European Youth For Action
Encyclopedia
European Youth For Action (EYFA) is an environmental youth network in Europe
. It is based in Amsterdam
and has partner organizations in 18 European countries.
in Europe, and it was then named European Youth Forest Action. From this beginning, it developed into a platform for grassroots, collectives, organizations, projects and individuals active on environmental and social justice issues all around Europe. One of EYFA's founders was Dutch activist Wam Kat
. By 1994, the group had grown to over 400 affiliates across Europe. Its early goal was to "to promote co-operation and co-ordination of youth environmentalists on an international level; to integrate issues of environment and development on a global level".
orientation and by its view that most environmental problems are also a question of social and economic injustice
. EYFA works to challenge the mainstream economic system and promotes what it sees as socially and environmentally sound ways of living.
, which is training camp of environmental and political organizers from across Europe. The first Ecotopia was in Cologne
, Germany in 1989.
to organize its projects and events. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has described EYFA as a "major group".
and proposes alternatives to reliance on cars for transportation. It publishes "energetic, information-packed" publications about the car-free movement.
The group organized anti-car demonstrations in Lyon, France
in 1997, that involved protesters and passersby "dancing in the street" to demand that car use be brought under control.
system as an alternative currency system which promotes economic fairness over the European national borders. The group says that EcoRates are not based on simple currency exchange rates, but rather on a hypothetical basket of goods, designed to permit people from less affluent eastern European countries to participate at events in the west.
in 2008, and 32 protesters from several different countries were arrested in the northern Turkish province of Sinop
.
and Friends of the Earth
to run a training camp near the Belgian-Dutch border to teach organizers how to blockade coal-fired power plants, which the groups called the "cause of the climate crisis".
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It is based in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and has partner organizations in 18 European countries.
History
EYFA grew from a tour that was initiated by Swedish/German/Dutch group in 1986 to save the old forestsAncient woodland
Ancient woodland is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer specifically to woodland that has existed continuously since 1600 or before in England and Wales . Before those dates, planting of new woodland was uncommon, so a wood present in 1600 was likely to have developed naturally...
in Europe, and it was then named European Youth Forest Action. From this beginning, it developed into a platform for grassroots, collectives, organizations, projects and individuals active on environmental and social justice issues all around Europe. One of EYFA's founders was Dutch activist Wam Kat
Wam Kat
Pieter Jan Herman Fredrik Kat is a Dutch political activist and author who now lives in Germany and serves in the city government of Belzig.-Biography:...
. By 1994, the group had grown to over 400 affiliates across Europe. Its early goal was to "to promote co-operation and co-ordination of youth environmentalists on an international level; to integrate issues of environment and development on a global level".
Structure
The group was organized as a "loose network" of youth action groups without "formal membership or membership fees" and "very basic nonbureaucratic structures". EYFA's environmentalist perspective is characterized by a grassrootsGrassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
orientation and by its view that most environmental problems are also a question of social and economic injustice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
. EYFA works to challenge the mainstream economic system and promotes what it sees as socially and environmentally sound ways of living.
Ecotopia gathering
EYFA has organized the annual Ecotopia gatheringEcotopia gathering
Ecotopia is an annual summer gathering for activists in Europe, since 1989. Typically, the event draws young environmental activists from both east and west Europe...
, which is training camp of environmental and political organizers from across Europe. The first Ecotopia was in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany in 1989.
Governmental ties
EYFA receives funding from various organizations including the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
to organize its projects and events. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has described EYFA as a "major group".
Opposition to the "car culture"
EYFA opposes the car cultureEffects of the automobile on societies
Over the course of the 20th century, the automobile rapidly developed from an expensive toy for the rich into the de facto standard for passenger transport in most developed countries. In developing countries, the effects of the automobile have lagged, but are emulating the impacts of developed...
and proposes alternatives to reliance on cars for transportation. It publishes "energetic, information-packed" publications about the car-free movement.
The group organized anti-car demonstrations in Lyon, France
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
in 1997, that involved protesters and passersby "dancing in the street" to demand that car use be brought under control.
Alternative currency
EYFA developed the EcoratesEcorates
Ecorates is an alternative currency system designed by European Youth For Action to give people with different living standards equal access to events and subscriptions....
system as an alternative currency system which promotes economic fairness over the European national borders. The group says that EcoRates are not based on simple currency exchange rates, but rather on a hypothetical basket of goods, designed to permit people from less affluent eastern European countries to participate at events in the west.
Opposition to nuclear power
EYFA participated in peaceful anti-nuclear power demonstrations in TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
in 2008, and 32 protesters from several different countries were arrested in the northern Turkish province of Sinop
Sinop Province
Sinop Province is a province of Turkey, along the Black Sea. It is located between 41 and 42 degrees North latitude and between 34 and 35 degrees East longitude. The surface area is 5,862 km², equivalent to 0.8% of Turkey's surface area. The borders total 475 km and consists of 300 km of land and...
.
Opposition to coal-fired power plants
In 2009, EYFA collaborated with Earth First!Earth First!
Earth First! is a radical environmental advocacy group that emerged in the Southwestern United States in 1979. It was co-founded on April 4th, 1980 by Dave Foreman, Mike Roselle, Howie Wolke, and less directly, Bart Koehler and Ron Kezar....
and Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
to run a training camp near the Belgian-Dutch border to teach organizers how to blockade coal-fired power plants, which the groups called the "cause of the climate crisis".