Mastodawn

#CitizensAssemblies: strengthening democracy and participation

" #Earth4All advocates for citizens’ assemblies as a way of restoring public trust and participation in politics and creating safe spaces for dialogue around polarising issues.

We are calling for citizens’ assemblies on economic systems change so that we, the people, get a say in the kind of economic system we want.

What is a citizens’ assembly?

Citizens’ assemblies are designed to allow for a public debate outside of political parties. A randomly-selected group of citizens representing the full diversity of society are invited to participate in a process to explore an issue and formulate recommendations to government or parliaments. Often, independent experts are brought in to discuss problems and potential solutions.

We are living in a time of social and political polarisation. Social tensions are on the rise, bolstered by skyrocketing #inequality, and #democracy is increasingly at risk. Just 39% percent of people trust their governments to make good decisions. We urgently need to rebuild trust in our political systems.

On the other hand, we know that around the world, people want economic systems change. Holding citizens’ assemblies on this topic would open up space for exploring the kind of change we want, building trust and understanding between different groups, and co-creating a common agenda for the greater good.

In the 2024 Earth for All survey, 62% of people surveyed supported the use of citizens' assemblies to increase citizens’ influence in political decision-making.

What are some examples of citizens’ assemblies?

Citizens’ assemblies have already been used successfully to navigate politically contentious issues in highly polarised democracies. Prominent examples include:

- The Irish citizens’ assembly on abortion. The assembly is credited with helping Irish society navigate a deeply polarising issue. It led to a referendum and eventually a change in law.
- The Canadian Citizens’ Assembly on Democratic Expression, a three-year initiative to look at impact of digital technologies on society.
- France’s Convention Citoyenne Pour le Climat, the climate citizens’ assembly and a similar UK Climate Assembly.
- The Global Citizens’ Assembly for People and Planet was launched at New York Climate Week in 2024 and aims to bring citizen participation to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil."

Source:
https://earth4all.life/resources/citizens-assemblies/

#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity
#BuildingResilience #NoKings
#NoRulers #AddressingInequality #PowerCorrupts #PowerToThePeople

Citizens' assemblies - Earth4All

Earth4All advocates for citizens' assemblies as a way of restoring public trust and participation in politics. Learn more on our resources page.

Earth4All

DoomsdaysCW Feb 15

Came across this in a post about #SolarPunk a few weeks ago (post may be gone)... Anyhow, I've been reading #DavidGraeber and #DavidWengrow's book, "The Dawn of Everything," and thought the question posited by #Graeber was relevant to #SolarPunkSunday...

Are You An #Anarchist? The Answer May Surprise You!

"Every time you treat another human with consideration and respect, you are being an anarchist. Every time you work out your differences with others by coming to reasonable compromise, listening to what everyone has to say rather than letting one person decide for everyone else, you are being an anarchist. Every time you have the opportunity to force someone to do something, but decide to appeal to their sense of reason or justice instead, you are being an anarchist. The same goes for every time you share something with a friend, or decide who is going to do the dishes, or do anything at all with an eye to fairness"

David Graeber, The Ultimate Hidden Truth of the World, p 243, published 2009

"Chances are you have already heard something about who anarchists are and what they are supposed to believe. Chances are almost everything you have heard is nonsense. Many people seem to think that anarchists are proponents of violence, chaos, and destruction, that they are against all forms of order and organization, or that they are crazed nihilists who just want to blow everything up. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Anarchists are simply people who believe human beings are capable of behaving in a reasonable fashion without having to be forced to. It is really a very simple notion. But it’s one that the rich and powerful have always found extremely dangerous.

At their very simplest, anarchist beliefs turn on to two elementary assumptions. The first is that human beings are, under ordinary circumstances, about as reasonable and decent as they are allowed to be, and can organize themselves and their communities without needing to be told how. The second is that power corrupts. Most of all, anarchism is just a matter of having the courage to take the simple principles of common decency that we all live by, and to follow them through to their logical conclusions. Odd though this may seem, in most important ways you are probably already an anarchist — you just don’t realize it.

Let’s start by taking a few examples from everyday life."

#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #BuildingResilience #NoKings #NoRulers #Inequality #PowerCorrupts

Are You An Anarchist? The Answer May Surprise You!

Chances are you have already heard something about who anarchists are and what they are supposed to believe. Chances are almost everything you have heard is nonsense. Many people seem to think that anarchists are proponents of violence, chaos, and destruction, that they are against all forms of order and organization, or that they are […]

David Graeber

DoomsdaysCW Feb 15

#AmsterdamNL - #Anarchist #RepairCafe and #EndOf10

"Our anarchist repair cafe is happening every first Monday of the Month. From 19h until 22h you are welcome with all your broken stuff, the patches you always wanted to sew on your jacket and anything else that needs a second life.

We have tools and experience available for almost anything you want fixed: a soldering iron to fix the cable on your favourite headphones, a full set of safety screwdriver bits to open any device you want opened and all the sewing gear you need to look your best self.

So if you want to learn repairs, need some help with your projects or want a nice chat about #anarchism, stop by!

