Category Archives: Europe

The story of the first Spanish renewable energy cooperative

.. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ..

An article by Ula Papajak on 350.org (reprinted in accordance with the “mission of building a global movement to solve the climate crisis”)

In 2010 Gijsbert Huijink and a group of friends launched a campaign to find 350 people to join the first renewable energy cooperative in Spain. Six years later Som Energia reached 27,000 members, 37,000 customers and is now generating enough renewable energy to meet the annual needs of 3,200 families!

energy
Photo from Som Energia Cooperativa

Huijink explains how, despite the legislative barriers and the financial crisis, he and a group of friends managed to run a successful cooperative.

SOM Energia produces electricity from its own renewable energy sources (sun, wind, biogas, biomass) and is funded with voluntary financial contributions of its members. The cooperative is organized horizontally, with local autonomous groups in towns and cities who determine the future of the organization. It currently sells its electricity at cost price lower than the price offered at the conventional electricity market. The price of each kWh is half a cent cheaper than the market price.

How did it all start?

– When I moved to Spain with my wife in 2005, we bought an old farm – explains Huijink. – We were so surprised how difficult it was to get the electricity there. At first we were looking into installing solar panels and batteries – says Huijink – then we became interested in putting up a small wind turbine next to our house. But then we got to legislation, the economic and practical parts and it all started getting more complicated…after some time I realized that it would be much easier to invest with other people in a bigger wind turbine. I started to look for a cooperative in Spain and couldn’t find any existing one, so I decided to set one up. I shared the idea with friends and before I knew it, lots of friends were interested.

In December 2010 157 people joined together with the common aim to produce and consume their own renewable energy. In January 2011 they started to work on applying for all necessary permits and by October the service was launched, initially for just a few hundred clients.

Overcoming the odds

– Finally a first PV project of 100 kW on an industrial building in Lleida was selected – explains Huijink. The installation started in early 2012 and by April it was fully functional. Consequently 8 other projects were selected and realized, leading to a portfolio of 732 kWp solar and a 500 kW biogas plant. The total investment amounted to 3.5 million Euro. Around 1100 of our members participated. Collecting the money commenced in June 2012 and within 10 months we were fully funded. All these investments kept us pretty busy until the beginning of 2014. At that time we were less than 10 people in the office for all the tasks at hand. Then, the government decided that Spain had produced more than enough renewable projects and could not afford paying any more feed in tariffs (FIT), so no more projects were going to be accepted, leading to a full stop in new project development.

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Click here for a French version of this article or here for a Spanish version.

Question for this article:

Are we making progress in renewable energy?

(Article continued from left side of page)

Also, despite an unanimous parliamentary decision to quickly implement self-consumption legislation four years later, no practical solutions have been implemented. There is a small legal loophole so it is not impossible but the reality is that only a few hundred pioneers have put solar panels on their roof. The government tactics have been to delay coming up with anything practical and fair. So we are currently looking at legal proposal #3, with no net balance and a ´solidarity tax which makes you pay for all kWh you produce yourself, even the ones you use yourself instantaneously and so never enter the grid! So the solution that has created so much enthusiasm and citizen participation in other countries was firmly closed for our members.

With the two main mechanisms for increasing renewable production basically blocked, we started to look around for inspiration at other initiatives in Europe.

We were looking for a model that would allow us to:

– Set up new renewable energy projects (and not re-finance existing projects)

– Give a minimum return to our investors

– Not promise things we cannot deliver

– Make it easy for people to participate

– Create confidence for people to invest in projects with a life-time of 25 years (this in a Mediterranean country where 5 years is about as long term as things get)

– Allows everybody in Spain to participate, not just the people who have their own house and have a suitable roof for solar PV, but also people who rent an apartment with little practical possibilities to set up their own project

The project also started in the middle of the financial crisis though – he adds. – There was no access to banking financing of any sort whatsoever. Banks were simply closed. They were trying to manage existing business and reduce their losses and they weren’t interested in new business, certainly not a cooperative business without any financial background or any numbers behind it. However, because of those barriers we quickly realized that if anyone is going to make it work, it has to be us. We couldn’t rely on any support but therefore we became very focused and strategic.

