Videos and podcast of recent presentations now available

Recently, there was a panel on the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly at the World Federalist Movement's World Congress in Winnipeg. In the previous post we published some pictures and the resolution adopted there on "Global democracy and United Nations Reform; Federalism at different levels."

In the meantime, videos of the panel presentations and of the discussion are also available. They can be watched here at Vimeo. Covered are an introduction by Fergus Watt, Executive Director of WFM-Canada, the presentations by Andreas Bummel, Secretary-General of the UNPA-Campaign, and former Canadian parliamentarians Bill Blaikie and Warren Allmand as well as the Q&A session afterwards.

Here you can also find an audio podcast of a presentation of Andreas Bummel at the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on July 2 on a "United Nations Parliamentary Assembly and Global Democracy." The presentation puts the question of a UN Parliamentary Assembly into a long-term perspective and covers subjects such as the development of world law and a new global social contract.

Finally, if you read French, here you can download an article recently published in the journal of the French National Assembly, Le Journal du Parlement, on "Renforcer la démocratie au moyen d 'une assemblée parlementaire mondiale."

Some images of and resolution adopted at the WFM Congress in Winnipeg

The World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy and most of the organizations affiliated with it (here's the website) are closely involved in the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. WFM has been supporting a UN Parliamentary Assembly for more than twenty years. The movement's annual meeting is always an opportunity for exchange and reflection. Recently, many UNPA campaigners met at the congress in Winnipeg, see our report here for more details.

Following up on our report, we've now uploaded the full text of the resolution adopted at the Congress on "Global democracy and United Nations Reform; Federalism at different levels." Here you can download the PDF file. It includes sections on global democratization, rule of law, UN reform, global economic, social and environmental governance, and regional federalism.

Here is also a selection of photos taken at the Congress:

[AFG_gallery id='1']

Artwork: A world parliament would transcend national boundaries

Often it is taken for granted that the world is politically devided among today's nearly 200 nation-states. This new artwork of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly (see right, click on the image for a larger size) brings home the message that actually Earth is one indivisibable habitat and that the boundaries created by nation-states are artifical constructs.

Proponents of a world parliament argue that one of its key features would be to transcend national borders. It is expected that the members of a world parliament would group according to their political viewpoint rather than according to their national origin. This would put them into a good position to tackle problems from a broader, transnational perspective. For the first time, a political body would exists that would allow to pursue the common interest of humanity rather than just narrow national interests. The overall idea is captured with the slogan "One Common Home. One Common Future. One Common Parliament."

The artwork is available as a postcard. Supporters can contact the campaign's Secretariat to obtain copies.

Hello world, the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly now has a blog

Despite of the holiday season we're not idle. Finally we had the time to establish a long awaited official campaign blog. This is the first post!

If you visit the news section you will see that we are covering the campaign's major activities and other relevant news in the field of global democracy on a regular basis ever since the campaign was started (in English, German, French and Spanish, due to the tireless work of our pro bono translators from around the world who we would like to thank on this occasion). It is fair to say that we are the only website in the world that covers all that has to do with the question of a global parliament and most of our reports include original content that you will not find anywhere else.

Nonetheless, although we are proud of our coverage, for quite some time we've been realizing that we really need an additional way to highlight noteworthy developments and events that are otherwise not covered in the international news section and thus do not get appropriate acknowledgment. We are delighted that as of now this campaign blog exists for this purpose.

Tentative blog categories

The blog will allow us to keep you even better up to date. The campaign's secretariat, and campaign participants from around the world, for example national coordinators, can make use of it to publish reports and comments on their work, to highlight developments, events, and meetings or to feature new supporters. For this kind of posts we will establish a category "From the Campaign.

As the name says, the category "Resources" will include all posts that feature and present resources that are valueable for the campaign. Background information, general analysis, hints to books and other publications will be found in the category "Knowledge."

We intend to publish opinions and comments from campaign supporters on topical issues close to our cause from time to time. For this we'll have the category "Opinion & Comments." Guest submissions will be most welcome. We'll set up some formal guidelines for unsolicited submissions once the blog has become more established.

Generally we hope that the blog will become a platform to share information on all kind of things close to our cause. Everything that does not fit into the four categories already mentioned will be collected under "Miscellanea."

Finally, it will be possible for the blog's readers to comment on and to discuss all posts. For convenience we're making use of Facebook's comment plugin for this.

We'll not double post any content from the news section on the blog so don't forget to check there, too, if you are looking for news!

Obviously, it's all still very fresh. Suggestions are welcome.

Una iniciativa llama a referéndum transnacional, advierte que “la democracia está en peligro”

Activistas, expertos, investigadores, periodistas y políticos de once países europeos se reunieron la semana pasada en Burgas, Bulgaria, para charlar acerca del desarrollo de la participación ciudadana y la democracia directa en Europa y el mundo. En una declaración conjunta, adoptada en la reunión, resaltaron que “la democracia es el asunto más importante de nuestros tiempos

Gerald Häfner, miembro parlamento europea, Presidente de Democracy International

Imagen: DI

ya que cuestiones políticas como el cambio climático, la responsabilidad por recursos y el medio ambiente, el estado de los derechos civiles y políticas de economía, finanzas y de asuntos sociales dependen de la calidad democrática y de la pregunta de quien toma esas decisiones al final."

Al mismo tiempo, continua la declaración, la democracia “peligra en un mundo en el que las decisiones políticas son tomadas más seguido en los niveles internacionales o transnacionales que antes, mientras que la participación y el control democrático permanecen en el estado-nación. Por estas razones, necesitamos más democracia, participación ciudadana y democracia directa.”

La reunión fue organizada por Democracy International , una coalición global que advoca el establecimiento y reforzamiento de la democracia directa en Europa y el mundo. De acuerdo a la declaración adoptada en Burgas, “Democracy International llama al derecho de iniciativa y de referéndums en todos los países, en niveles locales, regionales, nacionales o transnacionales.” Considerando la situación en Europa, la iniciativa llamo a una Convención Europea sobre el futuro de la UE y un referéndum a escala europea para determinar su resultado.

Como la iniciativa reporta en su sitio web, gente de todo el mundo ha estado trabajando conjuntamente desde 2002 para promover la idea de una democracia y participación ciudadana más directa. Democracy International fue entonces formalmente establecida en 2011 como una red de individuos y organizaciones no-gubernamentales.

”Nuestro objetivo básico es el establecimiento de democracia directa como complemento de la democracia representativa en todo el mundo y en todos los niveles de gobierno: local, regional, nacional y transnacional", dijo Gerhald Häfner, el Presidente de Democracy International y miembro alemán del Parlamento Europeo por el Partido Verde.

Häfner acerca de la misión de la iniciativa (en inglés)

 

Häfner fue tambien uno de los signatarios de una carta abierta el año pasado, llamando al gobierno de Alemania a tomar la iniciativa para establecer una Asamblea Parlamentaria en las Naciones Unidas.

Sitio web de Democracy International

Traducción por Mauro Battellini

Initiative calls for transnational referenda, warns that "democracy is in danger"

Activists, experts, researchers, journalists and politicians from eleven European countries met in Burgas, Bulgaria, last week to discuss the development of citizen participation and direct democracy in Europe and the world. In a joint declaration adopted at the meeting, they stressed that "Democracy is the most important issue of our

Gerald Häfner, MEP, President of Democracy International

Image: DI

time as political questions like climate change, the responsibility for resources and the environment, the state of civil rights and policies on economic, financial and social issues depend on the quality of democracy and the question who takes the decisions in the end."

At the same time, the declaration goes on, democracy is "in danger in a world, in which more and more political decisions are taken on an international or transnational level while democratic participation and control still lies within the nation states. For all these reasons we need more democracy, citizen participation and direct democracy."

The meeting was organized by Democracy International, a global coalition that advocates the establishment and strengthening of direct democracy in Europe and the world. According to the statement adopted in Burgas, "Democracy International calls for the right to initiative and referenda in all countries and on the local, regional, national or transnational level." Considering the situation in Europe, the initiative called for a European Convention on the future of the EU and a European-wide referendum on its outcome.

