For Universal Erasmus!
Dear All,
Today,
Paris will host a meeting of European Ministers of Education,
focusing on the issue of promoting citizenship, values of liberty,
tolerance and non discrimination.
On this occasion, EGAM and many European partners (students unions, antiracist organizations, youth movements...) from 28 countries propose the extension of the successful Erasmus program to a broader scope of European citizens : Universal Erasmus !
The call and its signatories was published today in many European newspapers - Corriere della sera (Italie), Huffington Post (France), Het Parool (Pays-Bas), Kathimerini (Grèce), L'Expresso (Portugal), Utrinski Vesnik (Macédoine), TAZ (Allemagne) - and gathered an important support of members of the European Parliament and the European Commission.
On this occasion, EGAM and many European partners (students unions, antiracist organizations, youth movements...) from 28 countries propose the extension of the successful Erasmus program to a broader scope of European citizens : Universal Erasmus !
The call and its signatories was published today in many European newspapers - Corriere della sera (Italie), Huffington Post (France), Het Parool (Pays-Bas), Kathimerini (Grèce), L'Expresso (Portugal), Utrinski Vesnik (Macédoine), TAZ (Allemagne) - and gathered an important support of members of the European Parliament and the European Commission.
"This inclusive project, which will allow young people of all ages live together a shared experience. At the core of an aging continent, it will replace youth at the heart of the European project.
It’s a project that carries equality, which will concern all students, regardless of their nationality, their social class and the areas in which they live, by providing, thanks to international movement, social, territorial and identity movement which is so lacking in our societies. Democracy will never be a hollow concept, but will mean tangible benefits for all.
It’s a project of emancipation, that offers to the individual the possibility of self-development through exchange."
To
support the campaign, you can tweet or post on Facebook the following
message ".@xxx (the Twitter account of your national minister
of Education) I support #ForUniversalErasmus by @EGAMofficial and
partners. And you ?" or a sentence of your own.
Contact :
Elie Petit
Communication Officer
EGAM - European Grassroots Antiracist Movement
www.egam.eu
+33.6.68.08.61.02
elie.petit@yahoo.fr
Created
in 2010, EGAM – European Grassroots Antiracist Movement is a network
that gathers the main antiracist NGOs from 30 countries. Our goal is to
work for a more integrated and more active European civil society
against racism, antisemitism, racial discrimination and Genocide denial.
For Universal Erasmus!
#ForUniversalErasmus
#ForUniversalErasmus
The
attacks that hit Paris and Copenhagen represented a paroxysmal summit
of the identity tensions that plague our continent. Hasn’t this been
stressed enough? They are young Europeans who, moved by Islamist
ideology, killed other Europeans for what they were -Jews - for what
they were thinking or what they were doing -free thinkers, defenders of
freedom of expression, journalists, film-makers, representatives of law
enforcement.
These attacks generate all the more tension in our societies as they take place in the context of rising anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination.
Contrary to what some are tempted to think, this increase is not only due to the crisis, and will not disappear with it. More profoundly, it is the result of the diminishing role of Europe in the world, caused by globalization and the lack of democratic perspectives proposing to deal with it, due to impairment in political leadership.
Indeed, Europe has definitively lost its position as the dominant world power that it held for so long. Today, the fear of individual displacement resonates with the fear of the collective displacement, national and European, for which the crisis was a catalyst. Nationalism and Islamism are at present the only political projects that offer meaning to these changes and opportunities to address them. For them, we would be prey for a "European civil war" and it would take form, both in Europe and internationally, in a confrontation synonymous with discrimination, segregation, violence and murder among populations defined by race or religion.
It is clear that it is among the European youth where these ideologies recruit their living forces.
The danger of seeing our societies fall into the trap of creating tension and embrace the only political vision that is proposed today, one which is fatal and deadly, becomes a serious threat. It is all the more urgent to confront the upheavals of Europe and develop collective perspectives based on the values of democracy, which the post attack demonstrations displayed that they were truly able to cement for the people.