We came up with our own model. With a mix of solar, wind and hydro projects around Spain we tried to simulate the typical demand curve of our members as well as possible. As there was no FITs, all projects had to compete in the ´market´ and even paid a 7% electricity production tax to the state. Only the most efficient projects guaranteed that the money invested would return, so we were looking at a solar project in the south of Spain with 1600 full-load hours, in very windy spots with over 2700 full-load hours and re-powering of hydro projects where the civil works were still in a good state and we ´only´ had to put in a new turbine.

Any of the 27,000 members we currently have can participate by making a special, 25-year loan to the cooperative at zero interest. Your investment is in the system and not in one specific technology. We all share the advantages and disadvantages of each project. For each 100 Euro participation, participants will get an estimated 170 – 200 kWh/year compensated on their electricity bill with Som Energia. Participants keep paying taxes, grid access fees, etc.

Simply get started!

– We do realize that our model isn’t easily replicable. There are many ways to do this successfully. But my advice to anyone who wants to start their own cooperative is simply get started! Find your own focus – whether it’s an energy efficiency project, local production, biomass or solar. Keep in mind that banks are paying historically low interest rates at the moment and that many people lost their trust in the banking system but they still wish to invest their savings in meaningful projects and get started!

(Thank you to Kiki Chauvin, the CPNN reporter for this article.)

Europe, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

UK: Corbyn and the Anti-war Movement

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

Excerpts from the newsletter of Stop the War Coalition – 2nd September 2016

As we approach the anniversary of 9/11, we should take stock of the fortunes of the “war on terror” over that time. None of the wars that started after 9/11 have ended, which is why we’ve had to maintain our anti-war campaigning.

stopthewar

The anti-war movement has provided one of the key fundaments for progressive politics in Britain, and has been a springboard for Corbyn’s rise to the position of Leader of the Labour Party.

In her recent article, Lindsey German pointed out:

“We did a great thing collectively with Stop the War. We have maintained it as an organisation and in the past year have seen a considerable increase in support, despite (or perhaps because of) the attacks on Corbyn. We are, I think, the major anti-war movement in any Nato country. The attacks from the right over the Syria bombing vote in 2013 showed the legacy of the movement and what damage we did. Ditto the Syria vote last year, used as a vicious attack on Jeremy Corbyn (and joined in by the pro-intervention left). There are many issues to debate about our history, and still a job to combat interventions in the Middle East and through Nato expansion.

Our conference next month marks the 15th anniversary of our movement. A time to say no to all the wars arising from the “war on terror”. And to continue our commitment to opposing the system our government is at the heart of, imperialism.”

Saturday 8th October • 10 – 5pm
TUC Congress House
23-28 Great Russell St
London, WC1B 3LS

The list of speakers includes Malalai Joya, Lindsey German, Tariq Ali, Salma Yaqoob, Brian Eno, Medea Benjamin, Phyllis Bennis, Maya Evans, Anas Altikriti, Chris Cole, Andrew Murray, Reg Keys and Mark Serwotka.

Sessions include:
Chilcot and the next steps for the movement • Armed and dangerous: Foreign policy after the US elections • The Middle East: Endless war? • Will the new Cold War turn hot? • Killing by remote control: Drones and geopolitics • The war on Muslims: Islamophobia and civil liberties

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Question related to this article:

How can the peace movement become stronger and more effective?

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Please invite your Facebook contacts to the conference. The ticket prices are £15 standard and £10 concession. Groups of three or more are entitled to concessionary rates.

Book your place here.

One Big No – A Stop the War benefit
Friday 7th October • 7.30pm
Shaw Theatre, 100-110 Euston Road
London, NW1 2AJ

Starring:
Francesca Martinez • Richard Herring • Stewart Lee • Grace Petrie • Steve Gribbin • Boothby Graffoe • Michael Rosen

Join us for a fun night of comedy, poetry and entertainment! One Big No marks 15 years of Stop the War, showcasing the strength of feeling for an end to Western wars. We are proud of the amazing line-up, which consists of some of the best comedians in the country. Please come along and support our movement for peace and social justice.

Ticket prices: Standard £20 I Solidarity £30 I Concession (limited) £15. Groups of three or more are entitled to concessionary rates. You can book here.

