REPORT SUMMERCAMP 2003

The UNITED summer camp, which was held during seven days near Krakow, focused on the most arguable and acute topic - history and conflicts. 27 young delegates of different organisations from all over Europe, mostly from Central and Eastern Europe participated in the UNITED summer camp. Through various working methods ­ discussions, brainstorming, presentations, small working groups, games - the participants showed their strong interest in the summer school theme. They also shared their personal experience and that of their organisations. The summer camp has gathered young people, who were not engaged with UNITED before, or are still not members of the UNITED network, despite most of the participants were the representatives of the NGOs working in the field of anti-discrimination, human rights, history, etc. The summer camp had a good balance of NGO activists, working on anti-discrimination and history teachers.
The participants concluded that it is necessary to publish the UNITED info leaflet containing basic information on 'history interpretation as a source of conflict'.
The idea to organise such summer school has appeared during the UNITED conference in Goteborg (Sweden) in 2001, and finally it was realised by the common efforts of the UNITED secretariat and international team consisting of the representatives of the NGOs from different countries: Leon (Germany/volunteer with UNITED in Amsterdam), Nevenka (Macedonia), Michael (Germany/Poland), Florian (Austria), Nihad (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Christian (Germany/Poland) and Natasha (Moldavia).
Below there is a report written by the participants about their activities during the summer.

Sunday morning
All about official "breaking the ice"
The summer camp was started with the 'breaking-ice' game. From the beginning we had a chance to listen about the goals and activities of the UNITED for Intercultural Action (www.unitedagainstracism.org). Then we formed a circle and made a short presentation of ourselves. We have found many interesting things that, for instance, female participants were in a majority position during the summer camp. Then we were divided into pairs and exchanged more detailed information about ourselves and the ways in which we are involved in Human Rights activities. As a result of this work everyone was being described on a sheet of paper which was put on the wall.

Sunday afternoon
Mrs J.Ambroziewicz-Jacobs, PhD, from the Jagiellonian University presented the lecture "Can we learn Tolerance?" She started with interconnection and links between tolerance and prejudices. Then she presented the situation with minorities in Poland, which was based on the results of her own research among the high school students (16-year-old).

Afterwards we had an animated discussion about the nature of the prejudices, followed by a further lecturer's presentation of the links between attitudes and their compositions (Cognitive, Affective and Behavioural) and also the connections between stereotypes and prejudices, discrimination, violence and genocide.

For more details, visit web-site guide to tolerance education: http://tolerance.research.uj.edu.pl, which contents a huge amount of information about the tolerance projects and activities that teachers can use for their students in the different countries. It also contents many other links to related organisations. The web-site is in three languages: Polish, English, and Russian.

After the lecture, the participants had a chance to work in separate groups on identifying the existing prejudices in their respective countries.

The main outcomes of this work were:
Education:
Interpretation of history (manipulation)
Enforcement of ones identity (Creation of nationalism)
Separate schools
Obstacles to access to higher education

Language:
Lack of official recognition
Majority Language
Use of prejudice/negative emotions oriented words

Media:
Misleading information
Mainly showing negative aspects (bombing...) but not cooperation/accords
Massive use of propaganda (lack of objective information)

Religion:
Lack of acceptance of the differences between religions

Politics:
Lack of political will for solutions
Issue of "invited immigrants" (Belgium, France, Germany)

Economics:
Negative economical influence

Territory:
Changed borders, contested territories

Improvement of the situation:
- Bilateral commissions on history texts
- Political will to change the situation
- Cooperation (common work on natural disasters, projects to improve situation of the minorities from both sides of a border, economical)

Monday morning
During the session on "Media as modern writers of history" we had a chance to discuss media work in each of our countries. In the beginning we were divided into groups of three people and played a very amazing 'media game'. One person in each small group had to present a single statement, which must be interpreted by his/her colleagues in a positive and a negative ways. The results of this 'media game' have proved that journalists can interpret the same story/the same facts in absolutely different ways and the interpretation could mislead the recipients.

Apart from the journalists who might hold different personal views and are influenced by them, the whole "Media industry" found "guilty of charge" because despite the fact that it is supposed to be independent, its members are often affiliated with a specific ideology, political party, etc.

During the session four participants presented the situation with media in their own countries; the representatives of Moldavia, Romania, Poland and Finland gave us an insight of the situation with media in their own countries.

Poland:
Poland is a rather homogeneous country with not so huge percentage of minorities. The 'hate speech' and the racist statements are not an often phenomenon in the media while there are lots of media monitoring agencies operating in order to safeguard the implementation the principles of freedom of speech and the implementation of the Media Ethical Code (which forbid hate and racist speeches, etc). We have agreed that more or less all the media bodies are affiliated with a specific ideology without harming the common good, but at the same time they dealt a lot with a case of a specific radio station that according to the Polish representatives is manipulating the words of the Pope and is promoting the idea of a creation of a Polish Church. This radio station 'Radio Maria' has as a target group - the old poor people and those people who are facing problems and it is currently expanding by founding its own school of Journalism where its ideology will be probably enforced.

Finland:
- The biggest minority in Finland is the Swedish speaking population (6%) who is not actually facing racism and hate speech in the media references.
- The cases where one can find references of racist statements are mainly in the on-line media.
- The extremists do not have a 'big voice' in the media (due to political correctness) and thus there is a lack of dialogue. The political correctness in the Finish media is so big that sometimes comes in contradiction with the freedom of speech (how could we draw a border in that situation?).

Moldavia:
Moldavia is a multi-ethnic state, where 35 % of population is ethnic minorities: Ukrainians, Russians, Gagauzians, Bulgarians, Jews, Roma, Armenians, etc; most of them are Russian-speaking, and use Russian as a first or second language.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, with gaining the independence, Moldavia faced inter-ethnic tensions and ethno-territorial conflicts as the most of ex-USSR states ­ self-proclaimed and non-recognized Transdniestrian republic with biggest Russian speaking population there and conflict on the south of Moldavia, where Gagauzian minority (they have Turkish roots, but Orthodox) lives. The second conflict has been resolved in a peaceful way with giving Autonomy to Gagauzian minority (The Law on Special Status of Gagauz-Yeri was accepted), but the second one has a frozen character today, and has more political than ethno-territorial nature.
One of the problems for Moldavia is a media political engagement, after the collapse of the Soviet Union the people saw the freedom of speech, but actually it was an intoxication of freedom, because many cases of hate speech appeared in a media, in both media published in Russian and Moldavian/Romanian languages. Nobody cares about such racism in media. There are a lot of hate speeches against Roma, against Jews in media; some extreme right newspapers try to blame Roma and Jews for communists coming to power and economical difficulties. If you will read the criminal chronic you can see that journalists concentrate attention on Roma ethnicity. For instance, usually they write: "Roma people committed a crime" and at the same time "Chisinau (Moldavia's capital) inhabitants committed a crime".
The are absolutely separately media communities ­ Russian one and Romanian one, and the problem is that newspapers (I mean in Russian and Moldavian/Romanian languages) interpretate the same information in different ways, you can find the image of enemy in face of Russians, Ukrainians, Gagauzians in the Romanian-language newspapers, and the same you can find in Russian-language newspapers in attitude to Romanians and Romania. Some extreme right newspapers justify the Romanian ally of Hitler, Marshall Antonescu, who is blame for extermination of 300 thousands Jews and Roma on the small territory of Moldavia during the Second World War. They, together with Historian Society of Moldavia and his leader Petrencu, call Antonescu ­ national hero, and tell that the Holocaust did not exist. And, recent pogrom of Jewish cemetery in Chisinau is a result of their propaganda. Nobody knows about the Holocaust, and no word about that is in school history books. Many students of the History Department do not know even about the word "Holocaust".

There is also an influence from Russian fascists (like Barkashov, Russian National Unity, National Bolshevik Party) in Transdniestrian part of Moldavia, and there recently pro-fascist newspaper "Molodejnyi marsh" was closed.

Romania:
Romania is a multinational state, where the biggest minority groups are Hungarians and Roma. Romanian representative gave us the statistical dates of the minorities' area as well as told us about the Roma discrimination, which is quite spread in the countries of CEE.
Afterwards the results of very interesting projects related with media and hate speech were presented, e.g. the Romani Criss Foundation and Media Monitoring Agency-Academia Catavencu did a joint research on Roma population reflected in the Romanian media. The Romanian media is generally biased with respect to the Romani ethnicity. The articles are mostly conflictual and their nature is mainly criminal and economical. The type of the exercise performed by the Roma persons is negative in all newspapers. The words by which the Roma persons are identified in the analysed articles result in the evidencing of a dominant feature of the Roma minority, namely aggressively.

