ReCAP and YFoEE action in Brussels

Brussels is not only the heart of Europe but also the centre of FOEE. Young activists could therefore not be better placed than to be in this vibrant city where activism is encouraged and thriving.

Since October 2011, FoEE and YFoEE members have been working on a campaign entitled recap, which aims to highlight the 50th Anniversary of the CAP and influence the decision-makers in the upcoming reforms to this, the most expensive of all EU policies. ReCAP campaigners are mostly involved in the Food and Agriculture Working Group (FAWG), and aim to put an end to factory farming in Europe, favouring instead greater subsidies for smaller-scale and organic farms. The campaign is putting together an action pack, so that 50 actions can be carried out over the year to symbolize the 50 years of CAP. These include such actions as blood picnics, cycle rallies, flash mobs, etc. Full details of the campaign and how to GET INVOLVED can be found at http://www.foeeurope.org/yfoee/reCAP.

The FAWG has also recently written its manifesto! It took us a good long while and we had contributions from Lithuania, Germany, the UK, The Netherlands, Italy…and the final product, awaiting approval from the outcome of the FoE AGM, calls for the end to our present habits of food and land consumption. Problems and their solutions are identified and discussed in detail, and for all of you that would like to get a good idea of what you can to help, I advise giving it a read!

Aside from reCAP, Brussels has also been the welcoming ground for young European activists on several occasions, and most recently for the Durban in Brussels solidarity camp that was set up to coincide with the Durban climate talks. For the duration, some of the young friends of the Earth gathered in Brussels to follow the negotiations, take part in workshops and learn about the work that is going on elsewhere in Europe for FoEE. The atmosphere was one of spirited enthousiasm for the outcome of the talks, and as usual, a hub of inspiration to action. The participants from YFoE Ireland organized a visit to the European parliament to meet with Paul Murphy (Socialist Party) and Nessa Childers (Labour) in order to get a better idea of what ‘those on the inside’ think about the future of the climate talks, and what the Institutions are capable of, and willing to do in favour of a more sustainable future for the environment.

The head office in Brussels has also organized another network gathering for the Friends involved in campaigns, to be held in Amsterdam in June. Emails threads and Skype calls are not enough to run a successful campaign, and we hope that a weekend in Amsterdam will be much more productive. Fingers crossed no one gets ‘distracted’! It is shaping up to be a really good chance to set the ball rolling at greater speed and make the changes we so really need! Brussels is spreading the fighting spirit for YFoEE and wants as many people as possible to get involved in a campaign. DO IT NOW.