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Jun 19 2023
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The Tilting City

By Uncategorized

Context

Three out of four Europeans live in a city. Therefore, cities are essential to lead the transformation to a socially and ecologically just society. This radical change is more urgent than ever, as IPCC reports remind us: already 3.5 billion people are highly vulnerable to climate impacts. Different cities suffer from diverse ecological impacts and will be differently affected by climate change. And within cities, certain groups are more exposed to the effects of air pollution, noise, and extreme temperatures than others. Without thoughtful politics and policies, the most vulnerable will suffer the consequences. In this context, ecological justice is vital. Taking inequalities into account and repairing the damage to these people’s lives but also holding those most responsible for the climate crisis to account.

‘’When imagining cities, we for instance cannot lose sight of the farmer in rural areas feeding urban mouths, or the homeless person at the city centre bus station.’’

Objectives

This publication aims to draw an image of what the city of the future could look like. The authors show alternatives to the current urban models and how they can be future-proof. This text will hopefully serve as a valuable source of information and bring up new thoughts among citizens activist, policymakers and everyone interested in exploring ethical and ecological ways of living in cities in the 21st century.

 

Project Background

This publication is part of Cities as a Place of Hope project of the Green European Foundation. With this project, we aim to create a strong communication network and solidarity network that will enable access to information and policies by compiling experiences and needs on sustainable and green city governments and related policies together with green associations in different cities in Europe. In this study, making the city’s actors effective and visible in city policies is one of our biggest goals.

 

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Available in Turkish

Available in Polish

Available in Greek

This report has been realised by the Green European Foundation with the support of  Oikos, Green Though Association and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Mar 16 2023
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The Future of Eastern Europe and Eco-Democracy

By Uncategorized

Context & Objectives

Democracy in Eastern Europe is hanging by a thread. Authoritarianism is growing and nationalist narratives are reopening old conflicts. The pandemic has exposed governments’ inefficiencies to react to any sort of crisis and contributed to heighten polarisation in an already polarised society. On the other side, hope is on the horizon as progressive movements are gaining relevance locally, and mobilisation around environmental issues is rapidly growing. In this context, this publication aims to explore how to leverage these small steps and use them to strengthen the Green movement in the region. This publication is part of the Transnational Project The Future of Eastern Europe and Eco democracy.

“At least two to three generations of humans have now lived through some of the fastest changes with regards to the climate crisis and species extinction. It is up to us to reinvent politics, disrupt the status quo and create a solid foundation not only for us but also for the continued existence of biodiversity on our planet…”

 

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Also available in Greek.

Also available in Turkish.

 

This publication has been published by the Green European Foundation with the support of Cooperation Development Networks Eastern Europe (CDNEE), Green Thought Association (Turkey), Sustainable Development Forum Green Window (Croatia), Green Institute (Greece) and Ecopolis Foundation (Hungary).

Feb 08 2023
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Feminists in the Environmental Movement

By Uncategorized

Context

Through an ecofeminist lense, this publication explores the connection between feminism, youth, and the environmental struggles in Central and Eastern Europe. As part of the Feminists in the Environmental Movement project, we have explored these concepts within urban areas, but the struggle in rural and de-urbanised areas remained under-examined. While green successes and support often concentrate in urban centres, engaging and mobilising rural communities is crucial to achieve a socially just green transition.

 

Objectives

This publication includes an extensive research on the lives of young female activists in rural and de-urbanised areas, the stories of their struggles, victories and hopes for the future. It aims to raise voices of people who are usually unheard in the European landscape. While reading the different articles, you will explore the lives of women in rural areas, their perspectives and tools to cope with the local issues, and the multiple forms of oppression they face.

Let’s stand in solidarity and truly “leave no one behind” in our path towards a just society!

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Turkish (Please note this translation is an abridged version of the original publication).

This publication has been produced by the Green European Foundation with the support of Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Eu-rope (CDN) and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.