Monday afternoon
"National heroes"
The morning started with an introduction to the topic "National heroes" given by Christian. He searched for the explanation of the 'national hero' in Internet. A hero is always described as a person, who fights for a cause, has an exceptional courage (and in the most cases he is male).

The first question, which was raised, was: how can a human being, with all his shortcomings, human affections, be put so higher on a pedestal? Christian suggested that 'national heroes' are a lot intertwined with nationalism.

But although this positive description in dictionaries, the medal has two sides: what the hero has done of good things for the one group, he has done badly for the other group. So how can a person, who was, so positively described, be such a villain for other groups?

Media plays in the process a crucial role! Sometimes the "hero" owns and leads the media (Hitler could be an example of that), or due to the sensational aspect of media activities, a 'national hero' is created!

It also was mentioned that the interpretation of national heroes constantly changes. In one period he/she can be a hero, in another period he/she is suddenly a bastard! Also the same "national heroes" can be used by different ethnic groups, claiming that the hero was born or had lived or "had the mentality" of their territory."

Afterwards Natasha presented the Romanian ally of Hitler, marshal Ion Antonescu. Ion Antonescu was responsible for killing over 400,000 Romanian and Basarabian Jews between 1941-1944, but for today some historians (in Romania and Moldavia (Basarabia) and far-right parties justify him, as he killed "only Jews who were engaged with the communists and partisans" and he also was able to overcome an economic crisis in Romania and as a marshal he tried to back the lost Romanian provinces. Today there is no truth about Antonescu in school historian textbooks, but only the positive things exist.

Following the introductory session on national heroes, it was time for everyone to split up into smaller working groups. The idea was to discuss in detail the national heroes of each country, and the reason why these historical figures are held on high esteem.

The group-work turned out fine and everyone gave his/her input. Each group went to a different location to be at ease and to discuss the topics in a comfortable way. Apart from the informal and friendly discussions that took place, some groups also did charts in order to visualize the verbal presentations.

After a short coffee-break, everyone gathered once again in the plenary room to share the outcomes of each discussion. At first we held Bin Laden in the limelight, being seen as a villain in some areas as well as a hero for others. Such is the case in Islamic or anti-American countries.

Furthermore, the discussion moved on to other presentations with special focus on Romania, whereby King Karol I is considered to be a national hero for his bravery and especially the resistance against Germans (his own native blood).

Then it was the Greek-Turkish conflict that was carefully explained to the group, with direct reference to the historical episodes and the process by which Asia Minor became Turkey. Kemal Atatourk was mentioned as a hero in that case.

The 'elephants' then gave a brief outline about the national heroes of Austria, Poland, Bosnia, Malta, Italy and Spain. Each hero was chosen for his great personality and political intervention during wars.

Finally it was Napoleon who took the center-stage and we exchanged ideas on the French conqueror's pluses and minuses. In France, Napoleon is considered to be a great leader. This is the case in other countries, too where the French Army had been accepted open-heartedly to enter the country and relieve the citizens from their leaders. On the other hand, Napoleon was considered to be a villain in cases where he plundered the conquered states.

Apparently the Napoleon presentation triggered many thoughts and suddenly each one of us briefly recalled battles and historical events in which Napoleon was involved in all the different regions of 18th century Europe!

The session ended by reviewing the following day's program and saluting other members of the organizing team who had to leave the summercamp on Tuesday morning due to other commitments.

Tuesday
Jewish Quarter
We spent Tuesday in Cracow visiting the most important historical sites of the city and as so we could not miss the Jewish Quarter ­ Kazimierz. Our guide from the Center for Jewish Culture in Cracow showed us the most important monuments of Kazimierz beginning with the Temple Synagogue, which is the newest in the quarter and finishing with one of the oldest - the Remuh Synagogue and the Old Cemetery. While walking around Kazimierz we learned about the history of Polish Jews as well as about the history of the quarter after the World War II. For many it was difficult to imagine, how this quite quarter could have once been crowded with thousands of people... But for sure everyone was under impression of the atmosphere of Kazimierz and in the evening we all came back to enjoy this atmosphere in one of its pubs.

Tuesday
The old town of Krakow has many attractions for the visitor or foreign tourist (or for the UNITED training course participants). The most impressive part of the town are the Sukiennice, or the Clothes Hall. It is the central market square (Rynek) in the town and is reputed to be the largest in Europe. In the same square, one can also find the impressive St Mary's Church and also the old town hall tower, the only remnant of the old town hall where the medieval authorities of the city presided.
Not so far from Sukiennice, is the Wawel castle with the cathedral. Its origins date back to the eleventh century and are worth a visit (or two). Near the castle, according to legend, lived a dragon, which preyed on the young women in the area. The dragon was eventually killed, or so they say, but on cold, dark nights local inhabitants can sometimes still hear the beast roar as it searches for a victim.

The entire old part of the town is surrounded by a tree lined belt which was where the old city defensive walls were located. It offers a pleasant ambience in which to take an afternoon stroll.

All in all, the old part of Krakow is very beautiful, and exudes a special charm of its own.

Wednesday morning
Balkan case
A short summary was given on the periodical context of the Balkan conflict of the nineties, followed by the conclusion of the Dayton Peace Agreement of December 1995, concluding the conflict. Furthermore, attention was drawn to two specific case studies:
1) An outline was given on the administrative structure of Bosnia-Herzegovina into a federation, two entities and 10 cantons,
2) A short overview was given on the Macedonian conflict following the Kosovo war.

The introductory session was concluded by a division into four working groups, each having to work around a central question "What can we do to build stable and democratic institutions in the Balkan region?"

Working Group: Politics and social issues
This working group took the approach of highlighting possible solutions along the political/ social division line:

Politically:
* Promotion of democracy, revolution in the minds of people,
* Equal economical development,
* Social justice
* Tackle corruption, control of financial flows,
* Diplomacy,
* NGO development,

Socially:
* Religious and ethnical tensions to be resolved,
* Building the confidence in people through media and education,
* Negotiations trilaterally (Muslim, Catholic and Orthodox)

Working group: Human rights and civil initiatives
The starting point of this working group was that democracy means more than elections.
Human rights: discussions revolved around the problems of implementation of existing legislation. Breaches of human rights that occur most often were discussed as being the right to education, housing, rights of minorities and the impunity principle.

Reasons for the breach are considered to be:
lack of political will,
lack of funds,
no cooperation between neighboring countries,
international pressure is insufficient,
Centralized decision-making.
Those are what one could call institutional problems. Besides those there are also the inhibitions on an individual level:
passive citizenship,
no strength/will to fight injustice,
fear of incidents
motivation

Civil initiatives: the discussion then further revolved around the problems concerning civil initiatives in the process of stable and democratic institution building. The NGO where Nikolina works was taken as a leading example. Topics discussed were the right to create an association, cooperation of NGOs with authorities and competition between NGOs and the issue of educating people.

Working group: Media
This working group drew up a list of necessary measures related with media:

a freedom of media clause in the constitution,
an ethical code for journalists,
involvement of NGOs to promote freedom of speech,
pluralism of media,
plural ideas within journals and newspapers,
education of audience,
tolerance education for the journalism students (maybe implemented by the NGOs).

