(Created by members of Campaign for Europe)
I never saw myself as a ‘political creature’ in my teens and
twenty-somethings. Even though I voted in every UK election that I could, the EEC
was ‘just something that was there’. I had no interest one way or the other.
The dawn of the European Union in 1992 took my interest. The
Union has been foremost in my mind from then on, especially when, as a Brit, I moved
to the Netherlands in 2000. That was possible and EASY because of ‘Freedom
of Movement’ which had been in place, contrary to popular belief, before 1992.
Dutch law and the social support that they give to those ‘in
need’ is second only maybe to that of Scandinavian countries. These countries sometimes
give more to the EU than they receive. They also have high taxes, but the
wealthy nationals do not complain too much; high taxes mean high tax-relief on
mortgages, et cetera, and a higher
standard of living for those who have to survive on government benefits; which
in turn leads to a lower crime rate in those countries. If you do not believe me,
look the numbers up on Eurostat for yourself.
As Facebook friends have pointed out, Britain was ‘the sick
man of Europe’ before it joined the EEC in 1973. It had been denied entry to
the EEC TWICE before that date. It is a terrible shame that they, by minority
IMO, have now decided to leave the EU. (http://sardonic-caffiene.blogspot.nl/).
But that is just my own opinion.
What I HAVE experienced in the last nine months is a
wonderful collaborative spirit from all over the Union. Isn’t THAT what the EU
is all about?
I could not attend the London march on March 25th 2017 in
person. But I was incensed that some UK citizens were simply NOT ALOWED TO VOTE
in the UK referendum about the EU in 2016, even though the result directly
affected them. So I decided to design a placard for SOMEBODY to carry on that
march. I requested photos of those who
were NOT allowed to vote; I requested somebody to carry the placard. I live in
the Netherlands and a lady from France volunteered to carry the placard; in fact
she tied it to the railings outside UK parliament at the end of the march! I received
photos of UK citizens from all over the EU who wanted to be on that placard and
hence ‘represented’ on the march. Dozens collaborated to be part of the
placard. It was designed in the Netherlands, arrived in France, carried to/in
London and had pictures on it from all over the EU. Truly a ‘collaborative EU
project’ ? :-)
A few days before the EU anniversary on Saturday March 25th,
I was inspired by my good friend, Peter Cook, to do a ‘social media storm’ on
Facebook/Twitter ON the 25th. So I set up a FB group. The Facebook group had
only 173 members on that afternoon, but began ‘trending’ on Facebook because we
had ‘reached’ more than 1000 people. Hundreds collaborated to show support for
the EU.
I was amazed that only ONE person could get more than 170
people to join them in only 60 hours. AND many ‘shared’ on FB and tweeted
pro-EU statements. One person even only joined Twitter on March 25th to show support
for the EU; I have to say that brought a tear to my eye! :-)
I was even more amazed that the community, given a vote, wanted
to keep the group going beyond March 25th. So here we are now. ‘Campaign for
Europe on the 25th’ has become ‘Campaign for Europe’. We welcome your membership
and hope that, given enough notice, we can support your own campaigns through
our coordinated ‘social media storming’.
People throughout Europe never cease to surprise, whether it
be carrying a placard or supporting one of the many pro-EU Facebook or Twitter
groups. One thing I know for DEFINATE is that most people support the European
Union; I know this for sure by being tearful, emotionally overwhelmed, by
positive support for the EU. The EU may not be ‘perfect’, but by remaining
within the union we maybe have a chance to shape the ‘superpower’ that has
been, and will continue to be. Outside we, as people of any one country, may be
impotent. Within we can make Europe be what we want it to be – a socialist
society that looks after its ‘needy’ and is also a major economic force in the
world.
If I can do SOMETHING with only a few dozen or hundred ‘chipping
in’, then together what heights can the EU reach if ALL ‘chip in’?
Sarah is a member of Campaign for Europe, keen
EU supporter and 'systems thinker'. https://www.linkedin.com/in/snparkes/
Her good friend and 'social media' mentor is
Peter Cook, a 'keynote speaker' and author: @AcademyOfRock
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