The EDC Action Days (Aktionstage Politische Bildung) are an annual, series of events throughout Austria co-ordinated by the Zentrum polis. Between World Book Day (23/04) and Europe Day (09/05) Austria’s educational institutions focus on topics such as politics, democracy, human rights, globalisation, Europe etc.
Each year something in the region of 100 events, projects and activities are carried out. Many of these are specially developed for teachers and school-students, many however are aimed at a broader public.
Activities planned by schools interested in the activity days include organising round-table discussions with politicians that are open to the public or presenting their own projects.
www.aktionstage.politische-bildung.at
The Action Days for Democratic Citizenship Education 2010
Education for sustainable development: For new ways out of poverty and social exclusion
In Austria, the Action Days for Democratic Citizenship Education 2010, which are again scheduled for the period from 23 April to 9 May, will centre on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010) and the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).
Eradicating poverty is the principal prerequisite for sustainable development, which is aimed at safeguarding the quality of life of the current generation without jeopardising the prospects of the next generation to shape its future.
The fact that almost 80 million Europeans are living below the poverty line is incompatible with the EU principles of solidarity and social justice. Hence, the main concern of the EU Year 2010 will be to make headway towards eradicating poverty. The achievement of this aim is conditional on the commitment of all socio-political groups. The Action Days for Democratic Citizenship Education are aimed at helping to raise awareness and to step up sensitisation in this field of education. They lend visibility to education for democratic citizenship and are intended to encourage as many schools and civil-society actors as possible to become involved.
Austrian website:
EU website:
