Asociaţia VERZII (The Romanian Young Greens) Statement on the conflict in Georgia

The Romanian Young Greens express their sorrow, sympathy and solidarity with the victims of the recent conflict in the Caucasus. We are deeply concerned with the tense situation in Georgia. Military action in this case is not a solution for solving conflicts, and its consequences must not be forgotten.

At our joint initiative with Asociaţia Pro Democraţia (Pro Democracy Association), 16 NGOs organized on Wednesday, August 13, 2008, at 19.00hrs, a marathon for peace in Georgia, drawn together by a flash-mob in front of the Russian Embassy. 

The participants at this event gathered in two groups and walked towards each other until they reached the Russian Embassy in Bucharest. There they shook hands, released three doves and lit candles in the memory of the victims of the war in Georgia, asking for a cessation of the armed conflict in the region. 

We believe that as citizens of democracies, we are individually responsible for the action or inaction of our governments in any crisis situation. 

We reaffirm our call to all youth organizations to take action and not be indifferent to any kind of violence because it stands against all democratic and Green principles. Young people of all ages, the world's citizens and all those who cherish freedom around the world should be an example of activism and make their voices heard.

We urge the United Nations, European Union, NATO, and other international organizations to participate with humanitarian aid and assistance to the victims in Georgia.

We strongly urge the EU to play a more assertive role in the Caucasus peace process.

For more information, please contact Claudia Cristina Sădean – President of the Romanian Young Greens, at phone number +40723.640.052 or by email at asociatia.verzii@gmail.com.

Asociaţia VERZII (The Romanian Young Greens) is a non-governmental organization that aims to promote dialogue, environmental consciousness, solidarity and sustainable development among young people. We also work to advance human rights, youth politics and affirmation, minority rights and democracy. Additional information about us can be found at the address: http://asociatiaverzii.blogspot.com.

17 August 2008

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16 NGOs joined for the Bucharest Handshaking Marathon for Peace in Georgia (August 13th 2008)

PRESS RELEASE

August 13th 2008

Handshaking Marathon for Peace! Stop the armed conflict in Georgia!

The hereby signing NGOs organized on Wednesday, August 13, 2008, at 19.00hrs, a flash-mob – marathon for peace in Georgia. The participants at this event gathered in two groups – one at Av. Pavel Kiseleff in front of the Romanian Peasant’s Museum and the other at the Arch of Triumph – and they walked towards each other until they reached the Russian Embassy in Bucharest (Sos. Pavel Kiseleff, no. 6). There they shook hands and lighted candles in the memory of the victims of the war in Georgia, asking for the cease of armed conflict in the region.

We, the hereby signing NGOs, were profoundly touched by the situation of innocent people so close to our country. We realized that between the positions sustained by armed forces of Georgia and Russia in this conflict, the voices and wishes of ordinary citizens in Georgia remain unheard. On natural resources lived, until few days ago, ordinary people, who have to start as soon as possible to enjoy the democratic opportunities of determining their own destiny.

Human solidarity, the inviolability of human rights and the respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states are the values in basis of which we act. This is the reason for which we call the immediate cease of the armed conflict. We ask the belligerent parts to refrain from any action that might escalade the conflict and to return at the table of negotiations. We urge the involvement of the European Union and international organizations in the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Georgia.

Signing organizations:

Academia de Advocacy

Agenţia de Monitorizare a Presei

Asociaţia Civitas `99

Asociaţia Pentru Comunitate

Asociaţia Pro Democraţia

Asociaţia Smart Projects

Asociaţia Verzii

CENTRAS

Centrul de Resurse pentru participare publică

Centrul Educaţia 2000+

Centrul Euroregional pentru Democraţie

Centrul pentru Jurnalism Indepedent

Centrul pentru Politici Publice

Fundaţia Pentru Dezvoltarea Societăţii Civile

Grupul pentru Dialog Social

Terra Ecologica

Comunicat de presa 13 august 2008 Maraton de dat mâna pentru pace

Comunicat de presa

13 august 2008

Maraton de dat mâna pentru pace ! Opriti conflictul armat din Georgia!

Organizatiile semnatare au organizat miercuri, 13 august 2008, începând cu orele 19.00, un flash-mob - maraton pentru pace în Georgia. Participanţii la acest eveniment s-au organizat în două grupuri – unul pe Şos. P. Kiseleff în faţa Muzeului Ţăranului Român şi altul la Arcul de Triumf - şi au mers unii spre ceilalţi până la Ambasada Federaţiei Ruse la Bucureşti (sos. P. Kiseleff nr. 6). Acolo participanţii şi-au dat mâna între ei şi au aprins lumânări în memoria victimelor din Georgia cerând încetarea confruntărilor armate din această ţară.

Noi, organizaţiile semnatare, am fost profund marcate de situaţia în care se află oameni nevinovaţi din apropierea ţării noastre. Am constatat că între poziţiile Georgiei şi ale Rusiei în cadrul conflictului, susţinute prin puterea armelor, rămân complet mute vocile şi dorinţele cetăţenilor obişnuiţi din Georgia. Deasupra rezervelor naturale trăiau, până acum câteva zile, oameni obişnuiţi, care trebuie să înceapă cât mai repede să se bucure de oportunităţile democratice de a-şi determina propriul destin.

Solidaritatea umană, inviolabilitatea drepturilor omului dar şi respectarea suveranităţii şi a integrităţii teritoriale a statelor sunt valorile în baza cărora acţionăm. Iată de ce facem apel, pe această cale, la încetarea imediată a conflictului armat. Cerem părţilor beligerante să se abţină de la orice acţiune ce ar putea duce la escaladarea conflictului şi să revină la masa tratativelor. Solicităm, de asemenea, implicarea Uniunii Europene şi a organizaţiilor internaţionale în soluţionarea pe cale paşnică a conflictului din Georgia.

Organizatii semnatare:

Academia de Advocacy
Agenţia de Monitorizare a Presei
Asociaţia Civitas `99
Asociaţia Pentru Comunitate
Asociaţia Pro Democraţia
Asociaţia Smart Projects
Asociaţia Verzii
CENTRAS
Centrul de Resurse pentru participare publică
Centrul Educaţia 2000+
Centrul Euroregional pentru Democraţie
Centrul pentru Jurnalism Indepedent
Centrul pentru Politici Publice
Fundaţia Pentru Dezvoltarea Societăţii Civile
Grupul pentru Dialog Social
Terra Ecologica

Handshaking Marathon for Peace

Handshaking Marathon for Peace

Romanian NGOs are launching a call for you to join a handshaking marathon for peace in the memory of the victims of the war in Georgia, on Wednesday, 13 August 2008, at 18.45 hrs. We will gather in two groups – one on Av. Pavel Kiseleff in front of the Romanian Peasant’s Museum and the other at the Arch of Triumph – and we will walk towards each other until we reach the Russian Embassy in Bucharest (Sos. Pavel Kiseleff, nr.6). There we will shake hands and light candles in the memory of the victims of the war in Georgia, asking for the cease of armed conflict in the region.

Bring a white flower and a candle, take your friends along and come join us to show the world how conflicts should be mediated and to challenge international actors to do the same. Play your part in this act of solidarity and come shake hands with the person next to you.

Rules for the marathon:

At the handshaking marathon we will only whisper. During this event even the feeblest voices will be heard, not only those of the strongest.

At the handshaking marathon we will only bring along things you need in a negotiation: pens and sheets of paper, goodwill and open-mindedness for listening to the others, tolerance and respect towards our handshaking partners.

MARATON DE DAT MANA PENTRU PACE

Maraton de dat mana pentru PACE!

Organizaţiile societăţii civile româneşti te cheama miercuri, 13 august 2008, de la orele 18.45 la un maraton de dat mana. Ne vom intalni in doua grupuri – unul pe Sos. P. Kiseleff in fata Muzeului Taranului Roman si altul la Arcul de Triumf - si vom merge unii spre ceilalti pana la Ambasada Rusiei la Bucuresti (sos. P. Kiseleff nr. 6). Acolo ne vom da mana unii cu altii si vom aprinde lumanari in memoria victimelor din Georgia cerand incetarea confruntarilor armate din aceasta tara.

Vino impreuna cu prietenii tai pentru a arata lumii cum se mediaza conflictele si a-i indemna pe actorii internationali sa faca la fel! Alatura-te acestui gest de solidaritate pentru victimele conflictului din Georgia, vino sa dai mana cu un om oarecare!

Reguli:
La maratonul de dat mana se va vorbi doar in soapta. La acest eveniment se vor auzi si cele mai firave voci, nu doar opiniile celor mai puternici dintre noi.
Participantii la maraton nu isi pot aduce cu ei decat alte instrumente folositoare in timpul negocierii: pixuri si coli de scris, bunavointa si deschidere catre a asculta si opinia celorlalti, toleranta si respect fata de partenerii de dat mana.