The argument that the BNP are a legal party is a pretty dubious one as Bruno said. They are banned in the Police force, the Prison Service and a number of other professions. This is not a "legal party" in that scene that is should be treated as other parties. In the latest court case the BNP were shown to be breaking the law while banning and discriminating against Black and Asian people - again proof that they are not just another legal party.

The BBC are in a difficult position now, because the if broadcast the BNP will be able to use the programme to show that they are a legitimate party - despite the court case and the facts! However, if the BBC now refuse they will use this as an argument that they are being repressed.

The BBC doesn't have the right to ban parties and people are quite right to defend the idea of freedom of press but the choice to put BNP on Question Time is seriously flawed in a number of areas ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/15/bnp-question-time-bbc-griffin). Question Time is one of the flag ship political performance shows. By this I mean the Question Time allows the guest to play up to the audience, it allows politicians to say sound bites and its semi-live formate (the programme it pre-recorded but usually little edited) also shows a lack of editorial control.

If the BBC truly wanted to debate with the BNP, show them up for what they are and make people realise that they are bigots (which by the way wont happen - but ill say more about that later) then they should put them on Newsnight or another "serious"programme where ideas can actually be challenged rather than drowned out by shouts or applauds.

And finally, this concept that debating with the debatable, with the unthinkable will somehow show them up for what they are is just not a concept that is based in reality(or History - please please please give me an example when they facisits, anywhere in the world have been "debated" our of politics!, no they have been fought out of politics) I agree that we shouldn't ignore the BNP, this will make then stronger, but by treating them like another partner to debate with another group to make concessions with will make all of our politics a little more racist. One cant help feel that the argument of debate and reconciliation is abit like Mr Chamberlain coming back from Germany with a peace of paper saying " its alight folks they have promised not to do anything nasty" we can sit back only less than 5 years later to be in all out war and millions of Jews, Roma, Disabled, Gays etc being lined up to be murdered.

The BNP should be challenged, they should be argued, but Question Time is the wrong place to do that. The argument should take place in the courts, in the streets until the illegal, racist and fascist party are off the streets. That means dealing with poverty, inequity and the issues that matter and not giving them a lovely stage with armed police protection.

Labels: Elections, International Politics

As a delegate gets up and gives an impassioned speech to vote for hope not hate, to vote for the best not the easiest to vote individually and not for the “agreed list” the General Assembly applauded. Not 300 meters away some people are hatching a plan – votes where being calculated, manipulated and everything that delegate calls for is slowly destroyed.

Not some spy movie, or some cold war UN story but the “pretend” politics of the European Youth Forum, organisations asked for delegates to vote with their conscious but it fell on deaf ears – or as many would describe it at “the real politics”.

Our politics is what we make it – playing games with our organisations is fun (better than the soap opera Eastenders) but is that what we are really here for. Young people have a particular message that they can give to politicians. They have an ability to speak with clarity, without the baggage of the past and with the foresight of the future. Their message is not only clear, it can have the effect of great change, betterment of society and the ability to dream and reach the sky.
However, if we play the games or a soap opera, young people become nothing more that a fun French farce or the latest episode of a poor European remake of the West Wing.

I guess that because I didn’t get elected to the YFJ (the European Youth Forum), maybe I’m a bit bitter, I played the game and lost and now I want to throw the chess set away blaming the game and not our campaigns failing.

I agree that on the surface value that missing target of getting elected is a failing of us, me in BBCplus, IFM-SEI and maybe the Socialist family. “you would have played as hard as the next man” I hear you cry.

When delegates say that they “think your one of the best” or faced being chucked out of a block to support who they want as the best then I’m not sorry that I failed, but am sorry that its only the minority that actually stand up and be counted.

A culture of blocks stitching the elections up debating on how much others can give you, on a smoke filled room with young people wearing suite is not only a danger for the youth forum it’s a sad reflection on the careerist young politicising of today.

Will the habit be kicked, I hope so – but I doubt it – too many people in too many high places (well places anyway).
Maybe it is just better to watch Eastenders and get the drama from the TV!

Labels: British Youth Council, Elections, european youth forum, IFM-SEI, International Falcon Movment-Socalist Education International, Participation, yfj, youth

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for your support over the last few weeks regarding the elections to the Bureau of the European Youth Forum YFJ. The Election result was disappointing, factions; blocks and negations lead instead of debate, dialogue and content. I know that some of the elected bureau will be great and special mention goes to Ben, Marianne, Kadri, Christoffer, Xenia and Tina who I know will be excellent members. You may have played that game but you are all talented people.

If you want to read more about me, my views on the elections, on the YFJ or even creating a new politics for young people then look at www.russell-moyle.co.uk
I said that we mustn’t simulate the present broken political systems but create the ones we want to see, I said that I wouldn’t pretend to be your friend, but that you should vote for me as the best people to run our organisation.

For those who voted against me because they thought I wasn’t the best candidate, or that I wasn’t knowledgeable enough or stood for policies that you disagree, thank you, I believe you are wrong but I respect you.

If you voted against me because someone else told you to – you got an approved list of who to vote for and who to not then I’m not sure that you’re the vote that I wanted. We cannot talk of a different politics, a new future for engagement in a political system that focuses on topics and policy if we – as individuals – do not stand by our actions I can’t blame the block itself, that’s what it does, but the individuals all are accountable for their actions.

For those (of which there was at least six) who defied the your block or approved list, some of who faced exclusion from their blocks, you are braver than I and my heart goes out to you.
Thanks to everyone else that supported me and although not elected I’m proud on what I stood, proud to be from BYC, proud to be young, proud to be a falcon and proud to have a fantastic IFM-SEI Secretary General who supported me all the way.

