Category: News from Oikosnet

Academy of Tutzing 15-17 September 2016
For three years now the German Protestant Academies have engaged together in a network project on the resonance of the reformation for present societies. The project focused on the economy (work life), culture and media. This project comes to an end in 2016 with a summarizing consultation in the Academy of Tutzing from 15-17 September 2016. Speakers include the Chairperson of the EKD Council, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, the Chaiperson of the German roman-catholic Bishops’ Conference, Kardinal Marx, Archbishop Tabo Makgoba as well as representatives from other religions and from politics and society. The Conference will provide simultaneous translation in German and English. Further information can be obtained soon from the website of the Academy of Tutzing (www.ev-akademie-tutzing.de) or from noll@evangelische-akademien.de.

 

Europe and especially the European Union are in turmoil more than ever before. Already some years ago the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, spoke about the biggest crisis of the Union in its history. And signs got worse.

The economic, financial or dept crisis in Europe (however one might want to call it) is far from being over. There might be fewer emergency meetings of the European Council than in the last years, but the austerity measures still lead to widening gap between rich and the poor within many societies and an unprecedented unemployment in many countries, especially effecting young people. And due to the austerity measures it is almost impossible for countries like Spain and Greece to move towards a sustainable economic growth.

The waves of refugees coming or wanting to come to Europe just shows how little Europe contributes with a coherent approach to the root causes of migration and how little there is of a Common European Foreign and Security Policy as well as of a coherent action plan in the area of a global and sustainable development. In the Arab-European Citizens’ Dialogue, which had its last meeting in March at the Orthodox Academy in Crete, our Arab partners indicted very clearly that they do expected more of a common European response and support for their situation. And in addition: the way, the refugee crisis is handled within Europe also shows that “solidarity” is not the guiding principle within the continent.

And then there is the possibility of a “Brexit”, of the United Kingdom leaving the EU. Whatever the result of the British referendum will be, it will change the European Union. The “ever closer Union” mentioned as one commitments of the EU Member States in the Preamble of the Lisbon Treaty is no longer a common aim. I am surprised to how easily certain circles have adjusted to a Europe of different speeds.

2016 an “annus horribilies” for the EU and, even more important, for the European project of peace, reconciliation, prosperity and justice? – No wonder that the trust of many people in the institutions like the EU and in European leaders is diminishing. Thus far, the EU has not been a row model for an inclusive decision-making, but now even more decisions are taken behind closed doors between member states, rather than strengthening the democratically legitimized institutions such as the European Parliament. The impact has shifted from the community institutions to the member states again, from transparency and participation to mere crisis management.

“What shall’s,” many people might say. The EU is not to be identified with the European integration project itself and wasn’t it that the European project grew and got new impulses through crisis situations? Yes, this was true. But do such mechanisms out of necessity contribute to a positive vision for the European project with which the people can identify themselves? And in addition, the accumulation of present challenges for the European project seems to also indicate that the “old” mechanisms do not work anymore. The European project itself is at stake. The self-interests of EU member states seem to win over and against a common vision and common interests. The management and administration of challenges wins over and against forward-looking solutions, based on the values of a common European home.

At this stage, I am reminded of a moment at the last Annual Conference of Oikosnet Europe in Corrymeela, when friends and experts from Northern Ireland explained their approach to the present state of affairs in what is or was known as the Northern Irish conflict or troubles. “We know exactly what the conflict is about. The stakeholders and their respective interests are clearly identified? We know what we ought to do. But still there is no sustainable solution to the conflict between the different communities in our country. Unless we manage to change the overall narrative towards a positive common vision, there will be no sustainable solution”, one of the speakers said.

Despite a considerable resistance against the discourse about a new narrative for the European project in some quarters, I still take it that the Northern Irish experience is also true for Europe. As long as there is no vision for the European project, it will remain difficult to overcome a selfish attitude of European states and a business-as-usual mentality. And a vision, people can identify with, must be a positive one. Being afraid of other emerging economic powers, such as the BRIC states, will not create positive energy. What the people are looking forward is a just, participatory and sustainable Europe in a global context (quoting the terminology of a former programme of the World Council of Churches). This is what needs to be translated into an inspiring narrative and real politics for the sake of the European project as well as for the sake of the European Union. To this the members of Oikosnet Europe have a contribution to make.

Rüdiger Noll, Executive Secretary of Oikosnet Europe

 

Oikosnet Europe is part of preparing a European Christian Convention (cf. previous newsletters). The next step in the process is a second consultation with about 100 stakeholders or interested organisations in Kappel near Zürich from 9-11 June 2016.
The Preparatory Team of the European Christian Convention is also issuing an occasional electronic Newsletter. Those who are interested in the meeting in Kappel or those who want to remain up-dated on developments via the Newsletter are invited to get in touch with the Secretariat: ak.hergert@bluewin.ch.

