Showing posts with label defense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label defense. Show all posts

Thursday, 5 June 2014

What lies behind the successes of right- wing populism and extremism in Europe

What lies behind the successes of right- wing populism and extremism in Europe? The financial crisis is most frequently mentioned as a reason and it is also a likely reason that i'm not in position to question. But are there more explanations and are there examples where it can be argued that the economic crisis isn't the foundation of this populistic rampage across Europe?
In the elections to the European Parliament, the member-states that stand out the most are not the ones that are hit the hardest by recession and austerity. France, Denmark and the UK are 3 of those member-states in which extremism and right-wing populism reached its greatest successes. None of these member-states are among the worst affected by the financial crisis. Denmark and the UK are additionally outside the eurozone, if one would argues that the crisis was a currency crisis. In Sweden, which is a member-state with strong finances and also a member-state outside the eurozone, the far-right populists gets its highest result ever in a public election.
Could the election result and the populist winds that are blowing in Europe be a protest against European integration it self, the EU system or systematics if you will or is it a protest against politicians in general or even a protest against the member-states national governments and their handling of the crisis in Europe? Is it the dream of a united Europe in which people stand united in solidarity that now has been partially ruptured and questioned? Could it just be a cry for help?

The trends are the same across Europe and is therefore a European problem that we must face at a European level.
It requires first and foremost that people can rally and mobilize around something that is exclusively European, like the Parliament and by the Parliament, the appointed president of the Commission. ( Provided its not stopped by EUCO. )
European problems and opportunities must be managed at the European level and with a mandate from the citizens. That is not the case in reality. What looked like it was the EU handling the crisis was actually handled by the affected nation states and their lenders. The EU has, at its best, acted as a moderator and facilitator. ( Listed in order to use the EU as a scapegoat. )
I am convinced that the crisis of confidence between the EU and the voters is the first breeding ground for the election results that we got and the crisis of confidence is rooted in the fact that EU has no mandate of its own to deal with any problem, at the same time as the EU are the perfect scapegoat for national governments.
The European council's intergovernmental negotiations behind closed doors is a hotbed for contempt against both EU and against European politicians. In the member-states, the national leaders from the European Council can emerge as the nation's representatives against opposing forces in other national leaders. When opinion at home are showing displeasure they have there scapegoat.
When voters are kept in the dark at the same time as they feel the consequences of the politics, they get confused and angry. this nourishes all extremism and Europe got its judgment in the election.
Paradoxically, the results show how integrated and depended we are by one another in Europe.

Friday, 16 May 2014

European democracy isn't ours to give away

Europe's democracy isn't ours to give away, it belongs to our children and grandchildren. We just borrowed it from those who fought, died and won the democracy that we all lean on.

They gave democracy to us so that we could build on it and make it better and stronger for every generation. This democracy have been challenged many times but never as much as right now, before the European elections and comming member-state elections.

How do we handle this?

I want to see a broad coalition on EU level and on national level against all totalitarianism, rasism and division. At the same time all of us who sees the threat must reach out to those who don't and show the strength of democracy in action. We must use all democratic weapons we have to fight the undemocratic forces back.

Sunday, 4 May 2014

Get12vote

Imagine if everyone who woted in the European elections in 2009 could convince just one person who didn't to vote in this year's election the turnout would break the roof.

Does it sound like a crazy idea? Maybe, but imagine how the idea of European elections would of sounded in 1950. You get the point!

EP2014 will probably have a impact and consequences far beyond the mandate of the European parliament. So if we can make this happen I'm certain that the impact and consequenc will be positive for the voters and therefore for Europe.

Let's show the world that Europeans care about democracy and that European values are worth saving.

#Get12vote

Saturday, 8 February 2014

Fort Europa

Fort Europa is the biggest shame of modern Europe and of our civilized union. Fort Europa is there to keep the desperate and needy out and it works, but with a great cost of human lives and european values.
I suggest that we reinvent Fort Europa in to something that will benefit us all, both EU citizens and those looking for a safe harbour. Fort Europa should be and must be the safe haven for democracy, human rights and solidarity protected by a European constitution.

Saturday, 4 January 2014

European identity

European identity is just as real and authentic as any local or regional identity in Europe.

" United in Diversity" sums it up pretty well, but I'll try to describe, according to me what is our European identity.

It's hard to find a place on earth where all or even a majority's of the people share a general identity. I think you must search in isolated tribes of indigenous people to even come close.

In most democratic parts of the world, just like in Europe, countless identities coexist with each other, locally, nationally and in larger unity's. They are cultural, political, religious and even academic identity's. Its not always without conflict but still in coexistence and with different levels of integration among themselves.

The European identity is found in and around us. Not least culturally where local and regional identity's are clear and strong on there own but just as clearly intertwined with other local and regional identities. It is equally evident in the political struggles that's been played out in Europe, where we currently, without taking something for granted can say that democracy and freedom have taken the longest straw across the continent. I don't stick my neck out by saying that no fight, no struggle and no victory for democracy has happened separately from others in Europe.

Europe has been the centre of two world wars, the Cold War and that's only in the last 100 years. Europe is also the place where the industrial revolution took off and changed conditions drastically. Religion had its borderless fights for century's. In all this, Europeans has for more than 1000 years intertwined in social, cultural and economic enterprises that shaped and developed Europe.

Many women and men from all over Europe have fought and sacrificed there life and limb for liberty and peace so that Europe would achieve what Europe is today.

It is not possible to hide from our European heritage and identity, just as we cant forget the traditions of the community that we where born in. If we do, we do nothing but lie to ourself and our children.

Friday, 31 May 2013

European defense policy

The European Union is made up out of 28 independent, expensive and inefficient armed forces.
How can politicians justify this in these times of austerity? How can Europeans accept this negligence?