AN INCLUSIVE AND SAFE PLACE FOR EVERYONE

Times are changing, the social debate is rapidly polarising and more and more groups are becoming radically opposed to one another. Language appears to be one of the most powerful forms of respective inclusion and exclusion. New Metropolis strives to facilitate a safe place of meeting where everyone feels safe and heard without jeopardising the culture of open conversation. With this Code of Conduct we provide program makers, moderators, partner organisations and participants with the necessary tools to navigate through the many social areas of tension. Where certain expertise or experience may be lacking, we offer knowledge and support. Precisely by framing manners and forms of addressing one another, an environment is created where one can speak freely and openly because certain tensions are removed, everyone present experiences respect and recognition, mutual understanding is created and the vocality of disadvantaged people grows.

With this Code of Conduct we aim to bring about a cultural change and to set a new standard for how the social dialogue can be conducted in a constructive, equal and inclusive manner.

  • Moving forward, New Metropolis will refer to its visitors as participants. Everyone present is a desired participant in the conversation and a necessary participant in shaping and building a sustainable and inclusive city.
  • At New Metropolis everyone is recognised, greeted and addressed. There is no greeting or mention of “ladies and gentlemen” as this completely excludes the presence of non-binary and/or gender queer persons. Alternatives: ‘Hello dear people’, ‘Welcome dear people’ or: ‘Good evening, dear participants’.
  • Identity is not expertise. Experts and people with experiences are two different things. Example: do not make someone a professional trans person and do not make a Moroccan Dutch person a mouthpiece on behalf of the entire community. Acknowledge people’s qualifications and professions.
  • Freedom of expression is about issues, not about individuals, and should never come at the expense of human rights. Ergo: people are not attacked ad hominem and the existence of certain groups and/or persons is not disputed. Some sensitivity is required. What is an interesting philosophical issue for one person is a (hard-won) daily reality for another. Example: gender-free toilets are a topic of discussion, the existence of non-binary/trans people is not.
  • In New Metropolis a person is who he/she/they says they are, not what others make of it. No discussion is allowed about self-proclaimed identities such as skin colour, gender, religion, origin, sexual preference or otherwise. In addition, one’s own identification is not dismissed as an experience, feeling or perception, but as a recognised state of being.
  • Everyone is treated and addressed as an equal and respected person. No diminutives or reductionist terms about groups and/or individuals are tolerated.
  • All participants are consistently referred to by their first name or last name. It does not contain any gender division, age discrimination or other inequality.
  • The gender of participants is not considered to be known in advance. Ask guests beforehand for their preferred personal pronoun and form of address and refer to audience participants as “that person” or ask them to identify themselves by their name and personal pronoun.
  • As with point #5, persons with any illness and/or physical or cognitive challenge indicate how they identify. Avoid ableism: expressions and words referring to such challenges.
  • Use of the n-word is out of the question when no explanation can be given about the origin and evolution of the controversial word, in order to provide more context. If necessary and functional, reference to ’the n-word’ as such is sufficient.
  • New Metropolis contributes to the decolonisation of language: ‘white’ not ‘caucasian’; ‘Black’ not ‘dark’; ‘double-blood’ or ‘multi-blood’ not ‘half-blood’; and ‘bicultural’ not ‘immigrant’. A Dutch person is anyone with Dutch nationality, not everyone with a white skin color. People with dual nationality are introduced with both nationalities if desired (and requested) and population groups are referred to with both nationalities: ‘Chinese-Dutch’ and not: ‘Chinese’ and ‘Turkish-Dutch’ and not: ‘Turks’.
  • There is no profanity or name calling at the table. This keeps the conversation substantive, safe, polite and respectful to everyone.
  • Do not generalise or make assumptions for the public. Examples: “Of course I am preaching to the choir here.” “We all agree here, of course.” “I don’t need to tell you that…” “We are of course all…
  • Avoid technical jargon and specialist terminology without context or explanation.
  • Participants in the MBO education are legally called students, not pupils.
  • New Metropolis respects every person and does not speak about groups of people in terms of natural phenomena. Examples: ‘streams of migrants’, ’tsunamis of refugees’.
  • Population groups are never prefixed with a swear word and ethnicity, gender and/or sexual preferences are never an adjective.
  • At New Metropolis we are aware that language is not static and communication is a product of mutual interaction in which we never stop learning. We are open to feedback, correction for possible blind spots and new insights.

