MINELRES: Fwd: UNITED Conference in Stockholm, 27 May - 1 June 2008

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UNITED E-NEWS 14/02/08:
UNITED CONFERENCE 27 May -1 June 2008 in Stockholm (S) - "Get Educated,
Fight Racism!"
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

**Deadline for nominations 25 March 2008**

Contents of this E-news:
- Call for nomination
- Description and aims
- Program (draft)
- Technical Info
- Expression of interest e-form

************************************************

Dear colleagues and friends,

please find below the information and nomination form for our next
UNITED Conference, "Get Educated, Fight Racism!", 27 May - 1 June 2008,
Stockholm (S)

Conference prepared by:
* Associazione Rieti Immigrants - ARI (I)
* Foundation of Subjective Values (H)
* GetEducated - Learning Media Against Racism (S)
* MTP Oradea (RO)
* National Afro-Swedish Association (S)
* The Union 21st Century (GE)
* Worthy Life for Asylum Seekers (DK)
* Youth Human Rights Movement (RUS)
* UNITED for Intercultural Action

With the support of:
* European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe
* The Swedish National Board of Youth Affairs (S)
* Commission of the European Union - Grundtvig Programme

All information and the e-nomination form can be found below, and soon
on our http://www.unitedagainstracism.org website.

If your organisation is interested to nominate a representative, please
return the expression of interest form (below) as soon as possible
(deadline 25 March 2008), preferably by email to
conference@unitedagainstracism.org
- Please fill in this form completely providing all data as requested.
If you invest more effort in the application it has more chance to be
successful!
- Each organisation can register only ONE representative (living in
Europe). Priority is given to participants under 30.
- Sending this form to UNITED does not guarantee that you will be
selected for the conference - we receive many nominations.
- Only those candidates selected for participation will be contacted via
e-mail � 4 April 2008.

Best wishes,
Geert Ates, Camelia Nistor
UNITED


*******************************************************************
UNITED CONFERENCE 27 May - 1 June 2008 in Stockholm (S) - CALL FOR
NOMINATIONS

DESCRIPTION AND AIMS:

What do you know about racism in Sweden?
Sweden has made relatively good headway towards the aim of equality,
according to popular beliefs. However the truth is somewhat different
from what you might imagine. Racism is just as present in Sweden as in
any other country and major efforts must therefore be put into place to
combat it. One problem is that the roles of advisors, educators and
keepers of order are reserved for ethnic Swedish while 'the others' are
forced into a conditional existence where competence, honour, knowledge,
commitment and even the right to be in Sweden can be questioned. Sweden
has one of the largest migrant populations in Europe and it needs to
adjust its conditions in order for it to become a truly multi ethnic
society.

How can we recognize racism?
Sometimes it can be hard to recognize racism around you, especially if
you yourself are not the victim of it. The problem is that relatively
few people commit racist acts deliberately while many more behave in
racist manners without meaning to hurt other people. In the same way,
systems, rules, education systems or organizations discriminate against
some groups of people either deliberately or without intending to, what
is generally called institutional racism. This is also is a part of
Sweden but the Swedish society has had a very hart time to own up to
this fact.

The school system is a good example of this. People often think that
racism in schools died out a long time ago but nothing could be further
from the truth. Racism in the learning environment is more evident than
ever, and it needs to be stopped because it affects the youths
possibilities to becom anti-racist as adults. This is a challenge Sweden
and Europe have to deal with.

Education has a key role to play in eradicating racism and valuing
diversity and it is a responsibility for all educational establishments,
including those with few or no ethnic minority pupils. Promoting racial
equality demands a whole school approach and commitment from all those
who are involved in the life and work of their school.

Racism is linked to the educational achievement of minority ethnic
groups, however the connections are complex. That's why we want to
invite you to attend the UNITED conference in Stockholm on May 2008, so
you can be a part of putting an agenda into place to address this
problem.

Panel discussions, working groups, debates, lectures, plenary sessions,
political cafes, intercultural activities and information market are
some of the methods we will use to debate these issues.

Through the working groups below, issues like the ones mentioned earlier
will be discussed. Your contribution will be valuable.... If you want to
'get educated', participate in one of the following:

* Open the gates! Get Educated!
When developing anti-racism educational strategies parents, schools,
institutions and civil society are key actors.

* Face-it! New faces of Racism.
We are facing new forms of racism targeting people from Eastern Europe,
Roma group and many others.

* Welcome Refugees! Tear down the walls!
We want to have a look at detention policies and legal aspects
concerning refugess and asylum seekers.

* Fascism! Spot It, Stop It!
How to reduce the popularity of extreme-right and fascists groups.

* One Europe, Two Europe... Find your place!
Are we living in the same Europe? We want to have a critical look on how
division of Europe affects everyone.

* Enough slavery! Time for Equal Rights!
Migrants are facing discrimination and xenophobia daily in their working
place or at schools, and are often victims of slavery in the host
country. We want equal rights for everyone and we will seek strategies
to achieve this goal.


UNITED is the largest pan-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 October 2007 in Baku (AZ) more than 75 delegates representing
organisations from 33 European countries analysed the current situation
of refugees, internally displaces persons and groups of people affected
by discrimination in Europe and developed comon strategies to improve
cooperation and promote tolerance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------
PROGRAM (draft)

TUESDAY 27 MAY
Arrival of participants - Until ca 17.30
16.00 - GET DOCUMENTED! - Registration of participants
20.00 - "Breaking the Blocks", Informal opening reception

WEDNESDAY 28 MAY
09.30-11.00
Welcome
What is UNITED?
Presentation of co-organizer: National Afro-Swedish Association (S)
Program/team/technicalities
Personal introductions of participants

11.15-12.30 Discussion groups "The Danger of Words"
Definitions and concepts most used in anti-racist/anti-discrimination
work

14.30-16.00 RACISM IN SWEDEN
* The history of racial thinking in Sweden
* Structural racism in Sweden - Presentations and questions -

16.15-18.00
Thematic Working Groups - Introduction of key issues -
A. Open the Gates! Get Educated!
B. Face-It! New faces of Racism.
C. Welcome Refugees! Tear down the walls!
D. Fascism! Spot It and Stop It!
E. One Europe, two Europe... Find your place!
F. Enough slavery! Time for Equal Rights!

18.00 - 18.30
The need for European Cooperation - The Swedish National Board of Youth
Affairs

20.30
Info Market: Present your Organisation
- with the participation of local NGOs -

21.30 International Snacks

THURSDAY 29 MAY
09.30-11.00 NEW FASCISTS
Political agenda of fascist groups - Panel discussion

11.15-12.30
Continuation of the Thematic Working Groups - sharing practices -

14.30-16.00 GOOD PRACTICES
An example of an antiracism project from Sweden
An example of a refugee project from Ukraine

16.15-18.00
Continuation of the Thematic Working Groups - sharing practices -

18.00-18.30 GET ACTIVE!
Short presentation of UNITED campaigns:
21 March - European-wide Action Week Against Racism
9 November - 'Kristallnacht' Commemoration
20 June - International Refugee Day / Fortress Europe - No More Deaths
(plenary session)

21.00 Political Cafe
Anti-racism versus tolerance

FRIDAY 30 MAY
09.30-11.00
Continuation of the Thematic Working Groups - developing strategies -

11.15-12.45
Presentation of the results of the Thematic Working Groups

14.30-15.30 Reception at Rosenbad (Sledge of Swedish Govenment)
15:30 -17.00 Guided tour in Stockholm:
Oscar Hall
Castle of the King

17.00 - 20.00 Free time in Stockholm

20.00-22.30 Dinner at City Hall of Stockholm

22.30 Free evening / (optional) Movie / Political Cafe

SATURDAY 31 MAY
09.30-10.30 FACE YOUR FEARS
Romaphobia in Europe - European Roma Grassroot Organisation (RO)
Afrophobia in Europe - Center against Racism (S)
- Presentations and discusions -

10:45-12:30 GET ACTIVE!
Campaign Working Groups
1. Speak - Up!: Action Week Against Racism
2. Open Borders: International Refugee Day
3. Combat Fascism: Internationay Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism
4. Media Campaigning: Communication in Action!
5. Networking: Tell me how you do it
6. Educational tools for campaigning: Learn them and use them.

