European Week of Local Democracy from 14 to 20 October 2013 with a variety of activities in Chemnitz
Invitation to the launch event in Chemnitz town hall
This year's week of action to raise people's awareness of local democracy fits perfectly into the European Year of Citizens 2013. Initiated by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the European Week of Local Democracy aims to strengthen the links between the population and their locally elected representatives. The current motto "Active Citizenship: Vote, Participate, Involve" informs Europeans about their opportunities to increase their active involvement in local politics. At the same time, local politicians are encouraged to enter into a dialogue with residents in order to increase transparency and responsibility. In the European Year of Citizens, there is a special focus on citizen participation in public life.
The European Week of Local Democracy in Chemnitz will kick off on Monday, 14 October at 5 pm in the exhibition room of Chemnitz City Hall. The exhibition "Beyond the horizon - creative for democracy" will be opened here. On display will be the results of a school competition organised by the Fortis Academy, which was implemented as a project of the federal programme "Promoting Tolerance - Strengthening Competence". After a welcoming address by Pia Sachs, EU Coordinator of the City of Chemnitz, Ines Vorsatz, Coordinator of the Local Action Plan, will address the exhibition. The headmistress of the Fortis Academy, Mrs Wulst, will be present to give an insight into the project. Integrated into the exhibition is a presentation of European community foundations, to which the office manager of the Chemnitz Community Foundation, Ms Poller, will add introductory words during the opening. The exhibition will conclude with a performance entitled "Europapuzzle". The exhibition will be on display until 25 October. Interested parties can also find out about the EU project "AUFwachsen ZUSAMMENwachsen - Die Erweiterung" as a good practical example.
As part of Democracy Week, the Odradek reading café in Kompott is focussing on "Discrimination against minorities in Europe - the Roma in the Czech Republic". As a continuation of the activities during Europe Week, the documentary film "The Circle" will be shown on Thursday, 17 October 2013 at 7 pm . This will be followed at 8.30 pm by a lecture with visual impressions and a discussion with Michael Reibetanz from the Czech twin town of Ústí nad Labem entitled "Anti-Romaism and Racism - a current stocktaking using the example of the Czech Republic". On Saturday, 19 October 2013 at 8 p.m. , the protagonists of the reading café will discuss the current situation of the Roma minority in the Czech Republic in a discussion with visual impressions, with Petr Mati, social worker in Bilina, Radek Jandera, photographer from Ústí nad Labem, and Hedda Bayer, artist and translator, in attendance. All events will be accompanied by culinary delights.
Further information at www.chemnitz.de > Die Stadt Chemnitz > Europaarbeit > Veranstaltungen .
Contact for enquiries: EU Coordinator Pia Sachs, call 0371 488-1509 ,
e-mail: pia.sachs@stadt-chemnitz.de.