Archivo de la categoría: International @en

@TheTroikaParty project. Looking at how the Troika threatens democracy

Troika? Never heard of it? Don’t worry! You will learn first hand when one unforgettable day the three inseparable friends (IMF, ECB & EC) visit your beautiful country, not for tourism but for a bailout! What? You are not in need of a bailout? That doesn’t matter, Troika offers its bailout policies at a competitive price. Besides, nobody asked you!

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Many people are unaware of the strong role the Troika plays in the EU policies; mainly with regard to the countries in the South and East of Europe but with growing influence also in the North. With the May 2014 European Parliament elections getting closer, the Troika Party campaign is conceived as a tool that aims at raising awarenessin citizens but also at dismantling the current neoliberal narrative and unpack the role of the Troika in European decision making. There is not a focus on who to vote or not voting; we aim at people rethinking the concept of Europe and democracy. Sigue leyendo →

3rd Newsletter from TroikaWatch

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Similar to the last few months, the European context is characterized by governments doing window dressing, while the situation for more and more people gets worse. After Ireland, Portugal is likeliest to be the second country to leave the umbrella of the Troika, in May. However, this is unlikely to better the living conditions for the people there, because austerity will continue for years and whether the level of debt can really get reduced without considerable debt relief is more than questionable.

In this newsletter you can read about: 

Overall situation, European level, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Cyprus, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, From our side

Read the Newsletter: http://www.troikawatch.net/3rd-newsletter-from-troikawatch/

 

Exhibition «Living in a Debtocracy»

Illustrations by Marc Rodríguez Porcell
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The goal of the exhibition is to reach a wide group of people with information about the process of indebtedness of the Spanish State, and its impacts on the population. Through illustrations, plain but serious explanations, charts and date, the exhibition «Living in a Debtocracy» summarizes the process of indebtedness of the Spanish State, covering the relationship that it has with the debt in the South, emphazising the impact that this debt has on the population, as it acts as an argument for structural reforms. The exhibition ends with a call for the construction of alternatives presenting the proposal for a Citizen Debt Audit as a tool towards these alternatives.

The exhibition has 30 slides prepared to print on DIN-A2. They have a Creative Commons licence for free downloading. You can download the two versions here: web and printable (higher quality). You also have the versions in Spanish and Catalan.

A European Square

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European Social Movements Strategy Meeting – Amsterdam. (See Storify)

Coming from all over Europe, 60 organizations and networks [see complete list below] from well-established groups with a long history to the most recent social movements, gathered over three days in Amsterdam to share stories of successful resistance and to shape common campaigns and strategies.

There was a strong commitment to apply the lessons learnt during the recent camps and occupations. The proposed agenda was modified along the lines of a general assembly, where all the participants had their say through an open and horizontal process. Different working groups were created to further develop the topics that were considered most important for the months to come: Democracy and the Commons, Troika and Debt, the Competitiveness Pact, and the European elections.

As a result, four different initiatives were jointly developed at the end of the strategy meeting: Sigue leyendo →

1st newsletter of Troika Watch

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Source: www.troikawatch.net

Overall situation

The last months of the year are traditionally the time when national parliaments vote on the budgets for next year. Like in the years before, in many countries deep cuts in social services and further privatizations are planned. Despite good-sounding news from and for the financial markets, austerity for ordinary people continues. This might not be by accident.

When this newsletter is sent out, Ireland will be the first country that exits a Troika program. Unfortunately, the difference for the people will not be that big, because austerity continues. The same counts for people in other countries like Spain or Portugal, who want to follow Ireland on this path. Any country that believes it can get out of the crisis by austerity, will have austerity forever.

The current situation is characterized by a Troika that still pushes for even more austerity and by governments that are doing window-dressing by claiming to see a positive development for the times ahead, which will never become reality if the current policy is continued. Neither in the Troika nor in the national governments, talks are about what should really be on stage: a significant debt relief in many countries – not only for the public, but also the private sector -, a restoration of public services and significant investment for facing some of the great challenges of our time, such as climate change and energy shortage. Sigue leyendo →

Meeting on «Economic governance, the Troika and the struggles against European neoliberalism» Amsterdam, October 4th to 6th

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Conclusions of the meeting: http://storify.com/ICANetwork/euincrisis-economic-governance-troika-struggles

 

Activists, organisations and networks addressing the undemocratic neoliberal crisis governance imposed from the EU will be meeting in Amsterdam from October 4th to 6th to discuss together which struggle strategies have and are being most successful in each country, with the aim to build a stronger and more coordinated European movement.

The meeting has been organised by different groups such as Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), Transnational Institute (TNI), ATTAC, Blockupy Frankfurt and the Spanish Platform for a Citizen Debt Audit (PACD) amongst others, and it will take place in Amsterdam’s Conference centre (Lombokstraat 40). Issues such as successful experiences of resistance, coordination of European and national initiatives, common priorities and targets, increasing social awareness and communication strategies will be worked on. Sigue leyendo →