Aug. '99: It's unclear when/if the conference will proceed. Contatcs: see below

Towards car-free cities II

Krakow, Poland - 20-25 October

Why is it that Eastern Europe is cutting its excellent public transport provision and building roads instead, while people buy cars they can hardly afford?

Do they want nastier air pollution?
Do they need more traffic accidents?
Perhaps they think traffic jams look cool?
Maybe the place is too quiet without all those cars?
Or is it just because they want to be like the West?

From 20-25 October, 100 people will gather in Krakow, Poland, to tackle the growth of "car culture", traffic growth, increased road building and reduced public transport throughout the East. At this multilingual conference (mostly English and Polish), participants will come from all over Europe and beyond to exchange ideas, action skills, experience and knowledge. The lessons from the West will be shared, not only its "culture" of accomodating the car but also its attempts to restrict it, and how these can be implemented in the East. The following areas will be covered:

• Media and public speaking training
• Research and information gathering
• Lobbying
• Campaign organising
• Direct action strategising and skill sharing

Although most participants will be activists, campaigners, researchers or academics, people who are simply interested in getting involved in transport issues are also welcome. All you really need to participate is a genuine concern about car-caused problems in your community, city or country. It is hoped that the conference will lead to an International Day of Action in early December, with simultaneous events in many European capitals, with a unified message against the Western imposition of car culture on the East.

Interested? Contact Green Federation for a application form (as participant numbers are limited and priority will be given to Easterners):
* Green Federation Krakow, attn: Gosia Malochleb, 31-014 Krakow, ul. Slawkowska 12; tel/fax: +12/422-2264 or 422-2147; gosia@fz.most.org.pl

If you have questions, get in touch with:
* Car Busters, 44 rue Burdeau, F-69001 Lyon, tel: +(33) 472-00-23-57; fax: +(33) 478-28-57-78; carbusters@wanadoo.fr

Updates on the conference organising are posted on the Car Busters monthly e-mail bulletin. Contact Car Busters to get on the list to receive the bulletin, or view past bulletins at www.antenna.nl/eyfa/cb. Finally, an e-mail listserve is being used for input in organising the event. To join, send a message containing "subscribe traffic" to majordomo@eyfa.org

 
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