Final statement of the ECPYN Winter School ‘Morality and Politics. The principles of Christian democracy’
Having gathered in Lviv, Ukraine, from January 7 till 14, to discuss the relation between morality and politics from a Christian democratic perspective, the European Christian Political Youth Network (ECPYN) would like to reassert the importance of moral values in politics and the responsibility of political leaders to lead by example.
The winter school provided many insights in the current state of political and societal moral standards, both in Europe in general and specifically in Ukraine and other European countries. The lectures and discussions provided some profound understandings of the desired relation between morality and politics and how improvements in this respect could be achieved.
It can be concluded that the moral standards of politicians are a reflection of the moral standards of society. In order to improve the moral standards in politics, the moral standards in all of society should hence be improved. What is needed are political, societal, economic and religious leaders, who will lead by example and will work to spread respect for moral standards and thus create a general climate in which morality can thrive. In this cultural climate both the church and individual Christians and all other people of good will, have a responsibility to bear witness of their own moral standards in word and deed.
Those in political office have a special responsibility to conform their political activity and their political decisions to the moral standards to which society would adhere and thus establish a morally sound political and social order. It is merely the essence of a democratic system that the moral standards of the people should be made to bear on and be reflected in the policies of the government. In order for politicians to be able to credibly enact moral policies, they should themselves be persons of impeccable moral conduct and integrity, both in political as in societal and private life.
The winter school was addressed by such eminent speakers as Volodymyr Stretovych MP of the Christian Democratic Union of Ukraine, His Grace Venedict (Aleksiychuk), bishop of the Lviv Cheparchy of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, Mykola Tomenko, vice speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, father Borys Gudziyak, rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) of Lviv, Victor Zhukovsky, editor-in-chief of the magazine ‘Christian and the world’ and professor at the UCU, Catalin Avramescu, professor at the University of Bucharest and adviser to the Romanian president, Vitaliy Shabunin, chairman of the Foundation of Regional Organisation, and many others.
ECPYN will continue to promote the integration of moral values into politics from its Christian democratic perspective and is willing and ready to work with all who would like to strive towards the same goal, be it on the European or on the national or local level.
Showing posts with label Conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conference. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, December 20, 2010
Christian Democracy in Europe: realities and perspectives
Saturday, November 27th I was invited by Youth of the Christian Democratic Party from France
The participants agreed that one of the most serious challenges of the future invite us all to reflect and cooperate, to commit both at national and European level, and to reevaluate the role of Christianity and in the same that the Christian Democratic ideas must further play an essential role.
I was really impressed by Youth of the Christian Democratic Party and the subject of our debate - Christian Democracy in
First of all, in our days, we talk about the economic and financial crisis. Secondly, the identity, social and political crisis. In all these crises, there is a spiritual and moral dimension. The changes we must make in our behavior, must be an answer to this profound crisis of values that is the cause of everything.
In this crisis we must mobilize all our forces and resources not only political but also moral and spiritual and to become a driving force of European construction and to promote responsability, social justice, respect for life, the central role of the family, solidarity, social market economy and civil society. And all these problems remain a major priority that guides our actions.
European politics deserves a new face, a revival based on democratic values. First of all, European politics means the responsible freedom, justice, solidarity, authentic Christian values. It is
And one of the fathers of the European Community, Robert Schuman, not only one of the greatest politicians ever known in "Democracy owes its existence to Christianity. It was born the day man was called to realize in his daily commitment the dignity of the human person in his individual freedom, in the respect of the rights of everyone, and in the practice of brotherly love towards all. Never, before Christ, had similar concepts been formulated."
Thus democracy is linked to Christianity, ideologically and chronologically at the same time.
Christian values are universal and unifying values, and the message of the Christian Democrats do not want to be merely conservative, but one which is based on moral progress. Human dignity must be preserved. If we could continue this vision, than life in
In the same time it’s really important to improve active participation, exchange best practices and promote mutual contacts between political youth organizations what can assume an important role to promote at national political level the Christian democratic ideas and to influence on internal political changes, if we discuss about young politicians.