Working group: Education
Following the example of Bosnia-Herzegovina this working group took it upon themselves to search for adequate measures regarding education. Amongst those were mentioned: research of the educational system to compare all cantons,
this research should lead to a common law on education. Such a law will now be actually introduced in Bosnia-Herzegovina on the federal level,
a draft policy should be drawn up consisting of guidelines, after having consulted various stakeholders such as student organizations and teachers
training should be provided on specific issues
dialogue and informal education
academic debate

Wednesday afternoon
Basque Case

Common public opinion dominated by separatism

The lecture, presented by the Spanish and Basque participants was offered to us within the range of short summaries on different minority cases in contemporary Europe.
First of all we have to confirm that an objective approach of the problem is from origin reasonably dubious (whether to interpret it from a legalist-governmental or from the minority point of view). This problem became serious after 11.09., which lead to the strengthening of anti-terrorist policy at international and at state level as well.
As introduction to the topic a short description of how national identity is being seen in Spain was presented (location, scale of the B.C.). Especially the mixture of different identities either at regional or at national level, which are partially correlated (e.g.: Catalan ­ Spanish; Basque Spanish) were underlined.
Secondly a factual (objective?) explanation was given related to the Basque history. In which the following aspects can be emphasized:
- the Basque language still remains linguistically undeclared
(relations to different languages) => called Euzkadi
- Basque tribes managed to avoid Roman conquest during the Roman presence at the Spanish peninsula (a reason for not have been influenced by the Latin language)
- During the requonquista (from the XI. century) on the peninsula Basques were offered autonomy as reward of their military support against the Moors (which autonomy remained to exist even after the formation of one Spanish Kingdom ­ 1490).
- 1930: the establishment of the Republic of Spain => the republic maintained the Basque autonomy (like of Catalonia and Valencia)
- Civil War ­ Franco`s regime (1938) => after Franco and his regime managed to grab power in Spain all kind of ethnical or language based autonomies were demolished. The use of Basque became illegal. As a consequence the B. C. had to face a growing emigration, parallel accompanied by expels committed by the regime.
- 1974 - end of the regime => the new government renewed the Basque autonomy aiming to avoid Basque separatism (the B.C. country is seen as one of the economically most flourishing parts of Spain, with a population estimated at 2 million people)

Focusing on the recent problems of the B.C.:
- separatist movement of ETA (founded in 1958), trying to make pressure on
Spanish national government by means of terrorist attacks in Spain and France (France is involved through a minuscule minority of Basques living in South-West France).

After the political changes with the fall of Franco`s regime ETA was made to change it is targets willing to create an independent Basque state instead of being a resistance group.

the B.C. is often identified with ETA, although only a limited minority among Basques supports any striving to create an independent state!

The results of this attitude towards Basques by governmental authorities (supported by media as well) can be systematically shown and summarized at the following diagram:

Illegalize: - Batasuna(the only newspaper published in Basque)
- Segi (Youth Org.)
- Egukaria

Thursday morning
Visit of the former concentration camp Auschwitz.

The grounds of the camp are one of the most known genocide sites from the Second World War. In this place, from 1941-1945, the Nazis murdered approximately 1.5 million people. It was established in 1940 for the Polish political prisoners. As time passed, the Nazis began to deport to the camp people from all over Europe, primarily Jews from various countries, as well as Poles, Sinti and Roma, Soviet prisoners of war and people of other nationalities.

The concentration camp was a gigantic factory of death. It consisted of three separate parts: Auschwitz I in O_wi_cim, Auschwitz II Birkenau in Brzezinka and Auschwitz III in Monowice. We visited only two parts: Auschwitz I and II.

Auschwitz was the biggest Nazi concentration camp. In fact, O_wi_cim became the parent or 'Stammlager' to a whole generation of new camps. The place was chosen because of the position (it was an important railway junction) and also because the deserted pre-war Polish barracks in O_wi_cim could be easily used, expanded and isolated from the outside world.
The people there were condemned to isolation and slow extermination by hunger, exhausting work, criminal experiments, or to quick death as a result of individual and mass executions.

In Auschwitz we could see the well preserved blocks and a part of prisoners' barracks the living conditions in which were unbearable, the main entrance gate to the camp with the cynical inscription: 'Arbeit macht frei', sentry watch towers, barbed wire fences. Some of the constructions destroyed by the Nazis were rebuilt from the original elements, e.g. ovens in the crematorium, where they used to burn up to 350 bodies daily.

The most important construction is the 'Death Block' which was a prison within a prison, completely isolated from the rest of the camp where people were executed and various forms of punishment took place. There were cells in the basement where the Nazis conducted experiments with Cyclone B, where they were torturing people in different ways: flogging, hanging from the stake by hands, prolonged standing etc.

The prison blocks in the camp at Auschwitz contain exhibitions portraying the history of Auschwitz, or tracing the torments of various nations whose people were murdered there. In the rooms we could see the display of original photographs, documents, personal belongings of the people killed in the camp like spectacles, artificial limbs, shoes, clothes.
Every single thing reminds of the atrocities of the concentration camp.

The museum gives the example of the industry of death and slaughter of the innocents. It shows the crime and reminds of the lesson which mankind should never forget. It is a Memorial and Cemetery, where people can pay their respect to those who were murdered.

Thursday afternoon
AUSCHWITZ II ­ BIRKENAU
At a distance of 3 km from the main camp, in the village of Brzezinka, the camp Bau ­ KL Auschwitz II ­ was located. Covering approximately 175 hectares, it contained over 300 buildings. Of these, 45 made of brick and 22 of wood have survived almost intact. In the places where the other buildings previously stood (these were either burnt down or demolished) only the hearths remain. However, their outlines on the ground are clearly visible, giving us a good idea of their original size and number.
The camp in Birkenau was divided into several fields and sectors, which in fact constituted separate camps. The total number of men and women prisoners reached approximately 100.000 in august 1944. The camp inmates were plagued by a lack of water, terrible sanitary conditions and huge numbers of rats. It was on the territory of Birkenau that the Nazis constructed most of their instruments of mass destruction, namely: 4 crematories with gas chambers, two makeshift gas chambers in specially converted farmhouses, cremation pyres and pits.
In Birkenau we have the opportunity to view the prisoners living quarters as they really were. The brick barracks are situated to the left of the unloading ramp. They were built without foundations, directly on the swampy ground. Most of these have no floor at all, apart from the compressed earth which often turned into a veritable quagmire. The brick barracks housed the women prisoners, who slept on three-tier berths spread over with rotting straw. On the one level an average of 8 persons would lie.
At the end of the unloading ramp there are the remains of 2 crematories and gas chambers, blown up by the retreating SS men in an attempt to conceal their criminal activities.

Friday morning 1
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ­
Report presented by Kanon, participant from Azerbaijan

The Caucasus is a region full of interethnic and sometimes religious conflict. After the collapse of the USSR the contradictions, which existed between communities from ancient times raised with new power.
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia began in 1988 after the decision of leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO), which was an integral part of Azerbaijan to separate this province and join Armenia.
The claims had historical roots. Armenian publicity contended that the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh historically belonged to Armenia. Our scientists had other opinion.
In late November of 1988 military detachments of Armenian Republic conducted the first in this conflict and the forth in the 20th century large-scale ethnic cleansing deporting over 200,000 Azeris from the places of compact living in Armenia.
The very cruel and bloody war started between these states. Armenia using the support of neighbouring states occupied Nagono-Karabakh and adjacent lands around this region naming it "buffer zone", which exceeds for twice NK territory. Now Armenia military forces control about 20 % of Azerbaijani territory.
20,000 Azerbaijani people and 10,000 Armenians were killed. Over 1 million Azeris left their homes and became refugees and IDPs. They still live in tent camps and refugee settlements throughout whole territory of Azerbaijan.
In 1994 an agreement on cease-fire was signed between parts but during these years peace is broken repeatedly. Sometimes it seems that again large-scale war is inevitable. The fragile status quo faces with challenges every day.
Azerbaijan and Armenia do not have any relations in governmental or public level. The borders are closed. I have to admit that at present ethnic hatred and hostility between these nations is as strong as it never was before. It became an integral part of public life, education system, mass-media of both states. The new generations of Azerbaijan and Armenia are grown up feeling animosity toward each other.
In textbooks for students and pupils, in historical books, which were published in these states during the last 15 years, one can get quite discrepant information, contradictory two views about the history of this region, about the relations between two peoples from ancient times, and especially about the roots of this conflict.
Youth directly involved in this conflict and take an active part in fight against each other. It's misperception to think that today the consequences of this conflict can easily be overcome.
The "public diplomacy", which carried out by non-governmental organizations, does not meet great sympathy either in Azerbaijan or in Armenia. So I have to admit that the idea of peace isn't popular in our societies. It's almost impossible to make to believe a child, who lives in tent camp over 10 years, that friendship is the best way for co-existence of neighboring nations.
We believe that liberation of Azeri lands and returning the refugees to their homes could be the best expression of the kind neighborhood, and can promote profoundly to the reconciliation between nations.

