2005, February 11-16.
In February 'Protect the Future' (Hungary) is organising two international conferences (Feb. 11-13 : Public Services, Globalisation and Sustainability; Feb. 13-16 : Seattle To Brussels Network
Conference) in which we would like to ensure there is a significant participation from organisations from Central and Eastern Europe concerned about;
- the privitisation of Public Services, GATS and/or the EU's 'Bolkenstein Directive',
- agricultural 'reform' in the guise of inequitable and unsustainable EU and global agricultural trade agreements
- GMOs
- sweatshop production
- international trade injustices perpetrated through the WTO
- Fair Trade and other consumer issues such as eco-labelling, access to information, product boycotts, etc.
The two events are as follows:
FEB. 11-13 : PUBLIC SERVICES, GLOBALISATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
CONFERENCE:
Across CEE vital public services are being privatized: Why? By whom? For whom?
If you have asked yourself these questions then you are in good
company: the same question is being asked by citizens' groups across the globe.
Protect the Future is looking for answers and invites you to a 3 day learning experience with experienced campaigners, experts and engaged organizations from all over Europe.
If the governments aren't listening, then we have to work together to make them!
Public Services are too precious - join the debate on their future
Public Services, Globalisation and Sustainability
In an Enlarged Europe
Conference, February 11-13, 2005, Budapest
In co-operation with other environmental and social issue focused organizations, Védegylet - Protect the Future! Society - is organizing an international conference on the future of public services and sustainability.
The conference serves the idea of bringing together actual and potential campaigners from East and West. Our aim is to provide an opportunity to learn more about the ongoing liberalization and privatization of public services and the role that the WTO and the EU play in this process, to promote a debate around the issue and to discuss campaigning opportunities.
The conference will take place in Budapest, February 11-13 2005. We invite activist from Central and Eastern Europe. We are looking for participants who are involved in related debates or who realized the need to join this European wide campaign.
Some limited funds are available for travel costs reimbursement and accommodation.
You can download the draft programme of the conference and the registration form and further background materials at: www.vedegylet.hu/conferences. For registration and further information please contact Bálint Hamvas (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
FEB. 13-16 : SEATTLE TO BRUSSELS NETWORK CONFERENCE:
Due to resilient opposition from farmers, women's, workers', peasant and environmental organisations, the WTO Cancun Summit ended without agreement on how the 'Doha Round' of trade negotiations should progress. Since then organisations across Europe have been looking towards the next ministerial summit in Hong Kong, December 2005: How can we continue to oppose the EU's corporate-led trade agenda? What is our strategy for Hong Kong? What do the EU and WTO directives and agreements mean for agricultural sustainability, trade equity and the future of public services? Protect the Future would like to facilitate a stronger cooperation on trade justice issues in the region, and to this end joined the Seattle to Brussels Network: by hosting this meeting of the S2B Network we hope to extend the network to the CEE region and allow organisations to share experience and strengthen each others campaigns. (for more on S2B see www.s2bnetwork.org / For background reading see http://www.s2bnetwork.org/statements_publications.htm )
The two conferences complement each other very well and we would urge potential participants to consider taking part in both. The first will give a thorough insight into the questions of commodification and public control of public services, primarily within the region and at EU level. The second will place these questions within a wider context of global trade agreements and their interlinkages as global power blocks play one 'deal' off against the other, to the benefit of elites and corporations. Both will encourage involvement in international campaigns to strengthen and achieve public participation, accountability, sustainability and social justice. Both conferences will use English as their working language.
You can find the program and the registration form
of the Public Services, Globalisation and Sustainability Conference and of the Seattle to Brussels Network Conference at www.vedegylet.hu/conferences.
For more information on
the Public Services, Globalisation and Sustainability Conference, please contact Balint Hamvas This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For more information on the on the
Seattle to Brussels Network Conference,
please contact Tracey Wheatley
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Scheiring Gábor
Programvezető
/Program Coordinator/
mob.:+36 20 805 49 65
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Védegylet
/Protect the Future/
H-1051, Budapest
Nádor utca 32.
Tel/Fax.: +36 1 269 42 51
