The architecture of our future is an arm length away for each of us. Some choose to wait and see what future has in store for them. Others systematically act on anticipating and influencing its design. This session will present only a fraction of the work NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe do every day in creating a future that avoids our past mistakes and answers to society’s ever-evolving needs. 

a) Anti-Corruption

Frank Bold Society, Czech Republic:

Lobbying against Lobbyists (The Reconstruction of the State anti-corruption campaign), by Jiří Boudal

„We are being ruined by our own pledges. We will be labeled as malefactors by Reconstruction of the State if we don’t fulfill what we have promised. “ Helena Valkova, Czech Minister of Justice.

Prior to the 2013 Parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, the coalition of all major public transparency NGOs started a campaign to get the candidates to sign a pledge supporting nine specific anti-corruption laws. From the 200 new deputies, 165 signed the pledge and Reconstruction of the State became one of the major media partners to assess the anti-corruption performance of the new Parliament. However, shortly after the elections, the opponents among public servants, state-owned corporations or local mayors started to lobby hard against the proposals. What does it look like to lobby against lobbyists? And who is winning the game? Clientelistic networks or Reconstruction of the State, „the biggest public lobbying action in the history of Czech Republic“?

 b) Good Governance/Transparency

ePF – Fundacja ePanstwo, Poland: Information is Power, by Karolina Wysocka

Our project created and popularizes a "gamification" internet platform focused on the efforts for the public good, building around it a community of organizations and users. This initiative was a natural response to the need to engage organizations and individuals into public efforts, based on the natural human drive to be praised and respected.

The platform based on the portal Sejmometr.pl offers tools for public engagement (e.g. it allows getting information on public issues, to interact with public authorities, to present ideas and to gather support for them, including financial support). The portal encourages its users to engage in public affairs and to actively join its community, while for organizations it offers tools to achieve their goals.

c) Public Participation

Via Iuris Association, Slovakia: We, the People, by Eva Kovacechova

This project significantly improves citizen participation in preparing new legislation and, more specifically, aims at adopting a brand new Public Participation Act. In addition, consultations and legal assistance will be provided in several cases where public participation may play an important role and also several public debates around governmental legal proposals will be organized. 10.000 people will thus be involved in public affairs.

d) Hate Speech

National Institute of Social Integration, Lithuania: Panda is Spreading the Virus of Joy. Let’s get infected!, by Indrė Maršantaitė

Vilnius has a new inhabitant. An inhabitant who makes chocolate, rides the tricycle and invites everyone to share their messages of joy. She is a little bit black, a little bit white and a little bit Asian. The I LOVE PANDA campaign in Lithuania aims to introduce youth with the tools needed to react to hate speech in social networks. It is the national campaign of joy, which is based upon positive attitude, active participation and respect for human rights. It stands for equality and diversity. A real-size Panda has been chosen to become the symbol and the ambassador of the campaign and is encouraging everybody to build up as much joy and kindness in their life as possible. The campaign is inspired by the No Hate Speech Movement in Europe.  

e) New Civic Movements

Alburnus Maior, Romania: Save Roșia Montană Campaign, by Ștefania Simion

The Alburnus Maior Association is an NGO based in Roșia Montană, a village in Western Romania. It represents the interests of the local citizens opposing a major gold exploitation planned on site, citizens who refuse to sell their properties and thus to allow the destruction of their community. The proposed project uses record quantities of cyanide and aims to become the largest open gold quarry in Europe.

Alburnus Maior has initiated and coordinated the Save Roșia Montană Campaign for 12 years now, having become the largest social and environmental movement in Romania. The campaign’s efficiency lies in that, although the project was planned to start producing gold in 2004, it is still kept at a halt, even at present time. This is mainly the result of hundreds of demonstrations, lobbying initiatives, petitions, public information actions as well as judicial complaints.

During this time span, the initiative of the locals in Roșia Montană led to the most ample mobilization of the civil society in Romania. The Save Roșia Montană campaign now includes NGOs, international organizations, academic and scientific institutions, as well as regular citizens who support this cause. Roșia Montană reset the standards of morality for Romanian politicians and became a landmark in the struggle of civil society against corruption and lack of transparency. It also stands as a major success example of grassroots organizations fighting for human rights, environmental protection and social justice.