The Next Steps

European Kairos Document

1. KAIROS The right time to take crucial decisions.
2. EUROPA Learning from the Kairos movement in South Africa that helped to abolish Apartheid.
   to: faith communities, trade unions, social and ecological movements.
   in order to: overcome the domination of the global economy with its culture of competition.
   and: establish a socially just, life-sustaining and democratic Europe.

It cannot go on like this in Europe! There is no need to go on like this!

We invite you to join us in forming coalitions for a new direction:

Away from

• the concentration of power in the owners of capital, transnational companies and banks
• a situation in which workers are played off against each other
• discrimination against women in all areas
• tax avoidance by those with wealth
• economic crime
• forced migration due to social and ecological degradation
• neoliberal policies of deregulation, social cutbacks and the erosion of democracy
• the prevailing economic system as an unchallengable dogma
• the profligate use of natural resources and the excessive demands on the ecosystem
• our own striving after consumption, wealth and power
• the further militarisation of foreign policies

Towards

• a socially just, life-sustaining and democratic Europe, that does not exploit other continents.

Together we can choose:

• to listen carefully to the victims of social, economic and ecological exploitation in the North, South, East and West, who are struggling to survive with dignity.
• to say "no" to the widespread practice of disinformation and discrimination against disadvantaged people, to the present unjust system of distribution of wealth and property, to the industrialisation of agriculture, to the closing of European borders, to disproportionate spending on security and to ecological degradation.
• to say "yes" to a new vision of a world in which people live and work in dignity, solidarity and fullness of life, beauty and biodiversity in nature is strongly protected and future generations can grow up with equality of opportunity.
• to develop small-scale alternatives, to strengthen local and regional economies, and thereby to achieve some independence from the world market and foster a culture of cooperation
• to engage in reempowering political institutions at all levels in taking effective decisions, particularly in the areas of employment, education, taxation, finance, trade, non-violent conflict resolution and the protection of the environment and our climates, on the basis of justice between men and women, and between peoples.

We campaign for:

• a reduction of working hours, with compensation for people on low income, to reduce unemployment,
• employer national insurance contributions being related to profits rather than wages,
• a 'sharing the load' initiative, to establish a fund to end mass unemployment,
• the implementation of equal rights for women,
• an end to cutbacks in health and education,
• an EU directive against racial and religious discrimination,
• a humane reception for asylum seekers,
• the linking of monetary policy to employment and social policies,
• a limit to the private ownership of land and capital,
• an appropriate taxation of great wealth,
• an EU harmonised tax at source on capital gains, in order to end tax dumping,
• the abolition of tax havens, which contribute significantly to the indebtedness of public budgets,
• the cancelling of debts of countries made poor by the North,
• the global taxing of profits gained through speculation (Tobin Tax),
• the progressive introduction of taxes on the use of energy and natural resources,
• the promotion of energy saving and its production from renewable sources,
• the development of an economy and technology that are socially and ecologically sustainable,
• the setting of social and ecological parameters for world trade and
• integrated strategies for non-violent conflict resolution in place of further spending on defence.

Who are we, the people making this call?

We are grassroots groups, and social movements old and new. Among us are people of that ever growing part of society that is being cut off ever more ruthlessly from those who (still) enjoy prosperity. Among us also are people from the centre of society who are no longer prepared to stand idly by in the face of division and destruction. We will only achieve anything if we act together.

Our call for a democratic Europe with social balance, peace and ecological sustainability is addressed to:

• Self-help organisations
• Support and campaigning groups, movements for social justice, peace and the environment
• Non-government organisations (NGOs)
• Trade unions
• Faith communities
• Committed individuals

With the urgent request that together we

• critically examine what it is that stops us working together
• consider creatively how we could form effective alliances
• build and support networks and alliances at all levels for a new way forward in Europe.
• Up to 15 May 1998: Sending of signatures
• June 1998: Publication of the document
• June 1998 - June 1999: Work on the issues raised by this document in the European regions and the groups in civil society
• Up to June 1999 Sending in of the results of the work, stories and statements, and then their publication
• October 1999 Big meeting in Brussels for debate and the presentation of our common agendas to the European Union politicians

Contact address, from which the full European Kairos Document may be obtained:
Kairos UK, c/o Grassroots, Luton Industrial College, 15-17 Chapel Street, Luton, LU1 2SE.
Tel: 0 (044) 1582 416946 - Fax: 0 (044) 1582 732032.
Also available from Kairos Europa, Hegenichstr. 22, Heidelberg, Germany.

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