I&R
citizens' initiative and referendum
CONFERENCE
proposer and organiser
CITIZENS' INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM I&R
a campaign for direct democracy in Britain
Clement House, London School of Economics
Rooms D202 (a.m.) and D206, D209, D211 (p.m.)
Sunday October 17th 2004 9:30 to 18:00
Themes
Direct democracy in countries of Europe: It works!
"For debate: We need more direct democracy in Britain"
An independent event parallel with the European Social Forum
London School of Economics, Clement House (map),
Sunday October 17th 2004 (organisers' meeting on 16th).
Hosted by Solidarity Village
Reports about direct democracy in action: Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Poland, Netherlands
Discussion Debate Plenary Workshops
We need donations to support speakers' travel and for future work.
PROGRAMME subject to minor alterations
Saturday 16th: Afternoon: Meeting for speakers and facilitators
Sunday 17th October 2004 SEMINAR followed by WORKSHOPS
Session chair: Angelike Gardiner 9:40 - 10:20
After the Third Reich: a triumph of direct democracy in the German
Lands, Bavaria, Hamburg and elsewhere. Daniel Schily Mehr
Demokratie, FRG Co-ordinator for North-Rhein-Westfalia.
Session chair: Brian Beedham 10:20 - 10:55
Italian referendum experience: a very special
one? People, Referenda and Parties. PierVincenzo Uleri, political
scientist at the ‘Cesare Alfieri’ University of Florence. Publications.
11:00 BREAK OF 15 MINUTES
11:15 Announcements
11:20
A proposal for more direct democracy
in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Michael Macpherson Founder,
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R, a campaign for direct democracy
in Britain. COMMENT ABOUT
UK
Session chair: Filia den Hollander 11:40 - 12:25
Direct democracy in Switzerland - history, applications,
recent developments. Dr. Roland Erne Dept. of Industrial Relations,
University College Dublin. Fellow, Initiative
and Referendum Institute Amsterdam. Publications.
Session chair: Michael Macpherson 12:25 - 12:50
Poland: Regional and local direct democracy
of the last decade. Radoslaw Gawlik, "Freedom and Peace". Member
of parliament 1989-1991, 1991-2001. Since 2001 Green Party. Summary
of talk Polish/English
Invitation to the afternoon direct democracy
workshops Gregor Hackmack, Mario
Adinolfi.
13:00 LUNCH and RECOVERY
Sunday 17th October 14:15
Workshops
GB workshop starts later 16:00
LIVING DIRECT DEMOCRACY
showing direct democracy in action: Switzerland,
Italy, Germany, Poland, Netherlands
1. D211 Switzerland, with Roland Erne, Brian Beedham.
2. D206 Germany PLUS Poland, with Radoslaw Gawlik, Gregor
Hackmack, Angelika Gardiner, Heiko Dittmer (Belgium, discussant).
3. D209 Italy PLUS The Netherlands, with Ombretta Ingrasci,
PierVincenzo
Uleri, Filia den Hollander, Daniel Schily, Mario Adinolfi.
Workshop (starting later afternoon 16:00)
4. Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Future of direct democracy.
With Brian Beedham (The Economist, emeritus), Jim
McGlynn (Direct Votes), Michael Macpherson (I&R).
Speakers'
biographical notes
Guidelines for workshop
speakers/facilitators
COMMENT ABOUT UK
Resources,
literature, campaigns
Note: "Britain" refers to Great Britain and Northern Ireland
We need donations to support speakers' travel and for future work.
I&R