It’s the final countdown. Only 26 days until we have to vote, but except some election posters and a few press releases, the campaign of the European Parliament in Germany is very quiet until now. Although Europe matters so much more today.
The Euro Wahl Gang (European Election Gang) wants to change that. Last week they started a school tour to 80 schools all over Germany. Pupils, who were before invited to a workshop in Berlin, chair a discussion with European politicians about the European Elections on June 7th. Their aim is to motivate as much young people as possible in Germany to participate in the European Elections.
Luise Baar, coordinator of the regional teams, says: “We want to offer the pupils a stage, to become active concerning the European Elections”. Furthermore, we want to show that big events do not necessary take place in Berlin.
Politic students from Berlin founded the Politikfabrik e.V. (politic factory), which organises the project Euro Wahl Gang. The Politikfabrik also initiated an automat, where you could answer questions and which in the ends gave you an advise which party you could vote for in the Bundestagswahlen (national elections) in 2002 and 2005. Moreover, they created an Election Gang in Berlin in 2006 to motivate young people to vote.
The campaign of the “Euro Wahl Gang” not only comprises the school tour, but also an interactive homepage with blogs, information, a quiz and event dates regarding Europe. Supported is the Euro Wahl Gang inter alia by Schülervz (German face book for pupils) and the European Parliament.
Furthermore, they produce an advertising spot, which should motivate and inform young people about the European Elections. In order to get the idea for the spot, they issued a competition. Anna won the competition, with her idea to show a politician ringing at a student flat share and carrying out daily tasks for the students like taking the rubbish outside. The spot will be shown in cinemas in whole Germany. Anna wants to show in the spot where politic touches young people in their daily life.
The “Election ABC” explains for whom you can vote, who is allowed to vote and when the election is. Finally, it gives reasons why young people should vote. The organisers of the Euro Wahl Gang explain their motivations to participate in the European Elections and asked at the European Club night, party people why or why not they will vote. The range of answers goes from “No, I won’t vote, because it makes no sense and my friends are not going as well” to “Of course, I will go voting.”
Who wants to take a look, can surf to www.eurowahlgang.de
(17 votes, average: 4.71 out of 5)
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People appear to take notice of the upcoming election in Austria, albeit the right-wingers seem to be most present with their posters that abuse the term “social.”
I would have the hell of a problem to cast my vote in Germany as long as I do not know about the verdict of the constitutional court concerning the constitutionality of the Lisbon Treaty. When will they publish their conclusion?
Usual worrying aspect about EUrophile politicians - the emphasis on youth and children and how to indoctrinate them early.
@ Robin
Well, to be fair the youth vote is declining and all politicans have wanted to boost youth participation. I’m sure they wouldn’t say no to a pro-European vote, but I do think there are legitimate reasons for encouraging youth turnout.
But it’s true that pro-Europeans tend to pin their hopes on younger generations being more pro-European.
Thanks for taking