Pulse of Europe rally in Bonn (Photo: Sandra Prüfer)
B as BONN, BEETHOVEN, BRITAIN, BEATLES…
Let’s be the Pulse of Europe!
 
Hundreds of people will gather again this Sunday afternoon in front of Bonn’s Old City Hall to show support and raise their voice for a peaceful, democratic and united Europe.
Such pro-European “Pulse of Europe” rallies will take place in more than 130 cities in Germany and across the continent to send out positive energy for Europe and our world climate.
The volunteer-run movement, which started at the beginning of the year in reaction to Brexit and the election of Donald Trump, encourages citizens to speak out publicly in favor of a pan-European identity. Last month “Pulse of Europe” changed to a new rhythm: Until September the demonstrations no longer take place weekly, but every first Sunday of the month.
The multicultural band BonnAfrica will perform again during the one-hour long rally in Bonn. The band, whose members are from Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Sri Lanka and the youngest of German-Belizean decent, not only reflects Bonn’s internationality, but also the EU “united in diversity” motto. As usual, the event will close with a sing-along of the European anthem (Ode to the Joy).

During the open mic time people are invited to give brief (3-minute) statements about their vision for Europe and share their personal stories.
 
Photo: Pulse of Europe Bonn

As a highlight, participants will form this time together a big human B while singing the Beatles song “Hello, Good-Bye”. Pulse of Europe crowds in other German cities will do the same with different letters. Putting all letters together, this will read: “We don’t know why you say goodbye, we say hello!“

British voters will go to the polls on June 8 for a general election that will decide which governing party will negotiate the Brexit. It comes almost a year after the referendum in which the British people narrowly voted to leave the European Union.
Pulse of Europe organizers are convinced that the majority of people in Europe believe in the fundamental idea of the EU and its reformability and development and does not want to sacrifice it to nationalist tendencies.
In the wake of Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and lead up to the national elections in Great Britain and Germany in late September, organizers are calling on citizens to become louder and more visible,  so that “the European pulse can be felt everywhere.”

On Thursday, leaders of Germany, France and Italy criticized Trump’s decision to pull out of the UN climate pact. “We are firmly convinced that the agreement cannot be renegotiated,” they wrote in a joint statement.

The European Commission also regretted the unilateral decision and pledged continued “global leadership” on climate change. Miguel Arias Canete, EU commissioner for climate action and energy, said in a statement: “The world can continue to count on Europe for global leadership in the fight against climate change.”  Trump’s action, he twittered “galvanised us rather than weakened us.”

On climate, the EU is united far more than on any other issue.

The Bonn-headquartered UN climate secretariat (UNFCCC) also issued a statement on the US decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement . UNFCCC says that the agreement “remains a historic treaty signed by 195 Parties and ratified by 146 countries plus the European Union. Therefore it cannot be renegotiated based on the request of a single Party.”

“Pulse of Europe” aims to gather as many people as possible, who stand for Europe, the Paris Agreement and support pro-European forces.

WHAT: Pulse of Europe Bonn
WHEN: June 4,  2 – 3 pm
WHERE: Bonn Markplatz – in front of the Old City Hall
WHO: Bonners of all ages and nationalities

More about the pro-European movement and its basic principles can be found on the Pulse of Europe website.
 

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