KAIROS EUROPA NEWSBULLETIN

No. 6 (December 1997)

Editor responsible: Jo Bock, Rue des Fabriques, 64, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium. Tel: +32-2-512-4850, fax: -512-6451
Text editor: Gyula Simonyi, H-8003 Székesfehérvár, Pf. 7., Hungary. Fax: +36-22-343823. E-mail: bocs@c3.hu

EDITORIAL

The socio-economical development of Europe and particularly its consequences on the living conditions of all of us continue to concern us greatly. Altough financial earthquakes have recently rocked Asia, the neoliberal trends are still inspiring the globalisation of the economy...
And what role does Europe play in this process?
In spite of a few positive signs (the special EU-Summit on unemployment, meagre progress towards a coordination of the fiscal policy), the EU is taking hardly any decision which would indicate a change of direction. Fortunately many grassroots groups continue to expose the present drift, and to strengthen their alternatives: thanks to its programme "Solidarity in Austerity" Kairos Catalunya is taking steps against consumerism; a new programme of Kairos UK will empower plural communities; Kairos Poland is re-establishing relationships between communities accross the borders; the Migration Programme is facilitating the dialogue between exiles and European institutions.
On the political level, the Open Letter of the programme "Alternatives to Mechanisms of Debt and Impowerishment" is demanding concrete means, particularly fiscal ones, in order to make another policy possible.
Finally, the Kairos Document, which all are still invited to amend, will evaluate our aims, our motivations, it will as well facilitate improving and spreading our action towards a World, the centre of which will be humankind, a World in line with the one which was unveiled by the Child of Bethlehem.
We wish everybody a just peace and real joy in the New Year.

KAIROS CATALUNYA

End of November the members of Kairos Catalunya, five members of La Fraternité Belle de Mai, from Marseille, and one person from Zaragoza have listened to a speech given by Jean-Pierre Cavalié on the antropological, social, ethical and theological implications of the consumerist model, as well as to another speech given by Tomas Gamada on "Re-thinking our values". The exchange which followed, focused, among others, on what most of the participants experienced in their project "Living three months with the minimal benefits". They also agreed on the concrete steps for implementing the project "an Austerity out of Solidarity".

KAIROS UK

30 people met in Birmingham on November 1st to decide what was the future role of Kairos UK. Activities so far have concentrated in enabling a large group to attend the Graz Assembly and there was the need to see what the present priorities might be. Graz had been important in providing an experience of a very different Europe from the one communicated most frequently by a Euro-phobic British press. The group had experienced the exhileration of being part of a community where barriers were being broken down but also the pain of discovering the barriers that still remain. The racism that was encountered by the black members of the group brought shame and pain. The differences that were exposed within the groups as a result of living together for a week were painful. The pain was part of the value of Graz. In Birmingham information was shared about the Kairos Document, the Migration programme, the WCC conference on Peoples movements. The opportunities for engaging with European decision making at the G7 summit in May and the EU summit in June were mentioned. What drew people together was the fact that no-one knew of another network that brought together such diversity. In spite of the pain and the frustrations, the group sensed that they had moved towards reconciliation in a very profound way. They want to continue that journey and share it with others. Plans for a programme of Building Plural Communities will be developed over the coming weeks.
Contact-person: David Cowling
Luton Industrial College, Chapel Str., GB LUTON, Beds LU12SE; Phone: +44 1582 416946 Fax: 732032
e-mail: GRASSROOTSLUTON@COMPUSERVE.COM