Friday morning 2
In the second part of our morning session, a simulation workshop took place in order to promote interplay of views. The group was divided into two smaller groups, each of whom should act as a committee of the Council of Europe, which discusses how to teach history as part of Human Rights education during its first meeting. The first task was to come up with an overall concept as a guideline for future sessions. The guideline should be on the meaning of having European Human Rights oriented viewpoint on history. The following ideas were introduced:
1) teaching all the aspects of history (culture, economics, politics, religion),
2) combining the transnational, national and regional layer,
3) interdisciplinary teaching,
4) underlining the importance of cooperation rather than conflict,
5) stressing out a common basis,
6) organizing field trips,
7) focusing on the humanitarian aspect of history, i.e.
(a) to show a positive approach towards human rights,
(b) not to teach only facts since pure objectivity on approaching them doesn't really exist,
(c) to teach history through a more "personal" approach ( stories of victims etc.),
(d) to present at the same time the "other sides".

The second part of the simulation involved the two committees in formulating concrete steps for future meetings, researches, conferences etc. that followed the guidelines. The results can be separated in two groups:
1st - making an interdisciplinary research in order to have better methodology and up-dated
material; having expert groups in the process of the work; organizing conferences and
evaluating the whole project.
2nd - Implementation in the infrastructure ­ as regards national education policy through
contacts with academics, transnational history committees and drafting appropriate
education, while by the means of the Council of Europe through reports of monitoring
the drafting of national policies, developing a code for local teaching, stimulating
exchanges for scientists, teachers and pupils.

The session finished with a discussion of all the ideas, which gave us the opportunity to compare the results with an already existing experience - the final conclusions of a conference of a history teaching project that took part in Bonn, 2001.

Friday afternoon
The purpose of the second part of the Friday session was to elaborate cross-national ideas for future action. The method employed was the open-space method. We worked in three groups. Each work group had a chairperson and the rest of the participants contributed to the brainstorming in each of the three workshops. The themes of the workshop were:
Think global/Act local (A)
Trainings (B)
Joint publications (C)
The conclusions drawn in each group were presented and debated afterwards in the plenary session.

Conclusions of the workshops:

A. THINK GLOBAL/ACT LOCAL WORKSHOP:
1. teaching tolerance
2. lectures delivered on special dates
3. NGOs going in schools
4. use of concise and expressive language in order for the media to take interest in various actions
5. working with prominent experts and other public figures
6. networking on various levels
7. media trainings for journalists
8. cooperation between the media and the NGOs
9. professionalizing PR work of NGOs
10. providing basic info and having a central contact point
11. spoken history
12. training parents
13. mixing people by organizing multicultural activities

B. TRAININGS WORKSHOP:
1. choice of target group for training
2. choice of subject
3. formulating the subject in an attractive manner, even if it is a dry topic
4. topics could be: direct action campaigns for the civil society; democracy and human rights; minority rights; ethnic conflicts; citizenship; European citizenship; teaching techniques; leadership; integration of minorities, refugees; integration vs. Assimilation; fighting stereotypes; intercultural learning; cross-border cooperation; new methodologies in approaching history; fundraising, marketing and public relations; gender; conflict resolution (mediation); developing participatory skills in the young generation; environment

C. JOINT PUBLICATIONS WORKSHOP:

1. Something easy for distribution (newsletter, bulletin, e-publication)
2. Bulletin with results and analysis (by experts and NGOs) of the monitoring of history books
3. A regional project with the main purpose of monitoring the image of the countries of a specific region in each of the countries. Publishing the results and the analysis in a newsletter
4. Intercultural books for children and youth which would make them learn about different cultures
5. A program which would facilitate the publication of various essays written by advanced MA students in human rights
6. Monthly or weekly newsletter about European human rights. Both in e- and hard copy forms.
7. Web-site with reports, calendar of activities, upcoming conferences, various scholarships
8. Reports translated in the language of the country
9. Publication of some comparative research about the situation of minorities



Descriptions of the presented organisations:


Amnesty International
"At least I'm free! Free after 10 months of detention in horrible conditions, which I could only endure with your constant moral support". Pius Njaawe', a prominent journalist and director of Cameroon's longest established independent newspaper, was granted a presidential pardon in 1998, after 10 months in jail

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people working independently and impartially to promote respect for all human rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and taking action against violations of people's fundamental civil and political rights.

The main focus of our campaigning is to:

Free all prisoners of conscience. These are people detained for their political, religious or other conscientiously held beliefs or because of their ethnic origin, sex, color, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth or other status- who have not used or advocated violence
Ensure fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners
Abolish the death penalty, torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners
End political killings and "disappearances"

Amnesty International also:

opposes abuses by armed political groups such as the detention of prisoners of conscience, hostage-taking, torture and unlawful killings, and encourages them to respect human rights
assists asylum seekers who are at risk of being to returned to a country where they might suffer violations of their fundamental human rights
works with other NGOs, the United Nations and regional intergovernmental organizations to further human rights
seeks to ensure control of international military, security and police relations in order to protect human rights
organizes human rights education and awareness raising programs

Italy:
g213@amnesty.it
www.amnesty.it
Greece:
thessaloniki@amnesty.gr
www.amnesty.gr
International office:
www.amnesty.org

Anthoula Malkopoulou ­ Greek Branch, Thessaloniki
Stefania Chirizzi ­ Italian Branch, Lecce

Bosfor Obshtestvo ­ Bulgaria / Bosporus Society ­ Bulgaria
Bosfor Obshtestvo ­ Bulgaria / Bosporus Society ­ Bulgaria is non-governmental, non-profit organization. It has been established in 1999 by students from Political science and Sociology department, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". Bosfor Obshtestvo ­ Bulgaria is one of five registered and independent organizations sharing the same idea and acting under the same name: Bosporus. So far there are Bosporus organizations in Germany, Greece, Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria which are supported by the so-called Bosporus Groups formed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia/ FYROM, Slovenia, Hungary an Spain. They all together form the Bosporus International Network.

By means of their project-related work the members aspire to inspire personal responsibilities, social activism and civic devotion as preconditions for a culture of democracy and peace, to promote the role of non-formal education and life-long learning as a way of bringing greater awareness to the people, to foster international cooperation and cross-border initiatives.*

The network aims at:*
Fighting against prejudices and ethnocentrism
Stimulating wider civic participation of youth
Inspiring social activism and civic responsibility
Raising multiethnic awareness
Maintaining greater empathy for cultural diversity
Promoting respect and mutual understanding

* Extracts from the Bosporus Network Protocol signed on 25 of May 2003, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

bosfor_obshtesvo_bg@mail.com
www.bosporus.org


CEREN
Immigration, integration, discrimination, racism and xenophobia have become central topics in different member countries of the EU. In Finland, too, we have seen public concern about these topics and different Ministries, as well as regional and communal bodies, have taken an active part in the discussion, trying to improve their management of ethnic diversity. In 1998 ETNO, the Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations, was established and the state has introduced a programme for monitoring racism and xenophobia. CEREN will add its contribution to this field. A Working Group in the Ministry of Education as early as 1991 suggested the establishment of a Centre on Ethnic Research, but this did not materialise. In 1997 an overview of the research activities in this field was carried out at FISS, supported by a grant from the Finnish Academy of Science. In 1998 the Social Science Research Council of the Academy arranged a working seminar concerning the Academy's role in support of research in this field. Later the same year the Finnish Commission for UNESCO, together with the Research Institute of the School dealt with relevant issues in a seminar concerning racism and xenophobia ­ research and practice, involving researchers, administrators and representatives
of minority and immigrant groups.

