European Foundation for Democracy through Partnership

European Foundation for Democracy through Partnership was launched 15.04.2008.

Václav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic, and founding Chair of the Council of Patrons of the new European Foundation for Democracy through Partnership (EFDP), will join other patrons of the EFDP in a public event launching the new foundation in Brussels on 15 April 2008. He will be joined at the event by other EFDP patrons, including former Vice-President of the European Commission Etienne Davignon, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Uffe Ellemann Jensen, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Bernard Bot. On 15 April 2008, together with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and former president of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano, they will introduce this new initiative to strengthen European efforts to support democracy around the world.

http://www.efdp.eu/homepage

“By investing in the democratisation of its neighbours and their partners, it invests in their openness and development. It invests in fairer societies in which the incidence of social problems, the use of force, and political, religious or cultural radicalisation is decreasing. Ultimately, the return on the investment made is collective and translates into prosperity, stability and peace for all." Barroso

Jordan's queen launches YouTube channel to break down sterotypes

AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan's media savvy Queen Rania has launched a YouTube channel calling on young people to engage in a global dialogue to dismantle stereotypes of Muslims and the Arab world.
Rania has vowed to work to break down such preconceptions and has said she wants people to know the real Arab world ... unedited, unscripted and unfiltered.
The YouTube channel invites viewers to give their opinions of the Middle East and talk about stereotyped images they may have of Arabs and Muslims.
Rania said on her Web site that there's a whole world of wonder out there and people cannot appreciate it by using stereotypes.

Anna Lindh Foundation prepares for ‘1001 Actions’ campaign

In the countdown to 2008, the EU Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the Anna Lindh Foundation is preparing to launch a major international campaign entitled “1001 Actions for Dialogue.” Building on the Foundation’s unique role as a network of thirty-seven national networks of civil society organisations, the “1001 Actions” campaign intends to mobilise individuals and groups across the region to implement activities under a common banner for the promotion of dialogue.

In order to maximise the visibility of this collective movement, the majority of actions will be timed to take place at the start of May 2008, culminating in “Dialogue Night” during which simultaneous cultural events will be held in the thirty-seven countries of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.