SDLP Lisburn Councillor and Chair of SDLP Youth (SDLPY) Matthew McDermott and SDLP Belfast Councillor Niall Kelly visited Tiblisi, Georgia, to deliver campaign training to the Young Georgian Socialists (YGS), a youth movement in Georgia of over 4000 people.

 The young SDLP Councillors spent two days in Tiblisi helping the Georgian movement develop democratic practices and teaching them effective campaigning methods.

 Commenting Cllr McDermott said, ‘ SDLPY has developed good links with the YGS over the past year and we hope to establish a permanent program in the country to continue with the work we are doing. SDLP and SDLPY is a proudly pro European and internationalist organisation, recognising the need for greater international cooperation with other social democrats across an increasingly globalised and multi cultured world.

 ‘ We delivered a comprehensive campaigning workshop and discussed our own experiences here in Northern Ireland.’

 Cllr Kelly continued, ‘ Georgia is a country which has been in a state of transformation since the Rose Revolution in 2003. The past six years has seen massive change in the Country and for the first time in many years the voices of young people are beginning to be heard.

“We in the SDLP are proud to do what we can to help our friends in the YGS develop their organization and to articulate their views to the wider Georgian public.

END

http://www.flickr.com/photos/niallkellysdlp/4075721706/ 
 

SDLPY Chair Cllr Matthew McDermott was part of an SDLP delegation that met with Irish Environment Minister, John Gormley TD to discuss North South arrangements, Climate Change and the SDLPY campaign “The Countdown is on” regarding international climate talks in Copenhagen.

The delegation included Chair of Assembly Environment Committee Dolores Kelly MLA, Chair of the Assembly Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee Alban Maguinness MLA and Chair of SDLPY Cllr Matthew McDermott.  

After the meeting Cllr McDermott said, ‘ The SDLP pushed the Minister to press the DUP and SF to have Climate Change included on the agenda of North South meetings. As it is not on the agenda it can’t be discussed at these meetings, which is an absurd situation.

‘ The go slow approach of the two ruling parties is unacceptable; if we don’t act on climate change now, future generations face disaster in so many ways.

Regarding the SDLPY campaign Cllr McDermott said, ‘ Climate Change is the most important issue facing my generation and the agreement being sought in Copenhagen in December is crucial. I outlined to the Minister that SDLPY will be rolling out a campaign throughout November, visiting our schools and seeking signatures to an online petition from our students, of all ages.

‘ These are the people that generally don’t have a vote but want a voice. The petition will be calling for a 40% cut in emissions by 2025 and an assistance fund for developing countries to adopt. It will be delivered to the Irish and British governments before they embark for Copenhagen.

SDLP Youth International Secretary Barry Magee has attended a conference in Sweden to discuss conflict resolution with delegates from Iraq and Palestine.

The conference which was hosted by the Swedish Young Social Democrats (SSU) saw Mr Magee hold talks with the Kurdistan Youth Freedom Organisation from Iraq and the Palestinian-based Fatah Youth movement:

The Lecale SDLP Secretary said: “It was a tremendous personal honour to meet with social democratic colleagues from Iraq and Palestine and to have the opportunity to discuss with them areas of mutual learning and cooperation in conflict resolution and peace-building.

“While each of our respective situations may be different there are many similarities that can be drawn from our individual experiences. I firmly believe that other conflict regions can learn from our experiences.

“The peace-process here has had its difficulties but we have learned that the only through partnership and working together can we ever resolve our issues.

“I reiterated to them that peace processes are never perfect- there are many challenging times and “peace” is not a destination that is easily arrived at.

“Achieving peace involves constant hard work and effort not only in terms of developing political relationships but also in building consensus on the ground and in communities.

“Peace does not just happen overnight – it is a perpetual process – and can only be achieved through compromise and adhering to the fundamental principles of dialogue, respect for diversity, commitment to democracy and non-violence.

“The SDLP want to help build a better world- a world that is free from conflict and the root causes of conflict- such as issues of poverty, social exclusion and segregation.”

Barry has discussed in more detail his experiences during the SSU Congress and Swedish politics over on his blog http://talesfromlecale.blogspot.com/

SDLP Youth will be attending the annual May Day Parade in Belfast on Saturday 2nd May to coincide with the global call to action for International Labour Day on 1st May. The Parade will gather at 11.30am at St Anne’s Cathedral followed by a march and some entertainment at St George’s Market. All welcome.

