ACTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION – ISON
Do we have equal opportunities in our lives, whatever our nationality, our gender, our
place?
Is equality really a principle for our common life?
Do we all have the right to speak equally?
Are we equal before the laws?
Do we have the same rights to shape the decisions of the state?
We are probably far from answering these questions in the affirmative and without
exceptions.
The first question, however, is whether we are convinced that equality is a principle and that
all its aspects deserve to govern our life; at home, at work, in our free time; if we are
tolerant of other opinions, different approaches, opposite choices. YES, only if we reject
discrimination. After all, it is about how democratic we are.
So if our attitude is democratic, we can fight together for equality and against discrimination. With a front against the most profound anti-democratic scourge: clientelism! The version of unmeritocracy that literally plagues our society; at an incalculable cost to our public life;
By undermining the sense of common destiny; by infringing the “common sense of justice” and the ensuing tensions; by trapping us all in mediocrity, despair and non- politics; by devaluing transparency, publicity and consultation.
Our participation in the struggle for equality makes our lives better. We call this collective action ISON (EQUAL) and… we all enter the equation!
BESIDE YOU
There is no end to the difficulties in our daily lives: from unemployment and poverty to the stress of seizures; from lack of housing and food to the inability to communicate between fellow citizens. With the most noticeable degradation, disruption and collapse of social protection and social welfare; with the most acute insecurity in the face of crime; with the most intense delay in the administration of justice; with the most severe suffering from public services. And the most devastating collapse of public education and health systems.
We have no illusions! Only with a radical change in economic and social organization can these problems be addressed. Only with political will, with feasible solutions to real problems and with democratic legitimization of a major change can the needs of the people be met.
But the need for this great Change does not mean that we should give up on “small” collective initiatives. On the contrary! Our activation can address problems, alleviate their negative consequences and strengthen our common conscience. Volunteering and solidarity can therefore improve our daily lives. To support our fellow human beings, to restore the morale of all of us and to give birth to an unexpected hope again.
From the part of EKKINISI – Greek Democrats we respond positively.
From the part of Hellenic Society of Democratic Studies we contribute to the creation of a Solidarity and Volunteering Network that will declare and be BESIDE YOU!