The PresidioEuropa No TAV Committee has been committed to building international relationships and creating channels for debate with other struggles in Europe and beyond for a long time. After the Charter of Hendaye (2010), it organized the 1st Forum against Unnecessary Imposed Mega Projects in 2011 in Susa Valley, Italy. Since then, the Forum has become an international platform for reflection, the exchange of experiences and the development of ideas. Other meetings of the Forum have taken place in Notre-Dame-des-Landes, France (2012) and in Stuttgart, Germany (2013). The 4th edition will take place soon in Roșia Montană, Romania (8-11 May 2014).
In the meantime, PresidioEuropa No TAV, within the Forum and together with other associations, has made an effort to talk to many Members of the European Parliament of all political and geographical stripes and, on certain occasions, required the European Commission, OLAF and the Committee on Petitions to respond to calls and questions from movements in struggle.
In less than three months, EU citizens will vote to renew the European Parliament and everyone will choose according to his/her conscience and convictions.
PresidioEuropa No TAV is also pro-active for this occasion, but obviously does not adhere to any party.
In this sense, we intend to spread these brief “Instructions for the European Elections” that contain three simple tips for Voters to choose their candidates and three directives for Candidates on how to carry out the role granted to them by citizens.
We hope that associations and movements in struggles join and spread this Appeal.
Happy voting!
2014 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS : INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
on 25 May 2014 let us send a message with our vote
WE CAN AND MUST CHANGE EUROPE
building our struggle from below
Let us choose the Europe of citizens which prioritizes well being, freedom, solidarity, justice and democracy and not finance, the markets and competition …
Millions of people are carrying the ever-growing burden of a devastating economic and social crisis that has been crossing and defacing all of Europe for many years, and has been shaping the destiny of its citizens.
WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRISIS
The unemployment rate is increasing, work is becoming more and more unstable and underpaid, health is being privatised, poverty is growing and hunger is back after having been eradicated in Europe years ago.
We condemn Crimes against Humanity, which have caused immeasurable losses to tens of millions of people and destroyed entire ecosystems. These crimes are committed by our rulers who are slaves of the laissez-faire ideology of the free market and unhindered competition, by financial institutions and bankers obsessed with global hegemony and by entrepreneurs compulsively seeking to gain the most profit at any cost.
We ask that an International Court identify and convict the perpetrators of these crimes.
Our Movements have been fighting for decades against Unnecessary and Imposed Mega Projects (UIMP).
We are well aware that Mega Projects represent a new means to plunder and colonise from within. These projects always keep the persons affected outside of the decision-making process.
Our experience resisting has rendered our Movements leaders in social and economic changes.
WE SAY NO TO THE ATTEMPT TO CRIMINALISE DISSENT
WE SAY NO TO THE MILITARISATION OF COMMUNITIES THAT RESIST
UIMPs produce ecological, socio-economic and human disasters; they cause the destruction of natural areas and farmlands, of artistic and cultural treasures; they contribute to producing noxious and degenerative effects and environmental pollution with grave consequences for inhabitants.
The realization of these useless projects are always at the expense of public coffers, that is of citizens, of all of us. These initiatives generate enormous debt, they do not create employment, they concentrate wealth in the hands of the ruling elite, they impoverish society, they permit global predators to tighten their control of the world and they cause irreversible damage to ecosystems.
The same indirect colonization methods that have been employed in the poorest Countries, caused rising debt loads, are now being employed in our Countries too.
At a great cost, we have realized that another Europe is necessary, because this Europe is not guaranteeing well being, freedom, solidarity, justice and democracy.
OUR STRUGGLES KEEP DEMOCRACY ALIVE
BECAUSE DEMOCRACY CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT CONFLICT
On 25 May 2014 we are being called upon to elect our representatives in the European Parliament.
TO VOTING CITIZENS WE SAY:
- let us cast our vote for the candidates that believe in the need to “repair the world” and that commit to doing politics with us, not against us,
- let us regularly monitor their conduct: because if resisting is arduous, delegating can be riskier,
- let us all engage in building a grass roots Europe through our struggles.
TO CANDIDATES WE SAY:
- Do not stay silent, express yourself regarding this appeal,
- Do not be part of the Institutions in order to get rich and powerful,
- Let us build a new Europe of well being, freedom, solidarity, justice and democracy together.