As SDLP Youth’s International Secretary I would like to draw your attention to the wider purpose of International Labour Day.

At this time of economic crisis, when people are losing their jobs and employment protections are being rolled back, it is important that workers stand together in solidarity in the face of depreciating social conditions.  

In the North the dominance of public sector employment has until recently somewhat hidden the negative consequences of the economic crisis. However the impacts of the economic crisis are now beginning to be revealed- with workers, private sector workers in particular, now beginning to find themselves at the mercy of the failing economic markets. There are many recent cases that reflect this, including the much publicised plight of Visteon workers.

In this climate of economic uncertainty it is vital that workers have strong safety nets and that governments help those that become unemployed to quickly find another job, training or education course. It is therefore imperatively urgent that the Assembly works together to implement a strong social response to this crisis. There can be no room for policy inertia- the DUP and Sinn Fein need to set aside petty political positioning and start delivering for workers.

But these tough times must be met with progressive policies- not the tired, old rhetoric and economic philosophy that has been the inherent root cause for this economic malaise. This economic regime has failed Europe, like it has the rest of the world, and it is obvious that now is the time for new leadership.

That is why it is important that the Party of European Socialists, the SDLP’s mother party at the European-level, is returned as the strongest grouping in the European Parliament at the June European elections. You can play your part- give your support to Alban Maginness and help create a more socially conscious Europe that puts people first!

In solidarity,

Barry Magee

SDLP Youth Chairman Peter Armstrong has called on Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin to intervene and prevent Irish humanitarian supplies bound for Gaza from being returned to Ireland by Egyptian authorities.

He said: “There are four containers full of humanitarian supplies including medical equipment and clothing which may be returned to Ireland as the Egyptian authorities are not accepting the documentation.

“The shipment was organised by the Palestine Children’s Appeal in Galway. The shipment includes donations from across Ireland, including an operating table donated by Letterkenny Hospital and over 100 duvets and pillows donated by Galway Radisson Hotel.

“SDLP Youth are urging Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and the Irish Ambassador to Egypt Gerard Corr to intervene and ensure the supplies are delivered to Gaza.”

Last week SDLP Youth attended the 4th European Community Of Socialist Youth[1] (ECOSY) Winter University in Brussels, Belgium. SDLP Youth’s ECOSY Bureau Member Barry Magee attended the event that took place in the Party of European Socialists (PES) Headquarters and the European Parliament.

The event was attended by more than 30 young socialists and social democrats from all over Europe, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, and Italy amongst others. The programme for the Winter University included various political seminars and themed discussions with a diverse range of panelists, including MEPs and NGO representatives.

”On Tuesday we had a discussion with Anna Colombo MEP, Secretary General of the PES Group in the European Parliament. One of the many valuable points Anna made was that we, as social democrats, look at the creation of jobs as a value and not as a mean to tackle economic problems. Work must not be held as an end in itself and the principles of Decent Work, Decent Life must be secured.

On Wednesday we discussed with MEPs issues such as social security and the economical crisis, education and innovation, climate change and sustainable development, global governance and nuclear disarmament, integration and migration. On Thursday we discussed the development issues with Pia Locatelli MEP and Emma Ceery of Oxfam and closed with a debate on how to build a citizens Europe with Richard Corbett MEP.

This Winter University was a unique event because its programme included participation in a Global Progressive Forum conference on ‘The New Globalisation for Progressive Change’. Speakers at the conference included Bill Clinton, Howard Dean and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (PES President). The event was attended by over 3000 progressives, trade union activists and NGO representatives from all over the world. I had the pleasure of appearing in the official video for the event.

During the various discussions throughout the week, one major issue was prominent: Europe needs new leadership - the current economic crisis can not be solved by those who created it. The same thinking that created these difficulties can not resolve them. Neo-liberals and conservatives want the marginalised, poor and unemployed to pay for the economic crisis created by them. This is unacceptable.

There must be social responses to the current economic crisis and to the rampant globalisation that has exacerbated global financial difficulties. The economic crisis must not become an excuse to dilute social principles.  Social security systems must not be undermined and there must be strong safety nets for workers who lose their jobs.

That is why in June’s European elections it is vital that the PES is returned as the strongest group in the European Parliament. Only by supporting PES candidates such as Alban Maginness can we have positive Change for Europe. We in the PES and the SDLP want to create a New Social Europe that is people-centred and puts People First!”