This is the main goal of ECPYN, to create a young soul for the future of
Together we can build Europe stronger, more efficient and better able to promote its values, its principles and defend his vision in
Friday, November 13, 2009
1. Landesparteitag der AUF in Sachsen: Bericht
Auf den Tag genau ein Jahr nach Gründung des Landesverbands Sachsen fand am 31. Oktober 2009 in Dresden der erste ordentliche Landesparteitag der AUF-Sachsen statt. Im Mittelpunkt standen dabei die Beiträge der drei Gastredner Winfried Amelung, Dieter Burr und Maik Förster.
Bei strahlend schönem Wetter trafen sich die AUF-Mitglieder in den Räumen der Jesusgemeinde in Dresden.
Es waren neben den Mitgliedern unseres Landesverbandes auch der Bundesschatzmeister Dieter Burr mit seiner Frau Elisabeth, Winfried Amelung, Pfr.i.R., Maik Förster, Abgeordneter im Kreistag Bautzen, Jonathan van Tongeren, ECPYN, als Gäste gekommen.
Nach der Eröffnung trug der Landesvorsitzende den Rechenschaftsbericht vor. Steffen Uhlig erinnerte nochmals an die Höhepunkte des vergangenen Jahres, betonte aber gleichzeitig, dass es trotz massiver Öffentlichkeitsarbeit bei der Unterschriftenaktion zur Europawahl nicht zu einer wesentlichen Zunahme an Mitgliedern kam.
Als Schwerpunkte der Arbeit des LV Sachsen in den kommenden Monaten sieht er in der Mitarbeit bei der weiteren Gestaltung des Grundsatzprogramms der Partei sowie der verstärkten Arbeit der Mitglieder an der Basis, d.h. der konkreten intensiven Beschäftigung mit den Themen der örtlichen Parlamente im Abgleich zu den Interessen der Menschen im jeweiligen Umfeld. Außerdem soll eine möglichst enge Zusammenarbeit mit den anderen christlichen Kleinparteien in Sachsen angestrebt werden. Hier könne Sachsen richtungweisend für die anderen Bundesländer sein.
Im Anschluss erfolgte, durch die Landesschatzmeisterin Ingrid Hartmann, die Abrechnung der Finanzen im Rahmen des Finanzberichtes. Dank der Spenden und Zurückhaltung bei den Ausgaben sei die Liquidität jederzeit gewährleistet gewesen. Da jedoch weitere Anschaffungen erforderlich sind, seien Spenden immer sehr willkommen und notwendig.
Ein erster Höhepunkt des Parteitages war das Referat von Pfr.i.R. Winfried Amelung zum Thema der Komplementarität. Er erläuterte, auf der Grundlage biblischer Aussagen und naturwissenschaftlicher Tatsachen, dass sich gegensätzliche Begriffe nicht unbedingt ausschließen, sondern durchaus ergänzen können. Als Beispiel nannte er außerdem die mit der Wende 1989 gewonnene Freiheit, die erst in Ergänzung mit der Verantwortung eine neue Würde ergibt. Der Fakt, andere Meinungen als Ergänzung und nicht grundsätzlich als Gegenposition zu betrachten, sei bei der demokratischen Meinungsbildung innerhalb einer Partei unerlässlich.
Die Schwerpunkte der Arbeit im Bundesverband erläutert Dieter Burr in seinem Referat. Er sprach über die strategische bzw. programmatische Ausrichtung der Bundespartei. Hier sei die Mitarbeit vieler, auch Nichtparteimitglieder, gefordert. Wenn die Gesellschaft in Verantwortung vor Gott, den Mitmenschen und der Schöpfung verändert werden soll, dann seien Wissen, Ideen, und Mut zu umfassenden Neugestaltungen und immer wieder das Gebet gefragt. Kathleen Tischler ist als Mitglied der Bundesprogrammkommission Ansprechpartner für die sächsischen Mitglieder und Interessenten, die hier gerne mitarbeiten möchten.
Eine ausgedehnte Kaffeepause wurde zu Gesprächen und regem Austausch unter den Mitgliedern und auch mit den Gästen genutzt.
Zur geplanten Verstärkung der Arbeit an der Basis sprach zuerst Jonathan van Tongeren aus den Niederlanden. An Hand eines Beispieles seiner Parteiarbeit führte er aus, wie eine noch junge Partei gesehen und respektiert wird, wenn sie sich vor Ort einmischt und mit Kreativität und Engagement hilft, konkrete Probleme zu lösen.
