People in Need’s Post

A few nights ago the Northern Lights were rumoured to be visible from my neighbourhood. Where I live is currently a construction zone with only two occupied buildings in our block. At night it's devoid of people, bar the occasional dog walker. So, in search of the revontulet (foxfire in Finnish), I set off through empty streets at about 23.00 (11pm). Even when I realised that it was not my night to see the Northern Lights, I kept walking. The air was clear, the building's quiet. It was safe, well lit and there's a responsive police force at the other side of 112. So I kept on walking. I count myself incredibly lucky to live in a country that I - a black woman - can walk around in at night unaccompanied and not be particularly fussed. Of course it is not 100% safe, nowhere on this planet is completely safe. But here I can take night buses without having to sit behind the driver, I can go out at night for a few drinks and not be harassed or attacked. Though Helsinki is a major city, our children walk home or take public transport without worry. I feel too many people are enjoying maligning Finland at this time. While some people have had a very different experience, I can say in nine years I have not had to worry about my or my child's safety. Here when a horrific crime happens it's an anomaly, a rare occurrence, that shakes us to the core such as the school shooting this year. Finland has its issues, but I'm not sure what it is that so many people is trying to achieve by claiming there are racists at every corner or that immigrants are fleeing it in droves. Yes there is racism, and the job market is hard - but I don't know of any country with streets paved with gold - especially not if you're a black female, gender diverse, or lack a tertiary education. Finland has a huge number of successful and satisfied immigrants. Many have made it against incredible odds, coming from low-income or refugee backgrounds without the luxury of European, British or American certifications or Finnish spouses. I believe it does them a great disservice to constantly bleat about what's impossible to achieve in this country. #finland #suomi #workinfinland

The latest #MobLabDispatch is out! We cover strategies to build Leftist power and alliances, inspired by France's New Popular Front coalition, share our favorite campaigns and articles, and have even started a new #MobLabMember corner, to share work that Collective Members have been working hard on. "What the New Popular Front has achieved in such a short amount of time is remarkable, and they will certainly have political challenges ahead, not even having fully secured majority representation in Parliament yet and having extremely divergent thinking within its four political parties. But what they have tried to do is what many progressive organizations and leftist political parties have failed to achieve: inspire hope, unite the left, and propose concrete plans and policies that address the real economic concerns of ordinary people. Their message is one of a multiracial democracy that stands firmly against fascists and together with migrants. Their vision is of an economy that works for the people, while at the same time preserving the planet. And they have managed to sway the center. That is the leftist alliance and vision that we can all work towards - campaigners, teachers, students, politicians, public sector workers, shopkeepers, and more. Build a bold Left movement that offers an alternative of inclusion and hope. That is how you defeat the far right, and this is our key challenge right now in the 21st century." https://shorturl.at/TNNky

🌟 Shape Democracy – Please Vote on June 9th! 🌟 The future of Europe is in our hands, in your hands! And with it, your future, the future of your children, and the future of your country! Use this wonderful gift of our democracy: your right to vote. How many people in non-democratic countries fight for this right at the risk of their lives? Our democracy is one of our greatest achievements, but it faces new challenges. Populists and radical groups exploit people's discontent to spread fear. Voting for them out of protest or not voting at all plays right into the hands of these often very anti-democratic groups. Let's stand together against populism, hate and destructive forces in our society. No European country can stand alone in this globalized world. Only together, as a strong European union, will we be successful. We need to develop our democracy further to meet the challenges of our complex world. Each of us may, can and must actively take responsibility and shape the society we want. Our political system may need an update – we need politics that are faster, bolder and more creative. But this means we all have to work on it. Let's build the society we want to live in together. Let's create the society we desire – for us and our children. We need to be inspired 😍 We need ideas on how our democracy can meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world. We need visions of a society and a world where we and our children can live in joy and peace. And we need a lot of optimism, confidence, and hope. We owe it to life: keep the sparkle in your eyes! Be optimistic and fight for the society you want for your children! Go vote! Use your voice and shape the future of Europe. Because only together can we bring about the changes that will lead to a shining Europe and perhaps a more peaceful world. Inspire your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues to vote as well. #EuropeanElection2024 #Democracy #ShapeEurope #VisionForEurope #GoVote

A common trope is some complain don't mix business (specifically LinkedIn) with politics. Personally, I think that is totally non-sensical since political decisions often have huge impacts on businesses. #Brexit is the latest example of UK self-harm politics which is literally destroying businesses and growth. #Brexit is particularly painful for Scotland since the Scottish people voted massively against, but it was inflicted on the Scottish Nation with impunity. Rubbing salt into the wound we witness Ireland booming and massively outpacing the UK. Scotland is very comparable with Ireland in terms of population, education and agility. The two biggest differences between Ireland and Scotland are Scotland has vastly more resources than Ireland but Scotland lacks being an Independent Nation like Ireland and is unable to harness those resources for the Scottish people and of course is lumbered by inane policies like #Brexit. https://lnkd.in/gSe5d87E Some will say Scotland can't do what Ireland is doing, but there is absolutely no reason why we can't and in fact even exceed their growth. Similarly, comparing Scotland with other similar sized small Nations the potential is clear and Scotland just needs to seize it. There is a beautiful and inspiring film by Lesley Riddoch which showcases how similarly sized Denmark is leveraging their Independence for the benefit of their people), and yes before #Brexit Gammons jump in, a Nation can be in the EU and be Independent. https://lnkd.in/gJHt_Kf3 In Scotland's allegedly voluntary Union we have the latest Scottish Independence Poll at 53% in favour, yet we are told we can't exercise our sovereign right to exit. https://lnkd.in/gv5vGvuK Some Scots are so ill educated they don't even realize they are a Sovereign people with the right alone to determine Scotland's future. A great read here for those who want to educate themselves. https://salvo.scot/ David Hood

The Advisory Role of Citizens’ Assemblies in Germany and Poland In a new #publication we examine how citizens contribute to contemporary policy advice through citizens' assemblies – a form of public #participation that has become increasingly popular in Germany and Poland in recent years. Citizens are rarely involved in traditional forms of policy advice. But this is beginning to change and one could almost speak of a “participatory turn”, underpinned by the emergence of forms of policy and social consultation that afford citizens a more active role. Whether political decision-makers harness the full potential of citizens’ expertise depends to a large degree on how assemblies are initiated and conducted. In a contribution to a new anthology, my colleague Daniel Oppold and I analyze citizens' assemblies from this perspective and consider whether they can be considered an independent form of public consultation to advise #policymakers. A closer look at some #citizens' assemblies previously held in #Germany and #Poland shows that this format is well-suited to enhance and expand the contemporary policy advice landscape. Specifically, citizens’ assemblies can create spaces in which the views of citizens selected by lottery take centre-stage alongside the collaborative development of policy #recommendations. These spaces of discourse and their outputs enable policymakers – and #society at large – to tap into citizens' experiential knowledge and thus differ considerably from other forms of public consultation. Read more in the #Blogpost of Dorota Stasiak: https://lnkd.in/dvQa2y7T

Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week (NRW): a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. This year's theme, 'Now More Than Ever', is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue. Now more than ever, the work continues. In treaty making, in truth-telling, in understanding our history, in education, and in tackling racism. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change. Now more than ever, we need reconciliation. To help mark this year's NRW, ACON has released a statement announcing the beginning of its First Nations Listening and Truth Telling Project as a pathway forward, towards reconciliation, following the outcome of the referendum on a Voice to parliament for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Read our statement here:

This article demonizes the right. Just as the right turns on immigrants, the left turns on the right as their “others.” Open borders are increasingly rejected by every democracy. In NYC I witnessed anti migrant demonstrations by homeless people who wonder why immigrants get better services than they do. Open borders are a bad hill for the left to die on. prioritizing carbon over people has proven to be a losing issue for the left. Billions spent with no impact on either carbon or on the life of the average person. The left needs to be less scared of the right and more confident that it can offer people a future that keeps them from shifting right. Jobs, education, healthcare, housing are all traditionally left issues. Where are their successes? People turn to the right when they are scared. Scared for their jobs. Scared for their security. Scared for their future. The left needs to offer a better alternative than being pro-windmill and anti-right. Cohen says the right has forgotten the lessons of history. As he demonstrates in this article, that is equally true for the left. #election2024 #politics Roger Cohen The New York Times

The future of our country can be bright if it is co-created. Not just by you and me, but by all Australians. https://lnkd.in/gj9-_Q8m

Théo Giubilei: how much impact can EU #citizen have? "As #EU Citizens we have the power to help EU institutions to improve #mentalwellbeing. But only together". Graduated in #European #politics and #publicaffairs in Strasbourg, Théo Giubilei started working in Brussels on #environmental and #transport policies. After discovering the European Citizens’ Initiative #democratic tool, and the potential benefits of #psychedelic compounds for mental health, he decided to bring citizens together to make a #positivechange on mental health. In less than two years, Eumans activists and people from more than 15 countries have joined #psychedelicare, giving some of their time in preparing the launch of the one-year long #paneuropean campaign. Find out more about the campaign at this link: https://lnkd.in/e8hkMZ9X This initiative is a bright example of what Eumans stands for in terms of contents and methods. This is why Théo will bring his invaluable contribution to our congress on July 17, at TBD. Register at the following link to attend the congress and learn more about Psychedelicare: https://lnkd.in/dmukvFZ6 #EumansCongress2024 #MentalHealth #EUcitizens #Psychedelics #Psychedelicare #CitizenInitiative

Future Dialogue Meeting: Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders 💥 I was privileged to be invited as one of the experts to participate in yesterday's Future Dialogue cross-sectoral meeting organized by Allianz Foundation and New Community Foundation | Fundacja Nowej Wspólnoty. This event aimed to foster an open dialogue between young civil society actors, experts, and political decision-makers, exploring the future of Poland. 🎯 The timing couldn't have been better for candid conversations, as newly appointed decision-makers and civil society representatives exchanged ideas on steering Poland back on a democratic course post-2023 elections. 💬 I was very glad to share my expertise during our discussions, which covered four critical topics: democratic institutions, education, social justice, and climate change. It was particularly fascinating that in the dialogue on social justice our focus was on civic disobedience as a catalyst for change when traditional methods fall short. ❓ How can we harness civic power without resorting to violence? How do we make non-formal education more inclusive and engaging for young adults? 🥁 Let's continue this important conversation together! #FutureLeaders #NGOs #Activism #YouthEngagement #HumanityInAction #CivicSociety #Poland #SocialJustice #ClimateChange #DEI #allianzfdn #New Community Foundation | Fundacja Nowej Wspólnoty