Call for Participants: Green Horizons Academy

About the Call

The Green European Foundation and the Organisation for Political Ecology POLEKOL are launching a call for participants for the first Green Horizons Academy, under the title “The Good Story.”  

We are looking for participants that are active in environmental movements, civic initiatives, academic institutions and/or political organizations with green policy agenda. This three-day event will give you the opportunity to: 

• Learn about political ecology and the green political idea in Europe 
• Put forward ways to bring the green agenda into practice in South-East Europe  

• Improve your green values communication skills 
• Create an affirmative green narrative on sustainability, alternative to the populist one 
• Network with potential green-minded allies 

Context

The Green Horizons Academy is an educational programme that aims to expand the imaginary of the broad green movement towards the alternative liveable future across Europe. Addressing the climate crisis and environmental issues is a home ground for the greens. Still, we need to prepare for the forthcoming battles of narratives, especially at a time where everyone is “playing the green card”.

Populists and conservative authoritarians, especially in countries with a weak green opposition, are casting a long shadow over social movements and appropriating environmentalism. Europe’s narrative of openness and solidarity has been put to the test amid the pandemic. The Academy is a space for theory and practice that can serve both for political actors to step into closer communication with the people, and for citizens to politicize the growing environmental struggles.

This year’s Green Horizons Academy’s main topic is building a successful narrative around green values that resonates with the broad public, therefore its title – THE GOOD STORY.

During three days of lectures, debates, and workshops, we hope to inspire European green actors and raise the capacities of citizens from South-East Europe in their approach to presenting green values and agenda. GHA will also examine the resilience of the existing Green political organisations in the region and offer the space for authentic policy debates designed for and from the region. The time has come for green-minded actors to create a cultural uprising, painting our views as possible, tangible, and popular! From the academic field of political theory to the environmental activists and new movements, the Green Horizons Academy will present, discuss, and articulate democratic, feminist, sustainable and just alternatives.

Practicalities

The Green Horizons Academy will take place in Belgrade, Serbia from 15-17 October. The language of the event is BCS and English, and translation will be provided.  

Please apply by filling out this online form. The application deadline is Monday, October 4th. If you have any questions, please send an email to organizacija.polekol@gmail.com. 

All applicants will be informed about the selection results by October 6th. 

As we are still in the middle of the pandemic, as a safety precaution, all participants will be Covid tested at the spot, right before the event starts.  

The programme will be held in a hybrid model, where selected participants are in the physical space, and evening sessions are live streamed for the public. 

This event is organised by the Green European Foundation, with the support of PolEkol and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.