Anschließend referierte Maik Förster zu seiner Arbeit als unabhängiger Abgeordneter im Kreistag von Bautzen, Stadtrat von Pulsnitz und Ortschaftsrat in Oberlichtenau. Er berichtete sehr anschaulich und motivierend, wie er die Wahlkämpfe der letzten Monate, bis hin zur Landtagswahl, bestritten hat.
Für seine Arbeit in den Parlamenten gilt das Motto: „keine Sitzung ohne Antrag!". Am Beispiel einer von ihm initiierten Lösung zur dezentralen Unterbringung von Asylbewerbern erläuterte er die Möglichkeiten einer positiven Einflussnahme und der Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten in der Kommunalpolitik. Nach seinen Worten sind Engagement vor Ort und die Authentizität der politisch Aktiven die Grundvoraussetzungen erfolgreicher Parteipolitik. Weiterhin betonte er die Notwendigkeit der ständigen Präsenz im Internet sowie der Presse.
Auf Anfrage steht Herr Förster den an Basisarbeit interessierten Mitgliedern unserer sächsischen Partei zukünftig beratend zur Verfügung.
Insgesamt ist, resultierend aus den genannten strategischen Schwerpunkten dieses Parteitags, jedes Mitglied unseres Verbandes gefordert, sich entsprechend persönlich zu positionieren.
Source: http://www.auf-partei.de/newsdetails/1-landesparteitag-der-auf-in-sachsen-bericht/
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Founding congress BCD
Official statement of BCD international committee
THE FOUNDING CONVENTION OF THE BELARUSIAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY TOOK PLACE ON OCTOBER 31 IN MINSK
In spite of the fact that the venue for the congress was provided only a day and a half before the event, the organizers managed to gather 311 delegates and app. 300 guests. Among the guests there were Stanislau Shushkevich, Viachaslau Siuchyk, Aliaksei Janukevich, Viktar Karnienka, Juras Hubarevich, Ales Lahviniets, Liudmila Hraznova, Ambassadors of United Kingdom and Hungary in Belarus, representatives of the diplomatic missions of the USA, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Lithuania, Latvia, delegates from Christian democratic parties of Norway, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Ukraine, representatives of the European Parliament, priests of different Christian churches.
The participants of the Congress were also greeted by the leader of Christian Democratic Union of Germany, Ronald Pofalla, the leader of the European Parliament delegation on Belarus affairs Jacek Protasievicz, Prime-Minister of Lithuania, Chairman of Christian Democratic party of Lithuania Homeland Union Andrius Kubilius, and also Christian democratic parties of Moldova, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Finland and Georgia.
The most important political decision was taken regarding participation of BCD in local elections in the year 2010 and presidential elections in the year 2011.
The delegates of the congress decided to support their party candidate for presidency, Vital Rymasheuski, and to form his initiative group. Vital Rymasheuski will be suggested as a single candidate from the Belarusian Pro-Independence Block, and he can withdraw his candidature to the advantage of another candidate in case the latter forms a bigger initiative group.
ATTEMPTS OF THE AUTHORITIES TO INTERVENE THE CONGRESS OF BCD
The delegates from Kobryn were stopped by the traffic police three times on their way to Minsk the night before October 31. The policemen checked the passport details of the BCD members. The delegates arrived to the Congress only in the morning.
Three cars from Babruisk were stopped on their way to the Congress as well. The whole delegation with Taisia Kabanchuk as a head was kept for more than an hour - the police checked the cars and the documents. In the end two women were fined for not wearing the safety belts in the back seat.
Two cars were stopped in Slutsk early in the morning on October 31. The first one, driven by the leader of the local BCD organization Viktar Dvurechanski, was soon released; the other was kept for several hours in the police department to check the passport details of the delegates. As a result the car with the Vice-Chairman of the Slutsk BCD organization Maksim Jurchankou was late to the Congress for several hours. The delegates arrived only to the second half of the congress.
The delegate to the Congress from Pinsk Paval Dzenisevich was stopped by the police at the local railway station after he bought a ticket to Minsk, and was kept for passport control until his train left. As soon as the last train which the delegate could possibly take to get to the Congress on time left, the policemen apologised to Dzenisevich and let him go.