It is therefore the time to revive a great and innovative European adventure, one which is inclusive, egalitarian and emancipatory, to define a new democratic frontier to conquer together. The creation of a European society and a European identity, which would allow our societies to look towards the future together, is for us this new frontier. To achieve this, the mobilization of populations, especially youth, around concrete action is needed.
It is within this context that we call for the creation of Universal Erasmus.
This will mean that not only all categories of students and apprentices, but all students, from elementary to high school, will benefit from time to actually circulate, exchange and encounter in Europe. Obviously, the terms of these exchanges will be different according to age, for example from a few supervised days for primary students, to a semester in high school.
Universal Erasmus will contribute to the founding of a European society and identity in an innovative way.
This inclusive project, which will allow young people of all ages live together a shared experience. At the core of an aging continent, it will replace youth at the heart of the European project.
It’s a project that carries equality, which will concern all students, regardless of their nationality, their social class and the areas in which they live, by providing, thanks to international movement, social, territorial and identity movement which is so lacking in our societies. Democracy will never be a hollow concept, but will mean tangible benefits for all.
It’s a project of emancipation, that offers to the individual the possibility of self-development through exchange.
We are never further from our country than when abroad, and we are never more ourselves than when we invent our own identity and our own life journey.
Therefore, Universal Erasmus allows the creation of a society and a European identity, laying the foundations for a project for a democratic and European future, which will generate popular support and overcome, especially among the youth, to those proposed by nationalism and Islamism.
This project could be paired with the creation of a European civil service aimed towards the developing world, following the example of the American Peace Corps, which would allow each young person to act in international and European solidarity, through their youth, in order to renew their relationship with the world.
Universal Erasmus, coupled with a European civil service seem too bold to some, too complicated to implement to others. This overlooks the fact that Europe already has all the basic elements: freedom of movement, even if it is attacked by nationalism, and the Erasmus program, even if the bureaucracy nearly destroyed it. Above all, let us be assured that it is only through ambitious initiatives, that is to say, to meet the challenges our continent is facing, will it be possible to invent our future together.
In this, Universal Erasmus is as fundamental as it is urgent for Europeans.
Benjamin Abtan, President of the European Grassroots Anti-Racist Movement – EGAM alongside leaders of student and school unions and antiracist organizations from 28 European countries :
Aldo Merkovi, Spokesperson for Mjaft! (Albania) Claudia Schäfer General Director of ZARA (Austria) Viktoria Spielmann, Chair of the OEH (Austrian Students Union) (Austria), Christina Goetsch Hofer, National Chairwoman of the AKS (Austria), Carlos Crespo President of Mrax (Belgium), Jane Braden- Golay President of the EUJS (European Union of Jewish Students) (Belgium), Alma Masic, Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (Bosnia & Herzegovina) Milica Sljivic President of the ASUBiH (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Krassimir Kanev, President Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (Bulgaria) Deyan Kolev, President of the Amalipe Centre (Bulgaria), Mario Mazic, Executive Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (Croatia) Miroslav Broz, Spokesperson for Konexe (Czech Republic), Marek Szeles, 1st Vice President of CSU (Czech Republic), Steffen Andersen President of the LH (Denmark), Jette Moller, President of SOS Mod Racism (Denmark), Nadia Wolff, Vice President of the EEO (Denmark) Merle Haruoja, Member of the Board for the Estonian Institute for Human Rights (Estonia), Lele Luup, Chairwoman of the EOEL (Estonia), Martin Noorkoiv, President of the Student Council of University of Tartu (Estonia), Sandra Vokk, President of UNITAS (Estonia), Jonathan Karvonen, International Officer of the SLL (Finalnd), Musa Jallow, Chairman of Sakki (Finland) Corentin Durand, President of the UNL (France), Zoia Guschlbauer, President of the FIDL (France) Dominique Sopo, President of SOS Racisme (France) William Martinet, President of UNEF (France) Isabella Albert, Member of the board of the FZS (Germany) Anetta Kahane, President of Amadeu Antonio Stiftung (Germany) Ahmed Moawia, President of the Greek forum of Migrants (Greece) Stefania Kapronczay, Executive Director of Tasz (Hungary), Erika Muhi, Director of Neki (Hungary), Bognar Istvan, Member of the board for HOOK (Hungary), Angela Scalzo, Secretary General for SOS Razzismo (Italy), Gianluca Scuccimarra, national director of UDU (Italy), Raba Gjoshi, Executive Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (Kosovo) Sigita Odina, Member of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights (Latvia), Hristo Ivanovski, President of the Alliance for Human Rights (Macedonia), Valerian Mamaliga, President of the Moldovan Institute for Human Rights (Moldova), Boris Raonic, President of the Civic Alliance (Montenegro), Phillip Aepler, President of the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) (Netherlands), Rene Danen, Director of Bekent Color Foundation (Netherlands), Paula Sawicka, President of Open Republic (Poland), Klaus Witold, President of the Association for Legal Intervention (SIP) (Poland), Marian Mandache, Director Romani Criss (Romania) Horia-Serban Onita, President of Consiliul Elevilor (Romania), Anita Mitic, Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (Serbia), Jovana Vukovic, Coordinator of the National Centre for Minorities (Serbia) Anita Ramsak, Director of the Ekvilib Institute (Slovenia), Kalle Larson, President of Centrum Mot Rasism (Sweden), Kristin Solvik, Director of Sveriges Antidiskrimineringsbyråer (Sweden) Levent Sensever, Spokesperson for Durde! (Turkey) Anastasiia Boichuk, President of the CKP (Ukraine)
These attacks generate all the more tension in our societies as they take place in the context of rising anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination.
Contrary to what some are tempted to think, this increase is not only due to the crisis, and will not disappear with it. More profoundly, it is the result of the diminishing role of Europe in the world, caused by globalization and the lack of democratic perspectives proposing to deal with it, due to impairment in political leadership.
Indeed, Europe has definitively lost its position as the dominant world power that it held for so long. Today, the fear of individual displacement resonates with the fear of the collective displacement, national and European, for which the crisis was a catalyst. Nationalism and Islamism are at present the only political projects that offer meaning to these changes and opportunities to address them. For them, we would be prey for a "European civil war" and it would take form, both in Europe and internationally, in a confrontation synonymous with discrimination, segregation, violence and murder among populations defined by race or religion.
It is clear that it is among the European youth where these ideologies recruit their living forces.
The danger of seeing our societies fall into the trap of creating tension and embrace the only political vision that is proposed today, one which is fatal and deadly, becomes a serious threat. It is all the more urgent to confront the upheavals of Europe and develop collective perspectives based on the values of democracy, which the post attack demonstrations displayed that they were truly able to cement for the people.
It is therefore the time to revive a great and innovative European adventure, one which is inclusive, egalitarian and emancipatory, to define a new democratic frontier to conquer together. The creation of a European society and a European identity, which would allow our societies to look towards the future together, is for us this new frontier. To achieve this, the mobilization of populations, especially youth, around concrete action is needed.
It is within this context that we call for the creation of Universal Erasmus.
This will mean that not only all categories of students and apprentices, but all students, from elementary to high school, will benefit from time to actually circulate, exchange and encounter in Europe. Obviously, the terms of these exchanges will be different according to age, for example from a few supervised days for primary students, to a semester in high school.
Universal Erasmus will contribute to the founding of a European society and identity in an innovative way.
This inclusive project, which will allow young people of all ages live together a shared experience. At the core of an aging continent, it will replace youth at the heart of the European project.
It’s a project that carries equality, which will concern all students, regardless of their nationality, their social class and the areas in which they live, by providing, thanks to international movement, social, territorial and identity movement which is so lacking in our societies. Democracy will never be a hollow concept, but will mean tangible benefits for all.
It’s a project of emancipation, that offers to the individual the possibility of self-development through exchange.
We are never further from our country than when abroad, and we are never more ourselves than when we invent our own identity and our own life journey.
Therefore, Universal Erasmus allows the creation of a society and a European identity, laying the foundations for a project for a democratic and European future, which will generate popular support and overcome, especially among the youth, to those proposed by nationalism and Islamism.
This project could be paired with the creation of a European civil service aimed towards the developing world, following the example of the American Peace Corps, which would allow each young person to act in international and European solidarity, through their youth, in order to renew their relationship with the world.
Universal Erasmus, coupled with a European civil service seem too bold to some, too complicated to implement to others. This overlooks the fact that Europe already has all the basic elements: freedom of movement, even if it is attacked by nationalism, and the Erasmus program, even if the bureaucracy nearly destroyed it. Above all, let us be assured that it is only through ambitious initiatives, that is to say, to meet the challenges our continent is facing, will it be possible to invent our future together.
In this, Universal Erasmus is as fundamental as it is urgent for Europeans.
Benjamin Abtan, President of the European Grassroots Anti-Racist Movement – EGAM alongside leaders of student and school unions and antiracist organizations from 28 European countries :
Aldo Merkovi, Spokesperson for Mjaft! (Albania) Claudia Schäfer General Director of ZARA (Austria) Viktoria Spielmann, Chair of the OEH (Austrian Students Union) (Austria), Christina Goetsch Hofer, National Chairwoman of the AKS (Austria), Carlos Crespo President of Mrax (Belgium), Jane Braden- Golay President of the EUJS (European Union of Jewish Students) (Belgium), Alma Masic, Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (Bosnia & Herzegovina) Milica Sljivic President of the ASUBiH (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Krassimir Kanev, President Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (Bulgaria) Deyan Kolev, President of the Amalipe Centre (Bulgaria), Mario Mazic, Executive Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (Croatia) Miroslav Broz, Spokesperson for Konexe (Czech Republic), Marek Szeles, 1st Vice President of CSU (Czech Republic), Steffen Andersen President of the LH (Denmark), Jette Moller, President of SOS Mod Racism (Denmark), Nadia Wolff, Vice President of the EEO (Denmark) Merle Haruoja, Member of the Board for the Estonian Institute for Human Rights (Estonia), Lele Luup, Chairwoman of the EOEL (Estonia), Martin Noorkoiv, President of the Student Council of University of Tartu (Estonia), Sandra Vokk, President of UNITAS (Estonia), Jonathan Karvonen, International Officer of the SLL (Finalnd), Musa Jallow, Chairman of Sakki (Finland) Corentin Durand, President of the UNL (France), Zoia Guschlbauer, President of the FIDL (France) Dominique Sopo, President of SOS Racisme (France) William Martinet, President of UNEF (France) Isabella Albert, Member of the board of the FZS (Germany) Anetta Kahane, President of Amadeu Antonio Stiftung (Germany) Ahmed Moawia, President of the Greek forum of Migrants (Greece) Stefania Kapronczay, Executive Director of Tasz (Hungary), Erika Muhi, Director of Neki (Hungary), Bognar Istvan, Member of the board for HOOK (Hungary), Angela Scalzo, Secretary General for SOS Razzismo (Italy), Gianluca Scuccimarra, national director of UDU (Italy), Raba Gjoshi, Executive Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (Kosovo) Sigita Odina, Member of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights (Latvia), Hristo Ivanovski, President of the Alliance for Human Rights (Macedonia), Valerian Mamaliga, President of the Moldovan Institute for Human Rights (Moldova), Boris Raonic, President of the Civic Alliance (Montenegro), Phillip Aepler, President of the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) (Netherlands), Rene Danen, Director of Bekent Color Foundation (Netherlands), Paula Sawicka, President of Open Republic (Poland), Klaus Witold, President of the Association for Legal Intervention (SIP) (Poland), Marian Mandache, Director Romani Criss (Romania) Horia-Serban Onita, President of Consiliul Elevilor (Romania), Anita Mitic, Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (Serbia), Jovana Vukovic, Coordinator of the National Centre for Minorities (Serbia) Anita Ramsak, Director of the Ekvilib Institute (Slovenia), Kalle Larson, President of Centrum Mot Rasism (Sweden), Kristin Solvik, Director of Sveriges Antidiskrimineringsbyråer (Sweden) Levent Sensever, Spokesperson for Durde! (Turkey) Anastasiia Boichuk, President of the CKP (Ukraine)
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