Haneen Wishah in Coleraine Times

Back in September SDLP Youth encouraged everyone to sign a petition to allow Palestinian student Haneen Wishah to travel from Gaza to Ireland to study at the University of Ulster Coleraine. The petition was successful. In the Coleraine Times this week Haneen urges Israel to stop the war.

“Stop the Israeli aggression on my land and people.
We, as Palestinians are begging to live in peace in a justice world in our homeland Palestine, because it’s our legal right and we won’t give up until we free our land Palestine from the Israeli occupation.”

Belfast Gaza Protest

The protest was hugely successful. Around 2,000 people attended the protest, while thousands more marched and lined the route through the city centre. Similar marches took place in cities and towns throughout Ireland in solidarity with the people in Palestine.

SDLP Youth call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the killing, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and both sides to enter talks to work towards a peaceful solution. Until this happens, the Irish, British and European governments must impose economic sanctions upon Israel.

Pictures of the protest are now online at http://sdlpyouth.com/gallery/v/campaigns/GazaSolidarityProtest/

Mark Durkan Tables Motion at Westminster

SDLP Party Leader, MP for Foyle has tabled an Early Day Motion calling for an end to the death and destruction in Gaza:

The Israeli Army continues its siege on Gaza, attacking and maiming thousands of innocent Palestinians across the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of children have now been killed, as Israeli Army jets yesterday dropped bombs on two schools run by the United Nations.

A representative of the Pope has referred to the Gaza Strip as a “big concentration camp”.

SDLP Youth wishes to express solidarity with the people in Gaza. The Israeli response to the rocket attacks by Palestinian militants is completely disproportionate. A peaceful solution must be sought and a ceasefire needs to be restored.

Please take time to attend the Belfast Protest organised by ICTU, marching from the Arts College to Belfast City Hall this Saturday 10th January @ 12.30pm.

For those interested on blogs from Gaza, our sister organisation (through Socialist International), the Palestinian National Initiative, has daily news reports and other information about the attacks.

Also, if you haven’t already, please sign the Avaaz petition. There are now 250,000 signatures.

SDLP Youth have called for the European Union to pressure Israel to end attacks on Gaza.

SDLP Youth Chair Peter Armstrong today said: “The international community must do a lot more to end the Israeli attacks on Gaza. In a single day the Israeli Army killed 270 people in retaliation for 1 Israeli dying in a mortar attack. Killing and injuring thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza is a completely disproportionate response. There must be another way. A peaceful solution must be sought. A ceasefire needs to be restored.

“World leaders need to put pressure on Israel to immediately end the bombardment. A message must go across from the EU that this is not acceptable, a breach of international law and it cannot continue.”

“SDLP Youth are calling on everyone to sign an emergency petition by Avaaz on their website at http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_time_for_peace/ which calls on the European Union to ensure that a ceasefire is restored, to stop the bloodshed and address the humanitarian crisis.”

On November 28-30th SDLP Youth representative and Lecale Branch Secretary Barry Magee was in Madrid, Spain for a European Community Of Socialist Youth (ECOSY) bureau meeting and the Party of European Socialists (PES) Council.

With the European elections in June 2009 the PES Council provided an opportunity for social democrats and socialists from all over Europe to adopt the PES manifesto for the European elections.

The PES manifesto ”People First: A New Direction For Europe” was adopted in Madrid by over 232 delegates from 33 member parties. At the centre of the manifesto is building a new Social Europe- by putting people first.

SDLP Youth believe that this can be done through building a citizens’ Europe by engaging more young people in policy developments and enlarging the scope of youth exchanges.

During the year ECOSY formally adopted 9 Deliverables that would form the basis of the ECOSY input into the PES manifesto.

These deliverables include: 15 million new jobs by 2014 - better working conditions for young people; more social security - better public services; eradicate poverty - national minimum incomes and wages; no unnecessary bureaucracy - building a citizens Europe; better integration - tackling roots cause of migration; equal rights; sustainable lifestyles; no more unilateralism; and decent work for all.

SDLP Youth are very happy with our contribution into the final official ECOSY input into the PES manifesto. SDLP Youth input focused on creating a level playing field for agency workers; reforming the European social model in light of recent EU enlargement; addressing the current global economic malaise; and creating social responses to the globalisation of capital markets.

We want Change For Europe, We want to put People First!

Further information:
- ECOSY 9 deliverables
- The 2009 PES Manifesto