„Borzée dans tous ses débats“

The seventeenth ecological summer- meeting of Ècolo, green party of the French community/ French speaking population of Belgium, took place in the „Centre Nature de Borzée“ (Center of Nature in Borzée). Borzée is located in the heart of the Ardennes, amidst a mountainous landscape.

The meeting gained a lot of the natural surroundings and the offerings a center focused on ecological activities provides. Some of the events were placed on a lower side with fairground and gastronomy where a big marquee as one location for meetings was build up. Seminar rooms and accommodations were situated in the building complex above.

During the four days, 27th - 30th of August, Ècolo offered a wide range of different events focused on political education. Furthermore, the ecological center presented their activities and members of the parliament held an open forum on Saturday. During evening times there were a lot of possibilities for socializing and entertainment.

 Many subjects were discussed

The different workshops dealt with ecology, social inequality, chances and problems of a multicultural society, new fascism, democracy, international politics, alternative forms of living and national as much as regional politics.

Every participant and especially the younger ones could inform themselves and discuss sustainable forms of treating our planet and protecting our natural heritage, how to make the ocean blue again, how to protect biodiversity, about consumer protection and urban agriculture. How to get green themes in politics, what alternatives offer other forms of mobility like cycling and what can not only official politicians but also the individual do to act with responsibility in regard to the environment.

A woman from Ecuador presented the campaign she and her folk fight to protect part of the Amazonian tropical forest against the big oil companies, trying to exploit their space to live. Another workshop about international politics was held about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, which regarded it as a complex topic touching a lot of sensitive themes and with a wide influence on other fields of global and European importance.

How should the European Union deal with the financial crisis and what other forms of economy do we want which are not based on a (neo-) capitalistic foundation?

Social inequality has many roots, influences the whole life and social participation. Especially people with a background of migration suffer not only intolerance and prejudices but also social marginalization and a low level of education sustaining the vicious circle. How should the Belgians deal with the success of the List of De Decker and how should we treat forms of fascism and intolerance in general?

What forms of alternative living can we and do we want to strengthen respectively create? This concerns our ways of consume, of mobility but also actual forms of communication like open source programs and that we may not forget to have fun in dealing with politics and political change.

As a continuing format of everyday-events they presented documentaries with further discussions. The films treated themes like migration and refugees, everyday live in today’s multicultural Belgium, and European demarcation.

On Saturday members of the cabinet held some forums to talk and discuss about what actual political course is to be expected and interrelations with politicians of the councils.

 Not just politics

The Centre Nature de Borzée offered a wide range of activities to experience the surrounding nature and the ecological projects they render: walks to witness comestible wild plants and mushrooms, to show the richness of biodiversity, they organized Nordic-walking and an excursion to discover a nearby prehistoric Celtic village.

Last but not least a lot of events took place to enjoy the evenings, meeting people and relax, like family focused entertainment, music and theater spectacles as far as dancing classes.

All in all it was an interesting, informative summer-university offering the opportunity to meet other activists, to get new insights and a wide range of themes on regional, national and international politics and personal life were presented.