








We live in globally connected societies, where ‘nation’ is loosing relevance, but nationalisms are uprising in different ways. Due to international cooperation, the national state has no longer the last / highest authority.
‘Homogeneous’ nations do not longer exist because of the migration an a multicultural population. The social affiliation, guaranteed by the national welfare state, is threatened by consumers individualization, precariousness and growing differences between rich and poor.
Nationalism seems to give clear explanations to a complex world, an anchor to the past, a ’secure’ vision of the future and the feeling of being part of a community.
But the strong confession to a nation often corresponds to intolerance and an antidemocratic attitude.
In this learning partnership, we will discuss questions like these:
- How is nation thought in different regions of Europe ?
- Which visions of nation are needed to think society as a cosmos of diversity and to foster a common sense?
- How can we reinforce democracy and active participation in our local worlds?
Every partner organization will work via its own approach an characteristics towards a common goal. During 6 trans-national meetings, learners from different partner organizations and countries will come together for exchange of findings and questions, by using creative methods.
1.First Staff-meeting in Berlin – see Transnational meetings
2.Integration of the project in the exhibition "Article 27"
2.1. Art 27 started the rethink-project by asking a group "Italian"-Ladies to create an artwork about their live as Italian rooted & living in Belgium. As we talked about the project, their lives and the artwork, the "message" was capsulled in 6 themes.
These 6 theme became the main issues of the Rethink-project.
1. Proud to be an Italian / a Belgian ... What is a nation?
2. Diversity and Languages
3. Globalisation and sustainability
4. Identity, proud and ....
5. Religion
6. Active Citizenship ?!
2.2. Art 27 worked at the same time with some participants / artist about the theme "live story" - a questions to deal with the input we would receive from Forssa; Hugo Maex made a living livestory at the exhibition ... It changed every day ...
3.Staff-meeting in Forssa – see Transnational meetings
4.Meeting and greeting ... :
The first steps with a new group to be made according the Fibonacci criteria ... : tasks and responsabilities.
First report on "Forssa".
Questionnaires - see project Participants Belgium
5.A new year, a new start : Getting involved in the Rethink it-project
Questionnaires – see Project Participants Belgium
Proud to be a Belgian : identities …? : selection /definition of Belgian / Flemish Music and Belgian / Flemish Books
6.First transnational meeting in Forssa – see Transnational meetings
7.Rethink at the exhibition "Thirty Somethings" in Antwerp
Getting more involved in the Rethink it-project : welcome to the new participants
Questionnaires – see Project Participants Belgium
Proud to be a Belgian : identities …? : selection /definition of Belgian / Flemish Music and Belgian / Flemish Books
Active Citizenship ?! Human Rights and identities
8. Preparation of the exhibition "Jungle Europe" / "Oer(w)oud Europa"
als onderdeel van het transnationaal programma eind mei.
9.Second transnational meeting in Hasselt & Heusden-Zolder – see Transnational meetings
10.Homework to do ...
Also website reports and pictures to upload ...
11.Meeting at Geerts place : 1st of July 2009
Identity of mankind ? What can exact sciences learn us in our quest on identity and nation?
12.Website session
13.Next meeting : Thursday 2009.09.24 - Have you all done you're homework ?
Yes, we have !
Wellcome to Mieke!
We finished the program for the transnational meeting in November - different workshops will be lead by different participants.
We prepared the meeting in Alden Biesen : presentation of our project on the NA-Grundtvig happening
14.Alden Biesen : Grundtvig meeting - an organisation of Epos vzw / N. A.
Frank and Herwig did represent the "Rethink it!"-project. Not only talking, but also doing !
Some of the visitors were active participants in the "Drawing Mirror"- workshop.
Frank was interviewed by a local newspaper - see Franks blog
15.Third Transnational Meeting in Hasselt & Heusden-Zolder: 4 - 6 November 2009 :
see transnational meetings
16.Homework to do ...
Also website uploads of reports and evaluation ...
17.Presentation & discussion on the homework :
- about the transnational meeting
- me as a European citizen : selfportraits ( that needed some extra info ...)
18. Happy New Year and best wishes & a lot of inspiration ( for the project ;-) )
- Belgium in a briefcase
- Europe in a briefcase
19. "The century of Asia" - book interpretation
20. Preparing "Berlin" ...
Looking back on the "zero-meassuring": what do we know about ... ?
21. Fourth Transnational Meeting : Berlin - faces & traces
See Transnational Meetings
22. Next stop was ... at Frank's & Brigittes place :
- Exchange about the origin of men and humanity - has art something to do with it?
- The French debate on "National identity" and some replies ...
23. Karel was our host :
- Final talks about the website : this is an instrument that can be used by everyone - it can not be an obstacle for the project : use it or don't use it - it can be fun and we hope that the emails about this stop; does everyone knows how it works?
- Stereotypes about Belgium, Finland and Germany : see cartoons - having a laugh with the national proud ...

- retime it : preparing the meeting in Forssa - everyone has homework to do ...
Remember the exhibition of Artikel 27 in november 2009 ?
24. Home work to do and to take to Forssa !
25. Last Transnational meeting in "Forssa" - see Transnational meetings
26. Homework - website based report / evaluation
27. Meeting and greeting
Looking back at Forssa
Evaluation and final report to be prepared ...