The Media, The Movements and Jeremy Corbyn
Thursday 15 September, 7pm
Student Central, Malet Street
WC1E 7HY

Speakers will include Ken Loach, Greg Philo, Lindsey German, James Schneider and Des Freedman.

As part of the Media Reform Coalition’s ongoing campaign for a media that informs, represents and empowers the public, this event will bring together media activists, workers and scholars to explore the media’s misrepresentation of progressive movements and voices and shape a response that does them justice.

Tickets are £5 and £3 concessionary. You can book your place here.

15 Years of the ‘War on Terror’ meeting in Liverpool during the Labour Party Conference

Monday 26 September • 7pm
Friends’ Meeting House
22 School Lane
Liverpool L1 3BT

Speakers will include Harry Leslie Smith, Brian Eno, Murad Qureshi, Andrew Murray and Carol Turner.

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Europe

Incredible edibles : Rennes takes up urban, participative agriculture

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

Testimony by Matthieu Theurier to the Municipal Council of Rennes on June 27, reprinted on the website of the elected ecologists (translated by CPNN)

“Incredible Edibles” is a non-governmental movement that proposes citizens to produce fruits and vegetables at home and make the produces available freely to others.

Born in England, the movement is now spreading throughout the world.

Here in Rennes, at least 200 families are now participating in the Incredible edibles movement, sharing gardens that are now flourishing in all four corners of the city.

The approach of Incredible Edibles can offer spaces to garden for residents, can strengthen social ties, and promote the greening of the city. It offers free food and promotes the development of urban agriculture and therefore food autonomy of cities. Above all, it can educate for the protection of the environment and recreate the link between people in city and those in food production areas. As the urban population continues to grow, issues related to agriculture – including the preservation of the land – are less tangibly perceived by many of our fellow citizens. Recreating this link is a necessity for the future.

Incredible Edibles is now starting to develop specific criteria with the help of local voluntary collectives. The criteria aim to have cities take specific measures towards urban food production. The city of Albi is the first city to have been engaged in this effort. By adopting the proposal today, we can become the second city to do so in France.

(Click here for the original French

d-sustainable, Europe

Rennes, France: 210 000 inhabitants move towards food self-sufficiency!

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from Positivr (translated by CPNN)

Food self-sufficiency is not a utopia, it is a realistic and necessary goal! Following the example of Albi , now a second large French city has also recognized and ’embarked on an ambitious civic and ecological transition program. Here is a close up of this exemplary initiative!

Rennes
Video of food self-sufficiency of Albi

The city following the example of Albi is Rennes. In order to ensure there is never a lack of food, to support the local economy and to ensure healthy food for their children, the community of Rennes voted last June 27 for a proposal that could change the lives of its 210 000 inhabitants! [Editor’s note: For the presentation and vote on this question, see item 101 by M. Theurier on the agenda of the Council of Rennes, June 27 as shown in the preceding link. The text of his presentation may be found here.]

To achieve food self-sufficiency, the municipality has set aside an area of ​​agricultural production estimated at 30 000 hectares. But this is not the only thing needed.

Elected officials have decided to promote organic urban agriculture, agro-ecology, permaculture, Associations for the maintenance of peasant agriculture (Amap) , education in healthy eating … and collaboration of all people!

Indeed, food security is only possible with a massive participation of citizens. These will be invited and encouraged to be informed consumers … but also to become themselves conscientious producers!

The program is also supported by the organization “Incredible Edible” of Rennes whose ambition is the reconquest by the inhabitants of urban areas. Objective: everyone starts to grow organic fruit and vegetables wherever possible and to support a free collective redistribution of production!

Eat well and never lack food while respecting the planet … these simple concrete decisions adopted in the anonymity of city councils are worthy of international conferences!

In the video of Albi (see above) we see deliberations that could change everything (the tone is very serious … but it’s because the subject is too!)

“Think globally, act locally”: the famous expression of Jacques Ellul takes on its meaning. If change is to come, it must come from the bottom up. Albi and Rennes lead the way. Talk to your mayors and enlarge the movement!

