Be a Part of the Whole!

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Cím:	Be a Part of the Whole!
Szerző:	Máté Varga
Ország:	Magyarország
A kiadás helye:
A kiadás éve:	2007
Kiadó:
Terjedelem:
Nyelv:
Tárgyszavak:
Állomány:	Állampolgári Részvétel Hete
Forditas:
Megjegyzés:
Annotáció:
Leltár:
Raktári jelzet:	E

Be a Part of the Whole!
Campaign for Citizenship and Democracy
Citizen Participation Week 2007

The Honorary Patron for the event was Mrs. Kinga Göncz, Minister of Foreign Affairs

International organizer and co-ordinator: Central and Eastern European Citizens Network (www.ceecn.net)
Main organizers in Hungary:
Civil College Foundation
Hungarian Institute for Culture
Association for Developing Community Involvement
Vocational Network for Supporting Community Initiatives
Hungarian Institute for Culture and Art

Between 24th and 30th September hundreds of civil organizations ran a campaign for raising awareness on citizen participation and local action at 205 local, small regional and regional events.

Similarly to previous years, the programme was following two main threads: a national random sample survey, and local and national events.

Survey:
In contrast to previous years, this time the questionnaire was completed with inquiries on both the European dimension of participation and identity and the attitude of citizens towards community enterprising and co-operative action.
(www.arh.kozossegfejlesztes.hu) .
The survey was conducted in Slovakia and Hungary in a parallel way, and around 5000 questionnaires are expected to be returned from the two countries.

Opening Event (24th September).
The opening event of the Citizen Participation Week was held on 24th September on Nyugati Square, downtown Budapest. With the involvement of volunteers and passersby, a labyrinth made of styrofoam was built in a collective manner. The idea behind the labyrinth was: “Look for ways to participate, and write a message on the wall for the politicians of the future!” Other spectacular elements displayed on the square were also serving the cause of putting people in the mood for building in a collective way.
(www.magyarhirlap.hu, www.nepszava.hu stb.)

Closing Event (29th-30th September)
We have hosted the members of our network, the organizers of the Citizen Participation Week, and 10 Slovakian activists at a closing event held in Kunbábony, where the experiences from the Week were shared, and lectures were given on practical actions, citizen participation, and civic initiatives.

Szekszárd, 28th September: ‘Free Opinion at a Free Place’
“The programme started at 2 pm with the Human Oratory and a speech by the deputy mayor. With the involvement of artistic groups from local civil organizations, it went on until 6 pm, with loud music played in the breaks. As a final accord to the event, doves of peace were set free, while the finale of a famous Hungarian musical was sang together with those present on the square. In the meantime, a total number of around 100 questionnaires were filled out, and 3 giant message boards were filled with a total of 180 messages” (for further info and pictures on the event please visit www.arh.blogol.hu and www.tolnainepujsag.hu ).

Nyíregyháza, 27th September
“The meeting was organized for those who disagree with the grandiose and extraneous construction projects similar to the one taking place on Jókai Square, and for those who are directly and negatively affected by the latter project.).

Despite the heavy rainfall, the members of our group went to the site in Wellington boots and overalls, and engaged in some really spectacular action. Since the building under construction lacks in windows almost completely, the group started to carry light into the building in the form of torches put into sacks. With the light carried in sacks, we meant to symbolize the fact that constructing a building in such a way is just as foolish as to think that light can be carried in sacks.” (for the complete text, see www.arh.blogol.hu or www.szon.hu)

Pécs, 24th September
A decades’ old tradition was revived in the Mecsek Mountains in the South of Hungary, when civil organizations lit guard fires on the Zengő, Hármas, Misina, Tubes and Jakab hills. Through this action they wanted to raise awareness about the dangers threatening the hills and the power of joining forces.
(www.pecsinapilap.hu )

Budapest, 28th September

The Freedom on Information Day is held on 28th of September in around 40 countries around the world.

In 2007, the event was organized by the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union for the first time in Hungary, in the framework of the Citizen Participation Week. On this occasion, the TÁP Theatre has presented a street performance on how the Hungarian political elite are feathering their own nests. (

www.index.hu

)

Similarly to previous years, the Citizen Participation Week discussed issues that were about people and their communities, and not about the constantly and artificially generated usual political and media themes. Local and small regional issues, problems and alternatives were put on the agenda, while the notions of participation and democracy, and the opportunities for active citizenship, involvement and local action were also discussed, with an emphasis on good Hungarian practices.

Photos: www.arh.blogol.hu
The results of the survey, further reports, and the entire media coverage will soon be published on www.arh.kozossegfejlesztes.hu

This report written by: Máté Varga, Civil College Foundation

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