avaaz community!* We're entirely funded by donations and
receive no money from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team
ensures even the smallest contributions go a long way -- donate
here<https://secure.avaaz.org/en/donate_to_avaaz/?cl=840782654&v=7623>
.

------------------------------
*
Avaaz.org <http://avaaz.org/> is a 5.5-million-person global campaign
network* that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's
people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in
many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team
is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages.
Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns
here<http://www.avaaz.org/en/highlights?footer>,
or follow us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/Avaaz> or
Twitter<http://twitter.com/Avaaz>
.

This message was sent to m.edwards at ucl.ac.uk. To change your email address,
language, or other information, email us at info [@]t avaaz.org. Click here
to unsubscribe.

To contact Avaaz, please *do not reply to this email.* Instead, write to us
at www.avaaz.org/en/contact <http://www.avaaz.org/en/contact?footer> or call
us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).

 ***********************************************
Just out: Michael Edwards (2010) Do Londoners make their own plan? in K
Scanlon and B Kochan (eds) *London: coping with austerity*, LSE London
Series, paperback, 978-0-85328-459-8, chapter 5, 57-71. Eprint free at
http://eprints.ucl.ac.uk/20241/
Whole book will soon be a free download at
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSELondon

Michael Edwards, The Bartlett School, UCL
22 Gordon Street
London WC1H 0QB
m: +44 (0)7813 1944 01
skype:  michaellondonsf
blog & publications: http://michaeledwards.org.uk
admin: +44 (0)20 7679 7456 (Lisa Fernand, Tues/Wed/Thurs)  or 7501 (Judith
Hillmore, Mon+Fri)

*Xmas Number 1
*
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Captain-Ska-Liar-Liar-for-Xmas-2010-No1/167549809939108
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.aktivix.org/pipermail/campaignforrealdemocracy/attachments/20101125/a58ea59e/attachment.htm>