(Click here for the original article in french)

Question for this article:
Europe, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Madrid Mayor: “Cities can end the democratic apathy”

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article by Rubén Amón, Mathieu de Taillac, and Alessandro Oppes in El Pais English Reprinted for non-commercial purpose and abbreviated by CPNN

In this joint interview by EL PAÍS, Le Figaro and La Repubblica, Manuela Carmena takes stock of her first year in office and talks about politics, ideology and the larger role of cities in the world. . .

Madrid2

Question. Do you think there is a feminine sensitivity in the way public affairs are run in some places? There are female mayors in Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid…

Answer. Yes. I have insisted repeatedly on the fact that women’s culture is more closely linked to daily, practical affairs. It is the culture of life. Development policies underscore the active role of women, their role in family economics. Poverty programs rely on women. If there had been women at the helm of Spain’s parties after the December 20 election, we would have had an agreement.

Q. What about the debate over big cities that take on state-level issues, from the environment to immigration?

A. Cities are taking on many powers that we have lawfully won. It happened with the refugees. We reached deals with the UNHCR to carry out a refugee welcome plan. We have the ability to set up structures, emergency services. It’s simpler for us than for a big state apparatus. We have taken in people who arrived through irregular channels. They were helped. We have networks that the state lacks. We have to move on from a functional role to one of real power. We are closer to the problems on the ground.

Q. Do you consider it necessary to implement a cooperation network among the great European capitals?

A. There is a link among the cities. There are common concerns. I am thinking about participatory budgets. We did it in Madrid, but they could be organized with other cities for common projects. Lisbon, Paris and Madrid form a historical axis. Cities can end the democratic apathy. And like [UN Secretary General] Ban Ki-moon says, apathy is poison to democracy. European cities can counter this lack of mobilization. We need a framework for the relationship among them. We are capitalizing on a way of living history. We are in a position to master a formal framework that that has surpassed the capacity of nations. Communications have put an end to borders, they have destroyed them. Cities have become the arena with the greatest potential for citizen empowerment.

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(Click here for a Spanish version of this article)

Question related to this article:

 

How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

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Q. At the same time, a major competition is now underway over the “bounty” represented by Brexit.

A. There is a loyal competition underway. Madrid is very well placed – because of our growth potential, our young people’s talent and our competitive salaries. Also, Madrid is a very safe city, its transportation system is practically unmatched and the climate is extraordinary. We need to make the most of all those qualities.

Q. The Paris attacks led Madrid to organize a Peace Forum, to try to implement together with the French capital a preventive policy of sorts.

A. Yes, because we are aware that the big cities are also host to negative elements and a breeding ground for violence – from gender violence to young criminal gangs. It all needs to go through a pro-peace education. And it starts at school. We want children to learn the value of dialogue and mediation, and for them to learn to solve their own problems among themselves.

Q. But don’t you get the impression that all the major attacks in London, Paris, Madrid and Brussels have created a terrorist psychosis?

A. No matter how much cities feel psychosis over terrorism, citizens will not give up on life in their city. I did not see such a psychosis in Paris. I don’t see it in Madrid, either, despite our own experience with terrorism. Cities do no give up on the notion of life that easily. And they are less susceptible than it may seem from the outside.

Q. You’ve already said you will not seek re-election. What kind of city would you like to leave behind?

A. I would like to have achieved two things. For people to value the change in attitude, the closeness to the citizens, the clean ethics. And for them to appreciate the improvements to the city: Madrid will have more flowers, it will be greener and cleaner, more balanced and more fair.

(Thanks to the Global Campaign for Peace Education for publicizing this article).

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe

Germany: 5000 people protest in Ramstein – drone war is murder. We will be back!

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article by the Stop Ramstein Campaign (translated from the German)

It was the largest protest against drone operations, it was the largest actions of education and information in the history of decades of protest against the US military base in Ramstein. We have changed the mood in the region in favor of peace. This is the summary of our activities in Ramstein from June 9-12, 2016. The actions were young. It was also great to see longstanding activists again.

ramstein
Click on photo to enlarge

5,000 people in the pouring rain formed a human chain through the villages to the Ramstein Air Base and the final rally at the roundabout just outside the base. Apart from a few small gaps people were hand in hand for a10-kilometer human chain. The persistent rain prevented an even greater participation. The final manifestation in front of the Air Base brought out all the optimism, the color, the diversity and creativity of the 5,000 participants. Here the power of this new movement was impressively visible. Their optimism and commitment will continue to work in the future. The participation of Oskar Lafontaine and Tabea Rößner (MP Alliance ’90 / The Greens) underlined the political importance of these actions.