 

 

Aankomende programma’s
New Metropolis Nieuw-West
Natuurwandeling door het Sloterpark
Een natuurwandeling langs de noordoever van de Sloterplas.
Morgen, 10.00
Reserveer
Het Groene Filmfestival 1
Land voor het leven @ Stadsboerderij Osdorp
Een initiatief van De Groene Stelling: Hoe ziet de toekomst eruit met regeneratieve landbouw? In gesprek over stad en platteland bij Stadsboerderij Osdorp.
ma 2 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
Boekpresentatie & nagesprek
Captured Futures
Het is tijd om toe te geven dat de milieupolitiek zoals we die kennen niet zal leveren. Welke rol moeten we spelen om de toekomst te herschrijven?
di 3 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
It's All Graphic 13
Reshaping language from distinct perspectives
An evening on the conditions surrounding typographic reproduction through lenses of otherness.
di 3 jun, 20.00
Reserveer
Het Groene Filmfestival 2
Onder het maaiveld @ Bijlmerbios
Een initiatief van De Groene Stelling: Wat leeft er onder onze voeten? In gesprek over bodem, stad en natuur bij de Bijlmerbios.
wo 4 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
VPRO Meet Up 255
De Duitse Trump: draaiboek van een populist
Wanneer gaat een politieke partij de grens over en moeten we het hebben over een partijverbod? Welke lessen kunnen we trekken uit de debatten in Duitsland?
wo 4 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
Act Like a Commoner: Commons in Action in Amsterdam
Think Like a Commoner
In crisis times, can commons offer alternatives? Join David Bollier and Amsterdam initiatives to explore turning commons thinking into practice.
wo 4 jun, 20.00
Reserveer
Doevendansen met Nieuw-West 15
Het Sociale DNA van Nieuw-West
Gesprek tussen stadsdeelbestuurder Sandra Doevendans, experts en bewoners over thema’s die spelen in Nieuw-West. Samen met Lyongo Juliana.
do 5 jun, 19.00
Reserveer
Het Groene Filmfestival 3
Holy Shit @ Landgoed Rorik
Een initiatief van De Groene Stelling: Kunnen we met onze poep de planeet redden? In gesprek over kringlopen en taboes bij Landgoed Rorik.
do 5 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
Jong Amsterdam x Diaspora Dialogen 14
Radj: On Roots & Rooting
In gesprek met Hindostaans-Surinaamse makers over diaspora, thuis-zijn, erfgoed en de kracht van het herclaimen van je eigen geschiedenis.
do 5 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
Vrij Nederland 4
Schaduwmacht
De Avond van Vrij Nederland staat in het teken van lobbyclub, integriteit en schaduwmacht. Hoe werkt de democratie in Nederland?
do 5 jun, 20.00
Reserveer
Kringwijs presenteert: training voor buurtbewoners 1
Iemand Erbij
Leer hoe je het best kunt handelen in een crisissituatie met uiteenlopende problematiek.
vr 6 jun, 09.30
Special
What Design Can Do Live
Designing for climate, justice and belonging.
vr 6 jun, 13.00
Koop kaarten
Between the Sun, Wind and Waves 7
Changá
A celebration of Caribbean spirit, where dominoes, rhythm, and community come together.
vr 6 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
PdZ x Omroep Zwart x Bettina Brunt
De Afhaalchinees: Thuisbezorgd
Kan je als geadopteerde eigenlijk ooit echt nog worden thuisbezorgd? Een nagesprek met documentairemaker Kelly-Qian van Binsbergen en adoptie-experts.
vr 6 jun, 19.30
Volgeboekt
Het Groene Filmfestival 4
Onder het maaiveld @ Anna Haen
Een initiatief van De Groene Stelling: Hoe maken we de bodem weer levend? In gesprek over landbouw en leefomgeving bij Anna Haen.
di 10 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
GLUE presents 4
Alternatives from the Unexpected
What does it take to change a system? GLUE in conversation with Rosa Smits, Lamiae El Hajjaji, Jeffrey Heiligers, Kristel Anna Frich and Denise Admiraal from Arthood Collective
di 10 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
Architectenweb X PDZ
Avond met de Zwarte hond
Architectenbureau De Zwarte Hond neemt je mee door zijn geschiedenis en deelt zijn visie op de toekomst.
di 10 jun, 20.00
Reserveer
Documentary screening and panel discussion
The Last Accord: War, Apocalypse, and Peace in Aceh
Join us in Amsterdam for the screening of The Last Accord, a tale of conflict, resilience, and reconciliation.
di 10 jun, 20.00
Reserveer
Het Groene Filmfestival 5
VPRO Tegenlicht Meet Up ‘Waterlanders’ @ De Sering
Een initiatief van De Groene Stelling: Hoe gaan we om met onzekerheid over zeespiegelstijging? In gesprek over steigend water, zakkende bodems, polders en dijken bij De Sering.
wo 11 jun, 20.00
Reserveer
In de spotlight