14:30-15:45 GET IDEAS - project presentations
An example of an educational project
Refugee testimony

16:00-17:00 GET ACTIVE!
Presentation of results of the Campaign Working Groups

17:00-17:30 Open Forum
contributions of participants

17:30-18:30
Evaluation of the conference & Official closing of the conference

20.30
Intercultural Evening & Farewell Party with a Swedish band/artist

SUNDAY 1 JUNE
Departure of participants

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TECHNICAL INFO:

Working methods
.. plenary sessions, working groups, lectures, political cafes,
presentations, debates, intercultural 'games', information market,
cultural activities, open forum.

Participants:
The conference is planned for � 70 participants (living in Europe) who
represent (inter) national anti-racist, anti-fascist, refugee, human
rights and minority rights organisations. Active grass-roots groups from
all over Europe are also invited. Participation is rotated from one
conference to another. Priority will be given to nominations from young
delegates (under 30 years old) with a minority background. Preference is
given to those organisations that actively take part in UNITED
campaigns. Participants should act as multipliers, spreading the
information to as many people as possible. We will try to reach an equal
balance of female/male participants and a good geographical
distribution. Each organisation can nominate only ONE delegate.

Language:
The conference language is English. All participants are expected to
have at least basic knowledge of English. But don't worry, English is
almost nobody's mother tongue. If you have difficulties in expressing
yourself, surely we can help each other.

Financial conditions: Participation fee - travel costs

The participation fee of the conference is:
120 Euro for participants from Western Europe: A, B, CH, CY, D, DK, E,
F, FL, FIN, GB, GR, I, IS, IRL, L, M, N, NL, P, S (group 1)
70 Euro for participants from Central Europe: BG, BH, CZ, EE, H, HR, LV,
LT, MK, MNE, PL, RO, RS, SI, SK, TR, XZ (group 2)
40 Euro for participants from Eastern and Southern Europe: AL, ARM, AZ,
BY, GE, KZ, KY, MD, RUS, UA, UZB (groups 3)

Full board & lodging and the complete program is included.

Organisations that paid their 2008 supporter fee to the UNITED Network
will receive a 50% reduction of the participation fee.
http://www.unitedagainstracism.org/pages/supportcard.htm (explanations
about how to become a supporter)

Contribution to international travel costs
Participants travelling from Western Europe (A, B, CH, CY, D, DK, E, F,
FIN, GB, GR, I, IS, IRL, L, M, N, NL, P):
UNITED can contribute maximum 75% to the costs of your flight, not more
than 250 Euro.

Participants travelling from Central Europe (BG, BH, CZ, EE, H, HR, LV,
LT, MK, MNE, PL, RO, RS, SI, SK, TR, XZ - group 2):
UNITED can contribute maximum 90% to the costs of your flight, not more
than 350 Euro.

Participants travelling from Eastern and Southern Europe (AL, ARM, AZ,
BY, GE, KZ, KY, MD, RUS, UA, UZB - group 3)
UNITED can contribute maximum 90% to the costs of your flight, not more
than 450 Euro.

Participants travelling from S :
UNITED can contribute maximum 75% to your travel costs (train, bus), not
more than 100 Euro.

Please look for the cheapest and most environmentally friendly
possibility to travel. We strongly encourage you to travel by train,
bus, boat or other cheaper means of transport to Stockholm. In order to
be eligible for a contribution to your travel costs you will be expected
to attend the whole meeting and to prove your travel expenses providing
an original invoice and the original tickets to UNITED.

The cost of your visa can be reimbursed by UNITED on the base of an
original invoice from the Embassy.

UNITED conferences can only take place when participants make an effort
to contribute financially to their travel costs. We ask you to find out
if there are alternative possibilities of funding. Sometimes it is
possible to find small local grants (e.g. a travel grant from a
foundation, a university, an embassy or another sponsor). We would very
much appreciate your help. Since we have limited sponsored places,
delegates that can cover (part of) their own travelcosts have a higher
chance to be selected.