The Aim of CEREN
The aim of CEREN is to carry out research, to offer documentation of research, to arrange postgraduate courses and seminars with special reference to forming national and international networks for research seminars. Racism, xenophobia and ethnic relations, concerning both immigrants and native groups, are central themes for CEREN. Nation-building, nationalism and questions in the field of ethnic relations connected to the future of the nation state will also be dealt with.

ceren@sockom.helsinki.fi
http://sockom.helsinki.fi/ceren/

Christian College Association Kolcsey Ferenc (CCA-Budapest)
What is a college association?
To define the college associations is not an easy task since there are many different variations of them (concerning to issues as studies, religions, place, etc.). In Hungary the college associations define themselves as a Movement. It means that the major expectations, which have to be fulfilled by the participants of the Movement, are set out in a Charta. Some of these expectations:
the number of the members is limited: the community which lives together at one place should not be bigger than sixty students plus maximum forty percent who do not live in the dormitory but takes part in the life of the community (they also subjects of the duties (both academic and communal) just like the rest of the students)
the community also takes on certain academical duties as to organize lectures, cultural events, conferences etc. opened for the public. This is also the way of demonstrating the ongoing activity of the college association for the outside students and academical circles
the community is also responsible for itself. Its functioning should be independent, democratic, and based on the activity of the students. The motivation is that the students are responsible for their own community which helps them to have better lives while students and young intellectuals. This also means that the students make every decision
the goal of this work is to form a community whose formal and informal relations both inward and outward will be able to remain in the lives of the former members who become young intellectuals.
CCA adopted this Charta in 1996.
In the process of building CCA we do not only concentrate on the academic work, but we also strongly believe that for young, Christian intellectuals it is a basic need to get some kind of practical knowledge. The diversity of students is considered as a basic necessity to build our community (strengthening and multiplying the abilities of the community).Therefore our goal is to set up and maintain a situation in which our members can learn this practical knowledge by taking part in the community's affairs, work, problems, everyday life etc. In CCA we strongly believe that our community building is the instrument of recreate, and understand again in an active way our Christian heritage, our inherited values.

Address: Ilka u. 32. III/1., 1143 Budapest
Tel/fax: 00-36-1-3636737
kolcsey@kolcseyszakkollegium.hu
www.kolcseyszakkollegium.hu


Committee for Human Rights Karlovac (CHR)
We are a Non-governmental organization with main aim to protect and promote human rights of all citizens, regardless of their national, religious, sexual or any other belonging.

In 2003 CHR is working on following projects and activities:

Continuation of implementation of UNHCR project (Program on return, providing free legal assistance to Serb returnees and Bosnian refugees, monitoring the process of return in the area of Karlovac County)
Children's House "Sun" project, program of prevention of unacceptable behaviour of youth and children, financed by the Ministry of Education and Sports and other donors.
"Education for development of civil society", financed by OSCE, Delegation of Sweden (organization of round tables, public forums and book promotions, workshops in connection with the human rights promotion and protection).
Cooperation with the Alliance of Antifascist Veterans of Karlovac County
Cooperation with the Group for Promotion and Protection of Different Sexual Orientations ISKORAK
Cooperation with ecological association Civil Initiative Karlovac on various ecological issues.

The idea came in a bomb shelter during the most violent war offensives in Karlovac region as a need to demonstrate an alternative approach to violent conflict.
A group of people (journalists, teachers, economists, lawyers and freeminded people) wanted to make an active contribution to the creation and maintenance of a civil society resistant to divisions (ethic, religious, political or ideological), imposed by the violence of the war. CHR was founded in May 1993 as a sub-office of the Committee for Human Rights Zagreb. From February 1998, the CHR is registered as an independent NGO, non-profit and non-party organisation for human rights and humanitarian work in Karlovac County.

chr-ka@ka.tel.hr

Voluntas
supports the growth of volunteerism in the areas of health, education, humanitarian assistance and international relations through the creation and encouragement of innovative grassroots activities in these areas. Additionally Voluntas acts as a facilitator for foreign aid organisations and individuals lacking on the ground representation in Belarus.

Education: Voluntas, with support from the Council of Europe, runs local history programmes in secondary schools across Belarus.
Non-violence: In Belarus' and Ukraine's secondary schools Voluntas conducts programmes to measure student's and teacher's attitudes towards violence and minorities.
Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons: Voluntas has actively promoted the transparency in small arms and light weapons transfers and the decommissioning of SALWs.
Assisting Families with Children Suffering from Profound Multiple Learning Disabilities.
Voluntas has introduced the Portage Therapy System into Belarus. Portage is a parent-led approach, tested over 30 years in the UK which allows these children to remain at home.
Rural Health: Rural healthcare is an often neglected area of concern in the FSU with most foreign aid going to high-profile urban medical initiatives. Voluntas now concentrates in rural areas with a number of programmes involving community participation.

Adress: Franklin J. Swartz, Executive Director
P.O. Box 97 Minsk 220074 Republic of Belarus
Tel 172 52 73 14
fjs@voluntas.org

Human Rights Office Tuzla
The Human Rights Office in Tuzla is a non-governmental, non-profit making, civic organisation with a mission to educate citizens about the human rights outlined in the UN General Declaration and other international declarations and conventions, in accordance with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the dissemination of information in seminars, round tables and other public events and media.
The Office also offers legal aid to citizens who need it. Our efforts are directed towards civil society building, education and development of culture of peace and non-violence and affirmation and application of creative conflict resolution methods. HRO Tuzla is in the process of creating a network of citizens, activists, academics and officials who will work towards the creation of a peaceful and just society in the region.
The Office was founded as an association of citizens in October 1995 during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina with the aim of promoting the ideals of multi-ethnicity and equality in a period when they were most under threat.
Human Rights Office Tuzla co-operates with other national and international NGOs in the promotion of non-violence, women's rights and human rights.

The beneficiaries of our programs are citizens and public, professional groups (judges, prosecutors, teachers, lawyers, politicians ­ decision makers), refugees, displaced persons, returnees, youth, women.

Aims:
- To promote and raise awareness of human rights, particularly those contained within the Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- To work for the implementation of human rights;
- To obtain the ratification of international conventions and declarations on human rights and the assimilation of internationally recognised methods of protecting human rights into the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- To research into the social, legal, medical, pedagogical and other aspects of the implementation and protection of human rights;
- To collaborate with organisations and associations with similar aims at national and international levels.

biroy@bih.net.ba


UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS
Upon the accession of Cyprus in the European Union, the University of Cyprus will become an integral part of a unified academic area, an area that respects diversity and encourages multiculturalism without foisting homogeneity. We expect to contribute to the further shaping of the European academia, never losing sight of the fact that our integration will throw into higher relief our weaknesses or our difficulty in keeping abreast of the changes that are underway in most European Universities today.
Times are changing, and we must change along with them. In the competitive environment that is currently taking shape, what is challenged is our ability to adapt and response to change. The University of Cyprus is expected---to an extent wholly unparalleled so far---to think hard about its future, to generate new knowledge, to innovate, to cultivate young talents, to educate our youth so that they possess not only knowledge but also ethos and, above all, are endowed with creative and critical thought.
Our University's aims include the fostering of our research and teaching partnerships through strategic alliances with international institutions, increasing our international academic cooperation programmes, and participating in staff, and student, exchange programmes, and improving our ability to manage our resources efficiently and invest them wisely.
We take full advantage of modern technology, in order to avail ourselves of the opportunities offered in a united Europe. We strive for a continuous increase of our creativity and efficiency. The University of Cyprus is firmly on its way towards becoming an innovative, pioneering and effective institution, with a European orientation and high standards of excellence, acting as a catalyst of change and progress of Cypriot society.

for additional information visit www.ucy.ac.cy


AEGEE
Association des Etats Generaux des Etudiants de l'Europe
European Students' ForumAEGEE is a multidisciplinary student organisation, promoting European integration among students. It is voluntary, non-profit, secular and operates without being linked with any political party.
It was founded in Paris in 1985. Today its network consists in 260 locals, in more than 40 countries in Europe, and gathers around 17000 members.
One particularity of AEGEE is to work without any national level. It solely relies on local groups (called antennae) in university cities all over Europe and on its European level.

AEGEE articulates its activities in 4 main fields of action:
Higher Education :
Example: In 2002, a project called "Eureca" was run, consisting in several conferences and seminars, was dealing with the improvement of the Socrates program.

Active Citizenship:
Example: In 2002, a project called "Unidebate" was organised in cooperation with ESIB and JADE, consisting in more than 100 local events and a final conference on the Future of Europe in the European parliament in Brussels.

Cultural Exchange:
Example: Each year, the "Summer Universities" project involves more than 100 antennae, providing around 3000 participants with language courses, and giving them the possibility to discover another culture for 2 weeks, at the lowest possible costs.

Peace and Stability:
Example: At the moment, a project called "Turkish Greek Civic Dialog", involving students from both Greece and Turkey is running. It consists in several events, such as conferences, essay contests and festivals. In August 2003, "Kayafest", an art festival dedicated to common aspects of Greek and Turkish culture, gathered around 3000 participants from all over Europe in Fethiye Kayaköy (Levissi).
Other projects concerning the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Caucasus are also currently running.

