SOURCE: THE IRISH TIMES Brexit means we need to build new bridges both to Britain and to a wider world Brexit is a reminder that many people have been puzzled as to why a country would suddenly and unilaterally withdraw from an international organisation that promotes co-operation, democracy and human rights. An organisation that many other states are bending over backwards to join. The international organisation that comes to mind is the commonwealth, which Ireland suddenly left in 1949. In doing so this State cut itself off from 2.4 billion people who form a voluntary association of 53 sovereign, equal and independent states. The British commonwealth that we left is no more. The word “British” has been dropped. Republics are welcome as members. The commonwealth has its own flag and operates on the basis of equality between all members. Thirty-one of the member countries are small states or island nations, like our own. Some of the members – Rwanda and Mozambique – have no historical connection to the British Empire. Every country in the organisation has an equal say. Today’s commonwealth is not about British dominance. Since Ireland left, a separate commonwealth secretariat has been established, to promote democracy, human … Continue reading
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Ilargi interview on energy – November 2019 … Continue reading
I start from the function in Aegina on 14th June, the most recent episode in a years-long effort for promotion of a pan-European citizens’ initiative with Aegina as its starting point. The initiative was reinforced by the pre-election visit to Aegina by the SYRIZA parliamentarian Costas Douzinas (as member of a SYRIZA delegation), who agreed to participate in the endeavour to implement this idea. Of course there is also the effort being made by DiEM25, the pan-European citizens’ movement founded by Yanis Varoufakis and his collaborators. DiEM25 in turn founded in Greece the political party MERA25, which now has representation in the Greek Parliament. Perhaps there are alternative scenarios for those who are interested in the idea of a functioning European citizens’ movement aimed at establishing an independent and democratic citizens’ European Union with a social and non-threatening identity. 1) DiEM25. In the past DiEM25 was mixed up with the attempt to found a political party, an objective which has now been achieved, at least in Greece. My position is that this gives the opportunity to DiEM25 to acquire an independent character. This is something that did not exist in the past. In February 2017 Yanis Varoufakis specifically excluded the … Continue reading