I&RGB citizens' initiative and referendum
some ideas for action
- ideas for election run-up periods
- thoughts for the longer haul
ideas for the (next, local or country-wide) election run-up period
• Ask representatives of political parties about their attitudes to direct democracy. Write to head offices and approach local constituency branches. Suggest that they should indicate support for I and R in their election manifestos, if they have not already done so. Show them the "People's Proposal to Renew Democracy" and ask them to introduce a similar bill in the House of Commons and in the local or county council.
• consider voting ONLY for those candidates who pledge to work for the introduction of I and R if they get elected
• give special attention to candidates in borderline and "megastar" constituencies, and those with ministerial ambitions
• stand as a direct-democracy candidate in a local or country election
• I&Reach out to people and groups (see below)
thoughts for the longer haul
Ask ourselves "What must be done to promote I and R in Britain?" and prepare a list of aims and tasks.
Suggestions:
Inform family, friends, colleagues, about existing resources and proposals
e.g. this website http://www.iniref.org/ and Direct Democracy CampaignReach out to schools, churches, sports clubs, trade unions and professions, unemployed, self-employed, colleges and universities, other groups and "people in the street" (and pub).
Persuade your own leisure/work group or organisation to support I&R ~ GB
Design an I&R ~ GB logo.
Find ways to produce (or locate) printed information, e.g. brochures, booklets about I and R. These could contain brief history, outline practice, and show how I and R might work in Britain.
Consider commissioning one or more studies of the history and practice of I&R, in order to produce rich material which can be put to different uses. Aspects such as
a) current state of I and R in Britain
b) I and R examples from other countries
c) potential of digital communication to enhance I and R
d) history of direct democracy (DD) in BritainOrganise conferences about I and R in several different regions of Britain.
Seek journalists who want to write about I and R, plus magazine and newspaper editors who agree to publish our materials or a commissioned article by one or more of us. Try to convince TV journalists to make programmes about how I and R works, e.g. recent spectacular results in Thuringia and Hamburg (also 1995 in Bavaria); the very extensive Swiss experience of a 100 or more years DD. Look into the human stories behind the campaigns and the enthusiastic participation.
Ask the owners of (especially frequently visited) internet websites to display a prominent link to our www sites.
How about a "Green Ribbon" campaign for I and R ?
Put an I&R ~ GB link in your e-mail "sig".
Build a list of experts on I and R, who are willing to answer questions and/or to speak at meetings.
Vote for more democracy and register your comments at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/dd-gb
Demonstrate support for I and R in Britain, e.g. persuade other people to vote for I and R, in the pilot "referendum for the right to referendum", on paper or on-line (collect signatures).
Start a membership organisation, club or movement with the aim to promote I and R in Britain.
Volunteer to help, e.g. work up campaign materials, design internet presentations, fundraise, donate.
JOIN I&R ~ GB !
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