EndOf10 - we help you switch to Linux

Support for Windows 10 ended in Octobe4 2025, and many older computers cannot upgrade to Windows 11. Installing Linux on your old computer can prolong its lifespan and help reduce e-waste. Bring your computer and we'll help you with the installation process."

More information about the campaign: https://endof10.org/
Date & Time:
Monday, 2 March, 2026 - 19:00
Category:

Price:
free by donation

Location:
MKZ
Eerste Schinkelstraat 16
1075 TX Amsterdam
#Netherlands

FMI:
https://radar.squat.net/en/event/anarchist-repair-cafe/2026-03-02/anarchist-repair-cafe-and-end-10

#SolarPunkSunday #RepairCafesNetherlands #RepairReuseRestore #RepairCafe #RepairCafes #MutualAid #MutualSupport #BuildingCommunity #BuildingResilience #Linux #InformationSecurity

DoomsdaysCW Feb 15

This was published in a local #Maine newspaper (and also online). More of this, please...!

Show up for your neighbor: #ClimateCrisis and Inequality at Home

January 30, 2026
By Caitlin Marshall

"When we talk about climate change, we can talk about greenhouse gas emissions, CO2 levels, and kilowatts of renewable energy. These are all key metrics that ensure we’re grounded in solid science as we find a better way forward. But we also need to talk about people. The climate crisis has always been about inequality among people.

#ClimateChange Displaces Millions

Globally and locally, those who bear the highest burden of pollution and vulnerability to climate disruption are our #BIPOC neighbors. And one of the threads of that truth is climate migration.

In the coming decades, climate change will displace millions of people worldwide. Most will be from the Global South, whether directly to escape rising seas and polluted land or indirectly when climate instability exacerbates political instability.

We might meet this with worry. Or we can be inspired by a different perspective. As #SinafekeshGirma writes, we can 'move beyond viewing migration as a crisis, recognizing its power to advance resilience, inclusive policies, increased adaptation financing, and community-led solutions.'

#BuildingResilience in Maine

So what does that mean right now? That means pitching in to support our current #MigrantCommunity in Maine. When we see climate change and #RacialInjustice as interlinked problems, we can also see that the solutions are interlinked.

For some ideas on where to start: Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, and Maine Equal Justice.

Showing up for each other today is not only the right thing to do, but it also keeps building our resilience and skills. It prepares us for a future climate-changed world.

Right here in Portland, we are going to keep seeing climate challenges that ask us to help each other in times of need. Practicing now builds the muscle of resilience, of care. It asks us to be creative, and bold. It forces us to look around and see that change has always, always been part of our story.

We can lean into our community spirit, and in the words of Maine Youth for Climate Justice, create a 'livable future where we can all thrive.' "

Source:
https://thewestendnews.com/show-up-for-your-neighbor-climate-crisis-and-inequality-at-home/

#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #MutualAid #WestEndNews #PortlandME #LivableFuture #NewMainers #MIRC #MIRS #ILAP #MaineEqualJustice #PortlandClimateActionTeam #MaineYouthForClimateJustice

Show up for your neighbor: Climate Crisis and Inequality at Home

Show Up for Your Neighbor By Caitlin Marshall When we talk about climate change, we can talk about greenhouse gas emissions, CO2 levels, and kilowatts of renewable energy. These are all key metrics th

The West End News

Brightmindenrichment Jan 23

"Shelter is more than walls 🏠 — it’s security, rest & hope ✨. Safe, welcoming spaces allow people to rebuild & thrive 🌱💪. Supportive environments create confidence & opportunity

👉 https://brightmindenrichment.org/support-us/

#ShelterMatters #StableFutures #SafeHousing #CommunitySupport #BrightPaths #DignityFirst #WarmthWithin #SupportiveSpaces #CaringCommunities #HopeAndHome #BuildingResilience #SecurityMatters #PathToStability #InclusiveLiving #HealingHomes #BrightFutures #EmpoweredLives #ComfortAndCare"

Brightmindenrichment Jan 8

"Shelter is more than walls 🏠 — it’s security, rest & hope ✨. Safe, welcoming spaces allow people to rebuild & thrive 🌱💪. Supportive environments create confidence & opportunity

👉 https://brightmindenrichment.org/support-us/

Psychiatric Wellness Nov 25

Big feelings are part of growing up — but learning how to handle them builds emotional strength for life.

#BuildingResilience #ParentingSupport #MentalHealthAwareness #EmotionalGrowth #KidsMentalHealth

Brightmindenrichment Nov 19

"Shelter is more than walls 🏠 — it’s security, rest & hope ✨. Safe, welcoming spaces allow people to rebuild & thrive 🌱💪. Supportive environments create confidence & opportunity

👉 https://brightmindenrichment.org/support-us/

Brightmindenrichment Nov 10

"Shelter is more than walls 🏠 — it’s security, rest & hope ✨. Safe, welcoming spaces allow people to rebuild & thrive 🌱💪. Supportive environments create confidence & opportunity

👉 https://brightmindenrichment.org/support-us/

Brightmindenrichment Nov 7

"Shelter is more than walls 🏠 — it’s security, rest & hope ✨. Safe, welcoming spaces allow people to rebuild & thrive 🌱💪. Supportive environments create confidence & opportunity

👉 https://brightmindenrichment.org/support-us/