Invitation to support UNITED's new online campaign #LifeSeekers

[Roma Virtual Network]

Dear colleagues, We are writing to invite your organisation to join UNITED’s new Europe-wide campaign #LifeSeekers. This online campaign will challenge the populist narrative on migration and refugees by presenting young people with facts and data related to the issues facing society today, showing that scapegoating of migrants and refugees is not the answer. Through memes and infographics shared via social media, young people will be directed to show their support for the campaign by signing a campaign statement about the situation facing young people in Europe today, and against the scapegoating of migrants and refugees. We are calling on European NGOs to join the campaign by confirming their support for the campaign statement. You can read the full campaign statement below, and you can support the campaign by filling in the simple online form at this link. The campaign is open to all European organisations that share the values of the UNITED network, including grassroots groups, national associations and transnational NGOs. Joining the campaign is free, easy, and does not oblige your organisation to take any further action, though we would appreciate your continued support in promoting the campaign once it is launched on 17 June. Joining the campaign means that not only will your organisation be supporting this important online action, but will also be promoted as an organisation with which young people can take action to build a brighter future and end the scapegoating of migrants and refugees. The campaign, which UNITED is coordinating with partners from the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum, will run online from June to September 2016. We hope that you will join the campaign by filling in and submitting the online form at this link. Best regards and stay UNITED! Geert Ates Balint Josa UNITED for Intercultural Action #LifeSeekers - Campaign Statement All across Europe, young people are facing multiple crises, the likes of which have not been seen since the 1920’s. The financial crisis of 2008 and the subsequent austerity measures enacted by European governments have disproportionately affected youth, with young people facing high levels of unemployment and an unfair housing market, all while an impending environmental crisis is putting the future of our planet at risk. Despite this complex situation demanding an effective answer, national governments across Europe have instead opted to mirror the position of the populist right: blame the migrants. With the influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers fleeing war and desperate conditions in their home countries, this scapegoating has only increased, with governments and their populist challengers supporting and building upon a narrative that sees “migrants” as a homogenous mass of people who are a threat to our social fabric and the reason for many of society’s problems. Unlike previous generations, young people in Europe today enjoy unprecedented levels of mobility. Benefitting from open borders and a host of European youth exchange programmes, more young people than ever have themselves lived as migrants, sharing a diverse range of experiences. Yet this mobility has not been matched by empowerment. Youth in Europe today feel disenfranchised and ignored by mainstream politics. For many, the embrace of a populist, migrant-blaming narrative is the closest they can come to empowerment and a sense of self-value - even if they share many of the values, hopes and aspirations with the migrants and refugees that they seek to marginalise; whether or not we are asylum-seekers, we are all Life Seekers, who want the freedom and power to shape our own futures. We strongly believe that the tragedy of hundred of thousands of people should not be used to cover the failures of policy makers over the past decades. Instead, we call for European governments to promote an honest, transparent and inclusive discussion about the issues facing young people today, avoiding panic, fear, and hate, and actively seeking out new and diverse perspectives and visions. This should be matched with positive action and support for young people to live productive and fulfilling lives. These social challenges can be faced only together and UNITED, with a transparent, meaningful and productive dialogue among all sectors of society. European governments must ensure that young people feel empowered to shape their own futures - and that the human rights and freedom of all are respected.

==== This campaign has been funded with support of the Council of Europe (European Youth Foundation), the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union and the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the sponsors cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. UNITED's publications can be freely re-used, translated and re-distributed, provided the source: www.unitedagainstracism.org - is mentioned and a copy is send to the UNITED secretariat. ---- UNITED is the pan-European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees, supported by more than 550 organisations from 48 European countries. How to join the network: see www.unitedagainstracism.org/supporters/ ---- Your donation is most welcome: - by Paypal via the button on www.unitedagainstracism.org - by bank to: UNITED, Postbus 413 NL-1000 AK Amsterdam Account IBAN: NL28 INGB 000234315, BIC: INGBNL2A - Bank: ING Bank Amsterdam ---- You have received this e-mail because your organisation or institution is listed in the UNITED online database and/or Addressbook Against Racism; you have attended a UNITED event; have participated in a UNITED campaign; are a partner in the working fields above; and/or have expressed an interest in UNITED network's issues. If you don't want to receive E-news anymore, just let us know by writing to in...@unitedagainstracism.org with "unsubscribe" in the subject line. If you want to receive a copy of E-news to your own (private) email address, just send a message from that address to in...@unitedagainstracism.org with "subscribe" in the subject line. (UNITED does not publish private (email) addresses) ---- UNITED for Intercultural Action European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees Postbus 413 - NL 1000 AK Amsterdam phone +31-20-6834778 - fax +31-20-6834582 Twitter: @UNITED__Network Facebook: UnitedForInterculturalAction Linkedin: UNITED in...@unitedagainstracism.org www.unitedagainstracism.org