Germany
Workshop at the Green/EFA Summer University 2008
Green Cities
To lobby and campaign for sustainability in local development and to make European cities a more democratic place require active participation and partners that share their experience. The workshop aims to promote networking among citizens and local initiatives/NGOs for sustainable urban development.
Challenges:
- How to promote active citizenship in urban development?
- Which tools are necessary?
- How to strengthen networking?
PROGRAMME
Introduction
Gisela Kallenbach, MEP
E-Polis - an initiative of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament - as a practical tool for networking of European NGOs through joint activities and the website www.e-polis.info with its communication forum and NGO database
E-Polis partners and ltheir local projects
- Krzysztof Slebioda - Pracownia Zrównowazonego Rozwoju, Torún (Poland)
- Peter Schwanewilms - Coordinació acció i reflexió, Valencia (Spain)
Networking experience from the ground
ICLEI as an important movement for bottom-up approach in local development, and the Green wiki project as an example for European-wide future actions on greening cities by the Baltic Greens Network.
- Andrea Philipp, ICLEI-Europe
- Beata Maciejejwska, Baltic Greens Network
Petitions Committee as a political tool for an active citizenship
MEP David Hammerstein and his advisor on legal affairs will present their work for strengthening the citizens' voice in political decision making and give examples of petitions on questionable urbanisation practice.
- David Hammerstein, MEP
- Sonia Ortiga, advisor on legal affairs to MEP David Hammerstein
Discussion and conclusion
Moderator:
Simone Reinhart - advisor on Regional Policy of the Greens/EFA group