Toma nota.../Take note...

Direct democracy is one of the mechanisms of participatory democracy, through the ability to draft and present legislative initiatives, the calling of plebiscites and referendums, community or town meetings allowing citizens to participate in decision makings and other means of active participation in government decisions.

The Forum on Modern Direct Democracy calls to celebrate online meetings via Zoom

• The proceeding of this Forum will take place from 21 – 30 September 2020 on Zoom.

September 10 (DP.net).– The world's largest gathering devoted to issues of direct democracy and citizens' participation, this year will take place in cyberspace. Some of the main topics to be discussed are:

1: Swiss Direct Democracy in Practice

Switzerland is not only the host of the 2021 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, it is also one of the most advanced direct democracies in the world. How does it work in practice? What can we learn from the Swiss example? What can Switzerland learn from the rest of the world?

2: Climate, Sustainability and Direct Democracy

The Climate Crisis is one of the greatest challenges we collectively face today. Around the world, people have taken to the streets to demand swift action, but in many countries governments have failed to follow suit. How can citizens use direct democracy tools to call for and even enforce stronger action to save our climate and to protect our environment?

3: Future of Democracy

According to the spokesmen of the US Democratic Party, on social issues, the Party's Platform advocates campaign finance reform, LGBTQ rights, planned parenthood & abortion rights, criminal justice and immigration reform, stricter gun laws, and the legalization of marijuana. They argue that the Democratic Party emphasizes egalitarianism, social equality, protecting the environment, and strengthening the social safety net through "progressive" liberalism. In addition, it promotes easy voting procedures and protocols with minimum identification controls.

An insight of the Democratic Party Political Platform  

Washington DC, Sept. 3 (DP.net).– Early in July, the Democratic nominee Joe Biden joined Sen. Bernie Sanders to release their party's Political Platform, approved without dicussion during the Convention early in August. This Platform was drafted by a task force addressing climate change, criminal justice, the economy, education, health care and immigration. The Task Force had been created late in the Spring after Sanders suspended his campaign, effectively making Biden the nominee.

During the Convention, the plan was called "Progressive Unity Platform" ("progressive" being an euphemism for "socialist"). Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was included in that process, while Sen. Elizabeth Warren emerged as a key policy adviser who talks regularly with Biden. However, Sen. Sanders made clear that the final document was not everything progressives had hoped for, but it "provides less ammunition for President Donald Trump". The "progressive" wing of the Democratic Party failed to get the Presidential nomination for Sanders –a socialist Senator of Vermont– who they consider represents the energy –and quite possibly, the future– of the party. Biden, meanwhile, said it was a "bold, transformative platform for our Party and for our country." And he added: "I am deeply grateful to Senator Sanders for working together to unite our Democratic Party, and deliver real, lasting change for generations to come”.

A judge ordered Hillary Clinton to testify at a deposition for a lawsuit related to her use of a private email server for involving official business while working as secretary of State under President Barack Obama. She was ordered to answer questions from lawyers for the conservative advocacy group Judicial Watch. However, the judge barred Judicial Watch’s lawyers from questioning Clinton and her former chief of staff at State, Cheryl Mills, about the preparation of talking points for then-United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice’s Sept. 16, 2012, media appearances. However, on June 2, attorneys for Clinton and Mills attended a telehearing with the D.C. Circuit. Judges heard arguments regarding a petition to reverse Lamberth's March 2 ruling that Clinton and Mills be required to give in-person depositions to Judicial Watch. No ruling was made on the petition. Judicial Watch attorney Ramona Cotca argued that by proceeding with the depositions, Clinton and Mills might help clarify where the State Department can broaden its search. The latest news below are a new episode in this political drama.

Susan Rice Admits Under Oath She Emailed with Hillary Clinton on Clinton’s Non-Government Email System and Received Emails Related to Government Business on Her Own Personal Email Account

• Said she ‘does not recall’ who gave her key Benghazi Talking Points she used on TV, ‘does not recall’ being in any meetings regarding Benghazi in five days following attack, and ‘does not recall’ communicating with anyone in Clinton’s office about Benghazi Talking Points.

Washington DC, Aug.6.– former Obama National Security Advisor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, admitted in written responses given under oath that she emailed with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Clinton’s non-government email account and that she received emails related to government business on her own personal email account. Rice’s 2019 sworn written answers are available here.

The State Department objected to all questions, instructions and definitions posed to Rice in Judicial Watch’s court-ordered deposition as she “does not recall” almost everything else, including conversations with Clinton.

Drop in quarterly gross domestic product comes as 1.43m people file for unemployment benefits, a second week of increases, amid Covid-19 pandemic. Compared to 2008 recession, US GDP shrank 8.4%."

Jul.30.– The US economy shrank by an annual rate of 32.9% between April and June, its sharpest contraction since the second world war, government figures revealed on Thursday, as more signs emerged of the coronavirus pandemic’s heavy toll on the country’s economy.

The record-setting quarterly fall in economic growth compared to the same time last year came as another 1.43 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, a second week of rises after a four-month decline.

El Observatorio Internacional de la Democracia Participativa (OIDP) es una red internacional abierta a todas las ciudades, organizaciones y centros de investigación con interés en conocer, intercambiar y aplicar experiencias sobre democracia participativa en el ámbito local. Sus objetivos son: Ser el centro de referencia a nivel mundial en el ámbito de la democracia participativa.

• Crear sinergias entre ciudades, organizaciones y centros de investigación para que reflexionen sobre la calidad democrática a nivel global.
• Producir y mejorar el conocimiento existente en el campo de la democracia participativa local.
• Intercambiar experiencias sobre innovaciones democráticas entre todas las regiones del mundo.
• Recomendar políticas a las administraciones públicas del mundo, preferentemente locales.

Ponencia magistral del coordinador del Observaorio Internaional de la Democracia Participativa en un foro sobre los retos de la participación ciudadana

 El Foro Internacional sobre los retos de la participación ciudadana fue organizado por el IECM.

Ciudad de México, Jul.24.– Los días 29 y 30 de junio de 2020 el Instituto Electoral de la Ciudad de México (IECM) organizó un Foro Internacional virtual: "Retos de la participación ciudadana, en esquemas innovadores y ante contextos extraordinario"

Ante la emergencia sanitaria mundial actual, derivada de la pandemia por el COVID-19, el sistema democrático local, nacional e internacional debe ser rediseñado para que la ciudadanía tenga acceso a los procesos políticos y de toma de decisiones, a efecto de garantizar su derecho humano fundamental a votar y ser votada, y con ello evitar poner en riesgo los sistemas democráticos, producto del aplazamiento y cancelación de comicios a causa de la pandemia, como se ha advertido en diversas naciones, señaló el Consejero del Instituto Electoral de la Ciudad de México (IECM) Bernardo Valle Monroy.