IR+R NEWS - news about democratic reform, citizens' initiative,
referendum, recall of elected officials. A service of 
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R ~ GB
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2012 April
1) USA  Occupy movement has helped to mobilise direct democracy against food giant
2) USA  Interplay of direct and indirect democracy to help tax the rich?
3) SWITZERLAND  Citizen democrats decide vital planning matter  Contrast with weak and confusing "Localism Act" in England

2010 March
1) UNITED KINGDOM PARLIAMENT INVESTIGATES DIRECT DEMOCRACY?
2) THE INIREF ELECTION STRATEGY: MAKE DEMOCRACY AN ISSUE IN THE IMMINENT GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN
3) PLEBISCITE FROM "ON HIGH" DECREED BY UK PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN

2009 October
1) MP3 AUDIO: DAVID CAMERON PROMISES CITIZEN-LED DEMOCRACY NATIONAL AND LOCAL
2) CITIZEN-LED DEMOCRACY IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
3) LOCAL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENT OPPOSED TO MORE DEMOCRACY

2009 September
REFORM OF LOCAL DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN ENGLAND AND WALES
DIRECT DEMOCRACY NEWS FROM USA STATES
EVENTS IN GREECE 2009

2009 July
1) THE OXFORD TIMES
2) HOWL OF OUTRAGE AND THEN?
3) RESOURCES FOR CITIZEN-LED DEMOCRACY: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS "FAQS"

2009 January 
§ FOUND VIA COMPASS, A WELL-KNOWN UK-BASED THINK TANK.
§ CITIZENS' REFERENDUM TO REMOVE SILVIO BERLUSCONI'S IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION
§ POWERFUL ALLIANCES FOR CHANGE THROUGH DIRECT DEMOCRACY

2008 Autumn
I&R ~ GB comments on Tory party politicians and direct democracy
1) The conservative party  "think tank" dubbed "Direct Democracy": Douglas Carswell and others.
2) Zac Goldsmith. Give voters a direct line to power. Regular referendums will revive democracy

2008 Meeting
ANNOUNCEMENT
Referendums: What are they good for? Tuesday 17 June, 6.45 - 7.45pm, House of Commons
Speakers: Dr David Butler, Oxford University, David Curry MP, Chris Huhne MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, Steve Richards, The Independent, Rt Hon Clare Short MP.

2008 Summer
1) BERLIN CITIZENS TRY DIRECT DEMOCRACY TO SAVE RIVERSIDE
2) REFERENDUMS: WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR? HANSARD SOCIETY. MEETING REPORT
3) JUDGES BLOCK REFERENDUM ON EU

2008 June
A) AFTER THE IRISH "NO": REFLECTION ON DEMOCRACY IN THE UK
B) MPs REJECT EU TREATY REFERENDUM

2008 May
1) FROM A RECENT LETTER TO AN I&R ~ GB MEMBER (TORY REFORMER?)
2) MORE DEMOCRACY IN FRG: THE ECONOMIST, DER SPIEGEL  Two review articles
3) RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OR ETHICS LESSONS?  Citizens' initiative

2008 March2
HOW TO REGULATE AND ORGANISE A STATE REFERENDUM

2008 March
1) PARISH POLL ON SUPERMARKET PLAN
2) NEW PAGES AT INIREF.ORG

2006 September
§ Public debate on-line, at the House of Lords!
§ I&R~GB's Assessment and Plan 2006
§ Call for co-operation to organise democracy courses and workshops
§ New campaign for direct democracy in Britain

2004.1
§ Swiss electorate rejects pension and tax laws.
§ Major political reforms introduced by citizen-initiated referendum

2000
- Network of Direct Democracy Initiatives in Europe.
- Veteran activist and campaigner Ralph Nader for direct democracy.
- International Conference "Direct Democracy: the eastern and central european experience"