There are also around 150 other European events on various topics organised during the whole year that are opened to any interested person member or not.

More information on: headoffice@aegee.org or www.aegee.org


Roma Association "Cerenja" ­ Stip (R.Macedonia)
Roma Association "Cerenja"-Stip, R.Macedonia is a voluntary, non-government, non-political and independent organization of the citizens where its members could implement their common social, economic, humanity and cultural interest.
Roma Association "Cerenja"-Stip, is formed on 11.05.1995 and is one of the first non-government Roma associations, formed not only in Stip, but also in entire east Macedonia. There are 1200 members of the association and 20 of them are active members that are involved into its work.
The common aim of the Association is to make conditions of organized performance of permanent and intensive social activity of the Roma people as well as to follow, to research and to initiate questions that request the solutions of the society. They are also directly connected to advance of the society and economic position of the Roma people.
Common aims and tasks of the Association:
- cultural development of the Roma people;
- bringing up the historical and cultural traditions of the Roma;
- educational and cultural emancipation of the Roma;
- bringing up the ecology knowledge among the people;
- pre-school education of Roma children;
- health education;
- bringing up the Roma language;
- advancing of the human rights;
- advancing of the women and children's human rights.
All activities of Association of the Roma "Cerenja" are directed to the previously mention goals. Until now it has realized many projects in different fields.

edemir@soros.org.mk
www.cerenja.rom.com


SAVE THE CHILDREN ROMANIA
SAVE THE CHILDREN ROMANIA is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, based mainly on the voluntary activity of its members. The purpose of the organization is to promote and to implement children's rights as enshrined in the United Nations on the Rights of the Child.
The organization's activity is structured on three directions: education and training, social services, lobby and advocacy. The organization was created in April 1990 and is currently developing programs in 15 countries, with over 6000 members of which more than 800, mostly young people, are actively involved in the programs that take place in the organization.
Save the Children Organization monitors the implementation of the Convention and the program Integration of refugee children in Romanian society covers all aspects of a refugee child's life.
Refugee children are helped to adapt to a new world, a new culture, and to integrate in Romanian society. The extra-curricular activities have an essential role in the integration process as they will help a refugee child recognize her/his identity and cultural values, as well as develop through enhanced knowledge and adaptation on the Romanian reality.
Culture provides the children with an identity, continuity, and by assimilating values and traditions, they succeed to integrate in the society. The Multicultural Children's Club was established in April 1999, at school no. 36 (Bucharest) and is open to all children: refugees and Romanian. There the lesson of friendship, respect, tolerance and accepting the differences is part of daily activities. The Club offers the Romanian children an opportunity to discover that their friends, the refugees, are their equals.
Special places for refugee children Children's rooms were established in Gociu and Stolnicu Accommodation Centers. Here, refugee children have the possibility to discover the game. Personality, imagination and artistic expressions are only some of the refugee children's qualities, which could develop harmoniously to shape the personality of a future adult.
In these rooms, refugee children can also find support with their homework, school matters.
200 refugee or asylum seeking children and 34 parents received support for the integration in the Romanian community and benefited from counseling services, education and leisure activities in 2002.

rosc@mb.roknet.ro
www.savethechildren.net/romania


The Flemish Youth Council
The Flemish Youth Council tries as all national youth councils to represent the Flemish youngsters in the best possible way. Consultations are carried out in all possible ways in order to reach a qualitative and quantitative representation of the expectations of the Flemish youngsters. With this knowledge we try to affect on Flemish Government when it is developing its youth policy (we are a recognised consultative body of the Flemish Youth minister).

Through a fundamental restructuring of the Youth Council, membership is open for everybody who signs the Treaty of Children's rights. The General Assembly consists of 12 individual members and 12 representatives of national youth associations. The Flemish Youth Councils has 3 sub-commissions; Youth Policy, Youth work policy and International Affairs.

For more information visit www.vlaamsejeugdraad.be


"Verein fuer Dienste im Ausland nach Paragraph 12b Zivildienstgesetz"
"Verein fuer Dienste im Ausland nach Paragraph 12b Zivildienstgesetz" is a non-profit initiative, founded 1998 by Dr. Andreas Maislinger, that provides positions for Austrian Zivildieners all over the world. The regular twelve months lasting Zivildienst (alternative civilian service) is substituted by a 14-months work at one of our partner organisations. There are great variations in requirements. Auslandsdienst is an institution of the Republic of Austria which provides young male Austrians with an alternative to the compulsory military service. It is mainly focused on social work. The Verein fuer Dienste im Ausland is now aiming at offering Zivildienst-substitutes in three main-areas:
-Gedenkdienst: Gedenkdienst workers are on duty inHolocaust-Memorial-Institutions around
the world.
-Sozialdienst: An innovation, which is applied for annually. Social work worldwide.
-Friedensdienst: Working for peace.

info@auslandsdienst.at
www.auslandsdienst.at


THE POLISH RED CROSS/ THE POLISH RED CROSS YOUTH
The Polish Red Cross (founded 1918) is a non-governmental organisation. It has got about 450 branches. 100, 000 members are active volunteers who, through their work in local branches, contribute to ensuring a nationwide network and confirming the Polish Red Cross as one of Polish largest voluntary humanitarian organisation. The Polish Red Cross works with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies assisting refugees and offering relief to victims of natural disasters, and with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in war and conflict zones .The Red Cross is under obligation to help people in need throughout the world regardless of race, religion, or political persuasion. The Red Cross works on all sides of the lines in conflict and war zones.

The Polish Red Cross Youth is an independent organisation, operating under the banner of the Polish Red Cross.

Aims of PRC are:
-social and material care for people in need:
* because of a typhoon, hurricane, or earth quake
*bad economic position (inside the country)
-day-care centers for elderly or handicapped people
-visiting service for older and handicapped people
-hostels for singles mothers or abused mothers+ psychological, medical aid
-day-care centers for children and offering warm meals
-yearly action "Schools book for every child"
-preparation X-mas Eves and Easter Breakfast for elder, lonely, often homeless people
-education trainings for student about human rights
-summer work camps about humanitarian law for lawyers
-blood donors
-organising courses for au-pair programs
-summer camps for pauper children
-courses of first aid techniques
-provided help for refugees or immigrants: helping with filling in documents, finding rooms, learning Polish language and culture and medical aid.
-providing medical help during some sport or culture events
-international office of seeking for people, during wars or conflicts
-promotion healthful lifestyle among pupils

www.pck.org.pl


"POLIS"
Polis aims to help young people and their teachers to overcome passivity and helplessness - to discover, express and share the ethos of Human Rights and the vocation to participate in policy making and public life. Our main field of interest and action is civic journalism, training in responsible media work and use. We educate by providing an opportunity to participate in editorial work and to share responsibility for publishing "Polis", the Journal for the Art of Public Life and "Poliska", the younger sister of "Polis" compiled with the newsletter of our Association. Vocation to participate in policy making and public life involves training in the use of democratic procedures, effective and varied communication skills and teamwork as well as an opening of broader horizons, acceptance of European and world concerns.

Here are some of the "Polis" themes: to vote or not to vote? (in relation with the parliamentary elections in 1993 and 1997); a dossier on European integration and "Europe in Poland" (1994 and 1998); rights of children; generation gap; Human Rights (people and institutions active in this field in Poland); Bosnia; Polish-German relations and our contacts with Germany and German people; Polish-Ukrainian and Polish-Lithuanian relations; Belarus; young Poles and Albanians in dialogue; prospects of university studies; national identity; constitutionalism; presidential elections 1995; meeting people and their cities; are we ready for adult life?; journalism, campaigns, lobbying; Polish-American relations and the experience of contact with American life; the danger of "exclusion": Lord Ralf Dahrendorf's observation of squaring the circle of democracy; social concerns and globalization; remembering the Holocaust together with our Jewish colleagues; Human Rights in film; education; Eastern borderlands of Poland.

There are some themes which we still want to cover: Army's social role and its new European and civilization context; Russia; Cassubian region of Poland and Cassubian culture...