In the public event on Friday evening in the Church of Reconciliation, more than 600 people participated along with Willy Wimmer and Albrecht Müller. The church was packed. The discussion expressed a resounding no to war, drones and nuclear weapons and a passionate appeal for a new cooperative relationship with Russia. The experiences of two great political men culminated in their statement: “Let us not make Russia the enemy again.”

In the peace camp, more than 500 participants came together for discussions which generated the logistical problems that it was too crowded, despite persistent rain. The camp was perhaps the highlight of the entire weekend. The atmosphere was active, colorful, open and committed, despite the rain. The promise “We’ll be back next year and bring many others with us” underscored the optimistic general message. The area for the camp was provided by a local farmer free of charge and infrastructure was provided by local residents. This would have been unthinkable years ago and highlights the change in climate locally.

The events of the Information Day on Friday were also overcrowded. When has there been in Kaiserslautern events of socially controversial issues, which were crowded with the more than 150 participants in one afternoon? Among the issues discussed were the future of NATO, the drone war and how these can be overcome as well as the concurrent Bilderberg Conference in Dresden.

10,000 leaflets and other information material were distributed to the local population. In recent months, public awareness has changed massively in favor of peace. Along the route of the human chain there was participation by local people despite the fact that it had not been advetised.

For the first time international guests from a number of countries participated in the human chain, including the US, UK, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria, which underlines the importance of these actions.

The film “Ramstein, final assault”, with the significant support from peace activists and complainants against the US Air Base, was shown by Wolfgang Jung and Fee Strieffler on Friday in Kaiserslautern.

There have already been over 10 regional “Stop Ramstein initiatives” across the country and there were 13 buses full of people who came to Ramstein.

“We call on our federal government to end this violation of international law, this warfare by the United States government that is conducted from our soil,” said Oskar Lafontaine, the opening speaker at one of the three opening rallies.

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Question related to this article:

Drones (unmanned bombers), Should they be outlawed?

(continued from left column)

The speakers highlighted the main concerns of the demonstrators:

* Stop the drone war!

* Close the Air Base with its central command structures, including for nuclear war and missile defense

* Establish a comprehensive conversion program by which military jobs are converted to civilian.

* End the German participation in wars of intervention as well as the armament programs

The protesters expressed their solidarity with the refugees who have come to us because of the wars of USA and NATO. “The daily death in the Mediterranean” is intolerable and a political and moral indictment of the policies of the Western countries.

Completely new and unexpectedly positive was the impressive, broad and diverse media coverage. Reuters produced a video clip that was shown on BILD.de and Stern online. The dpa and epd provided comprehensive information. There were reports by Deutschen Welle, the Frankfurter Rundschau, from FOKUS, n-tv, Deutschlandfunk, Deutschland Radio Kultur, Neuen Deutschland and many national newspapers. There were almost daily reports in the last week in the local monopoly newspaper Rheinpfalz. There were two major articles in the US newspaper of the region (Stars and Stripes), almost continuous radio reports and several regional TV reports (including SWR Landesschau). They can be viewed on the website of the campaign. Coverage in the young world was awkward.

The events and their intense preparation would have been inconceivable without the support of the new alternative media: NachDenkSeiten, KenFM, Weltnetz.tv, RT, alternative radio stations, among others. This cooperation promises to help foster other successful actions of the peace movement in the future; it should be developed and expanded.

Preparations for the actions were controversial, at times evoking malicious, even libelous attacks. But the events of the weekend proved them wrong. It was the peace movement in its breadth and diversity. The participants were united by their desire for peace, their concerns about the dangerous situation today and their opposition to the ruling policy, a clear NO to war and militarism.

It can only be an appeal, but it should be stated at this point: Let us develop more togetherness and solidarity! Ramstein June 2016 makes it clear.

