uk.environment

soupdragon wrote:
>> More about Swiss governance here
>> http://www.iniref.org/swissdemocracy.html
>>
>
> Nothing there about the Swiss's less than glorious record regarding
> womens sufferage. I wonder why? Anthying to do with the 'Citizens/Men-
> Only Initiative' in the 1959 that ensured they were kept out of the
> democratic process by overturning the Swiss Parliaments decision in
> 1958? As the previous poster mentioned, it took a Federal Court ruling
> to force the change in 1991 after a citizens/men-only initiative rejected
> it at canton level the previous year.
>
> Citizens Initiative = Majority tyrrany. The rights of minorities must be
> enshrined in and protected by a written constitution befor a citizens
> initiative can be put in place.
>

This thread is about the following:
"In contrast to the way things are in the countries of the United
Kingdom, in post-WW2 Germany the citizens of cities and regions (states
of the federation) have effective tools of participation in politics
beyond voting for candidates every few years.

A recent case is Leipzig. The city government had begun to sell off
publicly owned services such as electricity supply and had worked out a
deal with a a large company. A citizens' initiative put forward a
proposal to block the sale (and similar sales) for at least three years.
After success of the "initiative", requiring some thousands of
endorsements, a referendum was compulsory. This was held in January 2008
and with an overwhelming majority and respectable turnout "the motion
was carried".

Now the city council will be forced to prepare a new plan for the city
finances.

More information:
Leipziger gegen Verkauf ihrer Stadtwerke an Gaz de France
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i6_9iPoxkPTszeO7yK4UUIhrHNzA

Leipziger Haushaltsplan muss nach Bürgerentscheid überarbeitet werden
http://leipzig-seiten.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1736&Itemid=42
UNQUOTE

The point made by the previous poster has often been dealt with in these
groups. If s/he wishes to discuss a different topic then s/he may
start another thread.

I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
http://www.iniref.org/