MINELRES: UNITED: nomination form UNITED Conference 27-31 October, Oslo

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: UNITED <donotreply@unitedagainstracism.org>


E-NEWS: nomination form UNITED Conference 27-31 October, Oslo 
UNITED E-NEWS 09/07/04: UNITED CONFERENCE INVITATION

Dear colleagues and friends,

please find below the information and nomination form for our next
UNITED Conference,


LIVING OUR LIVES WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION: ANTI-RACISM IN YOUTH CULTURE
AND SPORTS
27-31 OCTOBER 2004 IN OSLO (NORWAY)

Conference prepared by:
Anti-Racist Centre ARS (N)
Finnish Youth Cooperation Allianssi (FIN)
Forum van Etnisch-Culturele Minderheden (B)
Helsinki Citizens' Assembly HCA (MD)
Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre (GE)
International Culture and Youth Exchange ICYE (CH)
'Never Again' Association (PL)
Norwegian People's Aid NPA (N)
UNITED for Intercultural Action

All information and the nomination form can be found on our site
http://www.unitedagainstracism.org under upcoming conferences.

If you are interested to nominate a representative, please return the
form as soon as possible.

Best wishes,
Geert Ates
UNITED


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UNITED - CONFERENCE INVITATION

LIVING OUR LIVES WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION: ANTI-RACISM IN YOUTH CULTURE
AND SPORTS
27-31 OCTOBER IN OSLO (NORWAY)

A football stadium or a disco can be a mirror of society.
The struggle against racism and discrimination includes combating
everyday racism and everyday discriminatory practices. They are often
embedded in culture and lifestyle: the way we live our lives. In
contemporary societies lifestyles are influenced and formed through
popular culture and youth culture. Youth culture has become a powerful
vehicle for transmitting ideas and attitudes. The field of sports, and
football in particular, seems extremely important in shaping identities.
Music, subcultures, new media - all of them have a significant impact on
the way people live their lives in our increasingly pluralist societies,
both in Western and Eastern Europe.
Youth culture is often used to spread racism. Anti-racists and
anti-fascists must be conscious of the challenges present in youth
culture and sports. It is necessary to work on attractive alternatives
against racist tendencies in those spheres. Moreover, youth culture and
sports are excellent tools against social exclusion and for social
integration and participation of minority and migrant youth, including
young refugees and asylum-seekers.
But is it sufficient to concentrate our efforts on the cultural politics
of lifestyle? Can we use it to fight for changes in discriminatory
structures and institutions, too?
The aim of this Conference of UNITED for Intercultural Action is to
provide a forum for the important debate on racism and anti-racism in
youth culture and sports in Europe today. New practical ideas will be
exchanged and developed and joint campaigns will be planned. UNITED
invites committed individuals who are representatives of
non-governmental organisations to nominate for the Conference.

The Conference will focus on key issues such as:
- Migration and culture
- Nationalism, national identity and youth
- Exchange of good practice, successful anti-racist projects in the
field of youth culture and sports
- Participation of music and sport stars as role models in the struggle
against racism

There will be an emphasis on practical discussions and creative
activities in working groups on topics such as:
A - Cultural activities in the fight against racism (music, theatre�)
B - Sport against racism (access of refugees and asylum-seekers to
sports, racism in football stadiums�)
C - Youth policy and youth participation (legal and political aspects,
awareness and empowerment�)
D - Anti-fascism and the involvement of youth (subcultures, countering
the influence of "white power" music and extreme-right groups�)
E - Minorities, migrants and identity (integration, participation,
education�)
F - Young refugees (human rights, detention centers, trafficking�)

UNITED is the largest European anti-racist network of more than 560
organisations. Through its conferences anti-racist and human rights
activists from all parts of Europe meet and discuss effective ways of
combating racism and discrimination. At a recent UNITED conference held
in June 2004 near Dresden 66 delegates representing organisations from
28 countries developed common strategies against right-wing extremism
and racism.

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UNITED is the pan-European network against nationalism, racism, fascism
and in support of migrants and refugees, supported by over 560
organisations in 46 European countries.
How to join the network: see http://www.unitedagainstracism.org 'joining
the network'

UNITED E-NEWS is an irregular email service to 4500 organisations and
contact persons active in the working  fields: anti-racism, refugee
support, anti-fascism, against antisemitism, migration, minority issues,
intercultural youth work, against nationalism etc.

Regular postal mailings, containing publications such as Addressbook
Against Racism, Calendar of Internationalism, Campaign reports, Posters
etc. are sent to over 2200 European organisations.  If you also would
like to receive this mailing: see http://www.unitedagainstracism.org
'joining the network'

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

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