"Polis" is a serious, thoughtful publication which has already developed a certain distinctive style. We have been told that our publication "joins a certain youthful naiveté with very deep reflection". This is the case because our questions often came from the young people while the answers were sought by excellent experts. "Polis" was and always tries to be a journal of opinion - the art of public life means a democracy of careful, deliberate choices and constitutionalism with a clear option for human rights and dignity. "Polis" was often used by teachers as material for their work with students and as a source of relevant information useful for the preparation of entry exams for future students of law, social and political sciences, journalism, history... We published a selection of most relevant original material from "Polis" in Russian, Albanian and Lithuanian.

Printed "Polis" was a strictly non-profit venture. Copies were sold below the cost of production or even donated. This type of publication must be subsidised because the target readers are most often poor: schools and teachers in Poland are poor, young people who may be interested to read "Polis" have very limited means. We hoped that with the increase of circulation a higher percent of the subsidy would be recovered but profit making was certainly beyond reach and was not the goal. We fundraised to offer "Polis" free especially to rural schools and to groups of students engaged in our workshops and campaigns. With the on-line version, which is also non-profit, we have fewer dilemmas concerning circulation and costs, but we feel a strong lack of the printed effects of our work.

If you are interested in our activities please let us know! Perhaps we can do something together.

You can suggest possibilities.

More: www.sm.pl/polis/
E-mail: polis@sm.pl


Movement for a better world - Madrid (Spain)
Aims and objectives of the organisation:
The top priority is given to humanitarian aid, but it is also concerned with education.
Currently we are running a campaign to raise funds and collect donations for the people of Iraq. The project has two aspects to it. The first, and more important, is the actual collection and then the eventual distribution of all the donations. The second is to organise talks and lectures in various universities to create awareness among the youth about the current situation in Iraq.


Next Stop New Life (Belarus)
We are a youth association which supports and develops youth initiatives in different spheres of activity such as patriotic up-bringing, strengthening at peace and friendship among people. Republican youth public association "Next Stop New Life" based on principles of democracy, freedom, plurality and volunteer-ship wants to boost the evolvement of an independent youth's personality able to create and make decisions and to be responsible for them.

We undertake projects in different areas, such as youth multilateral exchanges festivals, conferences, seminars, theatrical and musical caravans, ecological and work camps, social projects, cultural exchanges, creative studios, dialogue schools, informal education and related activities.

Through the years, "Next Stop New Life" held its activities in an international cooperation basis, both bilaterally and multilaterally, with many countries, such as Denmark, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the Ukraine. We want a really democratic society, become aware of our activity and all kinds of freedom.

We are against discrimination.

www.nextstop.org.by
yauheniya@mail.ru, nextstop@user.unibel.by


ONE WORLD ASSOCIATION
ONE WORLD ASSOCIATION is non-governmental, non-profit voluntary organisation. It started its activity in 1993. One World Association is the Polish branch of an international non-governmental organisation Service Civil International (SCI) which was created in 1920. The aims of Association are:
- development of voluntary activity which aims at promotion of peace and tolerance
- development of mutual understanding and tolerance between people from different
countries, nations, cultures and religions
- development of grass root initiatives

The aims of Association are accomplished through different forms of activity:
- short-term voluntary projects - work camps
- medium- and long-term volunteer exchanges
- training courses and seminars
- topical actions

Poland
info@jedenswiat.org.pl
www.jedenswiat.org.pl,

Greece
scihellas@otenet.gr
www.sci-hellas.tk

International:
www.sciint.org/


YOUTH CENTER FOR CONFLICT STUDIES AND PEACEMAKING
YCCS&P is a voluntary, non-governmental, and non-political organization of Azerbaijani youth. For a long period of time this center acted as youth organization within the NGO "Ruzgar", which was established in April 1996.
This center unifies many young specialists and prospective students majoring in various fields.

Main aims of the YCCS&P:
-Investigation of political, ethnic socio-economic, environmental problems in the region, which leads to the conflicts as within our society so between states.
-Protection of Human Rights.
-Establishment and strengthening civil movement for the prevention of conflicts.
-Maintaining relations of Azerbaijan with International Governmental and Non-governmental Organizations.
-Suggesting the ways for peaceful solution of armed conflicts, which take place in the
Caucasus region.
-Promotion the idea of peace among the various groups of the population and contribution to the peacemaking process by various means, etc.

To pursue these aims and YCCS&P carries out the following activity:

-Organization of Conferences, Seminars and Meetings and carrying out Workshops and
Trainings on conflict analysing.
-Implementation of projects connected with conflict studies.

-Dissemination of information and propaganda for enlightenment the population and activity for overcoming the contradictions in various fields of social life, etc.

Chairman of the YCCS&P - Kanan Mustafayev
Information attaché ­ L. Mejidova

Current project: "Overcoming of national and cultural differences in protection of the environment in the Caucasian region".

Address:
124 G. Garayev apt. 128, 370119, Baku, Azerbaijan,
Tel/Fax: (+99412) 743004, Mobile: (+99455) 7849865
E-mail: kmustafayev@iatp.az


Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste
Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP) is a volunteer organization founded by Christians seeking to confront the era of National Socialism in German history. The recognition of German guilt for World War II was the starting point for Action Reconciliation, stated during the synod of the Protestant church in Germany 1958:

Action Reconciliation started its volunteer program in other countries than the ones named in the "Call for Peace"(Poland, Russia and Israel). It was perhaps too soon for some countries to respond positively, the wounds of the recent past were too deep. In the early years, starting in 1959, young volunteers helped to build among others: a social academy in Rotterdam (the Netherlands), a church and a home for the handicapped in Norway, a synagogue in Villeurbanne (France), a Kindergarten in Skopje (Yugoslavia), an irrigation plant on the Island of Crete (Greece), and an inter-national meeting center in the ruined cathedral of Coventry (England).

Action Reconciliation was founded as an all-German organization, but the division of Germany made joint work impossible. In East Germany, in 1962, the work of rebuilding what had been destroyed during the war began in three churches in Magdeburg. Out of this, an extensive summer camp program developed, bringing together people from Poland, the former USSR, Hungary and Romania. Since the political change in the former GDR and the resulting unification of the two Action Reconciliation - East and West - in 1991, more than 25 summer camps are now being organized in 10 European countries with 400 participants yearly. The summer camp volunteers work on Jewish cemeteries, on memorial sites of former concentration camps, and in social facilities.
Action Reconciliation in West Germany continued with the long-term volunteer program. In the middle of the sixties, social peace services took the place of construction work. Supporting and working with people in social facilities, with survivors of the Holocaust and minorities became the essence of the volunteer program.
Our work has grown and changed. Action Reconciliation - since 1968 called Action Reconciliation Service for Peace - is now active in several areas:
· Long- and short-term volunteer service in Israel, the USA, Western and Eastern Europe.
· Educational work, together with survivors of the Holocaust, at memorial centers of former concentration camps, in institutes and museums.
· Confronting German history, challenging right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism, lobbying for the recognition of "forgotten" victims of the Nazi oppression and participation in peace groups and initiatives.

The name of the Organization:
The two words forming the name of "Action Reconciliation" (Aktion Sühnezeichen) reflect its back-ground, philosophy, activities and goals.
"Action" emphasizes the effort and energy invested in reconciliation between Germany and her victims should focus on working for peaceful relations and cooperation. The activities involve the individual and the nation alike, rather than simply remaining the administrative task of the government. They should overtly demonstrate the historical guilt and responsibility of the German people for the Nazi years and the desire for reconciliation with those whom Germany wronged.
"Sühne" means atonement: it points to the moral basis of compensation. We must confront our history and learn from it. The term "Sühne" recalls the terrible sins of the past as well as more recent failures. Such remembrance compels us to rethink our responsibility in the light of what it means to be a German after 1945.
"Zeichen" or "sign" represents the sense of modesty which should accompany our work. The work of our volunteers can only count as "Zeichen", i.e. as symbols of atonement and of the desire for reconciliation. Furthermore, a sign is also a signal, it is a challenge - more has to be done.

asf@asf-ev.de
www.asf-ev.de


Graffiti Jeugddienst vzw
Graffiti Jeugddienst vzw is a national youth service recognized and supported by the Flemish government.