Date and place
The conference will take place in a youth hostel near Stockholm and will
start on Tuesday afternoon 27 may 2008.
Departure is foreseen for Sunday 1 June 2008.
You will share a room with 4-5 other people. If you wish to arrive
earlier or stay longer (on your own costs), we can help you arrange your
stay.

Further information
Please, note that sending the expression of interest form does not
guarantee your participation in the conference.
Only those candidates selected for participation (this will be known in
April) will be contacted, they will receive further information e.g.
visa invitation, explanation 'how to get there', a final program, list
of participants, etc.
Feel free to contact us by email after 10th of April to get information
about your nomination.

Application procedure:
Organisations interested in nominating a delegate should send their
nomination (Expression of Interest form below) by email before the
deadline of Tuesday 25 March 2008 - 24:00 to
conference@unitedagainstracism.org

--------------------------------------------------------------

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST:
UNITED conference: Get Educated, Fight Racism!
27 May - 1 June 2008 in Stockholm (S)

Name organisation:
Name organisation in English:
Abbreviation name organisation:
Organisation's address:
street:
postal code:
city:
country:
Phone organisation:
Mobile phone organisation:
Fax organisation:
E-mail organisation:
Website organisation:

First name delegate:
Family name delegate:
Date of birth:
Male: Female:
Private e-mail delegate:
E-mail address to send conference documents:
Personal phone/mobile where you can be reached in emergencies:
phone:
mobile phone:

Special needs (vegetarian, no pork, allergies, disabilities etc.):

Do you consider yourself to be part of a minority?
No:
Yes: (please, specify)

Motivation and aims for participating:

Please describe the work you are doing and the specific projects you
have been involved in:

Describe your skills (eg. leading a working group, reporting):

What languages can you work with?:

Indicate the field(s) of your activity:
put a cross before the relevant field(s)
[ ] Anti-nationalism
[ ] Anti-racism
[ ] Anti-fascism
[ ] Migrant / minority rights
[ ] Refugee support
[ ] Human rights
[ ] Youth work
[ ] Roma issues
[ ] General Discrimination
[ ] Other:

Which working group would you like to attend?
Indicate clearly two priorities, put '1' and '2' before the relevant
working groups

[ ] A - Open the Gates! Get Educated!
[ ] B - Face-It! New faces of Racism.
[ ] C - Welcome Refugees! Tear down the walls!
[ ] D - Fascism! Spot It and Stop It!
[ ] E - One Europe, two Europe... Find your place!
[ ] F - Enough slavery! Time for Equal Rights!

Please explain your choice and describe in which way you could
contribute to these 2 working groups:

Have you personally experienced racism and/or discrimination?
No:
Yes: (please, specify)

How will you share the experience of the conference after your return in
your organisation, community, country?

Would you need financial support from UNITED for your travel costs?
No:
Yes:
If yes, why and how much?
(Before answering this question please read 'contribution to travel
costs' under technical information)

-----------------------------------------------------------

For those who will need a visa:

Private address of the delegate
street:
postal code:
city:
country:

Place of birth:
Country of birth:
Citizenship:
Number of passport:
Passport valid until:

Swedish embassy where you will get your visa:
Fax, phone of Swedish embassy where you will get your visa:

-----------------------------------------------------------

Please send this form as soon as possible by e-mail to:
conference@unitedagainstracism.org. Deadline 25 March 2008

Only those candidates selected for participation will be contacted via
e-mail � April 4, 2008.

***********************************************************
We depend on YOUR help in 2008!

UNITED is not rich and has no stable income! 
Though far most of the work at the UNITED secretariat is done voluntary
- still money is needed to keep the network functioning in 2008 and to
secure the cooperation and information flow throughout Europe.

Your donation is most welcome:
- in cash to UNITED Postbus 413 NL-1000 AK Amsterdam
- by bank (preferable) to:
UNITED, Postbus 413 NL-1000 AK Amsterdam
Account: IBAN NL77PSTB0002343715, BIC: PSTB NL2A - Bank: Postbank,
Postbus 1800, NL-1000 BV Amsterdam
(From NL: postbank 2343715)

***********************************************************

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 over 9000 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 2400 European organisations. If you also would
like to receive this mailing: see http://www.unitedagainstracism.org
'joining the network'

----

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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