#citizensassemblies — Public Fediverse posts

One to watch: New Zealand’s Opportunity Party

https://assemblyproject.blog/2026/08/15/one-to-watch/

Coda:

"... unless the citizens assembly concept is endowed with veto powers over the actions of the Executive and/or of elected local councils – and that’s unlikely – it would amount to little more than am exhausting PR exercise, given that there would not be a meaningful devolution of power."

#GordonCampbell, 2026

https://werewolf.co.nz/2026/07/gordon-campbell-on-nationals-rejection-of-opportunity/

True. To be more than performative, Parliaments must convert citizens' recommendations into legislation they're obliged to pass.

#CitizensAssemblies

But does this apparent lack of internal democracy tell us anything diagnostic about the influence Opportunity would have on government? I don't think so.

Particularly after they launched a policy proposing citizens' assemblies, specifically to stop contentious issues being political footballs for self-serving politicians, and parties focused more on the next election than the long term wellbeing of the country;

https://auckland.scoop.co.nz/2025/06/top-will-convene-citizens-assemblies-to-end-political-gridlock/

(18/?)

#CitizensVoice #CitizensAssemblies #democracy

billionaires imploding economies
#economy #billionaires #ai #tech
“concern that expected wild rises in prices in AI stocks is likely to cause a stampede, so much money into ever fewer billionaires, that US and world economy at risk of implosion”
Let’s have a citizens’ assembly on data centres.
#australia #democracy #citizensassemblies
https://youtu.be/Gq4v_TRb2eU

billionaires imploding economies
#economy #billionaires #ai #tech
“concern that expected wild rises in prices in AI stocks is likely to cause a stampede, so much money into ever fewer billionaires, that US and world economy at risk of implosion”
Let’s have a citizens’ assembly on data centres.
#australia #democracy #citizensassemblies
https://youtu.be/Gq4v_TRb2eU

Deliberative #Democracy in #Africa: #DemocracyNext Paper Launch Event, 12 March ,15:00 - 16:30 MEZ online. Learning from past #CitizensAssemblies and guidance for future action" by Rorisang Lekalake and Stephen Buchanan-Clarke. #PublicParticipation #DeliberativeDemocracy #Facilitation https://luma.com/zwivuf6f

#CitizensAssemblies: strengthening democracy and participation

" #Earth4All advocates for citizens’ assemblies as a way of restoring public trust and participation in politics and creating safe spaces for dialogue around polarising issues.

We are calling for citizens’ assemblies on economic systems change so that we, the people, get a say in the kind of economic system we want.

What is a citizens’ assembly?

Citizens’ assemblies are designed to allow for a public debate outside of political parties. A randomly-selected group of citizens representing the full diversity of society are invited to participate in a process to explore an issue and formulate recommendations to government or parliaments. Often, independent experts are brought in to discuss problems and potential solutions.

We are living in a time of social and political polarisation. Social tensions are on the rise, bolstered by skyrocketing #inequality, and #democracy is increasingly at risk. Just 39% percent of people trust their governments to make good decisions. We urgently need to rebuild trust in our political systems.

On the other hand, we know that around the world, people want economic systems change. Holding citizens’ assemblies on this topic would open up space for exploring the kind of change we want, building trust and understanding between different groups, and co-creating a common agenda for the greater good.

In the 2024 Earth for All survey, 62% of people surveyed supported the use of citizens' assemblies to increase citizens’ influence in political decision-making.

What are some examples of citizens’ assemblies?

Citizens’ assemblies have already been used successfully to navigate politically contentious issues in highly polarised democracies. Prominent examples include:

- The Irish citizens’ assembly on abortion. The assembly is credited with helping Irish society navigate a deeply polarising issue. It led to a referendum and eventually a change in law.
- The Canadian Citizens’ Assembly on Democratic Expression, a three-year initiative to look at impact of digital technologies on society.
- France’s Convention Citoyenne Pour le Climat, the climate citizens’ assembly and a similar UK Climate Assembly.
- The Global Citizens’ Assembly for People and Planet was launched at New York Climate Week in 2024 and aims to bring citizen participation to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil."

Source:
https://earth4all.life/resources/citizens-assemblies/

#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity
#BuildingResilience #NoKings
#NoRulers #AddressingInequality #PowerCorrupts #PowerToThePeople

"... my hypothesis is that as Citizens’ Assemblies become more widely known, as we have more examples where people know that, OK, this is worth my time because I know the government is going to do something, that will also have an impact on response rates. We're still really early in the wider historical sense of this democratic innovation."

#ClaudiaChwalisz, CEO, Democracy Next, 2025

https://www.ppfideas.com/episodes/fixing-democracy%3A-citizens%E2%80%99-assemblies

#podcasts #PastPresentFuture #FixingDemocracy #CitizensAssemblies

NZ has Citizens Initiated Referenda, but they hardly ever get used and even when they are, the results just get ignored by governments. Maybe Citizens Initiated Assemblies would be more functional?

If enough citizens signed a petition on a question, the government would be obliged to commission a citizens' assemblies on it. Unlike a CIR, the legislation could require carefully specifying the question, and make the outcome binding on the government.

#PolicyNZ #CIR #CitizensAssemblies

'Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Citizens’ Assemblies: Benefits, Concerns and Future Pathways' - a University of Westminster Press article on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 https://www.scienceopen.com/document?vid=9e0c7e9d-9c94-4b4c-8ab7-df518d20b9ff

🖇️ #ArtificialIntelligence #CitizensAssemblies #DeliberativeDemocracy #DemocraticInnovation

(1/?)

@nicktaylor
> Mini Citizens Assemblies... ie: simply people meeting up IRL to talk

This sounds brilliant, and good on Hallum for somehow organising it while imprisoned! How can we support something like this happening in Aotearoa? Especially in the smaller cities and the regions, where it's even harder to connect with in-person political activity.

#CitizensAssemblies

Are #CitizensAssemblies been commissioned more by the left or the right? A paper by Rodrigo Ramis-Moyano, Graham Smith, Ernesto Ganuza, and Thamy Pogrebinschi in the Journal of #DeliberativeDemocracy brings clarity: both are equal #Bürgerrat #Participation https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claudiachwalisz_deliberativedemocracy-citizensassemblies-activity-7325912328724484098-9JK_

Any political parties in Aotearoa developing a detailed policy on using binding Citizen's Assemblies, to evaluate evidence and produce nonpartisan policy on polarising issues that require government action? If they can work anywhere, they can work here.

#CitizensAssemblies #PolicyNZ

🧩 Reassembling democracy: a key piece to solve the puzzle.

Permanent citizens' assemblies offer a transformative approach to revitalizing democracy by regularly bringing citizens together, not just once, but consistently. They provide a powerful solution to the democratic crisis, fitting pieces of participation, governance, and citizen empowerment seamlessly together.

Join us at the upcoming Permanent Assemblies Workshop, where you'll explore how to institutionalize and sustain these assemblies. Gain critical insights into securing political and administrative support, embedding deliberative practices into governance, and achieving robust participant engagement.

📅 May 8 - 9
📍 Brussels
🆓 Specifically designed for public administrations and governments advancing towards permanent citizens' assemblies.

Come reassemble democracy with us, piece by piece, for lasting impact.

✍ Secure your spot today: https://www.fide.eu/permanent-assemblies#workshop

#PermanentAssemblies #Democracy #CitizensAssemblies

🆕 We are thrilled to share how we can learn —together— to renew our democracies!

This documentary showcases our global efforts to build a future where citizens shape decisions—across continents and cultures. True democratic renewal demands more than participation—it requires equipping a new generation of leaders, professionals, and public servants with the skills to design and facilitate these democratic innovations effectively.

Over the last few years, we have built a community of practice around Citizens' Assemblies. Watch the video to learn more, and join us!

📽️ Full video ▶ https://youtu.be/75DF18GRV_A?si=dcoSKi3ovtDwmvnH

📢 Subtitles available in English and Spanish (more languages coming soon)!

Let's spread the word about the power of deliberation!

#DeliberativeDemocracy #CitizensAssemblies #DemocraticInnovation #CivicEngagement

#CitizensAssemblies could do wonders for Britain but only if they’re used properly

We know #citizens assemblies always make better decisions than politicians. They're not seeking reelection or lobbying victims

CAs are:

Groups of people selected by lottery like jury service

Demographically representative

Build consensus

Inform of policy nuances avoiding resistance, #misinformation

Build solidarity between people, giving citizens a stake #democracy

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/16/citizens-assemblies-labour-britain

#CitizensAssemblies could work wonders for #Labour and #Britain – but only if they’re more than a talking shop

In #France and #Ireland, assemblies are laboratories of #democracy. They can be here too, if politicians commit to adopting their ideas
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/16/citizens-assemblies-labour-britain

📌 SAVE THE DATE

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with deliberativa.org to host the upcoming Autumn School on Citizens' Assemblies in Barcelona on October 17-18, 2024.

Join us for a transformative training opportunity where local and international experts will guide you through the fundamentals of Citizens' Assemblies. Over two days, we will cover every step of the design and implementation process through interactive formats and insights from experts across Europe.

The Autumn School is part of the Expanded Forum on Deliberation, Creativity, and Democracy (Foro Expandido sobre Deliberación, Creatividad y Democracia) taking place during the same week, with more exciting events soon to be announced. This is an initiative by local actors promoting citizen participation and deliberative democracy in Spain and Portugal.

We look forward to seeing you in Barcelona this autumn!

#DeliberativeDemocracy #CitizensAssemblies #ClimateAssemblies #SpringSchool #DemocraticInnovation

Reasons to support environmental defenders and citizens’ assemblies
Democracies depend on citizen engagement

“States must address the root causes of mobilisation” not the mobilisation itself. Indeed, tackling protesters and not oil producers is the democratic equivalent of rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic."
>>
https://theconversation.com/three-reasons-to-support-environmental-defenders-227742

The repression and criminalisation of environmental protests
State repression of environmental protest and civil disobedience: a major threat to human rights and democracy. Position Paper by Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, 2024
>>
https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/UNSR_EnvDefenders_Aarhus_Position_Paper_Civil_Disobedience_EN.pdf

Public Participation
The Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on PRTRs empower people with the rights to access information, participate in decision-making in environmental matters and to seek justice. They are the only legally binding global instruments on environmental democracy.
>>
https://unece.org/environmental-policy-1/public-participation

Re-imagining the Making of Climate Law and Policy in Citizens’ Assemblies
>>
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/transnational-environmental-law/article/reimagining-the-making-of-climate-law-and-policy-in-citizens-assemblies/A591CF2EBFF3E60CF2BC4FE3655503E3
#activism #protests #HumanRights #PublicParticipation #democracy #governance #ethics #ClimateBreakdown #BiodiversityCrisis #Nature #AarhusConvention #rights #climate #CitizensAssemblies #CivilDisobedience

🗨 ''There is a lot of deliberation happening around, especially in Europe. But there aren’t enough opportunities to learn from each other’s experiences."

Participants from 19 different countries joined us last year in Milan for the first Spring School on Climate Citizens' Assemblies. Learn about the school and other participants' perspectives on this chronicle from the Green European Journal ▶️ https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/climate-citizens-assemblies-spring-to-life-in-europe/

🚨Last week to register for the 2024 Spring School in Budapest 🔜 https://www.fide.eu/spring-school-2024

#DeliberativeSchools #DemocraticInnovation #CitizensAssemblies #DeliberativeDemocracy

🌷Meet our speakers for Spring School on Climate Citizens’ Assemblies 2024.

After the introductory sessions, Kelly McBride from TPXimpact | B Corp™ will explore the power and implications of the mandate given to Citizens' Assemblies.

Kelly has contributed to organizing deliberative processes, including the Citizens' Assembly of Scotland and Scotland's Climate Assembly. The Scotland Climate Change Act of 2019 led to the creation of a Citizens’ Assembly to advise on Scottish Climate policy.

👣Starting with Kelly's session, every step of the Spring School programme is an assembly building block.

Come envision and exercise the implementation of your deliberative process.

Register here👉 https://lnkd.in/dGDtPzF8

#DeliberativeSchools #DemocraticInnovation #CitizensAssemblies #DeliberativeDemocracy

In partnership with KNOCA - Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies, European Climate Foundation & DemNet Hungary (Foundation for Development of Democratic Rights)

Across Mastodon there's considerable interest in Citizens' Assemblies, so here's a new report from the Institute of Government, setting out clearly what they are and how they work.

If this is an idea whose time has (finally) come, then we need to be clear about what they entail & the political commitments required to both bring them about & make them work.

Its not rocket science but neither will it be easy, even if its worth it

#citizensassemblies #democracy #politics

https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/citizens-assemblies

👉 Democracy needs young people!

The effects of current decisions on long-term challenges will mainly affect those in society who have little to no voice in policy-making. Nonetheless, they are the most engaged generation in the fight for climate justice and mental health.

Learn how youth assemblies can offer a space to engage and leverage their viewpoints to shape public decisions with:

🗨 Katie Reid designed and facilitated a child participation process for Scotland’s Climate Assembly and the Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss in Ireland.

💬 Che Wagner is the Programme Lead «Participation» at Pro Futuris Think + Do Tank and Co-Project manager of the «Future Council U24».

✒ Moderated by Dr. Nabila Abbas

Register to join us on March 26 ▶ https://lnkd.in/dzZerx9d

#YouthParticipation #Democracy #CitizensAssemblies

Citizens' Assemblies offer genuine democratic potential but are feared and resisted by elites, including within the #LabourParty, who only seek to co-opt them for superficial legitimacy.

True empowerment can only come from #grassroots movements establishing assemblies independently, leading to a fundamental shift in governance towards a sortition-based system.

#UK #citizensassemblies
https://znetwork.org/znetarticle/labours-u-turn-on-citizens-assemblies-shows-they-fear-the-people/

What is a Citizens’ Assembly? – Electoral Reform Society – ERS
https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/what-is-a-citizens-assembly/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ers-email&utm_campaign=blog-roundup&utm_content=ERS+News:+24+Feb+2024+B

#CitizensAssemblies