Lehet Más a Világ! - The Hungarian Another World is Possible! Network at the London ESF
Thursday 21 October 2004, by Tracey Wheatley
The organisations making up the network are constantly developing contacts with NGO’s around the world. Get in touch with them!
Agriculture
Védegylet (Protect the Future!) expressed their solidarity with the farmers rallying for their livelihood on 26th February, 2004. At the same time, the organization stated its proposals for sustainable rural development in Hungary. Hungarian green NGOs proved successful in pushing forward the issue of sustainable agriculture and rural development a number of times in 2004 with the support of the media. A wide partnership was formed between farmers’ groups, agriculture experts and green NGOs in 2004. The independent network (FAKT) will inform farmers on new opportunities in agri-environmental farming systems and rural development. FAKT will lobby for advancing these issues on the governmental level too.
www.mtvsz.hu (Hungarian FoE), www.vedegylet.hu (Protect the Future)
GATS
Hungary is part of the WTO-GATS process, a process chiefly directed towards privatising public services. While the acronym GATS is never mentioned in public discussions, privatisation is under way. The Another World Is Possible! network has drawn attention to the this at a number of events. ‘Protect the Future’ asked the government for information (in vain), published countless articles, organised numerous press conferences, wrote to the Hungarian MEPs, prepared its own statement, gathered background materials for decision-makers and for the young public. They are co-operating with trade unions and experts. Future activities include organising a international conference on the issue, to be held in February 2005, active lobbying at municipalities; launching a ‘GATS-free zone’ campaign; as well as publishing a background volume on the problems engendered by privatising public service sectors.
(Zsolt Boda from ‘Protect the Future’ is taking part in Seattle to Brussels events at the ESF! See S2B for details!)
Mining, the Industry and Our Rivers
Due to the breach of a tailing dam in a Romanian gold mine at Baia Mare, the year 2000 saw the worst ever river pollution (cyanide and heavy metal spills) on the Tisza, the second largest river in the Carpathian Basin. The disaster shed light on the enormous danger posed by industrial areas in Hungary and abroad. Currently works are under way for the creation of a surface gold mine larger and more dangerous than any before, based on outdated cyanide technology at Verespatak (Rosia Montana) in Romania. The mine will be one of the world’s largest.
MTVSZ and Alburnus Major join together for the workshop: Mining, Rivers and the Environment, Friday 4-6, Bloomsbury, Congress House 2. A 30 minute video ‘Burying People for Profit, will be shown, followed by a discussion and campaign strategies with Stepanie Roth from Alburnus Maior.
www.mtvsz.hu, www.rosiamontana.org
Energy
On the 10th April, 2003 a serious incident occurred at Paks, Hungary’s nuclear plant. Several tons of fuel rods split; these are still in place in the same cleaning container the damage happened in. The conduct of the government and Parliament evoked memories of the communist times: information was withheld or disclosed with a deliberate delay, while a Greenpeace protest at Paks was handled brutally. Owing to the lack of a strong anti-nuclear mass movement, the public was finally placated. Business interests are enjoying priority over safety concerns, one of the reasons behind the accident. The Energy Club and Greenpeace were able to stand for their alternative proposals, objections and differences of opinion publicly. Minister of the Exterior, László Kovács, recently nominated for the post of EU Energy Commissioner, appeared scandalously unprepared in front of the related European Parliament hearing.
Representing the Rights of Future Generations
With the participation of the former first president of the Hungarian Constitutional Court, also a member of Protect the Future, a legislative proposal was drafted in 2000. The aim of this extraordinary initiative is to create the post of a Parliamentary Ombudsman, a spokesperson for the rights of future generations. Since no government has backed the proposal so far, several green NGO’s joined with the aim of establishing and running the new institution, somewhat in the manner of a ‘shadow ombudsman’s office’, until it becomes recognised by legislation.
Péter Kajner of Protect the Future is joining with Chit Chong of the Green Party of England and Wales for the workshop ‘Fighting for the rights of Future Generations! Saturday 4.30 - 6.30, Bloomsbury, Birkeck 406
Waste
Hungary joined the European Union and there are considerable new resources for advanced management of the waste we produce. Not only can we construct EU standard waste disposal facilities and incinerators but there are even some resources for establishing selective waste disposal policies. These technologies, however, don’t encourage us to reduce the amount of waste generated, but ironically lead to expanding levels of waste production. Do any practices still exist in Europe for prevention of waste production and recycling? How can these approaches be saved from certain extinction?
Join HUMUSZ in its seminar Working ways of reduction and prevention of waste, Saturday 9-11, Bloomsbury, Birkbeck 35
Interested in other contributions from Hungary?
Erzsebert Szalai will be speaking at the plenary: Working together to fight inequalities and build social and economic alternatives (Friday 4-6, Alexandra Palace) Pal Aradi: Stop fascism and the far right in Europe, (Saturday 7-9, Alexandra Palace, 1000)
Gaspar Miklos Tamas, a well known Hungarian intellectual, is facilitating the plenary session – For a Europe of people’s rights and the question of citizenship (no details –check program!)
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