Graffiti Jeugddienst wants to offer children and youngsters between 6 and 30 years old the useful and necessary means to experiment in a creative way with divers (alternative) forms of communication. The reasoning being that communication is a conditio sine qua non to participate actively, consciously and critically in society.
Graffiti Jeugddienst
*guides more than fifty different workshops and walks
*supports new projects
*informs young people and organizations through proper issues, its library and website. *influences youth policy as much as possible;
*networks young people, all kinds of services and youth movements in Belgium and abroad.

graffiti@jeugdwerknet.be
www.graffiti-jeugddienst.be


ESSA
European Studies Scientific Association was founded in 1997 by the students of the faculty of European Studies at the Cracow University of Economics in order to publicize the knowledge about the economical, political, historical and cultural dimensions of Europe and to promote the idea of the European integration. Essa organizes conferences, workshops, trainings, international student exchanges, conducts scientific researches and issues a quarterly magazine "Acta Europae". Some of the most important achievements of Essa include "Talking about the cruise" ­ a film illustrating cultural differences, workshops on human rights and annual conferences assessing the degree of the integration of Poland with UE.

knse@wizard.ae.krakow.pl
www.wizard.ae.krakow.pl/~knse


Media Monitoring Agency - Academia Catavencu
ORIGINS: Academia Catavencu was founded in 1991 as a non-profit, cultural organization with a mission to develop the critical thinking of the Romanian citizen. One of the main objectives of the organization is to develop resistance to political manipulation in post-communist Romania.
Since 1994, Academia Catavencu has developed the Media Monitoring Agency - MMA, a human rights advocacy branch.

MISSION:
Our mission is to promote the freedom and quality of communication for defending civil rights.

STRUCTURE:
Media Monitoring Agency is structured on three departments:

(1) Research Department
The department's main activity is media monitoring, but it also uses focus-groups and opinion polls.
We use our own monitoring method, a method we developed during previous years. The purpose of this program is to offer our media peers feedback with respect to the quality of their media products.

(2) Education Department
Training, professional guides, text-books and tool-kits

(3) Direct action Department
Advocacy campaigns and intervention on legislative issues, public events (conferences, seminars, round tables, press conferences), direct intervention in crisis situations

The departments are inter-related.

BENEFICIARIES:
-The media community (journalists and owners)
-Undergraduate students and students in journalism and communication
-Teachers, professors and researchers
-Workers in the judicial system
-National minorities
-All Romanian Citizens

agdemon@fx.ro
www.mma.ro


Polish Humanitarian Organisation
PHO is a non governmental organisation registered in Poland, which works internationally and within the country. Our Mission is to make the world a better place through alleviation of human suffering and promotion of humanitarian values. PHO realises its mission by helping communities in crises to regain responsibility for their own future and become self-reliant. PHO shapes humanitarian attitudes among the public and creates modern culture of mutual help. PHO combines effectiveness with the respect for human dignity.

pah@pah.org.pl
www.pah.org.pl


The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is an independent public body established under the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Commission's general duties include:
working towards the elimination of discrimination
promoting equality of opportunity and encouraging good practice

promoting affirmative / positive action
promoting good relations between people of different racial groups
overseeing the implementation and effectiveness of the statutory duty on public authorities.
keeping the relevant legislation under review

On 1 October 1999 the commission took over the functions previously exercised by the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland, the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland, the Fair Employment Commission and the Northern Ireland Disability Council.

race@equalityni.org
www.equalityni.org


UNITED for Intercultural Action
European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees
UNITED: Voluntary cooperation of more than 550 organisations from 49 European countries working together - united in the biggest anti-racism network.
FOR: The rights of refugees and migrants. For an end to racism, nationalism and discrimination.
INTERCULTURAL: Respecting different approaches. Promoting cooperation across national and cultural borders. Making our multicultural societies work.
ACTION: European campaigns like 21/3 Action Week Against Racism, 20/6 International Refugee Day, 9/11 International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism, One Race - Human Race!, Open Borders - Open Minds!, Protection and Equal Rights for Roma!; Conferences to share experience and plan future action; Help and assistance to supporting organisations; Vital information distribution.

What is the UNITED network?

SUPPORTERS:
Linked through UNITED, hundreds of organisations work together on a voluntary basis. Everyone is welcome to take part in any of the activities stimulated by UNITED, but no-one is forced. Each action is prepared by an everchanging international planning group with members drawn from the network organisations across Europe.
RESPECT
All of the organisations are different, but there are many aims which they share and where they can agree on common actions. UNITED seeks active cooperation with other anti-racist initiatives in Europe.
INDEPENDENT
UNITED is and will remain independent from all political parties, organisations or states. That is why financial contributions are sought from a wide range of supporting organisations, foundations, individuals, national ministries, the Council of Europe and the Commission of the EU. All activities of UNITED preferably have more than one sponsor.

AWARENESS:
Constant contact with the television, radio and print media raises the wider public's awareness of the issues. This is vital in giving proper recognition to the organisations' actions and in promoting the aims of the UNITED network. UNITED PR-material and posters are distributed all over Europe.

SECRETARIAT:
A conscious decision was taken to keep the secretariat small and efficient. The workers are in constant contact with the network organisations, ensuring that information and proposals for action are transmitted rapidly. Information is received regularly from more than 1800 organisations and mailings are sent to more than 2000 groups all over Europe.

Why Does UNITED Exist?
EUROPE:
Racism, nationalism, fascism, discrimination, asylum policies... all of them have a European dimension even though they often look like purely national issues.
Reports from all over Europe demonstrate the increasing dangers facing migrants, refugees and ethnic minorities. Often these dangers are increased by undemocratic intergovernmental decisions like the Schengen Treaty. Strangely enough, racist and fascist organisations have strong European links from Portugal to Russia, from Sweden to Italy. "Fortress Europe" needs to be fought at local, regional and European levels - it cannot be fought on one level alone.

NETWORKING:
This is why the participants of two anti-racist European youth seminars decided to set up the UNITED network in 1992. Bringing together such a wide variety of organisations is difficult work - but necessary to increase the effectiveness of campaigns and information-sharing across Europe.

CAMPAIGNS / CONFERENCES:
European-wide campaigns, action weeks, etc. do not just happen by themselves. UNITED conferences are designed to enable the network organisations to make concrete plans and discuss common strategies.
We work better with people we know!

CONTACT:
Like-minded organisations can find each other through UNITED and go on to work on specific projects together.
A new development is that organisations with similar concerns (for instance, refugee organisations or anti-racist telephone hotlines) set up working links within UNITED.

Who are UNITED's Network Organisations?

DYNAMIC:
They are active organisations engaged in the fight against racism, fascism and nationalism and in support of migrants and refugees.
They share ideas and work together to put them into practice. A good example here would be the "Open Borders - Open Minds!" campaign. Refugee and other UNITED network organisations combined forces to put pressure on governments through coordinated actions like demonstrations, protest faxes to ministries and info stands.
The idea was born at a UNITED conference.

EVERYWHERE:
At a recent UNITED conference participating organisations came from all over Europe: from Portugal (SOS Racismo) to Russia (Memorial-St. Petersburg), from Finland (National Equal Opportunities Network) to Croatia (Anti War Campaign).
Some organisations support the network as part of their wider work; especially international youth organisations such as Service Civil International or the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organisation.

THE UNITED NETWORK ORGANISATIONS RECEIVE:
CALENDAR:
Every two months UNITED publishes the Calendar of Internationalism containing details of campaigns, actions, seminars with dates and contact data.
ADDRESS BOOK:
The European Address Book Against Racism is updated each year and contains addresses of over 1500 organisations active in the field.
INFO PACKS:
Practical help in fundraising, organising campaigns, etc. Posters and other material produced by UNITED and the network organisations are distributed at various intervals.
ACCESS:
Access to information, support, contacts, advice and the possibility to participate in the most exciting and effective network in Europe!
UNITED can also offer a print run of labels from its mailing list.

HOW CAN WE GET INVOLVED?
Discuss the ideas and aims of the UNITED network within your organisation. Let us know that you would like to join or receive information.
And add UNITED to your mailing list!
Contact our secretariat - we speak English, German, French and Dutch.
ACT!

Written by the participants


UP

UNITED for Intercultural Action
European network against nationalism, racism, fascism
and in support of migrants and refugees
Postbus 413, NL-1000 AK Amsterdam, Netherlands
phone +31-20-6834778, fax +31-20-6834582
info@unitedagainstracism.org, www.unitedagainstracism.org