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Stay updated about the Liberal family!
March 2007 - Posts
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LYMEC welcomes the two most recent agreements between the EU and the United States. Both framework agreements will strengthen the economic potential across the Atlantic by liberalizing two crucial sectors: financial services, as well as transatlantic Read More...
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Una buena educación es imprescindible para lograr la igualdad de oportunidades y el progreso. La posibilidad de que cualquier persona, independientemente de su origen pueda ascender socialmente es un requisito para la democracia. Basta darse un paseo Read More...
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The Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas has announced its endorsement of the candidacies of Sec. Mike Defensor, Majority Leader Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and Rep. Noynoy Aquino for the Senate this coming May.
“This
isn’t a case of ‘loving your own’, as some people might accuse KALIPI
of,” Jan-Argy Tolentino, Secretary General and Spokesperson of KALIPI,
said. “We’ve worked with these three for a long time, and we know that
the Senate – and the Republic – will benefit from having Sec. Mike and
Noynoy in the Senate, and having Sen. Kiko stay for another term.”
“These
guys are our idols, the people we look up to in the Party, mainly
because we know of their dedication to their duty and the country, and
their desire to see wide-ranging reforms to Philippine politics,”
Tolentino added. He cited the generous and all-out support given by
Sec. Defensor, Rep. Aquino and Sen. Pangilinan to the liberal causes that includes formation of liberal groupings, advocacies of the youth wing and support to the now-defunct
Liberal Philippines, an experiment by the Liberal organizations of the
country to create a magazine that would at the same time promote
liberal viewpoints and values while tackling major issues of the day.
Tolentino
also pointed out that the Liberal leaders endorsed by KALIPI were some
of those in the LP that gave their ear to the young liberals. “We could
talk to them, and they would listen and engage us in discussion. For
young people talking to person in high authority, that’s something very
important, that they take time to genuinely hear your concerns and do
something about it.”
“We
don’t even need to tell our Chapters about this endorsement,” Elmer
Baldemoro, KALIPI Vice President for Community, said. “When we discuss
the elections with our Chapters and members, the names of these three
regularly pop out as people they’ll vote for.”
Sec. Mike Defensor once served as Chairman of KALIPI (1995-1998), Sen. Pangilinan (2001-2004) and Rep. Noynoy Aquino (1998-200) served as Honorary Chairpersons of KALIPI. (end)
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Y! Power (An on-line Voter's Education Campaign of KALIPI) launched its
voter’s education campaign poster
online – ‘Boto ko, Pag-iisipan ko’
Visit www.getinvolved.wordpress.com
Your Vote, Your Choice, Your Future!
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The Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas
(KALIPI) issued a call to young celebrities to encourage their fellow
youth to participate in the elections this coming May. This call comes
along with the launching of a weblog on voter’s education campaign.
“We
all know the influence young celebrities have over their legions of
fans,” Jan-Argy Tolentino, Secretary General and Spokesperson of
KALIPI, said. “What we’re asking is that these teen idols encourage
young people to vote this coming May.” Tolentino emphasized that
the youth – comprising somewhere between 30 – 40% of the country’s
total population – could very well tip the balance in favor of more
principled politics. “If the youth only voted as a bloc for politicians
that could reform the political culture of the country, then people who
truly mean well would be able to directly contribute to the betterment
of the Philippines.” “Active youth group like KALIPI should
convince the youth to go out and vote, to exercise their right and
responsibility to choose their leaders,” Eric Caliboso, Executive
Director of Center for Liberal Leadership, said. “The problem is most
young people think that voting is either a useless endeavor or don’t
care at all. What they don’t know is their votes are statements for the
kind of politics and leaders they want the country to have.” Caliboso
pointed out that it is here that young celebrities could use their
influence over their fans to encourage voting on May. “The trust
accorded to these celebrities by their fans should make them at least
reconsider exercising their right to vote. If more young people
participate in the elections this year, then that’s already a big step
to reforming our political culture.” (end)
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Young Asians affiliated with the Asia-wide youth organization Young Liberals
and Democrats of Asia (YLDA) attended a five-day international gathering of
youth leaders in Colombo, Sri Lanka from January 17 to 21 sponsored by its the
German foundation partner Friedrich Naumann Stiftung (FNF).
