INVITATION TO ALL ENCOD MEMBERS

Encod is a network of activists. We can only obtain our goals when working together and uniting our forces and voices.

On the General Assembly of Encod that was held on 19 to 21 June in Barcelona it was decided to establish a number of working groups in order to increase the involvement of Encod members. Every member who is willing to actively contribute to the work plan of the organisation is invited to take part in these working groups.

The general work plan of Encod for 2009-2010 has been decided upon by the General Assembly. The Steering Committee (consisting of Fredrick Polak, Marisa Felicissimo, Jorge Roque and Pedro Quesada) is responsible for the implementation of this work plan. The practical coordination will be in the hands of the secretariat, staffed by the co-ordinator (Joep Oomen).

In the coming weeks, three working groups will be created: on Information, Lobby and Action.

We would like to invite you to become a member of one or more of these working groups.

If you become a member you will be subscribed to a mailing list that will be created for this working group, which are called

information at encod.org for the Working Group on Information

lobby at encod.org for the Working Group on Lobby

action at encod.org for the Working Group on Action

The working language of these lists is English, though translation of the most important messages can be provided in Spanish and evt. other languages as well.

The tasks of these working groups are the following:

1. Information (moderated by Marisa and Jorge)

 maintain the encod.org website and facebook page (news from different countries, statements, video reports, etc.)

 production of a new flyer

 production of discussion papers on several issues (first issue: therapeutic use of illicit drugs)

 other tasks that are related to the sector of information.

People who inscribe for this working group are supposed to be able to write, edit and translate texts. They will work directly on the website and receive a short course on how to do this.

2. Lobby (moderated by Marisa and Fredrick)

 contribute to the formulation and implementation of a lobby campaign towards European MPs and MEPs on the need to create a political debate on the direction of drug policies

 support the formulation of Encods messages to the EU (among others the presence in the yearly meetings of the Civil Society Forum), the UN (presence at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna)

 contribute to the elaboration of lobby tools (instruction film on how drug policy works) and training courses on drug policy activism (possibly a "Summer University" in 2010)

People who inscribe for this working group are supposed to be able to read policy documents and analyse them, formulate responses in simple language etc.

3. Action (moderated by Jorge and Pedro)

 organise public events around drug policy reform (such as the yearly protest actions outside the UN building in Vienna during the days of the CND)

 organise Encod stands on festivals or other events where we can spread our message, eventually combined with a fundraising strategy (low level entry membership) or a facility to test drugs.

 any other public action that might appear

We would like to start the work in these groups as soon as possible. Therefore, we ask you to respond to us if you wish to be involved, so we can inscribe you to the mailing list.

If you wish to become a member to one or more of these working groups, fill out the following form and send it to office at encod.org

Name:
 Organisation:
 Email adress: