Fore ease of finding the present proposal the text is kept on top. This text is based on input from the Strasbourg meeting. Feel free to read through the discussion in the earlier topic (“First part of discussion”) , for example my thoughts about who it is for. Comment on this text and present amendments and alternatives below.
According to what was suggested in the meeting I have tried to include the wishes put forward. (I have comments on the process there but I leave them out here),
The two first paragraphs is a rewritten version of the asked for “small version” of the presentation of where we came from, who we are, including an explanation of the name, the biggest hurdle for new people to even listen to us (according to at least the experience of Stockholm pirates.).
The third paragraph is an effort to present more of our general values, something that was asked for at the meeting.
The following is basically the existing preamble, (as asked for) dealing with the Pirates and the EU. Trying to minimize EU lingo within it and somewhat connecting it to the first paragraphs.
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You may want to check out the text on the EU and the sharing culture in the earlier draft (not included in the final text) also, it can be found under this text. What do you think about that perspective?
This is a version from 20th of june 2023:
A movement for the third millenium/21st century (alternative)
The pirate parties constitute a movement from the 21:st century, for the 21st century. As pirates, we are children of the internet, a new virtual room where most people spend big parts of their time today. The internet rests on a new culture of creativity, knowledge and sharing, without involvement of money. It contains sharing of advanced computer programs for all needs, and those programs have made possible a creative globalisation for people. Money comes into the picture as we pay for the equipment and to reach the net, and today many traditional commercial activities are also present, trying to adapt to the expectations of free sharing with free versions, free trials, financing by advertisements or donations, adding free value etc.
All the way the sharing culture has been facing challenges from legislation regarding copyright and state-sponsored mass surveillance aimed at detecting criminal behaviour. The older political parties and powerful entertainment companies see the free sharing culture mostly as a threat. The establishment’s opponents to the new sharing culture called the free sharing “piracy”, a concept used for illegal copying of goods. As promotors of the sharing culture organised themselves as parties, they somewhat provocatively called themselves the Pirate Parties, as a symbol of freedom and independence.
As a new movement from and for the third millennium the Pirates also open up new perspectives for democracy and deal naturally with modern problems that the established parties often fail to handle. The digitalisation of functions in society has vast possibilities, but it is often applied thoughtlessly, depending on a lack of mutual understandings of involved people. The pirates want to promote a development of the great potentialities of the Internet and digitalisation in general with insight and care, while finding solutions to the downsides. The domination of big tech companies should be reduced. The rapid development of AI must be set in a context that benefits the whole society. We want to see a free, fair and sustainable society, embracing protection of all fundamental human rights, integrity, dignity, the rule of law, justice, non-discrimination, democratization, political transparency and promote a responsible self empowerment in all areas. [The latter is used in Sweden, what do you think?] .
The pirates and the EU [this part is based on the former preamble]
The imperfect democracy within the European Union has existed since its formation and has not been sufficiently addressed in the course of its integration process.
An important goal of all Pirates is to build a solid democratic foundation for the Union. In order to achieve that goal it is crucial to ensure that political processes are more understandable, transparent and accountable, and allowing for participation and influence from citizens.
The EU has ideas of making decisions on appropriate levels. Decisions should not be taken at EU level if they can be better resolved at national, regional or local level. (called subsidiarity). This has to be followed. Decisions at the European level need to be preceded by Europe-wide debate in the nations.
The EU tends to see the Internet primarily as a new commercial market, the digital market, overlooking the potential of the basic free culture of knowledge and sharing. A wider view on culture than that within the present treaties has to be implemented.
Pirates strongly believe that all people must have the right to fair and equal treatment, including living with dignity in a fair economy. It is essential that society respects the rights of minorities. We will stand against discrimination of any kind and oppose movements and institutions that act against Human Rights.
The Internet and its new culture as a medium of communication and free exchange offers tremendous opportunities for political development, overcoming top-down, one-way communication. Pirates will therefore defend the freedom of the Internet with fierce determination at European level as well as on a global scale. There are now around 50 Pirate Parties established across the world, among them 18 in the common organisation in Europe. This is their common program for the EU-elections 2024 and beyond.