Titled the "The Art of Asking: A workshop on Fundraising," the
seminar/workshop aims to train Asian youth leaders on the technical, strategic,
and practical aspects of fundraising. The five-day activity requires the participants
to master, among other things, the need to create and maintain a reliable network
of contacts in the international community, formulation of adaptable strategies,
and detailed writing of relevant grant proposals for prospective donor agencies.
Seminar organizers YLDA and FNF expect the 23 participants from ten Asian countries
to learn from the resource speakers the principles and practice of effective
fundraising programs in fulfillment of their long-term goal of starting their
own programs and projects for the youths in their respective country. Leading
the learning exercise is Hon. Nivard Cabraal, the Central Bank governor of Sri
Lanka who delivered a lecture on "Subsidiarity, Transparency and Efficiency:
Liberal Policies in Fundraising."
 Other speakers with strong background on international aid and development like Mr. Siegfried Herzog of FNF-Manila and International Federation of Liberal Youth
(IFLRY) Immediate Past President Emil Kirjas also encouraged the
participants to be more pro-active and creative in their search of
financial support for their organizations.
Jan Argy Tolentino of the Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas (KALIPI), both Secretary General of KALIPI and YLDA, considers the activity as an opportunity for Filipino youth
leaders to define within the context of their organization the importance of
fundraising. He adds that "having
an effective fundraising mechanism affords any youth organization in Asia the
liberty of prioritizing and instituting its own projects and programs."
The seminar workshop according to YLDA President Rajendra Mulmi of Nepal also
provides participants the chance to discover new opportunities for their respective
organization. Mulmi stresses that "this seminar workshop on fundraising
not only equip participants the necessary skills to make their organizations
self-reliant, but more importantly, it gives them the autonomy to chart their
own paths to freedom from the whims of traditional politicians who often use
youth organizations in Asia as part of their political machinery."
Recognizing the importance of the international gathering of Asian youth leaders,
YLDA Executive Committee member Sandun Gamage of Sri Lanka also echoes the same
idea when he explained that "it is very imperative for each of the participants
to learn not only from the resource speakers but from the experiences of other
participants as well in their struggle to promote liberal democracy in the region.
More than finding funds for their projects, congregations like this of Asian
leaders coming from common heritage, history, and purpose makes all of us understand
the intimate truth that by investing our resources and putting our ideas together,
we are also bound to achieve a shared democratic and liberal destiny for all
Asians."
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On Sunday around 10.000 courageous Belarusian opposition representatives celebrated the Freedom Day commemorating the Belarusian Peoples Republic, which existed back in the early XIX century. Each year this historical day reminds to Belarusians of their Read More...
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Because of problems with getting online in Rome the blogs from the last two days are published today:) Saturday To day we are going to begin the day at the University where we are going to spend the day discussion the 6 different topics. Before the working Read More...
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Young liberals of Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered in Belgrade last weekend to sign and present common vision of the future of Western Balkans. LYMEC Bureau member Slaven Klobucar, was present on the event. The wars lead in this region Read More...
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Yesterday the UN Security Council agreed on imposing tougher sanctions against Iran for not complying with earlier UN resolutions on the country’s nuclear programme that allegedly holds military aspects, i.e. nuclear weapons. The sanctions deal primarily Read More...
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This weekend it is fifty years ago that the treaties of Rome were signed in the Italian capital. Six countries (Benelux, Italy, France and West-Germany) created the European Economic Community. It marks the start of certainly one of the most successful Read More...
