Idea-raising campaign: "Tools for promoting equal treatment and respect for diversity"

Hate and discrimination can only be defeated by people like you and me, willing to promote tolerance and equal treatment. In a society characterized by racism, discrimination and social exclusion, even the apathy encourages these negative phenomena. If you are already an active person promoting tolerance within your-self, in your family, at school, at your work place or within your community, APDR needs your help! Send us your ideas for projects, campaigns or concrete actions for promoting tolerance in Romania. Don't try to find comprehensive solution. The best ideas or examples are those coming from your experience, that already work and that suit your community better.

We are expecting your ideas and proposals for the promotion of tolerance in Romania at e-mail apdr@apdr.ro or by phone at 40+722822499 or 40+742345659. We will include the best ideas together with the names of their authors in our brochure „Tools for a more tolerant Romania" and on our web-site www.apdr.ro

Here are a few ideas:

1. Make people that use derogatory language towards certain ethnic or social groups feel that this is always unacceptable.

2. Imagine how your life would look like if you were to be of another race, gender or sexual orientation. In what ways would reality seem different?

3. Find out more about your family's history. Exchange with others information about your ancestors.

4. Create a list with all the prejudgments - both positive and negative - about a certain group. Are these prejudgments influencing your actions? If yes, in what ways?

5. Think about how other people perceive you. Make a list of characteristics compatible with tolerance (ex. open-mindedness, compassion, curiosity). Make a list with the characteristics incompatible with tolerance (ex. jealousy, infatuation).

6. Go to a theatric performance, listen to the music or go to a dance performance of artists whose race or ethnicity is different from yours.

7. Volunteer at a local NGO offering social services.

8. Take part in the religious services of several churches, temples and mosques in order to learn more about other religions.

9. Ask a person of a different ethnicity to teach you how to dance a traditional dance or how to cook a traditional meal.

10. Learn the sign language.

We live in the same country

For all the differences among us we have one country. Being tolerant means accepting the differences and enjoying the co-habitation with those different from your-self. Read and apply the „Declaration of tolerance" and you will become a more balanced and happier person.

Declaration of tolerance:

Tolerance is a personal decision that comes from the belief that every person has a value in its self. I consider that Romania's diversity is also its strength. Also I recognize that ignorance and extremism can turn this diversity into a source of pre-judgments and discrimination. In order to help preserve diversity as a source of strength and to make Romania a better place for all of us, I promise to respect all people whose abilities, beliefs, race, sexual identities or other characteristics are different from mine. To fulfill this engagement, I promise to:

• Examine my pre-judgments and to try to overcome them;
• Become a positive example for my family, friends, community;
• Protest against discrimination, hate and injustice.

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