As the initiative reports on its website, people from all over the world have been working together since 2002 to promote the idea of more direct democracy and citizens participation. Democracy International was then formally established in 2011 as a network of individuals and non-governmental organizations.

"Our basic goal is the establishment of direct democracy as a complement to representative democracy throughout the world and at all levels of government: local, regional, national and transnational", says Gerhald Häfner, president of Democracy International and Green Member of the European Parliament from Germany.

Häfner on the mission of the initiative

 

Häfner was also one of the signatories of an open letter last year that called on the German government to take the initiative for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.

Website of Democracy International

Estudio presenta los modelos para una Asamblea Parlamentaria Mundial

Libro presentado en el Congreso en Winnipeg

Modelos y principios para el establecimiento y la evolución de un Parlamento Mundial son objeto de un nuevo estudio que fue presentado el martes a una audiencia de especialistas internacionales que participan en el Congreso mundial del Movimiento Federalista Mundial-Instituto de Política Global, una red internacional dedicada a la consolidación del Estado de Derecho, derechos humanos, el federalismo y la democracia. El libro, titulado "Creación de una Asamblea Parlamentaria Mundial: una perspectiva evolutiva"

José Schwartzberg en la presentación de su nuevo libro. En el fondo Andreas Bummel

Imagen: CEUNPA

fue escrito por José Schwartzberg de Minnesota, un experto en la materia que enseñaba geografía en la Universidad de Minnesota, que le otorgó en 2009 el título honorífico de "Profesor Distinguido Emérito Internacional."

El libro publicado por el Comité para una ONU Democrática en Berlín con un prólogo de Daniele Archibugi, conocido especialista en la democracia cosmopolita y director en el Consejo de Investigación Nacional de Italia, explora cómo el déficit democrático de las Naciones Unidas se puede minimizar progresivamente por el desarrollo de un órgano parlamentario mundial. Después de establecer una plataforma conceptual, tres pasos evolutivos con cuatro modelos específicos para el prorrateo de los escaños se establece lo que eventualmente se convertiría en una Asamblea Mundial de la elección directa. Al presentar el estudio del autor y en Winnipeg, Andreas Bummel, presidente del Comité, señaló que éste era el primer análisis de este tipo y que era una contribución importante al debate en curso sobre el establecimiento de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU. En un comentario impreso en la contraportada del libro, el parlamentario europeo Jo Leinen, dijo que el estudio "hace la tarea muy concreta y muestra que, en principio, no hay obstáculos técnicos que no se pueden superar. Lo que se necesita es la voluntad política."

En la presentación del Sr. Schwartzberg hizo hincapié en que "hay un número infinito de posibles modelos" y que en su opinión, "el reparto de escaños se tienen que reflejar las realidades del poder en el mundo real, eso significa por fuera de las Naciones Unidas." Agregó que " Para mantener la pretensión de que todas las naciones son iguales soberanas es disfuncional." De acuerdo con la propuesta del Sr. Schwartzberg, la participación en una asamblea parlamentaria mundial sería opcional. "Ningún país se vería obligado a unirse a la UNPA, pero los que sí tendrían que seguir las reglas." Con el tiempo habría una presión creciente para todos los países a unirse a la asamblea, el Sr. Schwartzberg, dijo.

La publicación del libro fue apoyado por la Earthrise Society con sede en Munich.

Descargar o comprar una copia impresa del libro aquí

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13 Julio 2012: Congreso Mundial de Federalistas aumenta el apoyo a la democratización global

Congreso Mundial de Federalistas aumenta el apoyo a la democratización global

Resolución adoptada sobre la democracia global

El 26 º Congreso Mundial del Movimiento Federalista Mundial, Institute for Global Policy (WFM - IGP) que se reunió esta semana en Winnipeg, Canadá, ha reafirmado el apoyo del movimiento internacional de la democratización global. Una resolución que fue aprobada por unanimidad por los delegados de más de 20 países hicieron hincapié en que "la primavera árabe, el Ocupar movimientos, indignados, y otras formas de protesta social han mostrado un creciente descontento con el actual orden político mundial y

Federalistas reunión en Winnipeg

Imagen: CEUNPA

planteó la cuestión de la democratización de la globalización a través de la globalización la democracia." WFM - IGP ejecuta importantes programas internacionales sobre la Corte Penal Internacional y la Responsabilidad de Proteger, la organización determinó que debería ser pilar fundamental "de su estrategia para facilitar la canalización de lo energía social en el desarrollo concreto de un parlamento mundial y de un orden global democrático."

