European Youth For Action

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

European Youth For Action (EYFA) is one of the two largest campaigning environmental youth networks in Europe.

EYFA grew from a tour that was initiated by Swedish/German/Dutch group in 1986 to save the old forests in Europe: then named European Youth Forest Action. From these 'routes', it developed into a European 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.

EYFA's environmentalist perspective is characterized by a grassroots orientation and by considering that most environmental problems are also a question of social and economic (in)justice. EYFA works to challenge the mainstream economic system and promotes socially and environmentally sound ways of living.

EYFA's annually organizes the Ecotopia gathering, which is a gathering and training camp of environmental and political organizers from across Europe. The first Ecotopia was in Cologne, Germany in 1989 (Cologne).

EYFA receives funding from various organizations including the EU to organize it's projects and events.

EYFA developed the Ecorates system as an alternative currency system which promotes economic fairness over the European national boarders. EcoRates are not based on the simple currency exchange rates, but rather on a hypothetical basket of goods, designed to permit especially people from less affluent eastern European countries to participate at events in the west.

[edit] EYFA Events

Belarusian Social Forum, Minsk, Belarus, 15-20 May 2007
Moja tvoja ne ponimaj/Mine don’t understand yours, Berlin, Germany, 7-11 June 2006
Art and Activism Caravan, Summer 2006
NO CULTURE WITHOUT SUBCULTURE, Minsk, Belarus
Ecotopia - Annual gathering
Media and Xenophobia