The events were a major logistical and organizational challenge. They were many helpers, through the dedicated regional initiative “Stop Ramstein Kaiserslautern”. The small problems that we had, of course, will be overcome next time. Thanks to all who helped. There were many! Without them, the impressive actions of the weekend would have been impossible.

“We will return” until we end the drone operations from Ramstein. It is a long struggle that must be conducted with even greater intensity. We are ready! We must continue with our educational and information work and and further actions for peace among the people. The campaign “Stop Ramstein” has only just begun!

If this is the beginning of a revitalized, renewed peace movement, only time will tell. We are committed to remain active.

For further information, see www.ramstein-kampagne.eu

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Europe

UK: Quakers hold conference on peace education for schools

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Ekklesia

On a day when Britain awakes, divided and disappointed by the EU Referendum and bruised by acrimonious campaigning, Quakers in Britain will host a ground-breaking national conference for teachers to learn how to equip pupils to handle conflict in a constructive way and to develop critical thinking skills. Educationalists from more than 80 schools across Britain will attend Learning Through Peace at Friends House in London. Quakers will work with others – Spiritual England, Peacemakers, The University of Winchester – to build the long-term merits of peace education.

quakers

Peace education teaches alternatives to violence. For more than 350 years, Quakers have worked for peace, not power, for co-operation, not aggression. This work includes peacebuilding in violent conflict, to challenging militarisation in schools and promoting peer mediation in the playground. The conference falls on the eve of Armed Forces Day and on the centenary of conscientious objectors courageously facing court martial and sentences of death for refusing to fight in World War I.

Isabel Cartwright, Peace education programme manager for Quakers in Britain, said “The Peaceful Schools Movement is so important. It’s civil societies’ way of helping teachers, governors, parents/carers, students and others, to inspire each other to take new steps to build a culture of peace, starting in our schools.”

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Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

(Continued from left column)

“The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, earlier this month, called for the UK government to ‘intensify its efforts to tackle bullying and violence in schools, including through teaching human rights and improving students’ conflict resolution skills’,” she explained.

Learning though Peace is a national conference for primary schools. It will bring together head teachers, deputy and assistant head teachers, school staff and school governors. Schoolchildren will be helping facilitate workshops, taking part in the panel discussion and acting as roving reporters throughout the day.

There will be workshops and sessions. Organisations taking part include Quakers peace education staff, and Anna Lubelska, founder of the Peaceful Schools Movement ‘Go Givers’, Peace Jam UK, which links up with Nobel Peace Prize winners, Amnesty International and Spaces for Spiritual Living. Resources will be shared including Quaker Peacemakers’ Learning for Peace.

* More on Learning Through Peace here.

* Quakers are known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Around 23,000 people attend 480 Quaker meetings in Britain. Their commitment to equality, justice, peace, simplicity and truth challenges them to seek positive social and legislative change. Quakers in Britain: http://www.quaker.org.uk/

(Thank you to the Global Campaign for Peace Education for calling this article to our attention)

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Europe

Bosnia and Herzogovina: Celebrating 10 years of global education for peace at UWC Mostar

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from the United World Colleges

This year, graduation season has been particularly special for the whole community at UWC Mostar, which has just celebrated its 10th year anniversary! UWC Mostar was established against the background of the violent breakdown and division of former Yugoslavia along ethnic and religious lines that occurred between 1991 and 1995. During the conflict, over 140,000 people died, over 50% of the population was displaced and over one million people sought refuge in other countries. In this context, the opening of UWC Mostar not only provided a new educational model that was radically different from the prevailing national educational system in place since the war, but it also demonstrated the relevance of the UWC mission in the 21st century: using education as a force for a more peaceful future.

Bosnia
Click on photo to enlarge

In fact, since the war, UWC Mostar was the first school in Bosnia and Herzegovina having students from across the country being taught by the same teachers and in the same classroom. This deliberately inclusive educational model, which makes students from all backgrounds work and learn together, was – and is – very different from the segregational educational system still prevailing across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today. Pilvi Torsti, Chair of the Foundation Education in Action, UWC Adriatic graduate from Finland and one of the master minds behind starting UWC Mostar, underlined the active role of the college in fighting this model and make education a means for peace among people: “The wider influence of the work has even led to court rooms: UWC Mostar has been used to make the case against segregated educational system in this Canton. It is a miracle that we are all here today”.

UWC Mostar’s mission was and continues to be a most relevant one: to equip the next generations of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the knowledge, skills, leadership qualities and international values, necessary to bridge the still existing ethnic divisions and move their country into a more peaceful future. But UWC Mostar has become much more than a model for inclusive education for young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina: its student body includes individuals from all over the Balkans and from countries across the world, with a special emphasis on students from post-conflict countries.

(Articles continued in right column)

Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

(continued from left column)

Mary Ann Hennessey, Head of Office of the Council of Europe in Bosnia and Herzegovina and member of the Board of the College Foundation, who took part in the recent celebrations for the college’s 10 year anniversary, underlined: “From 2006 the United World College Mostar has been enrolling students from BiH and from around the world, providing an example of openness and diversity which lies at the heart of a modern, student-centred education. In doing this, and building relationships with local educational partners, UWC Mostar contributes to the transition from a post-conflict society to a society which can make a success of the European integration process, and eventually transition to a genuine modern, European Union economy, society and polity”.

UWC Mostar’s inclusive approach is also reflected in the words of Jasminka Bratić, Chair of UWC Mostar Board, who commented: “Mostar was the right place for founding a college. The College where children are educated about mutual differences in the atmosphere of equality and tolerance, where they are taught to respect those differences, to develop their critical thinking, creativity, social compassion and responsibility”. She also added: “Not long ago Bosnia and Herzegovina has applied for EU membership. But Mostar can boast about having its own UNITED NATIONS for the past ten years, where people of different cultures, nations, religions and traditions live and work in peace and harmony within the city and Gimnazija building”.

Being situated in a city which was divided by the war, UWC Mostar consciously spread its residences across the city to enable the students to integrate with different communities – and to become a living proof how people can live together independent of their ethnic, religious, national or linguistic background. Today, it is the interaction of students with the local community which has become the essence of UWC Mostar and one of its most unique characteristics. By establishing its community service programme in cooperation with more than 15 institutions and associations in Mostar, UWC Mostar gave impetus to the development of a community of volunteers in a society in which voluntary work was not firmly established. Sharing one school building with a local school and through scientific fairs and competitions, UWC Mostar played a key role in gathering students and teachers from both the Bosniak and Croat side of the educational system to work together.

This year, UWC Mostar is celebrating 10 years of work and achievements – and the whole UWC community celebrates with them! During the celebration, Pilvi Torsti, shared her thoughts on the past and the future of UWC Mostar: “So dear guests, this is what I wish all of us to recognise today: UWC Mostar celebrates today 10 years of start-up history, start-up mentality, start-up people. That start-up has educated almost 800 students (including current 1st years). 1000 Bosnian teachers have taken part in workshops. Now it is the challenge to turn the start-up into a long term successful venture with many new ‘firsts’. And that is the challenge for you all – there is nobody somewhere out there to do it but you!”

(Thank you to the Global Campaign for Peace Education for calling this article to our attention)

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Europe

MOAS & EMERGENCY NGO partner up to provide rescue and medical care to migrants in the Mediterranean

TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY .

An article by MOAS, Migrant Offshore Aid Station

A joint operation by Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) and EMERGENCY NGO, humanitarian organisation which provides medical care, will leave Malta today [6th June] aboard the Responder, one of the two MOAS’ search and rescue vessels which will patrol the world’s deadliest migrant crossing: the central Mediterranean.

MOAS
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The Italian Red Cross will provide post-rescue care aboard the second MOAS boat – the Phoenix – which will also set sail today alongside the Responder.

More than 2,510 people have already died in 2016 attempting the crossing: In May, 1,138 people died or went missing in a single week attempting to reach Europe. With today’s launch, more desperate people seeking refuge in Europe will be rescued and given expert medical care.

EMERGENCY NGO will be operating from the MOAS vessel Responder to guarantee the post rescue assistance, in particular medical care and cultural mediation for the rescued migrants. The team is composed by 6 people including doctors, nurses, cultural mediators and a coordinator.