Desarrollo de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU

Como WFM - IGP celebra su 65 aniversario este año, el movimiento debatió los detalles de su política de larga data de apoyo a la creación de una Asamblea Parlamentaria de Naciones Unidas. El Congreso determinó que "esta asamblea podría ser establecida por la Asamblea General en virtud del artículo 22 de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas y, por tanto, que no requieren de reformas a la Carta. Podría desarrollarse en etapas, comenzando con los parlamentarios electos, ya sea por sus respectivas legislaturas nacionales o, si los países están dispuestos a hacerlo, por elecciones populares directas. Más tarde podría estar constituido por elecciones populares directas por completo. La Asamblea Parlamentaria podrían, en conjunto con la Asamblea General de la ONU, se concederá aumentando gradualmente competencias legislativas." Además, el movimiento declaró que "la transparencia democrática y la rendición de cuentas debe aplicarse tanto a las instituciones mundiales existentes y futuras a través de los órganos de representación democráticamente globales de supervisión parlamentaria."

Panel de discusión

Los ponentes en el panel de discusión sobre el tema fueron Bill Blaikie, antiguo Presidente de la Cámara de los Comunes canadiense, ex parlamentario Warren Allmand, que es el presidente de la WFM Canadá y Andreas Bummel,

Andreas Bummel, Blaikie Bill y Warren Allmand (de izquierda a derecha)

Imagen: CEUNPA

Secretario General de la Campaña para una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU. Hubo un amplio acuerdo en el debate que necesario construir más apoyo a nivel de base "En la historia, los parlamentos sólo se produjo a través de la presión de la gente. Cuando la presión venga, un parlamento mundial se convertirá en una realidad," declaró el Sr. Allmand. Acoording al Sr. Blaikie, "ya tenemos la gobernanza global, nos guste o no. Pero no es democrática". El Sr. Bummel recordó un eslogan que ya se utilizaba en las protestas populares en contra de la Organización Mundial del Comercio en Seattle en 1999, "no hay globalización sin representación." La mesa redonda fue seguida por la presentación de un nuevo estudio titulado "La creación de una Asamblea Parlamentaria Mundial: un viaje evolutivo," escrito por José Schwartzberg.

Uno de los principales defensores de la democracia global y una Asamblea Parlamentaria de la ONU, el ex diputado argentino Fernando Iglesias, fue elegido como nuevo presidente de la WFM - Consejo IGP, tras James Christie en esta posición. El presidente del movimiento es Lloyd Axworthy, ex canciller canadiense.

En la última sesión de la reunión, el Movimiento Federalista Mundial declaró su apoyo a la reciente publicación "Manifiesto para una democracia global."

Imagen superior: Foto de familia de los participantes de la WFM - IGP Congreso, por CEUNPA

Study presents models for a World Parliamentary Assembly

Book presented at Congress in Winnipeg

Models and principles for the establishment and further evolution of a world parliament are the subject of a new study that was presented on Tuesday to an audience of international specialists participating in the world congress of the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy, an international network dedicated to the strengthening of the rule of law, human rights, federalism, and democracy. The book titled "Creating a World Parliamentary Assembly: An Evolutionary

Joseph Schwartzberg presenting his new book. In the background Andreas Bummel

Image: CEUNPA

Journey" is authored by Joseph Schwartzberg from Minnesota, an expert on the subject who taught geography at the University of Minnesota which bestowed on him in 2009 the honorary title "Distinguished International Emeritus Professor."

