Verband - Jusos München

Attersee DeclArAtion
iUsY WorlD FestivAl 2011
We will never forget. We are all AUF activists.
The recent attack on young socialists atthe AUF-summer
camp in Utøya has deeply shocked us. It is very
hard for us to face the brutality of this act against
our comrades; we mourn our dead and share the
suffering of those who are wounded. Utøya was not
only an attack on Norway and its open society, but
also an attack on socialism and social democracy.
The violence was directed against our ideas and our
principles. It was an attack on our deep commitment
to social equality, social justice, democracy and the
pluralist concept of solving political differences in
a non-violent way. According to investigations, the
attack on AUF was the act of a single individual.
Nevertheless, we should be aware that there is an
ideology of hatred standing behind this massacre.
The aggressor’s political convictions did not appear
from nowhere, but were gained through his engagement
in right-wing extremist, racist and anti-Islamic
networks and organizations.
Social inequalities, injustices, and unemployment
– especially amongst young people – are growing.
When combined with an increasingly pessimistic view
amongst the masses of what the future holds in store
for them, this prepares the ground for the acceptance
of right-wing populist, racist and authoritarian political
practices. The financial and economical crisis
has only intensified the class struggle throughout the
world. Austerity programmes have further worsened
the social situation. More than ever the world is divided
into rich and poor. A tiny elite has profited enormously
from the crisis by accumulating even more
wealth and privileges. We should get rid of a system
that makes only a few people rich while it impoverishes
the masses. We should get rid of a system that
concentrates wealth and power in the hands of men
instead of promoting gender equality. We should get
rid of a system that seeks to maximize short-term profits
instead of tackling climate change.
People, not profit – tax the rich!
Our fight against these tendencies therefore has to
start by properly confronting the social and economic
problems that our societies are facing while also proposing
adequate solutions. We must strengthen the
public sphere against those who insist on privatizing
common goods.
The greatest effects of the present crisis have hit the
most vulnerable parts of society. Young people, women,
migrants, and minorities as well as poor and
homeless people are suffering the most. These injustices
will remain in place so long as the global
economy is not democratized and organized along
environmentally sustainable grounds. The costs of
the crisis should be paid by those who caused the
crisis in the first place. Therefore, our demand is the
redistribution of the global wealth and our rallying
cry is “Tax the Rich!”.
Bruno Kreisky: “Flooding society with Democracy”
This year’s IUSY World Festival has taken place in
Bruno Kreisky’s home country of Austria and reflects
his successful vision of a more equal and just society.
Full employment, prosperity for the masses, the
democratization of all parts of society and fighting
poverty were at the centre of his political activities.
Kreisky was a committed internationalist who worked
tirelessly for international peace and solidarity. He
strengthened international cooperation and fought
for political and social rights worldwide – as he was
convinced that equality can only be implemented on
a global level.
the main task for us in the future is to carry out
this socialist vision.
We will not forget our fallen comrades in Utøya.
We will continue to walk without fear.
We will work together to create a better world.
long live the international.
Verband
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