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Across the Generations: Participation in society - Who Decides? The conference took place from 6th to 14th May, during eight glorious days of sunshine. This was my first visit to Sonnenberg but not to the Harz mountains, having twice enjoyed independent holidays in the region. Waiting at Bad Harzburg station, a slight nervous anticipation built up, since the House Minibus was delayed. The conference commenced in the traditional manner with the chairs, Barry Everley, Sheffield and Gerd Meister, Sonnenberg outlining the objectives and the participants, comprising 9 Germans, 7 British, 1 Maltese, 10 student interpreters from Cologne University and later two ladies from Poland, introducing themselves. The students under the leadership of their tutor, Mrs Gesine Rummel-Cohrs provided a wonderful service and richly deserved the praise they were to receive. We kicked off on Sunday morning with Group discussions relating our individual experience about decision taking and our understanding of commitment. Our group was well balanced pairing off equally by gender, age, and mother tongue, with the interpreters being integral and contributing members. A collage made up of cuttings from magazines and other sources visually recorded the outcome of our work. In the evening the groups reported back and presented their collages. These were to decorate the walls until the end of the conference. Beginning to feel relaxed, I agreed to review our collage. Next day, the Chairs, respectively outlined the principles of the British Parliamentary democracy and the German approach with its fifteen State Parliaments and its Federal Parliament, having specific responsibility for Foreign Policy and Defence. Since as much as seventy per cent of German laws are formulated in Brussels, it is crucially important that all citizens should recognise the routes, by which their voice can be heard. To demonstrate this, an outside speaker, Kai Drewes from the Non Governmental Organisation 'Young European Federalist' explained fluently the function of his group, totalling 30,000 members across Europe aged 18 to 35. Beate Schäfer took us next day through the structure of European Institutions such as the Council of Ministers and explained their relationships and accountability. Many citizens feel the decisions taken in Brussels and the European Union should be more transparent. The Brussels Administrative staff totals 16,000 and is relatively modest in size compared with other similar national institutions. Often they are unfairly wronged by the popular press. For group work, we were divided by the Conference Chairs into four and summarily given one of four roles: as an adult or a youth group to defend or attack the EU. I volunteered to record our arguments. We thought the task was best answered with humour. Subsequently, we were asked to promote our ideas as panellists for a simulated TV talk show. I emerged as the Panellist, a task I found so alien I refused to make any further contribution other than those our group had prepared. This may have been an uncompromising attitude. For me, it was the low point of the week, finding the talk in the morning rather tedious. My insecurity was compounded by the nature of the group work and the use to which it was put in the evening. A first time German participant offered me comfort, commenting what had happened was 'incorrect'. Was there scope perhaps for an alternative exercise? I believe our time might have been more profitably spent, if we had formed a non political action group and rehearsed how our stated aims might be furthered. Dr Gareth Cook, from Sunderland related his experience working in the Third Sector with dedicated volunteers and professionals to alleviate drug abuse, lack of employment prospects and provide structured leisure activities using, initially, an easily accessible but run down building belonging to a gas undertaking. To their team's surprise the building was offered to them on a pepper corn rent. Enthusiasm had to give way to realism and networks were strengthened as strategy evolved. It soon became necessary to write a constitution and develop formal audit trails and gain approval from co-operating groups. Long-standing members of the voluntary sector sometimes find this near business climate frustrating. However with such structures in place Partnership Agreements can be signed and applications for funding processed authoritatively. Whilst success cannot be assured, in fact, so skilled were the Sunderland team, they have secured from the EU £50 million. Furthermore, the UK Government has set aside funds to help nominated towns restructure. The Sunderland team are hopeful that their proposals, currently being evaluated by Civil Servants, will meet with success, too. For me, as a volunteer working within the Third Sector, the talk was both breathe taking and visionary. We enjoyed an International Evening, the room being skilfully transformed with imaginative wall and table decorations. The programme lasted an hour and drew much applause. It was followed by dancing during the course of which I noticed the Cologne students were dancing with enthusiasm a traditional English Country Dance. I had packed a cassette of such dances and my offer to call was appreciated. Since we had to be on the bus at 7 am to go to Hannover next morning, dancing reluctantly ended at 10.30 pm. The visit to the Lower Saxony Parliament was an interesting experience and fell into three parts: 1. Information by means of documents available in English and the showing of a video in German about the history and daily working of the Parliament. 2. Visit to the Public Gallery to witness the morning's debates, comprising two agenda items: Return of 10,000 Kosovan Refugees currently resident in Lower Saxony. Presentation from the Director of the World Fair, Expo 2000, Mrs Breuel close to the eve of the opening on 1st June followed by speeches from the three main parties. 3. Meeting held with two members of the majority party, the SPD, who answered questions during a 30 minute session. Expo 2000 is being heavily financed by Hannover and Lower Saxony citizens. The pay back is that the current infra-structure designed to accommodate the many anticipated Expo 2000 visitors is now in place and, in other circumstances, might not have been achieved until 2030. On our return, we prepared for the International Questions Session. Malta, represented by one participant, drew well deserved applause for the way in which he dealt with questions about his country. It was an entertaining session, leading naturally to groupings for the production of the Conference Newspaper under the four headings: Front and Back pages; Local News; Cultural; Political. My choice of group was Local News. Producing the newspaper was fun; we received considerable support from the young students, who possess good keyboard and Internet skills. The final product was rated vintage by the Conference leaders. A written questionnaire evaluating the course was completed to allow comprehensive analysis of the results, an essential process to justify funding. What were my conclusions? I benefited enormously from informal discussions both in English and German. Food and recreation were definitely plus points. At the outset, it was hoped newcomers should feel at home. I achieved this largely through experiences I brought with me but also through the rapport I developed with my room mate. Yes, I would like to go again. Andrew Clark |
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page last updated 1 JULY 2000 |