German Kirchentag 2017 starting shot for the Reformation Jubilee
The next German Kirchentag will be in Berlin from 24-28 May 2017. It will be the starting shot for the Reformation Jubilee, which will last until 31 October. The Academy in Wittenberg will be a part of the world exhibition and will be transformed in a sort of Café, presenting the academies in Germany. OE is invited to present itself in this setting. A good opportunity to bring forward our unique European network and maybe give some ideas for new partnerships. So if you got ideas, please contact the board. The OE activities will be organized in cooperation with Friedrich Kramer, director of the Wittenberg Academy. kramer@ev-akademie-wittenberg.de

 

 

The Oikosnet board met for two days in the wonderful city of Prague where our next Annual Conference will be held on invitation of the Ecumenical Academy of Prague. A huge amount of work was waiting for the six members of the board Jaap van der Sar, (President), Marielisa von Thadden (Vice-president), Nicola Murray, (Treasurer), Kostas Zorbas, Kirsten Beuth, Sören Lenz. They were assisted by Rüdiger Noll, our executive secretary and Hermann Düringer as meeting secretary. Jiri Silny from the Ecumenical Academy and Alf Linderman from the Sigtuna Foundation, where our secretariat is based, assisted the meetings temporarily.

The Annual Conference in Prague, 7-11 Sept 2016 “Transition or Mission Impossible”
Jiri Silny, director of the Ecumenical Academy Prague, presented the plans for the study day and the excursions which are planned for the AC of Oikosnet. After the fall of the Berlin wall and the disappearing of a communist state system the transition in the former Eastern bloc states has not only produced winners. How did the transformation to a neoliberal economical system happen and what is the outcome? What are the social constraints and what about social cohesion? Are there political consequences?

These are the questions we want to discuss during the study day which is always a central element of the annual meeting of OE. Furthermore, excursions are intended like meeting with a Roma social work project, a visit in the glass industry and an alternative city tour.

Gender and Justice Network. Preconference in Prague, 5-7 September 2017
“Escape, Migration, Gender”

Like it is already a tradition the Gender and Justice Network will hold its preconference focalizing on Gender and Justice in the field of migration and refugees. Renowned experts like Vigdis Vevstad from Norway or Ulrich Körtner (to be confirmed) will contribute as keynote speakers on the political and ethical problematic of the refugee crisis. The meeting will pay a special attention on discussion and exchange with a final Pool of ideas to share experiences and ideas for projects with refugees.

The legal entity of OE – From Germany to Sweden
The upcoming AC in Prague has to discuss and to prepare the transition of OE from a German legal entity to Swedish legal entity at full length which includes as well a modification of our constitution in adapted to Swedish law. According to the decision in Corrymeela the board has prepared the following steps:

• Founding of a new association OE under Swedish Law, with a secretariat at the Sigtuna Foundation
• Dissolution of the association under German law

The whole process of founding the new OE and the dissolution of the German association will be explained in detail and the modified constitution according to Swedish law send out to the members before the meeting in Prague. The board invite all members to send us their commentaries and suggestions before the meeting in Prague which will help us to have a constructive debate at the AC.

Our new treasurer Nicola Murray from Corrymeela
The the responsibility for financial operations were handed over to the secretariat in Sigtuna and to our new treasurer, Nicola Murray. The Board thanked Jaap for the accurate and careful job he did the last years.

 

By Sören Lenz, Liebfrauenberg

14 -16^th November 2016 in Altenkirchen/Germany

Being young in the countryside is different from being young in the city: There is more space and more freedom yet at the same times fewer opportunities and fewer people of the same age. Due to demographic change and the growing attractiveness of big cities, the number of young people is likely to further decrease in the decades to come. These problems can be seen in different regions across Europe. Shouldn´t there be common European ideas and solutions? Therefore the Protestant Academies in Neudietendorf (Thuringia) and Altenkirchen (Rheinland)  invite adolescents and youth workers from all over Europe to talk about how life in the periphery can be changed for the better: young, creative and European! We would like to invite partners from the OIKOSNET Europe who are interested to cooperate in this project to get into contact. The conference will be held from Nov. 14-16, 2016. The working language is English.

Place of event:
Evangelische Landjugendakademie in Altenkirchen in cooperation with Evangelische Akademie Thüringen Dieperzbergweg 13-17 D-57610 Altenkirchen

Contact persons:
Annika Schreiter
Evangelische Akademie Thüringen
Studienleiterin Referat gesellschaftspolitische Jugendbildung
Zinzendorfplatz 3
99192 Neudietendorf
Tel.: 036202 / 984-12
email: schreiter@ev-akademie-thueringen.de

Philipp Schlicht
Referent für jugendpolitische Bildung Evangelische Landjugendakademie Altenkirchen
Dieperzbergweg 13-17
D-57610 Altenkirchen
Tel.: +49 2681 9516 27
email schlicht@lja.de

 

 

The Sigtuna Foundation, 20-22 May 2016
We would like to remind you all about our previous invitation to this conference at the Sigtuna Foundation in May 2016.