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This weekend I am participating in the Youth Summit in Rome. The event is sponsored by the European Youth Forum and European Commission, and is manly arranged to give the youth the possibility to discuss the future of Europe. The feeling you are left Read More...
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La Unión de Organizaciones Islámicas de Francia anunció su decisión de recurrirlo Reseña de prensa/ eldiarioexterior.com La revista satírica y laica francesa Charlie Hebdo ha sido absuelta por el Tribunal Correccional de París del delito de "injurias" Read More...
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TORONTO – Stephane Dion joined dozens of Young Liberals last Saturday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and wrap up his cross-country tour. Hosted by the Ryerson Young Liberals at the campus pub, this was a chance for Young Liberals to meet informally Read More...
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On March 17th, the congress of the National Liberal Youth from Romania convened in Bucharest to elect a new leadership of the organization. The event was attended by several key note speakers, among them Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu. Also present Read More...
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Reseña de prensa / Libertaddigital.com Dicen que sólo genera "mercado negro y venta ilegal"" La plataforma "todoscontraelcanon" formada por representantes de la industria y los usuarios han entregado este lunes en el Ministerio de Industria más de un Read More...
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Young Liberals joined thousands of Canadians on Sunday to rally in Read More...
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Reseña de prensa / El País Detesto la nostalgia paralizante y ni en el peor de mis momentos creo que los tiempos pasados fueron mejores. Pero por otro lado tengo la sensación de que, en las últimas décadas, la realidad mundial ha cambiado tanto, y el Read More...
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11-03-2007, Reseña de prensa / Terra Actualidad - Europa Press La propuesta por iniciativa popular para la creación de un seguro médico único y estatal no convenció a los suizos. El 71,2 por ciento de los votos del referéndum celebrado hoy fueron contrarios Read More...
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An overwhelming majority of 71.2% of voters have thrown out a left proposal for creating a single health insurance company in Switzerland (through the abolition of the current 87 private insurers), with premiums based on income and wealth.
71.2% said no to a de facto nationalization of the health sector and the single health insurance company. Turnout was close to 46 per cent, slightly above average. As expected, voters in the main German-speaking part of the country turned down the planned reform, which was supported by the centre-left but opposed by the centre-right as well as the business community, parliament and the government. Opposition in the French- and Italian-speaking regions was less pronounced. Two cantons, Jura and Neuchâtel, even came out in a slight favour of the proposal. On average health insurance premiums are higher in western and southern Switzerland than in German-speaking areas. Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin said a majority appeared to be opposed to "a revolution" in the health sector but wanted to continue the reforms under discussion in parliament. He called on all sides, notably health insurers and the cantonal authorities, to make renewed efforts to reduce spending and abuse, and aim for more cost efficiency.
There are currently 87 private insurers providing mandatory basic health care coverage for Swiss residents under a 1996 law. But health premiums have soared over the past decade. Opponents argued a single insurance system would lead to complacency and create a two-tier system, where only the wealthy could afford to take out additional private insurance coverage. They dismissed claims that the initiative could help reduce rising health expenditure.
For their part proponents said a single health insurer would boost the efficiency of the system and allow annual savings in administrative costs which was assumed nevertheless to be only marginal. The current funding system is unbalanced, since many clients on low incomes claim state subsidies to pay their premiums, according to the Social Democratic Party and the Greens. The proposal to merge the insurance companies and introduce premiums based on wealth and income was the latest in a series of attempts over the past ten years to rein in spending on health care. A similar proposal to change the funding system of the health insurance companies was rejected in 2003 by 73 per cent of voters. Switzerland has the most expensive health system in Europe, according to an international comparison. It spent 11.6 per cent on health in 2005, ahead of Germany and France but behind the United States.
A failure of the initiative committee was to renounce of details. The proposal was very vague and in the first place, nobody had an idea about how the proposal would be enacted into law (since the proposal was on constitutional level). Thus, claims by the proponents about cost reductions were not based on facts, but on vague forecasts of possible models.
Prevention against an ill single health insurance did work!
The Young Liberals Switzerland (jungfreisinnige schweiz) are delighted about the distinct NO on the ill single health insurance as proposed by the left. With an own campaign (http://www.jungfreisinnige.ch/einheitskasse) the jungfreisinnige contributed that more market-based solutions can now be discussed.
The Swiss citizenry did say NO to the ill single health insurance. It is a NO to less freedom of choice and NO to more bureaucracy. The people said once again clearly NO to income-based premiums and shot down another leftist try to enhance redistribution in all imaginable areas of our society.
The jungfreisinnige are not just happy about the outcome of the popular vote. We are also proud of our own contribution. With their own campaign "NO to the ill single health insurance", the jungfreisinnige have distributed material in nearly all Cantons in order to warn the public of the risks and side effects of the initiative. The public showed its inclination towards competition and market solution in the health sector and its refusal of a state-run monopoly. With this experience, the jungfreisinnige are optimistic about the upcoming general elections of October 21st. At least, after the KOSA initiative last september, another left proposal has been shown as unqualified.
Swiss Politics is now challenged to solve the problems in the health sector with a liberal approach – e.g. through improving the risk compensation, the abolition of the contract-coercion, flexible performance assignments for hospitals, more self-responsibility for clients – in brief: the implementation of the jungfreisinnige position paper. Only with the necessary reforms done, future generations could count on a working system.
Further Information:
Adrian Ineichen
International Officer, Member of the Board, jfs
+41 76 309 09 65, adrian.ineichen@jungfreisinnige.ch
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At the Liberal Democrat summit held on 8 March, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts, Estonian PM Andrus Ansip, Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Romanian PM Calin Popescu, Belgian PM Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE Group Leader Graham Watson, and European Commission Read More...
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This day is used to focus on women’s position in the world, and a lot has improved since the international women’s day was introduced. The day is celebrated in FN and is also a national holiday in many countries. It started in 1910 and in 1977 FN accepted Read More...
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The European Liberal Youth wishes to join liberal women around the world on this day of celebration, which marks a tradition of many decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development. International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women Read More...
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After a great AGM weekend in Kingston, ON, the Young Liberals of Canada would like to offer its congratulations to the newly elected Young Liberal Executive of Ontario: Read More...
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After a great AGM weekend in Kingston, ON, the Young Liberals of Canada would like to offer its congratulations to the newly elected Young Liberal Executive of Ontario: Read More...
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Reseña de prensa/ El País Decíamos ayer..., y caemos en esa insufrible pero frecuente costumbre de tantos de citarse a sí mismos, con o sin pretexto de fray Luis de León. Decía el 24 de agosto de 1994, hace casi trece años, en un artículo titulado Los Read More...
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The Young Democrats of America will not sit by and allow the conservative movement’s spokespeople to go unchecked and continue to use words like “faggot” which demeans millions of gay and *** Americans. Read More...
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Today, the National Stonewall Democrats released the following statement on the life of long-time Democratic activist Bob Hattoy. Bob wasn’t afraid to champion the Democratic Party, and to do so loudly. But, just as he unequivocally championed Democrats, Read More...
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Las personas decentes ya no pueden ni cultivar su jardín en paz. Recientemente un vecino de Sant Joan de Labritja (Ibiza) ha sido condenado a un año de cárcel por un delito contra la salud pública, por plantar marihuana en su propiedad. El mismo nombre Read More...
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Le Conseil Constitutionnel occupe désormais, dans l’édifice institutionnel français, un rôle central. Au nom de l’Etat de droit, il place sous contrôle l’œuvre du législateur. Cette fonction représente par elle-même un indéniable progrès Read More...
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Reunión de los Montagnards en el aniversario de las manifestaciones de 2001 y 2004 por la libertad religiosa y el respeto de los derechos humanos en Vietnam. Greensboro (Carolina del Norte), 3 de febrero - Matteo Mecacci, Representante del Partido Radical Read More...
