The Green party elected today Josko Vlasich from the Burgenland-Croats as second candidate in the coming election for the country- parliament. On the first place is Grete Krojer, she is also from this ethnic group. Josko Vlasich is wellknown in the Austrian ethnic scene as former bandleader of the rockband "Bruji". His position as managing director of the cultural center KUGA in Grosswarasdorf is canceled because of his political mandate. Till now the Green party was not represented in the countries parliament, but now hopes to jump over the 5%-barrier.

Visionale 2000 -
"Peace is much more than no war"

On September 30th, the Visionale 2000, entitled ”Peace is more than no war”, takes place. A fair of initiatives and organizations of the civil society. More than 50 associations and organizations will come together for better relations and for presenting themselves to a bigger audience.
A lot of different topics will be introduced: Development of personality, education, youth care, help desks, quarter initiatives, free media and cultural projects.

to the "Visionale 2000"

Beside two other referenda Swiss votes next Sunday on the initiative "for a regulation of the migration". In this initiative the limitation of the number of the foreigners on 18% of the population in Switzerland is suggested. At present the percentage of the foreign resident population is 19,3 per cent. Critics see also the extremely strict naturalization practice of Switzerland responible for this figure. If Switzerland would naturalize all those foreigners, who fulfill the formal prerequisites for Swiss nationality, the foreigner ratio would go down to 7-8 per cent. The 18%-Initiative is rejected by numerous parties, federations and organisations, among them the Upper House of Parliament and the federal parliament. Inquiries in the summer showed a clear majority for the limitation. Finally the tendency barometer however goes against the initiative.

Thousands demonstrators against racism in Switzerland

5.000 people demonstrated yesterday till the evening in Emmen and Luzern against racism and the "18-percent - initiative". Also some incidents with provoking skinheads happened. Despite strong rain thousands followed the call of the supervisors and set with a multicolored demonstration against racism. The organizers speak of 5.000 persons, among them numerous representatives of foreigner organizations.
Main speaker Christian Tirefort, president of the media-union Comedia, located the reason for racism in the hopelesness of women and men, which had been sacrificed "the greedy capital". "The capitalistic economy is racistic in its nature" said Tirefort, who required a solidaric economy.
Further speakers affirmed their position against the 18-percent-initiative for a relieved naturalization of foreigners in Switzerland. The initiative wants to limit the number of foreigners in Switzerland and is voted next weekend.
In the sourounding of the peacefully demonstration several incidents happened. A dozen of skinheads provoked the demonstarors several times. They presented posters "racism is self-defence of people".

German police arrested temporary 120 anti-fascist demonstrators who attacked a protest rally by neo-Nazis and skinheads in Neumuenster, north Germany on Saturday. Around 500 right-wing extremists were protesting in the town of Neumuenster north of Hamburg, after local authorities withdrew the operating licence of "Club 88" - a regional meeting place for the far right. The number 88 is used as a code by neo-Nazi groups for the banned Nazi slogan "Heil Hitler", where the eights correspond to the letter "H" as the eighth letter of the alphabet. Police detained the counter-demonstrators, many of whom were extreme left-wingers, after they tried to attack the neo-Nazis through a police barrier.
Heide Simonis, premier of the northern state of Schleswig Holstein, told a counter-demonstration of around 1,000 left-wing activists, trade unionists and local citizens that everybody should show more civil courage against right-wing extremism. "We need more people who will not just look away and hide if someone beside them is being beaten up or even killed," Simonis said. She described "Club 88" as a "piece of dirt". The German government outlawed far-right extremists known as "Blood and Honour" and closed their meeting point "Club 88" for spreading neo-Nazi propaganda.

European Union
"Year of language"
deadline for proposals
october 2nd

The European Year of Languages 2001 is organised by the European Union and the Council of Europe. During the European Year, information and promotional measures will be undertaken on the theme of languages, with the aim of encouraging anguage learning by all persons residing in the Member States.
The information campaign will celebrate Europe's linguistic diversity and promote language learning and related skills throughout the Union. This will take place against the background of preparations for the enlargement of the Union, and on the premise that all European languages, modern and classical, form an integral part of Europe's cultural heritage and future. Minority languages have to be promotoed also on a national basis.
The European Year of Languages 2001 has an overall budget of Euro 8 million for the period 1 January to 31 December, managed by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education and Culture. The budget available for co-financed projects is Euro 4,35 million. On the basis of this figure, the Commission expects to be able to co-fund approximately 150 proposals. Co-financing will be at a maximum of 50 % of the total eligible cost of a project. The sums allocated will normally range from 10.000 to 100.000 Euro.
Call for proposals (.pdf)
To the European Union - Year of language 2001

According to language-newsagency EUROLANG, minority language communities throughout Europe can now avail of millions of Euros in funding, following a decision of the European Commission to invite language groups to apply for grants. As John Walsh of eurolang reports, 2.5 million Euros should be available by the Commission’s department Education and Culture for projects which involve co-operation between different minority language communities. A latest check of the commissions web-page showed no such documents.

Viennese mayor Haeupl plans 1000 flats for Migrants per year

At the today's Party Congress of the Viennese SPOe in Oberlaa the Viennese SPOe chairman and mayor Haeupl announced annually 1,000 integration municipality dwellings for immigrants. Only foreigners, who live already at least eight years in Austria can get such a flat. Till now foreigners are not allowed to become such relatively cheap flats.
Renate Brauner, city councillor for Integration, will discuss the foreigner right to vote on district level in Vienna: "It is time that the passive foreigner right to vote is also given at work councils and the chamber-of-work - elections. And we have to begin the discussion about the foreigner rights to vote on district level", said Brauner at the SPOe-Party Congress.
The FPOe was criticized sharply by Haeupl: "the liberal party is an anti-European party. Their model of xenophobia assists the fear before all other cultures". SPOe chairman Gusenbauer said: "no co-operation with these FPOe". Recent predicates of the FPOe showed that the liberal party does not want to modify their politics and to operate for instance in Vienna in the forthcoming local council election campaign again with "agitation" against foreigners, Gusenbauer stated.
Hilmar Kabas, head of the Vienniese FPOe reacted in a press-letter: "If Haeupl today defines the liberals as xenophob, he refers with this accusation also to a large part of the Viennese population." The migrant-policy of the SPOe brought to much foreigners to Vienna, Kabas meant. The criticism on this wrong immigration policy has nothing to do with xenophobia, but with the fact "that the FPOe detects and names the problems of the Viennese" Kabas is quoted.

"Hallamsch 2000" openend in Vienna

Today " Hallamasch " opened for the fourth time as Festival of the cultures in Vienna. One of the biggest World-Cultural-Festival offers with 1000 artists from today to september 23 the "Hallamasch 2000". A cultural festival in a special kind: dancers, drummer, stalkers, various small art or magicians - to name only some - will organize outdoor a "Street-Festival at the most animated places of Vienna in one week" and will give own conceptions on a Danube ship.
Special highlights this year: "evenings of the world cultures" located in the Sofiensaelen, with Japanese dance-art, Arab poetry and South American music. In the open air the initialization celebration on 16 September (starting from 14 o'clock Karlsplatz), the parade of cultures (23 September, 16 o'clock, Mariahilfer Strasse) and the finishing celebration on 23 September starting from 14 o'clock at the Heldenplatz.
The word "Hallamasch" has many interpretations. It could mean "riot", or find its roots from the Hungarian word for "fuss" or "ghost celebration". In Vienna it is considered as synonym for a meal from most diverse ingredients. Hallamasch is promoted with 700.000 ATS (50.000 euro) by the city Vienna. The total budget inclusive sponsors amounts approximately 4.000.000 ATS (290.870 euro).

to "Hallamasch 2000"

Styrian Slovenes as autochtone ethnic group again rejected

After the constitutional court (VfGH) now also the administrative court (VfGH) rejected a complaint of the Article VII Culture Association concerning the delegation of representatives into the advisory for ethnic minorities - so written in a release of the association, which fights in the name of the Styrian Slovenes for achieving the status of an autochtone ethnic minority. The association refers on the article VII of the state contract of 1955, in which the ethnic group of Styrian Slovenes should have the same rights as the Slovenes in Carinthia and the Croats in the Burgenland. The Article VII Association considers now a complaint at the European Commission for Human Rights, in order to get their rights determined in the state contract.

Cultural event against xenophobia and intolerance

The Viennese "Volkshochschulen" start their new term on Saturday, September 16 with a set of events. After an education-presentation in the Burgtheater under the slogan LEARN>SUCCESS from 10-15 o'clock, the activities move in the afternoon to the dock at Schwedenplatz: at 15.30 o'clock a cultural event against xenophobia and intolerance will start. On and around the music stage a multicultural program for the Viennese population will be presented, whereas the music program is also representative for the musical offer of the Viennese Volkshochschule.
details

Vienna Integration-House: very concerned about political situation

The present political situation in Austria, particularly within the areas asylum and integration, is judged as "very much worried" by the operators of the project Vienna Integration-House. For the next Viennese election campaign again migration can become a topic and Andrea Eraslan Weninger of the Integration-House is feared of racistic infringements in this context.
The project balance of the Integration-House on the occasion of its five-year existence is however positively, Eraslan Weninger told today in a press conference. At present the Integration-House offers accommodation to 103 refugees, 44 of them from the Kosovo. Most of the inhabitants have a job.
In the evening a celebration will start in the Vienna Sofiensaelen on the 5-years -jubilee with the famous "Ostbahnkurti" and the "Boban Markovic Orkestar".

Conference of Human Rights Directors in Vienna

On invitation of Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner on September 14/15 in Vienna a conference of directors for human rights from Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States takes place. Main topics of the meeting are the preparations for the world conference against racingism and intolerance, which will happen 2001 in South Africa.
Ambassador Hans Winkler, director of the international law office in the Viennese State Department, referred in his inaugural address the necessity for a close international cooperation as a prerequisite for a dynamic and effective human right policy. The international human right protection faces new and increasingly complex functions, which can be mastered only by co-operation and co-ordination, Winkler said.

Polish Academy Summerschool

Vienna Center Polish Academy of Science
Wien 3., Boerhaavegasse 25
Multiethnicity - Interculturality - History - Expirence - Problems - Solutions
Monday, september 18 - Sunday september 22 from 9 am to 6 pm
Prof. Dr. Irena Lipowicz, Dr. Jifi Grusa, Dr. Erhard Busek, Prof. Dr. Franciszek Grucza, Dr. Emil Brix, Dr. Heinz-Rudi Spiegel
Polnische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna
Tel. (01) 713 59 29, 713 038 31, 713 98 37, Fax (01) 713 038 38 Institut für den Donauraum und Mitteleuropa, Vienna
Tel. (01) 319 72 58, Fax (01) 319 72 58-4

Critics on EU- Fundamental Rights Charta

"With disappointment" the Society for Endangered Peoples (GfbV) International in South-Tyrol read the draft for the European Fundamental Rights - Charta. "We welcome a global discrimination prohibition in the Charter, from which benefit all people within the EU. But the members of old-established linguistic, ethnical and religious minorities are systematically unequally treated however in many European Union countries. Therefore the Charter is missing an article, which positively brings equal chances for these minorities. This could be a counterpart to the articles, where equality of the woman or special protection of the children is guaranteed, the president of GfbV internationally Tilman Zuelch told today in a press statement.

Styrian Slovenes crucial to EU-Wise-Men-Report

The Styrian Slovenes cannot understand, how the 3-Wise-Men can write, that "the Austrian legal system protects the existing national minorities in Austria to a greater extent than such a protection exists in many other European Union countries". Branko Lenart from the Styrian Slovens says: "This may be correct for Greece or France, because both of them don't accept autochthone ethnic groups at all. For all other 12 countries this seems not correct." Furtheron the Styrian Slovens are already mentioned in the federal treaty of 1955, but till now they are not accepted as official autochthone ethnic group. Lenart stated to the ORF-Minorities Desk: "We fight for twelve years to get this status. But till now we have no school-lessons in our mothertongue, not to speak from a lot of other points".

EU: Fundamental Rights Charta signed by the Commission

The EU-Commission has adopted the draft for the Fundamental-Charta of Rights. This also shows clearly, that the Union is not based exclusively on purely economic considerations. On the contrary, it must henceforth seek its roots in the fundamental human values common to all European countries. Middle of October the final agreement will be presented at the EU-top-meeting in Biarritz, France.
The articles in the preliminary draft are grouped around six fundamental values: dignity, freedoms, equality, solidarity, citizenship and justice. The preliminary draft also includes rights that were not explicitly mentioned in the list drawn up by the Convention when it began its work: freedom of scientific research, freedom to conduct a business, the protection of intellectual property, the right to good administration, children’s rights, access to services of general economic interest, protection in the event of unjustified dismissal and two specific articles on equality (equality before the law and the equality of men and women).
the Commission-paper (.pdf)
draft Fundamental-Rights (.pdf)

CH: 10 Millions Swiss Francs for Migrant- Integration

The integration of foreigners in Switzerland should become new efforts. The government in Berne issued an regulation and provided 10 million Francs (6.54 Mill. Euro/90,0 Mill. S) in the budget 2001. This is roughly the same figure as the yearly budget of the Viennese Integration-Fond. The new regulation shall cover all efforts, which serve the mutual understanding between the Swiss and the foreign population. Main fields are better training of foreigners, language-learning, the integration into the working sphere and special projects for women.

The German Minister of the Interior Otto Schily prohibited the right-extremist organization " Blood and Honour division Germany " and its youth organization "White Youth".
In the recent annual report of the German protection of the constitution over 240 members are registrated. The structures of the organization had become more solid since 1999 and new members were won. The regular publication of "Blood and Honour" reports not only on the right-wing extremist skinhead music, but also on members of the earlier Weapon-SS, prominent Nazis, earlier NS-organizations and the racial theory of the Nazis.

Globalization helps promoting right-wing extremism

Jewish Museum Hohenems presents: Univ. Prof. Dr. Christoph Butterwegge "Modernization tendencies of right-wing extremism in the age of the globalization". Facing the international markets as "world of enemies" and the superiority of the own people is seen by the well-known expert as "location nationalism". The discussion over "globalization" helped industrialists, market-radical politicians and liberal-conservative journalists to make the "fight of all against all" popular. He points out that the right-wing extremism basically shows two core ideologies, nationalism and racism.
Thursday, september 14. 2000, 8 p.m. Löwensaal Hohenems

The migration-politics in Vienna will be "again a central topic in the election campaign" for the local council elections next year. FPOe-parliament-head Peter Westenthaler told the newspaper "Standard", that according to the slogan "integration before new migration" more foreigners are not allowed in Vienna. The FPOe will also stop any initiatives for opening of municipality flats to foreigners. These flats are not for foreigners, as long as Austrians are still on the waiting list. Buildings of municipalities are "social welfare buildings for Austrian families", Westenthaler said.

Rudolf Sarközi: Roma agree with Wisemen-report

Rudolf Sarközi, chairman of the Roma culture association underlines the evaluation in the Wisemen-report that the legal situation of Austria´s ethnic minorities is better than in many other European countries. Especially for the Roma, who have the legal status of an ethnic minority, which is really more than the standard compared other European Union countries, says Sarkoezi in an interview for "Heimat, fremde Heimat"-the TV-program for Austrian minorities. However he also finds some points to citisize: the 3 Wisemen had no time for discussions with representatives of the Austrian Roma and therefore this group with its current social situation is not mentioned in the report. Finally Sarközi finds too little critics towards the FPÖ, because there are "individual persons still convinced of National Socialist ideologies".

Europe´s message: " we are all Haider " - Israel´s reactions to removal of the sanctions

In Israel the resolution of the EU 14 released mixed reactions for the removal of the sanctions on Austria. While Prime Minister Ehud Barak condemned the step clearly, Oberrabbiner Israel Lau - a Holocaust survivor - said that Austria could not be identified anymore with Joerg Haider, after he retired as party-president. "If Vienna´s immigrant-politics is correct, then it´s just natural that the ban was lifted." The journalist and historian Tom Segev wrote an article according to the "ban-lift" in the newspaper "Haaretz" under the headline "Europe confesses: We are all Haider". The sanctions were not removed, because Europe realized the sanctions were false, nor because Austria had improved. It´s more that the Europeans finally realized, that all countries treat their foreigners badly, Segev writes: "last but not least we are all Haider". That is Europe´s "frightening message". All EU-member countries show up a high rate of right-wing extremist movements. Segev doubted whether sanctions would have been decided for one of the larger countries, if a right-wing extremist party is part of the government. "Austria was not punished, because it is worse, but because it is weaker than the remaining European Union countries."

Autumn salon - spatial art from polish artists living in Austria

Already since four years the Polish institute Vienna shows exhibitions of art created by Polish artists living in Austria. Most this artists live for several years in Austria and earned their artistic spurs there. Those annually meetings in the Viennese gallery at the Gestade 7 give the unique opportunity for the artists to present their work together to the Austrian public. In the year 2000 the exhibition is dedicated to spatial forms and show a broad spectrum of different artistic possibilities - sculpture, installation, video art and scenery. After the presentation in Vienna the exhibition is shown in Innsbruck, Salzburg and Graz.
Polish institute, Vienna 1.district, Gallery at the Gestade 7
opening Thursday, 14 September 2000, at 19.30 o'clock
The exhibition is to be visited until 13 October 2000. Entrance free.

EU East - extension: 100,000 immigrants for Austria

Free boarder-traffic can bring up to 100.000 immigrants with the EU-ast-extension additionally to Austria. The expected migration lasts for approximately 25 years, therefore contingents are necessary as temporary agreements only in the first years. This is one of the substantial results of a today's experts' meeting of the European Commission in Wien.
During this process the present number of approximately 100,000 migrants from these countries in Austria will therefore double on a long-term basis, the migration experts said. Badly trained workers are hit most, so the labor policy and ongoing education should be mentioned already now.

Wisemen recommend extension of Racism-Monitoring Centre

The Wisemen-report acknowledges the opinion of the European parliament that the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) should be revalued. The Austrian government should do everything to develop the one and only institution of the European Union based in Austria", explained the SPOe European delegate Maria Berger today to the press. Apart from the creation of a Human Rights office as well as a Commissioner responsible for human right issues, the Wisemen-report recommends above all "the extension of the activities, budget and status of the existing EU Observatory on racism and xenophobia, which is based in Vienna, in order to make possible the establishment of a full EU Agency on Human Rights."

Slovenia claims bilingual school directors in Carinthia

The conflict about filling of directors at some Carinthian bilingual schools with provisional directors without qualification in Slovenian now becomes a federal political component. Slovenian foreign minister Lojze Peterle expressed his anxienty because of this decesions by the Carinthian government. "This decision of Joerg Haider is not useful to the open dialog and the solution of minority problems", said Peterle today on a press conference. He announced that he will write a letter to Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero Waldner to inform her about this new facts.
All top officials of the Carinthian Slovenian organizations already protested against the termination of the so-called "school consent policy".

Germany: Action- Day against right- wing extremism

Several thousands demonstrated yesterday in Berlin at the "day against racisism and Neo-Nazism" against right-wing extremism. The chairman of the Jewish municipality Berlin, Andreas Nachama, required more civil courage of the population. "The scandal does not start in the city halls, but at home", he said. "If you hear at home vulgar treatment outside your room, than open the door and help." Nachama accused to the politics, "the speak beautifully about an unacetpable statuses". While the right-extreme attacks got further on this weekend, on the political scene the sense of prohibitioning the NPD was discussed controversely.

Austrian NGO-platform critisizes Wisemen-report

Eugene Sensenig-Dabbous points out for the European Social Action Network (ESAN Austria) that the majority of the information supplied by the Platform's delegation to the Three Wisemen on August 29, 2000 in Heidelberg was completely ignored in this draft. Sensenig-Dabbous hopes, that EU President Jacques Chirac withdraw the current draft of the Wisemen Report and commission other experts to carry out a complete study of Austrian reality. He especially protests against the omission of the following Austrian government policies in the Three Wisemen's final report:

1) The areas in which immigrants are banned by law: they cannot run for election as: shop stewards, works councils (Betriebsrat), in the Austrian Chamber of Labour or the Federal Student Union (Hochschülerschaft).

2) Non-EU citizens are banned by law (in the case of Vienna, a city-state) or ordinance from living in public housing (Gemeindewohnungen, Sozialwohnungen). It is perfectly legal to publish wanted ads in the Austrian newspapers advertising flats for rent in a racist manner, e.g. by stating "Jews need not apply", "Moslems need not apply", etc.

3) The Austrian services for people with disabilities (Pflegegeldgesetze)exclude non-EU citizens from the right to receive financial support and other services although non-EU citizens pay their full share into the social welfare system.

His conclusion: The European Social Action Network in Austria (ESAN) is very disappointed by the fact that the EU Three Wisemen are attempting to hide these facts from European civil society.

Civil-Right-Organisation wins
$ 6,5 million judgement against Aryan Nations

Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler is vowing he will not leave northern Idaho despite a $ 6.3 million judgment against his racist organization: "We have planted seeds. Most of north Idaho now is filled with the people who escaped multiculturalism or diversity or whatever you want to call it. I'm still in business and I'll remain in business until the day I die".
An Idaho jury found white supremacist leader Richard Butler (83) negligent in letting guards at his Aryan Nations compound assault two passing motorists. The civil suit was brought against Butler by Victoria Keenan and her son Jason, who were beaten and shot at by two guards at the remote northern Idaho compound in 1998 after the men mistook their car's backfire for gunfire.
The action was brought on the Keenans' behalf by the Southern Poverty Law Centre (SPLC) as a means of destroying the Aryan Nations by forcing them into bankruptcy and off their 20-acre compound. Morris Dees represented the Keenans and has said he intends to take everything the Nazi-Organisation owns to pay the judgment, including the sect's name. Idaho politicians and community leaders expressed hope after last week's judgment that Butler would leave the area and take his organization with him. Instead, Butler has applied for a permit to hold a parade down the streets of nearby Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in October.

Symposium ”Integration of immigrants in Vorarlberg”

The symposium ”Integration of immigrants in Vorarlberg” contributes for dialogue. It assembles specialists, responsible and interested persons, who are dealing with questions of migration and living together of different social groups. People out of different cultures living in Vorarlberg come together to find solutions for their difficulties. By working together, different contacts shall be made to support understanding and respect for different people.
Integration of immigrants in Vorarlberg
September 15th-16th 2000
Akademie für Sozialarbeit Vorarlberg
(Academy for social work Vorarlberg - section education) Kapuzinergasse 1
A-6900 Bregenz
Tel. 0043-5574-43046-75
Fax 0043-05574-43046-85