The BCD member from Brest Aliaksandr K. was called for interrogation to the office of KGB. They demanded that he should withdrawal hissignature as a BCD founder. Moreover, KGB threatened that Aliaksandr and his girlfriend, who studies at the local University, would have problems.
On October 31 in the morning there was a picturesque view at the Kastrychnickaya square in Minsk (possible variant of location of the Congress). The members of BCD Mikalai Artsiuhou and Ales Ilkevich who came to the square reported on the following: 4 traffic police cars, riot police and police motorcycles rode around the square in a chain.
I never saw something like that in the center of Minsk. I think it is connected with the promise of the Minister of Internal Affairs Kuliashou to break up the BCD Congress in any case. It proves that the authorities wanted to interfere with the Congress and took certain actions towards it, but this wish was kept on a short leash due to the coming decision of the EU with regard to the sanctions, - stated the leader of BCD Paval Sieviarynets in his interview to the press-center of the Belarusian Christian Democracy.
THE FOUNDING CONVENTION OF THE BELARUSIAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY TOOK PLACE ON OCTOBER 31 IN MINSK
In spite of the fact that the venue for the congress was provided only a day and a half before the event, the organizers managed to gather 311 delegates and app. 300 guests. Among the guests there were Stanislau Shushkevich, Viachaslau Siuchyk, Aliaksei Janukevich, Viktar Karnienka, Juras Hubarevich, Ales Lahviniets, Liudmila Hraznova, Ambassadors of United Kingdom and Hungary in Belarus, representatives of the diplomatic missions of the USA, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Lithuania, Latvia, delegates from Christian democratic parties of Norway, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Ukraine, representatives of the European Parliament, priests of different Christian churches.
The participants of the Congress were also greeted by the leader of Christian Democratic Union of Germany, Ronald Pofalla, the leader of the European Parliament delegation on Belarus affairs Jacek Protasievicz, Prime-Minister of Lithuania, Chairman of Christian Democratic party of Lithuania Homeland Union Andrius Kubilius, and also Christian democratic parties of Moldova, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Finland and Georgia.
The most important political decision was taken regarding participation of BCD in local elections in the year 2010 and presidential elections in the year 2011.
The delegates of the congress decided to support their party candidate for presidency, Vital Rymasheuski, and to form his initiative group. Vital Rymasheuski will be suggested as a single candidate from the Belarusian Pro-Independence Block, and he can withdraw his candidature to the advantage of another candidate in case the latter forms a bigger initiative group.
ATTEMPTS OF THE AUTHORITIES TO INTERVENE THE CONGRESS OF BCD
The delegates from Kobryn were stopped by the traffic police three times on their way to Minsk the night before October 31. The policemen checked the passport details of the BCD members. The delegates arrived to the Congress only in the morning.
Three cars from Babruisk were stopped on their way to the Congress as well. The whole delegation with Taisia Kabanchuk as a head was kept for more than an hour - the police checked the cars and the documents. In the end two women were fined for not wearing the safety belts in the back seat.
Two cars were stopped in Slutsk early in the morning on October 31. The first one, driven by the leader of the local BCD organization Viktar Dvurechanski, was soon released; the other was kept for several hours in the police department to check the passport details of the delegates. As a result the car with the Vice-Chairman of the Slutsk BCD organization Maksim Jurchankou was late to the Congress for several hours. The delegates arrived only to the second half of the congress.
The delegate to the Congress from Pinsk Paval Dzenisevich was stopped by the police at the local railway station after he bought a ticket to Minsk, and was kept for passport control until his train left. As soon as the last train which the delegate could possibly take to get to the Congress on time left, the policemen apologised to Dzenisevich and let him go.
The BCD member from Brest Aliaksandr K. was called for interrogation to the office of KGB. They demanded that he should withdrawal hissignature as a BCD founder. Moreover, KGB threatened that Aliaksandr and his girlfriend, who studies at the local University, would have problems.
On October 31 in the morning there was a picturesque view at the Kastrychnickaya square in Minsk (possible variant of location of the Congress). The members of BCD Mikalai Artsiuhou and Ales Ilkevich who came to the square reported on the following: 4 traffic police cars, riot police and police motorcycles rode around the square in a chain.