Jan 31 2023
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Nuclear Power

By Uncategorized

Context

The nuclear power lobby is stronger today than ever. The lobbyists have succeeded in creating an enormous disparity in the perception of what to believe and reality. The post-Chernobyl generation is increasingly falling prey to the fairy tale of modern, safe, cheap and CO2 neutral nuclear power. These arguments can be quickly refuted and often only serve to conceal the ulterior motive: to increase the stockpile of nuclear armaments. Nuclear power will most definitely not save the environment.

Objectives

This publications argues that nuclear power is not the solution to climate change including a critical analysis of the main ten misconceptions about “green” nuclear power. It has been written in close cooperation with Martin Litschauer, Member of the Austrian Parliament and Anti-nuclear Spokesman of the Austrian Greens, and Maria Niedertscheider, Expert Assistant, Austrian Federal Environmental Agency. Th purpose of the brochures is to serve as guidance for a broad European discussion and as a concise summary of the narrative on nuclear power as a supposedly bridge technology.

If we want to protect ourselves and save the environment, we have to use solar, wind and geothermal energy, because these are the fastest and safest ways to achieve the energy transition.

Translations

Available in Turkish

Available in Slovenian

This publication, originally published by FREDA, has been realised by the Green European Foundation and FREDA with the financial support of the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Jul 15 2022
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Fighting Conspiracy Theories on TikTok

By Uncategorized

Context

TikTok has become a primary social media platform. It has allured many young social media users (under the age of 18), at an age when conspiracy theories are more likely than ever to take hold. With a never-ending newsfeed and easy redistribution tools, the platform has become a breeding ground for fake news, conspiracy theories and theorists, for long under the radar.  But since it is now a key actor in our social media landscape, used more and more for political objectives, non-profit organisations and activists need to address this dangerous trends .

Since it is getting increasingly harder to find reliable information online where the lines between reality and fiction blur, what can we do about this, especially in a digital age when everyone has access and is exposed to conspiracy theories?

 

This toolkit was drafted after the implementation of the “Anti-conspiracy theories on TikTok” project in January 2022, looking at how could young European activists and non-profits use TikTok to combat existing conspiracy theories and prevent the rise of new ones. And this is a new tool, a starting point for anyone interested in learning about this platform and in debunking and combatting fake news  on social media in general.

 

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Also available in Turkish

Also available in Croatian

Feb 15 2022
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Dare to Care: Ecofeminism as a source of inspiration

By Uncategorized

Context

The concept of care has become increasingly important as COVID-19 continues to make its way through populations worldwide. However, care extends beyond the strictly medical: it encompasses everything we do to preserve and restore our planet. The erosion of the welfare state, the continued plundering of the Global South, the lack of solidarity, and the persistent crossing of planetary boundaries is alarming to say the least. We can only turn the tide if we leave the instrumental view of nature and humans behind and radically care for all earthlings.

Can care offer us a fresh start based on interconnectedness, and generosity? How can care, as an emancipatory principle, underpin politics and the economy?

 

Objectives

In this booklet, we offer you a crash course in ecofeminism and invite you to get inspired by different people and movements across the world. Ultimately, these lessons, which relate to the many challenges we face today, aim to encourage us all to question ourselves about what truly means to build an “economy of care” in Europe and beyond.

 

Translations

Available in Polish.

Available in Turkish.

Available in Greek.

Available in Serbian.

Available in E-Reader format or to order in German.

 

 

About the authors

Dirk Holemans is the coordinator of Oikos think tank and co-president of the Green European Foundation (GEF). He is a researcher, lecturer and the author of Freedom & Security (EPO, 2016).

Philsan Osman studies African languages and cultures at the University of Ghent, Belgium and is a writer, activist and community builder.

Marie-Monique Franssen is staff member of Oikos think tank and co-author of The Ecological Compass (EPO, 2020). She has a master’s degree in cultural anthropology.

