Painting a banner for the action in Copenhagen.
LET’S PUT EUROPEAN TRAINS BACK ON TRACK!
WHY ARE YOU TAKING ACTION FOR THE TRAINS?
Easy, comfortable and safe. Trains are also the greenest way to travel in Europe. But several night trains have been cut back or stopped completely in the last months and years. It’s becoming impossible to travel in Europe by train and many jobs are threatened in the rail sector.
HOW TO TAKE PART IN THE CAMPAIGN TO STOP THE CUTS, DEVELOP THE TRAINS
* Look if there already is an action being planned in your region. If yes, get in touch with the organizer. The action will be better if you join the preparations.
* If you want to make an action in your city, read on to know how to start.
- Get together
Get together with some friends and start planning. It’s better to start with a few people now rather than waiting until other groups join. You need only 3-5 people to act, and if your plan is good more people will join in the end.
- Brainstorm an idea
DON’T FORGET to be CREATIVE and CLEAR about the message you want to give and how you send it. Banners and songs are very useful to make it visible.
THINK ABOUT the picture you will take of the action. Can it speak by itself? Do you think people will be willing to share it? If yes, you’re ready!
>> See the first four ideas to actions! Other ideas can be added as you wish.
- Fix the date and the time (and make it public)
Depending on: your group availability, the likeliness to get media to come to your action, the business of the train station, the light or darkness you want to see on your pictures…
Give an earlier time to the volunteers than to the media so you’re ready when the latter arrive.
- Declare your action (or don’t)
But be aware of your rights and responsibilities. It is usually not illegal to sing or give out leaflets outside a train station or at a platform, but you should stop if the police asks you to. You can also ask for permission, but there is a risk that train companies will say no.
- Recruit more people
Contact the labour organisation from the rail sector, transport users and environmental groups – they all care about the future of trains!
Your friends, colleagues and family could also join. After all, who has never taken the train?
Make posters and flyers to spread the word around your city before the day of the action!
Don’t forget to make a Facebook event to make the buzz!
- Invite the media
Tell them about your action, the European campaign and petition and why you’re taking action.
- More important, make your own media:
As soon as you have fixed the date and place, share it with the relevant people.
Bring a photo camera (and a photographer) and upload the pictures or videos with the hashtag #NightTrainDreams
Be creative and please tell us your action ideas so we can spread them to others.
Good luck!
PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING IN FRONT OF THE TRAIN STATION IN PARIS IN DECEMBER 2014
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Great idea! I’m in for an event in Copenhagen!