I never saw something like that in the center of Minsk. I think it is connected with the promise of the Minister of Internal Affairs Kuliashou to break up the BCD Congress in any case. It proves that the authorities wanted to interfere with the Congress and took certain actions towards it, but this wish was kept on a short leash due to the coming decision of the EU with regard to the sanctions, - stated the leader of BCD Paval Sieviarynets in his interview to the press-center of the Belarusian Christian Democracy.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Congress for ECPYN memberorganisations in Western Europe
Groningen, January 28, 2009
Dear reader,
We warmly invite you to join us in Hellenthal, Germany (near Aix-la-Chapelle), March 27 – 29, for the Regional Conference for Western Europe of the European Christian Political Youth Network (ECPYN). This mini-conference will be a training weekend for up to twenty young people involved in political organisations from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Switzerland.
The weekend will include workshops on ‘internal organisation and training of young people in executive positions’, ‘making your political positions known effectively’ in politics and in the media for example and ‘setting up local branches that last’. Most workshops will be given by experienced people of PerspectivE.
PerspectivE is the youth organisation of the Christian Union party and with some 2.500 members the second largest political youth organisation of the Netherlands. Other speakers include Kris Vleugels, vice president of the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM) and Dick van Dijk, auditor for the Directorate General for Regional policy of the European Commission and international secretary of the Christian Union party.
If you are not yet acquainted with ECPYN, this will also be a good occasion to learn more about our organisation and what it stands for. It is obviously also a good opportunity for meeting politically involved young Christians from neighbouring countries.
You can participate in this training weekend for only 35,- EUR. This includes accommodations, breakfast, lunch and tea/coffee. You can find more information and a full programme of this event at www.ecpyn.org/westerneurope .
On the website you will find an application form. We hope that you will be able to join us for this event that promises to be very educative and inspiring. Of course you are free to bring others to this event, simply complete the registration form and send it in. In case you might not be able to be there yourself, please pass this invitation on to others in your organisation who might. Please remember to send in your registration form before February 22.
If you have any questions regarding the conference, please feel free to contact Auke Minnema, Secretary of Regional Meetings, who will be coordinating it (by e-mail: rm@ecpyn.org or check the website).
We are looking forward to seeing you at our conference in Hellenthal and hope to hear from you soon!
Kind regards, on behalf of Jonathan van Tongeren (Secretary General),
Auke Minnema
Secretary of Regional Meetings
Dear reader,
We warmly invite you to join us in Hellenthal, Germany (near Aix-la-Chapelle), March 27 – 29, for the Regional Conference for Western Europe of the European Christian Political Youth Network (ECPYN). This mini-conference will be a training weekend for up to twenty young people involved in political organisations from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Switzerland.
The weekend will include workshops on ‘internal organisation and training of young people in executive positions’, ‘making your political positions known effectively’ in politics and in the media for example and ‘setting up local branches that last’. Most workshops will be given by experienced people of PerspectivE.
PerspectivE is the youth organisation of the Christian Union party and with some 2.500 members the second largest political youth organisation of the Netherlands. Other speakers include Kris Vleugels, vice president of the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM) and Dick van Dijk, auditor for the Directorate General for Regional policy of the European Commission and international secretary of the Christian Union party.
If you are not yet acquainted with ECPYN, this will also be a good occasion to learn more about our organisation and what it stands for. It is obviously also a good opportunity for meeting politically involved young Christians from neighbouring countries.
You can participate in this training weekend for only 35,- EUR. This includes accommodations, breakfast, lunch and tea/coffee. You can find more information and a full programme of this event at www.ecpyn.org/westerneurope .
On the website you will find an application form. We hope that you will be able to join us for this event that promises to be very educative and inspiring. Of course you are free to bring others to this event, simply complete the registration form and send it in. In case you might not be able to be there yourself, please pass this invitation on to others in your organisation who might. Please remember to send in your registration form before February 22.
If you have any questions regarding the conference, please feel free to contact Auke Minnema, Secretary of Regional Meetings, who will be coordinating it (by e-mail: rm@ecpyn.org or check the website).
We are looking forward to seeing you at our conference in Hellenthal and hope to hear from you soon!
Kind regards, on behalf of Jonathan van Tongeren (Secretary General),
Auke Minnema
Secretary of Regional Meetings
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