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The EU Violates its Own Principles - The jungfreisinnige – the Young Liberals of Switzerland – condemn together with LYMEC, the European Young Liberals, the attitude and approach of the EU Commission in the tax dispute with Switzerland. Taxes have never been part of any agreement between the European Communities and Switzerland. Low taxes are not trade-distorting; rather, they provide an attractive business environment and belong, together with free trade, to a free market, which the EU actually intends to promote.
The jungfreisinnige and LYMEC condemn the anchorless allegations of the EU Commission that some cantonal tax schemes in Switzerland would violate the Free Trade Agreement of 1972. In fact, the claim that tax advantages distort the bilateral trade, has neither a legal nor an economic foundation. The Agreement of 1972 merely bans trade distorting state aids.
In federalist Switzerland, each Canton is entitled to design ist own tax schemes. They maintain their own sovereignty and contribute to a competition for attractive business environments. It is neither the task of the Swiss federal government nor of the EU to judge on this.
Obviously, the EU Commission is under a misapprehension: Tax advantages are lawful means and promote attractive business environments, which ultimately foster a beneficial international competition. Hence, they do not have any distorting influence on trade flows, but enhance them.
Trade distorting measures such as tariffs and other protectionist barriers have effectively been reduced in the last few years between the EU and Switzerland. The jungfreisinnige commit themselves to free trade and advocate further free trade agreements between Switzerland and the EU and the Swiss plans to adopt the Cassis de Dijon principle unilaterally.
The jungfreisinnige are open for a constructive dialogue. The Swiss government should act decisively in this matter and seek a clarifying discussion to clear out any misunderstandings about our historically developed tax schemes and to strengthen together free trade and market competition.
Contact for further information:
Lena Schneller, President of the jungfreisinnige schweiz
+41 76 320 21 21
Adrian Ineichen, International Officer of the jungfreisinnige schweiz
+41 76 309 09 65
Jeroen Benning, Member of the Bureau of LYMEC
+31 646 25 07 17
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Brussels 03/03/2007: The European Liberal Youth - LYMEC - conference organized on March 1st in the European Parliament with the support of the ALDE group was focused on the topic "No visa. Europe is our home". Almost one hundred participants attended Read More...
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El partido liberal flamenco VLD, al que pertenece el primer ministro belga, Guy Verhofstadt, y el partido liberal de izquierdas Vivant concurrirán juntos a las elecciones legislativas del 10 de junio bajo el nombre 'VLD abierto'. La decisión y el nombre Read More...
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El Constitucional se ha limitado a poner en evidencia lo premoderno de nuestra Constitución iliberal. Estampas premodernas de la vieja política que siguen ilustrando la actualidad gracias a los viejos partidos (PSOE, PP, CiU, PNV) que le hacen el juego Read More...
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La Iglesia Católica considera que la eutanasia es un atentado contra la dignidad humana. Según sus enseñanzas la vida es un don divino, y el hombre no tiene derecho a elegir su muerte. Afirma la dignidad de todas las vidas humanas, y no permite ni siquiera Read More...
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Dear international friends! Welcome to the international blog of Radikal Ungdom. The purpose of this blog is to give you an idea of what Radikal Ungdom does and thinks internationally – by reading our blogs from the events we are attending as well as Read More...
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Last week the Danish Peoples Party announced that they are now in favour of Danish membership of the EU. I welcome their new attitude, but cannot help asking the question – Why are they changing attitude now? For me it is a clear sign that the Danish Read More...
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A weak regime backed by foreign governments. Violent clashes between foreign troops and armed insurgents. Innocent civilians suffering in between. Does all of this sound familiar? For once, however, I am not talking about the wretched state of affairs Read More...
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LYMEC's conference Europe is Our Home - No visas for Students and Tourists finished today with its main session in the European Parliament in Brussels. The conference attended by more than 70 young liberals from across Europe was addressed by the leader Read More...
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