MOAS’ vessels Phoenix and Responder are, respectively, 40-metre & 52 metres long. Phoenix is equipped with two Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 (drones), and both ships have two high-speed rescue boats, a 20-strong professional crew of seafarers, rescuers, doctors and paramedics as well as a fully-stocked clinic to provide emergency search, rescue and medical care.

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The refugee crisis, Who is responsible?

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“No one deserves to die at sea and yet last month was one of the deadliest on record with as many as 1,000 having perished in the Mediterranean. Hundreds more will continue to die unless we bolster the professional search and rescue effort,” said MOAS founder Christopher Catrambone. “Our partners on board ensure that excellent post rescue care is provided to migrants who have already endured severe trauma”.

So far, the Migrant Offshore Aid Station has saved the lives of over 13,000 people.

“For more than 20 years, EMERGENCY has been working in war and poverty stricken countries. Thus, we know very well what these people are fleeing from when they take a boat in the attempt to reach Europe”, said EMERGENCY President, Cecilia Strada. “For two years, we’ve been working at the Sicilian ports offering socio-medical assistance to who lands. And today we are happy to bring our experience and expertise at sea, together with MOAS”.

So far, EMERGENCY NGO has assisted over 20,000 migrants landed in Sicily, with its team working in the ports of Pozzallo, Augusta and Porto Empedocle.

MOAS is a registered foundation consisting of professional search and rescue crew, onshore staff and supported by a global network of supporters. It works to mitigate the loss of life at sea along the world’s deadliest migrant routes because no one deserves to die at sea. Since its inception MOAS has assisted over 13,000 migrants and refugees in distress.

EMERGENCY NGO is an independent organization that provides free, high quality medical and surgical treatment to the victims of war, landmines and poverty and promotes a culture of peace and respect for human rights. Since its inception, over 7 million people have received free, high quality health care by EMERGENCY NGO.

Further Information
For interviews requests please to MOAS team please contact: Anne Kennedy, +35679900097, akennedy@moas.eu;
For interviews requests to EMERGENCY team please contact:
Simonetta Gola +39 348 3034282 simonetta.gola@emergency.it; Valeria Brigida +39 348 9582943 valeria.brigida@emergency.it, www.emergency.it;

Europe, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Georgia: Training Report: “Education for Peace – Developing Competences for Peace Education in the Youth Field”

TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY .

A report from the Global Campaign for Peace Education

The European Intercultural Forum e. V. just finalised the narrative report of their 1st training course in the frame of the Training Programme “Education for Peace – Developing Competences for Peace Education in the Youth Field” (Misaktsieli, Georgia – April 10-18, 2016)

Georgia
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You can find the report here and can find more information about the project on the project webpage.

Project Background

To aid communities and individuals affected by these conflicts, peace education – defined as a holistic, multidisciplinary and transformative process to develop competences in nonviolent conflict transformation, respect for human rights and active participation – is one approach of peace-building measures that aims at strengthening nonviolence and participatory means of conflict transformation to ensure human rights protection, nonviolence and participation as fundamental principles of societal life allowing young people to not only grow up in a peaceful environment without their personal development potentials being jeopardise, but also to contribute conflicts to be addressed nonviolently without making use of direct, structural and cultural violence.

Against this background, the project proposal aims to strengthen the competences of youth workers and youth educators in peace education for young people in order to empower young people to become pro-active agents of peaceful change via local community initiatives addressing societal conflicts.

Therefore, the youth workers and youth educators will participate in two e-learning modules and two training courses in Georgia on conflict transformation, peace education and training delivery. As a result the participants shall be enabled to design, implement and evaluate their own training courses and workshops on peace education for young people in their communities.

According to the Call for Participants, the project is funded by the European Union and the participating organizations are:

European Intercultural Forum e. V. (Germany)

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly- Vanadzor (Armenia)

Academy for Peace and Development (Georgia)

Bridge to the Future (Azerbaijan)

Vinnytsia Regional Center for Information KREATIV (Ukraine)

The ASHA Foundation (United Kingdom)

Humana People to People (Latvia)

United Network of Young Peacebuilders (Netherlands)

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Europe, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY