The Pride will be an inclusive event, open for all minority groups and an opportunity for them to show they are equal citizens of Serbia who can walk the streets regardless of their differences.

The Pride is not a goal in itself, but a means to attract public attention to the problems faced by the LGBT population and venue to seek rights, with support by the whole society.

GSA and Queeria invite all citizens to support the action and sign the petition at www.parada.rs. So far, many public personalities and celebrities from artistic, cultural and entertainment scenes, as well as politicians and NGOs gave their support.

Let’s show that we are more numerous than those who spread fear, hatred and intolerance towards the different.

Transparency International BiH (TIBiH), in cooperation with popular TV programme “Surrealist Top List” (Top lista nadrealista), launched the “Financing of political parties” public campaign, which was presented on Tuesday, July 20, in Sarajevo. The official motto of the campaign is “Money has a Name – demand transparent financing of political parties”.

Private donations for political parties are not illegal. However, if it is kept hidden from public scrutiny, there are opportunities for corruption. That is the message that initiators of the campaign want to present to the voters, warning them that transparency of financing is an instrument to reduce corruption once a party gets to power.

Emir Đikić, Chairman of TIBiH Board of Directors said that the campaign will consist of video clips and posters that aim to increase public awareness about the need for more transparent financing of political parties. He added that video ads and posters will coincide with the election campaign, when political parties increase their spending.

Today, July 19, 2010, the Initiative for Prenj Mountain was launched officially with the signing of the Protocol of Cooperation and an action at the Fra Grga Martić Square (in front of Sarajevo Cathedral), which marked the official start of the “For Prenj from the Heart” Campaign.

Leaflets with information about the campaign were distributed, and the citizens were asked to sign the petition to declare Prenj-Čvrsnica-Čabulja-Vran area a national park. There was also an exhibition of photographs taken at Prenj Mountain.

The first activity, a cycling tour that will pass 500 kilometres from Sarajevo to Mostar and then to Bihać also started. Within the tour, promotional events will be organized in Mostar and Bihać.

Organizers say that the campaign aims, through public information and advocacy activities, to start expert and public debate about the plans to use the wider area of Prenj Mountain. The dialogue will include representatives of international organizations and institutions, to use their experience and standards in sustainable development planning.

The Initiative for Prenj is an informal coalition of associations and individuals gathered around the common goal, to urgently declared the Prenj-Čvsnica-Čabulja-Vran region a national park, with active public participation in decision making processes. For additional information about the campaign and the initiative, visit the website www.facebook.com/SrcemzaPrenj.

The European Commission is currently considering to propose changes to the EU data retention directive which we have always opposed as a flagrant violation of our privacy. There is sigificant momentum at the moment to abolish the system of mandatory blanket retention of all communications data: critical comments by the new commissioners early this year, critical constitutional court judgements, the imminent ECJ procedure initiated by Digital Rights Ireland as well as a promising coalition agreement by the new British government.

What would be helpful now, according to all experts, is a joint letter by organisations from all over Europe, calling on the competent commissioners to propose abandoning data retention. Broad pressure on and support of the Commission is needed to trigger such a move.

Draft letter can be found here: http://wiki.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/DRletter

You need to send organisation, name, country, representative and e-mail by Friday, 11 June 2010, to: Pater Breyer, who leads the German Working Group on Data Retention (AK Vorrat)

P.Breyer@vorratsdatenspeicherung.de

Help us stop data retention by making this letter a success and gathering as much support for it in your country as possible!

Educational program “Be the change, volunteer! 2010 is 6 months program composed out of various trainings including: values of volunteering, team building and development, communication skills basics, constructive conflict resolution, project proposal writing, public performance.

Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in exchanges, to create and implement youth programs, connect with local non-profit organizations and to spend quality time with socialization and fun

Program is financed by the Center for youth education and SHL.

Detailed information about the program you can find in Center for youth education offices:

Travnik, Mali trg bb, 030 511 565; 030 518 001

Vitez, Stjepana Radića bb, 030 710 618

Turbe, Stari dom kulture 68-a, 030 531 652

Zenica, Jalijski put 5, 061 240 017

Deadline for applications is 23.06.2010.  17:00 hours

Hurry up and secure your place in the program!

Besides park, youth web portal www.opet.b (youth portal of european Travnik) a is under construction. Visitors of the portal will be able to find information about job opportunities, scholarships, calls for proposals for youth actions etc.

Project „Travnik wireless city“ is financed by UNDP BiH.

Partner of the project is Municipality of Travnik

Eco action, Greenvisions and CCI are inviting you  to join the alert action on  the plateau in front of BBI center in Sarajevo on May 27th 2010 at 11:00:

RETURN THE BOTTLE – AN CHARGE FOR IT

Collect th plastic bottles in your neighborhood, bring them to the place of action and the organizers of the action will reimburse you 10 kpf per bottle.

At the same time you can sign the petition for legislation regulative on recycling in FBiH.

One hundred bottles is maximum which can be reimbursed.

This action is part of the campaign “Clean the waste”,which is conducted by CCI in past two years. Main goal of the campaign is adoption of the legislative in order to regulate waste management, especially  recycling.

The German government is opposing the adoption of a new European Union (EU) anti-discrimination directive. This directive should contribute to end exclusion and discrimination that people suffer because of their age, sexual orientation, religion or disability. The adoption of this new anti-discrimination directive requires the agreement of all 27 EU Member States. Germany should cease its opposition so that discrimination in Europe can be effectively addressed.

Petition from Amnesty International for the adoption of the horizontal anti discrimination directive in the EU. It  does not take much time, and is a contribution to the campaign for the directive.

http://www.amnesty-actie.nl/eupetition/