These translations have been realised with the support of Oikos, FREDA, and Strefa Zieleni and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Feb 07 2022
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Disasters and risk management in the age of climate and ecological crisis

By Uncategorized

Context

The conference entitled “Disasters and Risk Management in the Age of Climate and Ecological Crisis”, organized as part of the “Cities as Places of Hope” project, was held online on 18 November 2021 between 13:00-16:00. In this conference climate crisis and risk management were addressed in the context of forest fires, health, drought, flood disasters and biodiversity by Erdem Ergin (disaster risk management specialist), Prof. Dr. Ali Osman Karababa (public health specialist), Dr. Akgün İlhan Boğaziçi University), Prof. Dr. Nesibe Köse (İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Botany) and Dr. Emrah Çoraman (İstanbul Technical University).

About the project:

The Cities as Places of Hope Project has been carried out by the Green European Foundation with the support of green organizations from all over Europe; Spain (Transición Verde), Catalonia (Nous Horitzons), Croatia (The Institute for Political Ecology-IPE), Belgium (Oikos), Northern Macedonia (Sunrise), Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks (Netherlands) and Turkey (Green Thought Association). This project was launched in 2019 focusing on progressive city networks, a key factor in developing a positive narrative about Europe’s future. Within the scope of the project, it is aimed to bring together the progressive and transformative local and international city networks, to provide cooperation, to facilitate the exchange of information, and to contribute to the creation of a positive narrative about the future of Europe with the activities carried out in 2021.

Objectives

This report was prepared by transcription of the recording of the GEF Cities as Places of Hope conference. Since the aim is not to write an academic paper no specific style is used to cite sources. Those who are interested can access the event recording here.

Translations

Available in Turkish

Available in Greek

This publication has been realized with the support of Yeşil Düşünce Derneği (Green Thought Association) and the financial support of the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Mar 24 2021
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Ten Thoughts on Growth

By Uncategorized

With the ongoing Covid-crisis, it has become clear that “business as usual” is no longer an option, as the effects will be felt for years to come. Yet still, governments remain obsessed with growth based on GDP.

In this report, Mikael Malmaeus (board member in Cogito and researcher at The Swedish Environmental Research Institute) uncovers and clarifies the concepts of growth, their meaning and impact with the purpose to enable a meaningful, forward looking and insightful discussion on preferred futures and where to start to get there. With this collaboration, GEF and Cogito hope to contribute to a clear and comprehensive discussion on growth today and tomorrow, and to inspire actionable insight.

Download

Available in Polish

Available in Czech

Available in Albanian

Available in Turkish

Feb 22 2021
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Organise! Object! Outsmart the Paradigm!

By Uncategorized

Read this publication and use it to learn about smart cities with an added Eastern European perspective, have some fun along the way and feel empowered enough to promote the critical solutions for smart city implementation in your city!

The Charter for the Smart City was produced as part of the project of the same name, and puts the values of democracy, connectedness, human dignity, privacy,  sustainability, and equality at the heart of smart cities. Local politicians and active citizens who share these values may use the principles in the Charter as starting points for democratic debate and informed moral judgment on technological innovations in their communities.

 

Also available in Albanian, Croatian, Russian and Turkish.

This publication was produced within the project “Charter for the Smart City II” organised by the Green European Foundation (GEF) with the support of Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe (CDN) and Wetenschapellijk Bureau Groen Links. It has been realised with the financial support of the European Parliament.

Feb 16 2021
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Governance Strategies for Cooling Cities: Cases of Athens and Istanbul

By Uncategorized

This article was produced as part of the Cities as Places of Hope Project to present research findings on good practices in cities. The project aims to increase the visibility of actors who work on urbanisation policies and to enhance cooperation among different actors by highlighting inspiring examples from different cities shown by project partners. The Cities as Places of Hope Project is carried out by the Green European Foundation with the support of green organizations in the following countries: Spain (Transición Verde), Catalonia (Nous Horitzons), Croatia (The Institute for Political Ecology-IPE), Belgium (Oikos), North Macedonia (Sunrise), and Turkey (Green Thought Association). The Cities as Places of Hope Project started in 2019 with a focus on progressive city networks that appear as key factors in the creation of a positive narrative about the future of Europe. Project activities that were carried out in 2020 aimed to bring together progressive and transformative trans-local city networks, to connect them and to facilitate exchange between them, ultimately contributing to the development of a positive narrative about the future of Europe.