Together with the Norwegian Areopagos Foundation and the Tao Fong Shan Foundation in Hong Kong, the Sigtuna Foundation is organizing this conference in Sigtuna in May this year. The idea is to use the so-called Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong, a social protest movement in the Fall of 2014 that was widely covered in European media, as a lens to understand the Chinese situation and to explore further several more general questions.

Among other speakers, we are proud to present Agnes Chow, a well-known young student leader and activist in the democracy movement in Hong Kong, as one of our key note speakers.

We still have some spaces available for participants from member organizations in Oikosnet Europe for which the Sigtuna Foundation will cover all costs for food and accommodation here in Sigtuna. Participants will only have to cover their own travel expenses.

The program will be as follows (see also the separate special presentation of Saturday’s program).

If you are interested to take part in the confernce please get in touch with Lovisa.Degreefbeselin@sigtunastiftelsen.se

Friday afternoon, May 20,
14:00-14:15   Welcome and introduction (Alf Linderman, Tong Wing-sze and Raag Rolfsen)

14:15-14:45   Key note lecture: The late modern situation – the fall of ideologies and the challenges of ideal and faith based organizations/foundations (Raag Rolfsen)

14:45-15:00   Turning chairs to your neighbours’ groups, discussing these challenges

15.00-15.15   Coffee and refreshments

15:15-15:30   Tao Fong Shan (– title to be decided) (Tong Wing-sze)

15:30-15:45   Areopagos – Do What You Hear! Building Commitment in the 21st Century (Stian Aarebrot)

15.45-16.00   The Sigtuna Foundation – the founding idea and the challenges we face in the contemporary, late modern society (Alf Linderman)

16.00-16.15   Oikosnet Europe – an old network facing new times and new challenges (Rüdiger Noll or Jaap van der Sar)

16.15-17.00   Discussion in smaller groups

17.00-17.30   Concluding panel

18.30-            Dinner and social evening

Saturday May 21 – Public Program Day
09.30-10.00   Coffee and refreshments

10.00-10.05   Welcome (Alf Linderman)

10.05-10.15   Introduction of the Theme (Raag Rolfsen & Tong Wing-sze)

10.15-11.00   Keynote Speech: Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement and Beyond (Agnes Chow)

11.00-11.45   Questions and discussion

12:00-14.00   Lunch

14.00-15.30   Panel 1:  Global China Connection: A Perspective from Hong Kong–China conflict (Agnes Chow, Isaac Wong, Fredrik Fällman)

15.30-16.00   Coffee and refreshments

16.00-17.30   Panel 2:  Occupy Everywhere:  Social Media and Public Space (Agnes Chow, Isaac Wong, Alf Linderman)

18.00-19.45   Dinner

20.00-21.30   Concert: Not talkin’ bout a Protest: Music and Spirituality (Mattias Thurfjell, Isaac Wong)

Sunday May 22
11.00             Service in Mariakyrkan – sermon by Anette Ejsing

13.00             Lunch and then departure of international guests

 

 

 

 

 

Following the 2015 Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights  dedicated to “Tolerance and respect: preventing and combating antisemitic and anti-Muslim hatred in Europe“, the European Commission has published a call for proposals under the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme.  The Commission will award €5.4 million to projects on: training and capacity building to strengthen criminal responses to hate crime and hate speech; exchanging best practices to prevent and combat all forms of intolerance; empowering and supporting victims of hate crime and hate speech. As a result of last year’s  call for proposals, financial support has been awarded to a number of projects including “Research, Report, Remove” and “eMORE”, which both focus on monitoring, mapping and the removal of online hate speech. More detail on the call for proposals can be found here. The deadline for submitting proposals is 18 February 2016.

 

 

 

 

Annual Conference 2016
This is the working title for the Oikosnet Europe Annual Conference 2016, which is scheduled to take place in Prague, 7 to 11 September 2016 upon invitation of the Ecumenical Academy Prague and its Director Jiri Silny. As usual, the Annual Conference will be preceded by a meeting of the Gender and Justice Network and the Oikosnet Board.

If you are interested in attending, please note these dates in your agenda. The official invitation will be issued to Oikosnet members by letter as well as through this newsletter in the first half of 2016. Please also consult the Oikosnet website.

Under the title of the conference, the Ecumenical Academy in Prague will provide introductions, discussions, encounters and an excursion in order to shed light on how economic developments hit people in the Czech Republic after the revolutionary changes in 1989 and on how the Czech Civil Society, including the Ecumenical Academy, addressed the subsequent challenges. To which extend did the visions of those who were actively engaged in the Velvet Revolution become true? Did the transition process actually ever end? What are the challenges of today? Does the Czech experience resonate with the experiences in other European countries? What conclusion can be drawn for the European Ecumenical Laity and Academy Movement?

Besides addressing the main theme of the Annual Conference, the meeting will also have to review the work of OE during the past year as well as to take decisions on common projects/activities. The Prague meeting will finally decide on the future legal framework for Oikosnet Europe