Labels: British Youth Council, Elections, european youth forum, IFM-SEI, International Falcon Movment-Socalist Education International, Participation, yfj, youth

Dear members,

I am pleased to be nominated by the International Falcon Movement – Socialist Education International (IFM-SEI) and supported by the British Youth Council (BYC) whom I have represented here for a number of years.

I believe passionately about youth work and changing Europe so that young people are better off in all areas. We must build this world for the many not the few, so that all have access to the resources and spaces that they need.
I subscribe fully to the IFM-SEI slogan, and believe that in spanning that world with friendship we can learn from each other for the betterment of all young people regardless of race, creed or nationality.
Sustainable Development
We live on a fragile earth, an earth that if we don’t start caring for will not last very long. I have a long history of activism in the environmental fields with a focus on education. At the first earth summit in Rio in 1992 the message from young people to the world leaders was so controversial that the microphones were cut off. Ten years later I was there when the leaders stood in solidarity with youth, pledging to fight for our planet because of the youth statement. The argument from young people was won and its now widely accepted that environmental, social and economic poverty are some of the biggest dangers that we face.
This acknowledgement of the youth message is not the end. It the start of a larger, more proactive push to make sure that everyone acts. We mustn’t let people off the hook. If elected to the Bureau I would push for the YFJ to hold those that make decisions to account.
As young people we will be the biggest beneficiaries of any change for the future but if we are not happy then we must shout. I believe that the YFJ not only in climate change, but also in child, youth, employment and education affairs must take the lead in monitoring the changing and speaking out to make sure that it happens.

I believe that it is important for the YFJ membership to be grassroots activists as well as political lobbyists. I currently work in the Union of Students for Bradford University as the General Secretary and Treasurer. In this role I have political responsibility as well as working with students in need. I know the daily concerns of students as well as understanding the needs of student organisations in this role I have taken a particular focus on immigration as the University with the highest international student population outside of London in the UK.

Migration and Human Rights
No one is illegal, has been my mantra in working to allow student to study and stay in the UK. I have taken the UK government to court twice, both times getting leave for them to remain to study, achieving tangible success for students.

I remember a 16 year old at one of our IFM-SEI members camps saying to me:
A week later the asylum seeker that camped with them was facing deportation. It was that friendship, fostered at camp, that meant that the 16 year old, started a petition, met his MEP for the first time and lobbied for his friend to stay – they are reunited again. Through education we can breed tolerance and the Youth Forum has a vital role to play in sharing best practice and promoting human rights amongst young people, and I believe the latest draft of the Work Plan, looking at the development of migrant organisations will strengthen the Youth Forums profile.

Participation
We have a great opportunity to develop the dissemination of best practice to get young people involved and engaged. In the UK I was part of a team that develop standards for all to follow. IFM-SEI at its heart is about getting young people participating in society, at one of our many camps this summer we focused on Anti-Apathy, getting young people thinking critically. With young people from all backgrounds we can reach out and engage and only with young people from all background can we achieve change!

Without young people’s involvement in the design, delivery and dissemination of things that effect them we will achieve little. From the political party to the school young people should be engaged at all levels.

In 2005 in colleges and schools around the country we established with the UK Youth Parliament the Operation Student Vote. As coordinator I worked to promote not only voting but engagement in the political process being part of the Votes at 16 campaign, something which I still believe in strongly. This was 4 years on from my involvement in the declaration that eventually created ESSA (English School Students Association), the UK member OBESSU.

Education
With school parliaments, and youth clubs an integrated approach to Life Long Learning is vital. The YFJ’s recent adoption of papers calling for better vocational education, education as a Right and free education are important stand points as formal education is a vital key for young peoples progression. This doesn’t mean that non-formal education can be overlooked, and the development of standards in non-formal education will eventually come. I believe that we must be there, creating the peer lead frameworks for our own standards for education in this area, keeping non-formal education non-formal.

The range of organisations that I have worked with from scouting, student, youth councils and youth clubs gives me the unique perspective in representing the wide range of membership that we have in the Forum. I believe fully that we can make a real impact and as I said at the start “span that world with friendship”

Please do contact me on the details above to talk about my candidature and I hope that I will see you at the General Assembly, where you will feel confident to vote for me.

In friendship,

Lloyd

Labels: British Youth Council, Elections, european youth forum, IFM-SEI, International Falcon Movment-Socalist Education International, yfj, youth

Thank you everyone who voted for me. I was elected with over 50% of the vote. It was a good race, and for all those who got involved you will know that there were problems. They have been sorted now and I hope to go in to the year ahead making the Union relevant, radical, campaigning but strong.

Labels: Elections, General Secretary, UBU, Universy of Bradford Union

Hello, I’m Lloyd, at present an Officer at the Union. I am re-standing for Union Secretary-Treasurer because I believe that we need to keep on track to win our Union back.

I have a track record for reform, renewal, and reinvigoration and have reclaimed our union for students not factions. I am the Vice-Chair of the British Youth Council, work with a National Charity (Woodcraft Folk) and have a history of development and change.

When I started last year the Union was failing; committees managing finance hadn’t meet in over a year, and students thought the Union was a joke, it was!

I’ve developed a strong union and campaigned for students, sports, societies and led negations with the University. I’ve started to reclaim our union, but more is needed, we need to keep on track.

I will:

Improve

The Union is about first impressions; I will make sure that we extend non-alcoholic social events in Welcome Week. I will make sure that there is a full programme of events that are actually fun.

Rebuild

Our building is falling down. I will push for the final mile to get a new union, prayer facility, social space, bar and shop for all students

Grow

Our Union needs to grow, we need more advisors for support issues, and course reps need better support. I will priorities these areas so, along with student activities, they are at the heart of the University.

It’s our time, it’s our change, vote Lloyd for our Union.

Labels: Elections, General Secretary, UBU, Universy of Bradford Union