KAIROS POLAND

Border regions are special places. In the past centuries they were regions of conflict and misunderstanding. They were also regions were changes took place. If the Kairos moment is the right point in time, then the border is the right point in space. The two places where we are already working are located in two different border regions of Poland. One of them is at the Polish-German border, near the city of Görlitz; this is the EU border. The second place is at the Polish-Lithuanian border, the former Soviet Union border. In the past these regions existed without any border, they were a homogenious economical and cultural area. We are now on the way to reestablishing the old connections, adding new ones to it. There are different standards of living on both sides of the borders mentioned above. This is creating economical unjustice, but at the same time some alternatives for a socio-economical development, for example: agrotourism. One of our aims is to be partners, and not to be the servants of richer people. The way we try to do it, is to create space for cultural exchange. On the level of culture, participants have the same chances. The project offers both sides simplar prospects. In principle we are looking for partnership organisations and create international teams for initiating and implementing projects. Our interest is in the field of ecology, ecumenism, economy, culture, social work and recreation. We also have managed a relief project for the victims of the flood. Some international groups have participated in the summer camps we have organised in a farm in Germany.
All of you are welcome to join our activities in the coming year.

MIGRATION PROGRAMME

It is easy to overlook the fact that Europe has hundreds of thousands of exiles with refugee or humanitarian status (over 70 thousand recognitions last year). A still greater number are anxiously awaiting a verdict on their future from a European country. In theory the exile enjoys freedom of speech, but can s/he really exercise this freedom faced by governments and a public opinion eager to get rid of him or her?
What do exiles have to say on human rights, in their country of origin or here in Europe? Can they still believe in human rights? In the teeth of European harmonisation and coordination of asylum and immigration norms and procedures and in the wake of the Treaty of Amsterdam, can they hope to achieve a better hearing and a fuller realisation of their freedom of speech at the European Parliament? How far will the main humanitarian NGOs help in this, and what role can the European Commission, the Social Partners and the Council of Europe play?
These and other themes ran through an Informal Hearing at the European Parliament on December 11 and 12. Among the speakers we could listen to: Tina Viollier-Mogensen (DG V), Otto Frieder Wolff (PE), Peter Sich (Migr. C'ttee, Conseil de l'Europe), Sandrine Grenier (Amnesty Int.), Nonoi Hacbang (CFMW), Ahmed Pouri (PRIME, NL), Thomas Magni (CES), Luc Heymans (Caritas Int.), Caroline Croft (UNICE), Sued Benkhdim (Mosaico, Turin), Aso Agace (Berlin).

DRAFT FOR A EUROPEAN KAIROS DOCUMENT

"Setting out for a socially just, life-giving and democratic Europe"

To groups, networks, trade unions, NGOs and faith communities in Europe

Dear friends,
Please check the attached draft in the light of the following questions:

  • Does this text help my/our organisation to improve our capacity to build alliances with other sectors of society in order to struggle for a different Europe?
  • Do we want to participate in formulating the final document?
  • Am I/are we ready to sign the final document (to be sent to you for final approval in Mai/June 1998)?
    Hoping for a positive answer,
    Yours sincerely,
    Ulrich Duchrow

    Hegenichstrasse 22 _ D - 69124 Heidelberg
    Phone: +49-6221-712610 _ Fax: +49-6221-781183
    Bank: Sparkasse Heidelberg (BLZ 672 500 20) 11 09677

    (Summary November 1997)
    We call upon Christian Churches and other religious communities, trade unions, and feminist, social and ecological movements to build coalitions
    to work for the liberation of society from the stranglehold of the deregulated globalised economy and its values
    It cannot go on like this in Europe! It doesn't have to be like this in Europe! Let's find the right way forward together:
    Away from:

  • the global concentrations of power and wealth
  • the abuse of working people
  • tax evasion
  • economic criminality
  • forced migration
  • the neo-liberal policies of deregulation and erosion of the social system and of democracy
  • the economy as a system of belief
  • our own striving after consumer goods, wealth and (patriarchal) power
    Towards:
  • a socially just, life-giving and democratic Europe
    What can we do?
  • We can listen carefully to the victims of the misguided developments in the South, East and West who are struggling to survive with dignity
  • We can say "No" to the present unjust systems of money and property, the industrialisation of agriculture, the disproportionately high commitment to security and to ecological destruction
  • We can develop small-scale alternatives, in particular strengthen local and regional economies and thereby reduce their dependence on the world market. Also we can form cells of people who are well-informed in a culture of lies, who work cooperatively and constructively in a selfish society
  • We can work for a consensus among us on alternative policies for Europe and the world, particularly in the realms of work, tax, finance, trade etc.
    We demand here:
    - a working week of, at most, 32 hours, with income protection for those on low incomes (possibly with temporary wage subsidies)
    - employer contributions for national insurance based on wealth creation and not on the wages of employees
    - "Load-sharing" through a special one-off tax on wealth greater than one million pounds, in favour of a "Special fund against mass unemployment" (particularly to create "not for profit" socially useful jobs)
    - an appropriate wealth tax
    - a Europe wide tax on all profits at their source, in order to eradicate all tax evasion and tax dumping, at least in Europe
    - a global tax on financial speculation (Tobin Tax)
    - the introduction and step by step expansion of taxes on the use of natural resources and energy, and the development of energy from renewable sources
    - measures for the limitation of wealth (including the private ownership productive capital and land)
    - an economy that is democratic (particularly joint decision-making and self-ownership in business)
    - an end to tax havens and the introduction of a social and ecological framework for world trade.
    Who are we, who make this call?
    We are excluded people, people in insecure work, young people, people newly arrived from the East, people of the middle classes (who have realised that we are also affected) and we are a variety of grassroots groups.
    We will be effective politically only if we bring our individual agendas together.
    We call therefore upon all individuals, communities and organisations who stand for a socially just, life-giving and democratic Europe: Agree and unite!
  • Grassroots groups
    - self-help groups of those affected by unemployment, displaced people, feminists, homosexuals, lesbians, migrants, victims of racial discrimination, structural violence or natural disasters
    - groups and networks of social activists and those concerned with ecological and one-world issues
  • Non government organisations (NGOs)
  • Trade unions
  • Christian and other faith groups
    Such a declaration and alliance building process was strongly promoted in South Africa in 1985 by means of a Kairos document (Kairos is Greek for: critical time of decision). Similarly, we present the draft for a European Kairos Document. Have these questions in mind as you use it, "What stops us forming alliances with others? How could we be better able to form alliances? With whom should we work together to put Europe on the right track?"
    The next steps:
  • November 1997 to March 1998
    Discussion of this draft in Kairos Europa groups and supportive networks and organisations.
  • Up to March 10, 1998
    Submission of suggestions for improvements and names of groups, networks, organisations and individuals prepared to sign the final document.
  • March 10 to 31, 1998
    In January 1998 a small editorial group will be appointed by the Administrative Committee of Kairos Europa to incorporate the suggestions received into the text. This group should have representation from different movements, different language areas and have journalistic competence.
  • April 24-26, 1998
    Meeting to adopt the document and information about the ongoing process in Frankfurt/Main. All people who have contributed to the preparation of the document are invited.
  • May/June 1998
    Publication of the document and of summaries in as many European languages as possible with the signatures of groups, organisations and individuals.
  • June 1998 until 2000
    Invitation to the various groupings in Europe in order to strengthen the already active alliances or joint actions, and to ensure that the questions that are raised and the suggestions that have been made are discussed and translated.
  • 1999
    Big meeting of involved groups and social movements on the European level, possibly in connection with an Alternative Summit of that year.
  • 2000
    Participation in intercontinental meetings, particularly under the umbrella of the WCC programme on globalisation.
    We extend a very warm invitation to you to work with us! Please respond. We ask you to test, improve and sign the document.
    The full text is available from the address above or Kairos UK, c/o David Cowling, 15-17 Chapel Street, GB - Luton LU1 2SE

    OPEN LETTER

    TO THE EU GOVERNMENTS HEADED BY SOCIALIST, SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC, GREEN AND COMMUNIST PARTIES

    towards a rational European tax policy -

    FOR MORE JOBS AND A BETTER ENVIRONMENT

    The election victories of "New Labour" in the United Kingdom and the "Parti Socialiste" in France seem to have marked the beginning of a change in European politics. More and more citizens are realizing that the pursuit of neoliberal market fundamentalism, in spite of the great promises which the conservatives have been making for many years now, does not result in increased prosperity and well-being. Instead it has led to unprecedented mass unemployment, job insecurity, social exclusion and environmental degradation. The public reaction to this has meant that the left-wing parties, at last, are gaining ground again. This trend improves the chances to redirect politics towards a more just and ecologically sustainable economic order, both at the respective national levels and the level of the European Union (EU).
    We, the undersigned, therefore welcome the steps that have been taken recently in this direction, e.g. the insertion of a new title on employment into the Treaty of Amsterdam and the decision to have an extraordinary meeting of the European Council on the problem of unacceptably high unemployment. Nevertheless, we fear that, whatever national and/or coordinated strategies for employment and social improvement are to be adopted, they will all be doomed to failure unless the extremely harmful erosion of national governmentsï control over taxation (being one of the root causes for the high public debts of the member states) is not prevented.
    The harsh fiscal convergence criteria of the single currency are exclusively geared to government spending as a means of consolidating public finances. The corresponding cut-backs of public expenditure are causing additional losses of jobs and the dismantling of public welfare. On the other hand, governments continually increase the tax burden and mandatory social contributions on labour. This further reduces the aggregate purchasing power and thus also endangers employment.
    At the same time, capital not only profits from steady tax reductions, but is moreover allowed to evade taxation on a massive scale. Comprehensive financial liberalization and deregulation programmes have led to a far-reaching abolition of capital controls across the EU. This has provided actors on the financial markets with an enormous degree of freedom, enabling them to use their funds as powerful tools with which to "encourage" governments to adopt policies in line with their own preferences. Thus, by making it possible to play EU governments against each other, the unchecked globalization of capital has enhanced the opportunities for tax evasion and considerably eroded national revenue bases. In addition, the threat of capital flight has even compromised the political autonomy of the EU member states.
    Against this background, the EUïs Economic and Social Committee which is made up equally of employers and unions, recently complained, by a large majority, about the "destructive tax competition" between the member states. According to the EU Commission, the EUïs average tax burden on labour was increased from 34.7 % in 1980 to 40.5 % in 1994, whereas levies on capital, revenues from self-employment, energy and natural resources fell from 44.1 % to 35.2 % in the same period. The Economic and Social Committee argues that this damaging distortion of factor taxation is, above all, a consequence of the prevailing "tax dumping" within the EU. Many governments are still speeding this up by establishing new tax havens and offering further tax reductions for foreign capital (with some tax rates below 1 %!). These heavy tax allowances are being financed partly at the expense of labour. As various estimates indicate, throughout the EU the losses in taxes resulting from legal cross-border tax evasion alone amount to at least 100 billion Ecu a year - to say nothing of the barely combatted illegal tax evasion. In the light of all this, the Economic and Social Committee rightly states that internal tax dumping could become a debilitating drain on the EU as a whole.
    Since the EU and its member states urgently need additional funds to fight the dramatically growing unemployment and the ongoing destruction of nature, we consider it imperative to put an end to the detrimental trends described above. Therefore, we call upon you to exercise your political responsibility vis-á-vis the European citizens by taking joint action towards the introduction of a rational EU tax policy which would

  • put a reasonable source tax on all income from interest at the same rate for all member states;
  • introduce a minimum tax rate on capital income (income tax and corporation tax) throughout the EU;
  • reduce the wage tax rates of the lower and medium income brackets;
  • harmonize and increase the tax rates of all environment-related taxes;
  • implement a foreign exchange transaction tax (as proposed by Nobel laureate James Tobin to curb speculative money flows).
    Given the pressures of having to further cut back government expenditure as a consequence of the forthcoming stability pact, we are firmly convinced that there is a need for swift regulatory action in the proposed direction. If not, you will lack the financial space for manoeuvre required to deliver to the people what they have been promised. The mere resumption of the socially and environmentally devastating austerity policies of the conservatives would inevitably leave the disappointed electorate at the hands of ultra-right populists - as has occurred once before in the course of this century.
    Since the G7, at their Lyon Summit, have also acknowledged that "tax schemes aimed at attracting financial and other geographically mobile activities can create harmful tax competition between States, carrying risks of distorting trade and investment and could lead to the erosion of national tax bases", we strongly urge you to widen your future initiatives beyond the EU framework to assure that countries cooperate on a global scale to put a stop to this self-reinforcing negative spiral.
    cc: Leaders of the socialist, social democratic and green opposition parties in Germany, Ireland and Spain

    Signers of the Open Letter
    Aktion Finanzplatz Schweiz, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Albrecht (Freie Universität Berlin), Prof. Dr. Wilfried Altzinger (Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien), Prof. Dr. Samir Amin (Forum Mondial des Alternatives), Dr. Maria Berger (MdEP), Evelyn Blau (Gewerkschaft der Privatangestellten/Austria), Marie Christine Blandin (Präsidentin des Rates der Region Pas-de-Calais/France), Prof. Dr. Herwig Büchele (Universität Innsbruck), Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland/BUND, Christian Council for Monetary Justice (Great Britain), Ken Coates (MdEP), Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori (Italy), Prof. Dr. Johannes Dantine (Oberkirchenrat/Evang. Church in Austria), Dr. Hans Diefenbacher (Forschungsstätte der Evangelischen Studiengemeinschaft), Prof. Dr. Edward Dommen (University of Sunderland), Prof. Dr. Ulrich Duchrow (Universität Heidelberg), Rainer Falk (Weltwirtschaft, Ökologie und Entwicklung e.V./WEED), Dr. Dr. Heino Falcke (Propst i.R./Erfurt), Fédération Romande des Socialistes Chrétiens (Schwitzerland), FIAN Österreich, Dr. Ulrich Fischer (Dekan/Evang. Landeskirche Baden), Forum Civique Européen (France), Forum du Tiers Monde, Dr. Pierre Galand (Oxfam Belgien), Christian Gehlsen (MdL), Prof. Dr. Roland Geitmann (Christen für eine gerechte Wirtschaftsordnung), Michael Geuenich (Mitglied des Bundesvorstands des Deutschen Gewerkschaftsbundes), Prof. Dr. Bob Goudzwaard (Freie Universität Amsterdam), Prof. Dr. Jacques Gouverneur (Universität Louvain-la-Neuve), Greek Network of Unemployed, Prof. Dr. Peter Heintel (Universität Klagenfurt), Prof. Dr. Rudolf Hickel (Arbeitsgruppe Alternative Wirtschaftspolitik), Colin Hines (International Forum on Globalisation/Great Britain), Olivier Hoedeman (Coalition for a Different Europe/Nederland), Reiner Hoffmann (Direktor des Europäischen Gewerkschaftsinstituts), IDOC (Italy), Initiative für eine sozialistische Politik der SPÖ, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (Ireland), Dr. Willibald Jacob (MdB), Dr. Peter Jankowitsch (stellvertr. Vorsitzender des Wirtschaftskomitees der Sozialistischen Internationale), Kairos Europa, Kirchlicher Dienst in der Arbeitswelt der Evang. Kirche in Deutschland, Claus Koch (Publicist/Berlin), Prof. Dr. Mohssen Massarat (Universität Osnabrück), Johann Maier (Abgeordneter des Nationalrats/Austria), Prof. Dr. Klaus Michael Meyer-Abich (Universität Essen), Jakob Moneta (Journalist/Frankfurt a.M.), Kerstin Müller (MdB), Prof. Dr. Hans G. Nutzinger (Gesamthochschule Kassel), Ökumenisches Forum der Europäischen Katholiken, Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund (Landesexekutive Oberösterreich), Österreichischer Informationsdienst für Entwicklungspolitik/ÖIE, Dr. Helmut Ornauer (Direktor der Koordinierungsstelle der Österreichischen Bischofskonferenz), Prof. Dr. Lode van Outrive (Katholische Universität Leuven), Prof. Dr. Norman Paech (Universität Hamburg), Brigitte Parnigoni (Geschäftsführerin/Friends of the Earth Österreich), Parti Socialiste Genevois (Schweiz), Pax Christi (Dänemark), Prof. Dr. Riccardo Petrella (Group of Lisbon), Quaker Council for European Affairs, Prof. Dr. Kunibert Raffer (Universität Wien), Dr. Helmut Schauer (Mitglied des Vorstands der IG Metall), Scheme Workers Alliance (Ireland), Dr. Stephan Schulmeister (Österreichisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung/WIFO), René de Schutter (Groupe de Recherche pour une Stratégie Economique Alternative/Belgium), Swedish Network of Unemployed, Dr. Franz Segbers (Evangelische Sozialakademie Friedewald), Christian Sterzing (MdB), Dr. Walter Sturm (Arbeiterkammer Oberösterreich), Society of Friends (Sweden), Jorgen Thomsen (DanChurch Aid/Denmark), Prof. Dr. Brigitte Unger (Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien), Prof. Dr. Erwin Weissel (Universität Wien), Frieder O. Wolf (MdEP), Prof. Dr. Karl Georg Zinn (Technische Hochschule Aachen) ...

    THE INTERNET MINIPROJEKT OF KAIROS

    1.

    If you have e-mail address, write to bocs@c3.hu and you will receive the Newsbulletin also via e-mail, furthermore you can participate on the chat-list of Kairos. Specify, on which languages you wish to receive materials.
    2.

    The Kairos homepage on the Internet (on English, German, French, Spanish and Hungarian language): http://bocs.hu
    Please make it known, refer to it on your letterheads, in your publications. When written, it is better to use the longer form: http://c3.hu/~bocs/kairos-a.htm
    3.

    Those Kairos groups (in or outside Europe) who already have a homepage on the Internet, please write us their Web-address (to bocs@c3.hu) so that we can put a link to their page from the Kairos Website.
    We ask them also to link to the http://www.c3.hu/~bocs address.
    4.

    To those Kairos groups who have not yet got homepage on the Internet we can help to make one - especially to the groups in the South.
    For this you can send pictures and texts (if possible via e-mail or on virus-free floppy, in Text Only format, together with a hardcopy sent to the address: H-8003 Székesfehérvár, Pf.7.).
    5.

    The development of Kairos Website presently focuses on the topic of Development Education. We welcome related materials, link recommendations, any suggestions.

    Gyula Simonyi
    Bocs Foundation

    CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

    February 13-15th - Training Weekend in Brussels
    March 12-15th - "Globalising solidarity: the Eastern European dimension" - meeting on development education and culture organised by EDEN (European Development Education Network) in Prague. The meeting is addressed to educators from East and West Europe who want to exchange experiences and methodologies on global issues.
    For information: M. Stella La Commare, EDEN Networker
    c/o ASAL; Via Tacito, 10
    00193 Rome - Italy
    tel: (+39 6) 3235389; fax: 3235388
    e-mail: s.lacommare@agora.stm.it
    March-April - Consultation by Kairos Jeunesse: "Europe for Africa 1998: After 500 years of Subversive Relationships" in Ghana
    April 24-26 - Final editing of the Kairos Document in Frankfurt
    April-May - "Cendrillon" a theater by the "Daughters of the Black Continent" (Kairos Jeunesse) in Belgium
    June 10-12 - ICG in Great Britain (to be confirmed)
    1st semester - Consultative Process about Alternative Structural Adjustment Programmes
    1st semester - Toward a Rational European Tax Policy
    November 5.: International Exchange Meeting Communal Alliances