It's that time of year again! The time of year when European youth are called to remind civil society and elected representatives that Europe IS NOT a dictatorship-free continent!

For the fourth consecutive year, JEF-Europe is going to co-ordinate the successful Belarus pan-European action on the night of 18th & 19th March – dates which coincide with the 2006 Presidential elections in Belarus.

In 2008 activists in 80 cities took part in gagging statues – symbolically prevented from speaking – much like the current situation for many Belarusian citizens. European youth – from JEF and other organisations – took part in this action to show that young people and the rest of Europe do care about democracy and respect for human rights!

This year, JEF Europe will tie the Belarus action with the wider European Parliament elections campaign [www.itstimeforeurope.eu] under the Global Europe theme.  The message is that only a united federal Europe with a real common foreign policy will be able to address the many global problems, be it democracy in Belarus, be it the situation in the Middle East, be it Africa or be it Georgia.

Click below to read more about this year’s action and how YOU can get involved, download the invitation and digital presentation and/or visit our Facebook page of the Belarus action.

BELARUS ACTION 2009

18-19 March 2009: It's Time for Change... It's Time for a Free Belarus! Join us!

On the night of 18-19 March 2009 JEF will organise a co-ordinated pan-European action in different cities across the continent to show support to the suppressed civil society and opposition movement in Belarus. The date coincides with the 2006 Presidential elections in Belarus. The action consists of gagging statues in cities throughout Europe and the world that will symbolically be prevented from speaking freely, much like the current situation of the people in Belarus. The 2009 Action will call on Europe to stand up for democracy in Belarus in defence of human rights. Signs such as "It's time for change... It's Time for a Free Belarus“ will be hanged around the necks of the statues. This is the fourth year we do this action – last year 80 European cities joined and this year we hope to beat this record!

JEF would like to invite civil society and organisations of all backgrounds who believe in de-mocracy and respect for human rights to join us in this action against Europe’s last dictator-ship during the night of the 18th and 19th of March. All it takes is some tape, paper and a cloth! Go with your organisation and friends or join a JEF local section - simply contact belarus@jef.euThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - to find a section near you or tell us about your planned activity. Please also send any pictures from the statues you gagged for immediate release online - www.jef.eu - together with all other pictures from the pan-European action in support of democracy!

Please spread this invitation to all your networks and contact – by all of us acting jointly we can send a really strong message to Europe and Belarus!

Source: JEF Website