The importance of your vote-What Europe do you want?

CHOOSE WHO'S IN CHARGE 

Within the next few weeks the Europeans will have the possibility to choose their next representatives in the the European Parliament. These are the people that will represent us for the next 5 years, they will be able to influence the course of our lives and will take decisions in our behalf. We have the opportunity to have a say to who we want representing our interests, and we must not waste that opportunity, we owe it to us, to our society and to our children,  

I'm certainly not writing nothing new, or nothing that I have nor heard repeated over and over in the social media but the importance of each one of our votes is crucial for the future of Europe and our future. We have to decide what kind of Europe do we want. There are plenty of comments attacking the level of democracy in the EU but on the other hand the European elections get some of the highest rates of abstention. It is in your hands and when you choose not to vote, you are choosing not to participate.

I want a democratic, more united and integrated Europe, I want freedom to move, invest and trade wherever I want, I want a Europe that protect my civil liberties and protect my right to be who I want to be.   

Do you want to return to the old Europe of old nationalisms and suspicions then by all means vote one of these populist parties that are springing all throughout Europe, you just need to pick the one on your nation: they are out there, wrapped as protectors of the "good old values" (whatever that is!!), but don't be surprised when they drop the mask and reveal the true face of extremism. 

It is natural to fear change, it is only human, these parties appeal is to that sentiment of confusion on a world that is increasingly changing by promising they can keep it all as it is, but the truth is that they can't and ultimately they don't want to. Supporters of extremism parties can shout all they want, but ultimately theirs is a message of hate, of discrimination and fear, and fear divides, creates suspicion. Let me ask you: is this the world you want? If your answer is yes, then nothing I can say to you will change your mind but if your answer is no, them let your voice be heard out loud, by voting. Change is a natural part of life, it happens whenever we want it or not, by voting we are choosing what type of change do we want, and influencing the change that happens, by abstaining you choose to accept the change.

I agree that the European Union needs changes and I have an idea about the path those changes should take, that Idea might be different of the one that you have, but if you want to have your idea discussed in Europe, you need to vote, you need to participate. 

Joao Da Costa

@costajoaoda