As populism continues to be on the rise and people seem to lose faith in politicians and institutions, democracy is more important than ever. From data privacy, to common defense and the economy; there is a lot at stake in the European Parliamentary Elections of 23 May. That’s why, instead of focusing on institutional politics, the 4th issue of Are We Europe magazine shines a light on young democracy-makers; those people who work, lobby and campaign behind the facades of the European political system. Join us for this Are We Europe meet-up #2 and the launch of magazine #4 ‘The Fabric of Democracy’, which explores Civil Democracy in all its variety.
Who are the movers and shakers of European democracy, and how can you become one yourself? Not politicians, but activists, civil society actors, influential thinkers, organisations and grassroots initiatives aimed at strengthening European democracy at the local, national or international level, in Amsterdam and elsewhere. Considering the figurative distance between millennial voters and ‘Europe’, their lack of engagement with European democracy is quite understandable (last elections, youth voter turnout was as low as 16% in some countries). So, how and where can we find forms of European democracy closer to home?
Together with #ProveThemWrong, De Kiesmannen and Stem op een Vrouw, we present an evening that will not only prepare you for the upcoming elections, but that will also send you home with tips and tools on how to campaign and lobby for European democracy outside of election time. In the program we’ll focus on Amsterdam-based democracy-makers, but for more inspiration, you can find profiles of game-changers from all 28 member-states of the European Union in our Special Fabric of Democracy Issue.
We need you to interview the movers and shakers we will invite to the stage! Anyone is very much invited to step up as a panelist during this special elections evening and ask these democracy-makers about their expertise, experiences and lessons learned.
#ProveThemWrong
Because we are part of the #ProveThemWrong campaign, we want to highlight young Europeans who show that Europe doesn’t only belong to (old) white men in suits. Who are the people who take the future in their own hands? We want to portray the activists showing us that Europe should be, and is, shaped by a new generation. Who are those that “prove them wrong” when they say that Europe doesn’t belong to us?
Are We Europe
The Are We Europe Foundation is a non-profit media collective founded by and for (young) Europeans. Are We Europe aims to report on the often neglected and ever-changing state of the European identity by empowering aspiring European journalists who are motivated to explore this topic. Are We Europe’s digital platform provides an alternative perspective on Europe, its identity, its creators and its journalism.
Why this Magazine?
We think that in the middle of a media landscape that continues to be fractured by national borders (in an otherwise borderless Europe), there’s a niche for a beautifully illustrated magazine, filled with intricately woven sentences, taking on the European landscape as a whole. Politics, lifestyle, deeply reported places that pick apart a certain place or problem, unapologetic social critique, and analysis of where the hell this is all going.
Pakhuis de Zwijger, Amsterdam
TOMORROW, 20.00
GROTE ZAAL
Meer info hier