Alliance for a responsible, plural and united world

World citizens assembly
Lille December 2-10, 2001

Regional group

NORTHERN EUROPE

Economy:
We recognise the responsibility of Europe torwards its least advantaged inhabitants and we propose that public and private actors follow a policy of inclusion by promoting a local social economy with a human face.

Subsidies should not impoverish the food systems of the South nor enrich the multi-national traders.

Education:
Education should include teaching and implementing a culture of peace, tolerance and solidarity as well as conflict management in order to enable men and women to live together and to think independently and to take their responsibilities seriously as a world citizen.

Migrations and the rights of foreign people :
With a view to a coming European legislation regarding the right of foreigners, militants and people from associations should be given the logistic means (the setting up of a colloquium) so that they could get information on the different legislations running in the SCHENGEN countries. Suggest laws to the political schemers.

The responsibility of scientists :
We want to call into question the present sector-based scientific approach in order to favour the complexity and the global character of the problems out in the real world in vital areas and thus lead a trans-disciplinary approach and by way of consequence, come up to the populations’ expectations, noting that it is very difficult to become acknowledged in universities and scientific institutions. Therefore, it is urgent to create an association network of researchers working on the problems of citizen science and get the institutional and scientific recognition of the relevancy and quality of such work.
We should work on a non ‘merchandization’ of science. Scientists are tempted to get paid by the private sector to carry on their researches : aptitudes for independence must be created by building up real partnerships under some precise conditions to keep a real autonomy. The freedom of academies and the autonomy of universities can no longer define themselves as ivory towers but as partners with other social actors.
Scientific popularisation thanks to contacts with the medias is important for the populations and shows the point of researches in laboratories or scientific entities.
Internet and the new technologies of communication are not enough for the people to get to comprehend scientific work and their own interests in it.

Communication:
We must examine means by which we can make tools of communication [including the media] more participatory for all citizens ~for instance to express their ideas, proposals etc in a decision process.

Governance:
Each European country should be responsible for ,making transparent goverance at all political levels.

The various ministries of a country need to develop policies for the sustainable use of natural resources (excluding GMOs) and be accountable to the Ministry of the Environment.  ( see the Convention on Biological Diversity)

The European Union has to explore the use of subsidies as a positive force in the promotion of sustainable and fair trade products.

Support the idea of independent civilian observers from all European countries to be available for use in areas of conflict: for example in Israeli/Palestinian conflict.