Hi John!
We need to start this newsletter with the sad news that shocked us all: Our thoughts are with the people of Turkey and Syria following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that has hit their countries. The combined death toll nears 10,000, with thousands of buildings collapsed.
The EU and its member states are working together to send emergency teams for assistance. We hope that the affected populations will receive all necessary support and aid to face this crisis. And we welcome the quick decision to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to support Turkey and Syria.
We stand in solidarity with the people of Turkey and Syria!
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European Greens launch new podcast
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On October 16, 2017, Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered in a car bomb attack. Many of you will remember this tragic moment. Daphne Galizia’s case shows: The EU is not anymore the El Dorado for journalism.
In our new podcast, the European Greens Podcast, EGP Committee member Sibylle Steffan explores together with Daphne Caruana Galizia's son, Matthew, what led to his mother’s assassination, and how the EU tries to improve the situation for journalists with the European Media Freedom Act.
With our new podcast, we want to reach more people and share with them our vision of a greener and fairer Europe.
Once again, we need you to support us!
- Listen to our first episode in your favorite podcast app!
- Leave a positive review in your podcast app!
- Share the podcast with people who might be interested!
Spotify – Apple Podcasts – Podcast website
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Sibylle Steffan is the voice of the new European Greens Podcast
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The European Greens Podcast has launched this week. We interviewed our Committee member Sibylle Steffan who is the voice of our new podcast.
EU policies are oftentimes very complex and hard to understand. How can the European Greens Podcast make it easier for the listeners to understand these complex issues?
Admittedly, hundreds of pages of complicated legal texts need context to raise our interest. And we need the right medium to be able to give this background, offering not only information but also a way to connect to a story. I personally love podcasts as they manage to do exactly this: You listen, you feel and learn, while doing your laundry, while taking the bus.
What can we expect from the next episodes?
Our next episode will talk about the European Media Freedom Act for example. What sounds like yet another piece of EU legislation turns out to be very close to the ground: We managed to interview Matthew Caruana Galizia, the son of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the investigative journalists who was killed in Malta. His testimony of the state of Maltese journalism turns a set of rules to protect media pluralism and independence into a crucial game changer that could help defend our democracy. I hope you enjoy it and spread the word! ...
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News from the European Greens
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Migration
No EU cash for border walls
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We strongly oppose the EPP’s ideas for a wall around Europe. As Greens, we will always call out and fight against dehumanising migration policies. We call on EU institutions not to reinforce or finance the building of fences at EU borders and to work on a common EU Asylum System, where all the countries do their share. We need safe and legal migration routes instead of building walls and criminalising the refugees seeking safety & search and rescue NGOs helping them! If you also want a fair and humane approach to migration, political asylum, reception and integration, please share Tweet!
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Abortion rights
Mélanie Vogel: Successful fight for abortion rights in France
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Our co-chair and French Senator Mélanie Vogel fought to enshrine the right to abortion in the French Constitution in a bill that was voted yesterday in the French Senate. It will guarantee the protection the right to abortion in France! This is a historic victory. Now, all attempts to roll back on abortion rights will be declared as contrary to the Constitution. Let’s continue working to secure abortion rights everywhere in Europe!
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Climate change
European Greens condemn the criminalisation of activists
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We stand for the right to protest and oppose the alarming increasing criminalisation of climate activists! In the Netherlands, hundreds of activists were recently arrested following a blockade of A12 in The Hague to protest against the government's handling of fossil fuel subsidies. We condemn the excessive use of force by police and increased persecution and criminalisation of activists. The right to protest and peaceful assembly must be guaranteed across Europe. Please like our Instagram if you agree!
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Campaign Handbook
How to use social media monitoring in Green campaigns
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There is new content available in the Campaign Handbook: Lennart Krotzek, Digital Data Analyst and Marketing Strategist of the European Greens, explores why social media monitoring should belong in the toolbox of all Green parties, and how you can implement it very easily with the right tools.
To watch the video, log in or sign up for the Campaign Handbook.
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Member party visits
European Greens visit member parties in Hungary and Austria
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A delegation of the European Greens visited our Hungarian member party LMP last weekend. Thomas Waitz delivered a speech at LMP's congress on the importance of fighting for an alternative to our current dependence of fossil fuels exported by authoritarian regimes. Together with our Secretary General Benedetta de Marte and Committee member Małgorzata Tracz, he also met the Mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony.
After Budapest, Benedetta de Marte continued her visits of our member parties in Austria, where she met with Green minister Leonore Gewessler to discuss political priorities for the upcoming European Greens Congress taking place in Vienna in June.
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News from our member parties
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Scotland
UK government blocks Scottish Gender Reform Bill
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We are very concerned about the UK government’s block of the Scottish Gender Reform Bill. The European Green family stands by the Scottish Green Party in their efforts to bring this bill to life and to defend it.
This block on what could be a life-saving bill for trans people comes a few months after experts and helplines rang the alarm on the dangerous impact that rising anti-trans sentiments have on the mental health of trans people. The Greens have always fought for the rights of trans and non-binary people! Learn more about our commitment.
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Finland
Better rights for trans people in Finland
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The Finnish Parliament passed a new law giving the right to adult trans people to legally change their gender through a self-declaration process! And it finally ends the shameful rule that required transgender people to prove they were infertile or sterilised in order to have their gender identity recognised legally.
We are very proud of the work that our Finnish member party Vihreät put into making this law a reality! This was one of their demands when joining the Finnish government coalition in 2019. And they delivered it!
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News from partner organisations
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Global Greens Congress coming up in June
The Congress of the Global Greens 2023 is the first in-person event of the Global Greens in six years and will take place in Incheon, South Korea from 08 - 11 June.
Registration is now live! Click here to register!
If you are interested in running or have a suggestion for a session you can still offer your ideas by clicking here.
Likewise if you have a resolution to propose that you would like Congress 2023 to vote on, add it here.
This Congress is about more than sessions and resolutions (although there will be lots of interesting ones). It’s about coming together as one world following the pandemic, celebrating over 20 years of the Global Greens, connecting with friends from across the world and discussing ways to create a better today, and a fair future for all.
If you want to be part of all that then register today! Find out more about the event on the FAQs page.
Finally, if you are able to, please donate to our Congress fundraiser and help us get more people to Korea!
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Apply!
Do you want to work with the Federation of Young European Greens in Brussels? The call for Campaign and Events Assistant is now open! This is an incredible opportunity to be a crucial part of FYEG's work going into the European Elections and to work with amazing Young Greens from across Europe. Find out more and apply.
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European Greens © 2023
Funded by the European Parliament. Sole liability remains with the author.
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