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gan 'The Netherlands are now in colour'. Festivals against racism took part throughout Germany, as well as in Luxembourg. In Sweden business leaders and students took initiatives, including a seminars for representatives of industry and for representatives of the Swedish student movement. Other similar actions took place in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Lithuania, Spain, Greece, Slovenia and France.
The date of 21 March was chosen for the Week of Action against Racism in view of the decision of the United Nations in 1967 to designate it as the 'International Day for Racial Tolerance'. The date commemorates the tragic events which took place in Sharpeville, South Africa, where troops of the Apartheid government fired into a crowd and killed sixty-nine black people who were peacefully demonstrating against the imposition of internal passports.
In the summer of 1995, six specially-hired 'youth trains' crossed Europe as part of the European Youth Campaign's 'all different-all equal' campaign, bringing hundreds of young people to Strasbourg for International European Youth Week. A full programme of educational and cultural activities was organized in each train and public happenings - concerts, public debates, street theatre, etc. - greeted the trains as they stopped to pick up more participants.
The Youth Campaign has included a wide variety of media initiatives seeking to use every possible creative, original and striking method possible to combat intolerance. For example, the biggest music fair in Europe, 'Popkorn', which takes place in Cologne, Germany, was held under the logo 'all equal - all different' with information stands, a special venue of anti-racism videos, and a stage with performances by musical groups who contributed to a compact disc recording dedicated to anti-racism.
Faced with the war in ex-Yugoslavia, the Council of
Europe launched a programme in 1993 to mobilize people in cities throughout Europe to establish 'local democracy embassies' in agreement with local authorities in areas of the former Yugoslavia. These 'embassies' are staffed by permanent employees sent by the participating cities across Europe to encourage the democratic process through inter municipal confidence-building measures.
Following a decision by its Vienna Summit of 1993 the Council of Europe moved to sponsor a series of pilot projects in the civil society to increase tolerance and understanding among peoples. Among the projects which have been initiated are: an intercultural centre in Timisoara, Romania; an independent bilingual (Italian/Croatian) radio station in Rijeka, Croatia; a project - named 'SPOLU' - to improve inter ethnic relations and living conditions for the Roma peoples of the Czech Republic and Slovakia; and a project of co operation in the Carpathian region which would ultimately include local or regional authorities in Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Although NATO was established and continues to be primarily a military and political force, since the end of the Cold War, it has begun to develop a 'Third Dimension' which contributes to a culture of peace. The NATO Science Programme is a major component of this Third Dimension.
Disarmament technology is the first of its five priority areas. It seeks solutions to scientific questions arising from the disarmament of nuclear, biological, chemical and conventional weapons as well as efforts to prevent proliferation of these weapons. The aim is to examine science and technology which can facilitate their dismantlement, destruction and conversion in an effective and environmentally sound manner.
The Campaign 'all different all equal' stresses that people need to get involved in doing things so that they make a difference: 'Anything from an educational discussion to an entertainment event can help to raise awareness.'
Disarming nuclear weapons and converting their radioactive material to fuel for nuclear power plants - this is one of the challenges now addressed by NATO's 'third dimension' which makes use of science and technology for disarmament, economic conversion and protection of the environment.