 

This publication has been realised with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Also available in Turkish – ŞEHİRLERİ SERİNLETMEK İÇİN YÖNETİŞİM STRATEJİLERİ: ATİNA VE İSTANBUL ÖRNEKLERİ

Feb 15 2021
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Making the City Green with Civil Society

By Uncategorized

Making the City Green with Civil Society: Roundtable Meeting Report of IMM-Civil Society Relations within the Framework of Green City Practices

 

This report is prepared on the basis of the outputs of the Green Cities Workshops organized under the Cities as Places of Hope Project. The Cities as Places of Hope Project has been carried out by the Green European Foundation with the support of green organizations from all over Europe; Spain (Transición Verde), Catalonia (Nous Horitzons), Croatia (The Institute for Political Ecology-IPE), Belgium (Oikos), Northern Macedonia (Sunrise) and Turkey (Green Thought Association). This project was launched in 2019 focusing on progressive city networks, a key factor in developing a positive narrative about Europe’s future. Within the scope of the project, it is aimed to bring together the progressive and transformative local and international city networks, to provide cooperation, to facilitate the exchange of information, and to contribute to the creation of a positive narrative about the future of Europe with the activities carried out in 2020.

 

Also available in Turkish

Jan 11 2021
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Just Transition Framing Paper

By Uncategorized
This paper is part of the Green European Foundation’s Just Transition transnational project. The project looks into the question of transforming from an extractive to a regenerative economy in a just and equitable way to find the necessary support among the population. The project is focused on collecting and sharing insights on the development of future-proof politics and policies, developed in a sensitive way that keeps in mind local specificities. The project is on behalves of GEF coordinated by OIKOS (Belgium), with as project partners Green House Think Tank (UK), Institute for Political Ecology (Croatia); Sunrise (North-Macedonia), Transicion Verde (Spain), Networked and Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) and Networked (Serbia). In the course of the project, the partners will implement activities in their countries to increase awareness of the importance of a Just Transition all over Europe. Eventually, the partners will compile a book on the subject to be published September 2021.

 

You can also read this publication in:

 

 

Jun 18 2019
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Fair and Healthy Food

By Uncategorized

This discussion paper, written by Kati Van de Velde & Dirk Holemans from GEF partner Oikos, has been published as part of the GEF transnational project Fair and Healthy Food.

The paper explores the failings of the current agricultural and food system, and the possibilities for a transition to a sustainable and fair system, one which revaluates food as a human right, a public good and a commons.

Download the publication in Turkish and Serbian.

Jan 24 2019
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Citizens Energy: Making Energy Democracy Happen

By Uncategorized

This publication has been produced as part of the GEF transnational project Energy Democracy: Changing the Energy System.  

In this project, Green foundations from the United Kingdom, Greece, Macedonia and Belgium share their experiences and ideas and develop policy proposals to enable a transition to a renewable and democratic energy system.

The publication, written by Dirk Holemans and Kati Van de Velde from Flemish think tank Oikos explores the concepts of a democratic energy regime, drawing from examples in Germany and Denmark, and cooperation between citizens and local governments, focusing on case studies in the UK and Belgium.

Download your copy here. 

This publication is also available in Serbian, Portuguese, Spanish, Macedonian & Turkish.

 

Jan 10 2018
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GREEN ECONOMY? Campaigner’s Manual

By Uncategorized

The manual’s aim is to promote the economic potential of a Green Economy by summarising the most important definitions and giving policy makers a tool at hand to argue in favour of a green economy and to debunk the most common misconceptions.

Download the digital version of the manual in English here.

The digital version of the manual is also available in Turkish here.