[pf] How to run politics; if: hundreds of millions people.

· I've just added this to my next environmental news compilation.
  Making politics work really means getting all potential voters engaged;
feeling that they have a real part to play. Here's an example showing that
TV-watching-based politics isn't good enough. 
  Better is: in-person converting your followers, then they go back to
their home base broadcasting your praises.
  If this sounds classic (true for a couple of thousand years), I'm not
surprised.   D.

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http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-24-07.html
  is:

     Wallström Stars in Her Own Creation: European Green Week

BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 24, 2001 (ENS) - The European Commission's most
ambitious attempt yet to engage with European citizens on environmental
issues began today in Brussels. 

Devised by people-friendly Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström, the
Green Week conference and exhibition includes four days of seminars and
debates on European Union environmental policy and an exhibition showcasing
success stories in member and candidate states. 
<BR>
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/pics16/wallstrommargotgreenscarf.jpg ; 
European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström of Sweden (Photo
courtesy European Commission) 
Wallström's environment directorate is using Green Week to promote its
proposals for the European Union's 6th Environmental Action Programme
(6EAP), and the commissioner was clearly pleased with the higher than
expected numbers of people attending. Her officials planned for about 1,500
attendees, but 2,200 have registered. 
She acknowledged that direct and regular interaction with citizens of the
European Union had rarely been the Commission's strength, but insisted that
the time for clear communication has arrived. "We need to empower people by
giving them information and inspiring them to take action," Wallström said. 

Other speakers echoed Wallström's call for the Commission to raise its
profile on environmental issues, but did not always agree on what it should
be saying. 

Energy and Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio, for example,
forcefully reiterated her well known belief - which is not shared by
Wallström - that the European Union will need nuclear power "for the medium
term" and asked for "rational" discussion on the subject. 
<BR>
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/pics16/depalacioloyola.jpg ; 
Energy and Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio of Spain is also vice
president of the European Commission (Photo courtesy European Commission) 
Commissioner de Palacio warned of the need for further action if the
European Union is to meet its Kyoto Protocol target to cut greenhouse gases
by eight percent in the first five year commitment period 2008 to 2012. 
"If we don't do something we're actually going to see a five percent
increase during the Kyoto compliance period," de Palacio said. 

Avoiding a public row with her colleague over nuclear power, Wallström
concentrated on selling the 6EAP, telling journalists that criticisms of
her directorate's 6EAP proposals were no more than she had expected. 

As part of Green Week Wallström hosted an Internet chat today focusing on
the 6EAP and its four themes: climate change, nature and biodiversity,
environment and health, natural resources and waste. 

Wallström defended her plans as a good basis for further work. Those groups
impatient for detailed targets and deadlines would have to wait until plans
for each of the program's four themes were elaborated, she said. 
<BR>
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/pics16/ullswater.jpg ; 
Ullswater in England's Lake District is European natural beauty at its
best. (Photo courtesy Freefoto.com) 
Wallström also chaired a media debate today sponsored by International
Herald Tribune TV and the WWF on the future of the environment - who is
responsible and who pays the costs of environmental preservation and
restoration. 
During Green Week, a special exhibition will take place in the Charlemagne
Building where over 80 exhibitors from the Member States - and some
accession candidate countries, including Poland, Romania and Slovakia -
will be displaying their latest environmental project work. 

There is a mobile exhibition, currently touring Europe, aimed at raising
public awareness on the effects of climate change. 

Nature conservation projects dedicated to preserving valuable wetlands,
animal species, rivers and forests are featured. 

Other exhibits examine more environmentally friendly ways of repairing
sewers, treating cooling liquids, reclaiming plastic waste, treating oil
spills and recycling waste water contaminated by the food production
industry. 

On the health and environment front, exhibitors are presenting their work
in the field of noise pollution and showing the potential health benefits
of crop diversity and car sharing. 

Visit the Green Week website at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/greenweek/index2a.htm 

The 6th Environment Action Programme is detailed online at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/newprg/index.htm 


{Published in cooperation with ENDS Environment Daily, Europe's choice for
environmental news. Environmental Data Services Ltd, London. Email:
envdaily@ends.co.uk} 

© Environment News Service (ENS)

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sent on by David.
(David MacClement) davd@ihug.co.nz 
http://www.geocities.com/davd.geo/index.html#top
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