The book published by the Committee for a Democratic U.N. in Berlin with a foreword by Daniele Archibugi, a well-known specialist on cosmopolitan democracy and a director at the National Italian Research Council, explores how the democratic deficit of the United Nations can be progressively minimized by the development of a global parliamentary body. After establishing a conceptual platform, three evolutionary steps with four specific models for the apportionment of seats are set forth for what would eventually become a directly elected world assembly. Introducing the author and the study in Winnipeg, Andreas Bummel, the Committee's chairperson, pointed out that this was the first analysis of its kind and that it was a major contribution to the ongoing debate on the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly. In a comment printed on the book's back cover, European parliamentarian Jo Leinen said that the study "makes the undertaking very tangible and shows that, in principle, there are no technical obstacles that cannot be overcome. What is needed is the political will."

In the presentation Mr. Schwartzberg stressed that "there are an infinite number of possible models" and that in his opinion, "the apportionment of seats would have to reflect the realities of power in the real world, that means outside the United Nations." He added that "To retain the pretence that all nations are sovereign equals is dysfunctional." According to the proposal of Mr. Schwartzberg, participation in a world parliamentary assembly would be optional. "No country would be forced to join the UNPA, but those that did would have to follow the rules." Over time there would be a growing pressure for all countries to join the assembly, Mr. Schwartzberg said.

The book's publication was supported by the Earthrise Society based in Munich.

Download or purchase a hardcopy of the book here

Read more

13 July 2012: World Congress of Federalists boosts support for global democratization

World Congress of Federalists boosts support for global democratization

Resolution on global democracy adopted

The 26th World Congress of the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy (WFM - IGP) that assembled this week in Winnipeg, Canada, has reaffirmed the international movement's support of global democratization. A resolution that was passed unanimously by delegates from over 20 countries stressed that "the Arab Spring, the Occupy movements, indignados, and other forms of social protests have shown an increasing discontent with the existing global political order and

Federalists meeting in Winnipeg

Image: CEUNPA

raised the question of democratizing globalization through globalizing democracy." WFM - IGP runs major international programs on the International Criminal Court and the Responsibility to Protect. The organization determined that it should be a "key pillar" of its strategy to facilitate "channeling the social energy into the concrete development of a world parliament and a democratic global order."

Development of a UN Parliamentary Assembly

As WFM - IGP celebrates its 65th anniversary this year, the movement debated the details of its longstanding policy of supporting the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. The congress determined that "such an assembly could be established by the General Assembly under Article 22 of the UN Charter and, thus, would require no Charter amendments. It could develop in stages, beginning with parliamentarians elected either by their respective national legislatures or, if countries are willing to do so, by direct popular elections. It could later be constituted by direct popular elections entirely. The Parliamentary Assembly could, in concert with the UN General Assembly, be accorded gradually increasing legislative competence." In addition, the movement stated that "democratic transparency and accountability should apply both to existing and future global institutions by way of global democratically representative parliamentary oversight bodies."

Panel discussion

Speakers at a panel discussion on the subject included Bill Blaikie, former Deputy Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, former parliamentarian Warren Allmand, who is President of WFM Canada, and Andreas Bummel,

Andreas Bummel, Bill Blaikie and Warren Allmand (from left to right)

Image: CEUNPA

Secretary-General of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. There was broad agreement in the debate that support at the grassroots level needs to be built further. "In history, parliaments only came about through pressure from the people. When this pressure comes, a world parliament will become a reality," Mr. Allmand stated. Acoording to Mr. Blaikie, "we already have global governance, whether we like it or not. But it's not democratic." Mr. Bummel recalled a slogan that was already used at popular protests against the World Trade Organization in Seattle 1999, "no globalization without representation." The panel discussion was followed by the presentation of a new study titled the "Creation of a World Parliamentary Assembly: An Evolutionary Journey" authored by Joseph Schwartzberg.

One of the leading proponents of global democracy and a UN Parliamentary Assembly, former Argentinian parliamentarian Fernando Iglesias, was elected as new chairperson of the WFM - IGP's Council, following James Christie in this position. The movement's president is Lloyd Axworthy, former Canadian foreign minister.

In the last session of the meeting, the World Federalist Movement declared its endorsement of the recently published "Manifesto for a Global Democracy."

Top image: Group photo of the participants of the WFM - IGP Congress, by CEUNPA