California's meltdown has been so all-consuming that it's been awhile since this blog checked in on direct democratic goings-on overseas. So here goes.

IRISH VIEWS SHIFT ON LISBON: The Irish voted down the Lisbon Treaty -- the de facto new constitution for the European Union last year. Now a new poll -- in advance of a likely fall vote on the treaty -- shows growing support in Ireland for the treaty. What's changed? The country's once-strong economy has collapsed.

TAIWANESE REFERENDUM ON CHINA TRADE PACT: The pro-independence opposition in Taiwan announced it would collect signatures for a referendum on a new trade pact signed by the government with China.

NIGER PLEBISCITE: The leader of that African country, a producer of uranium, has dismissed the Parliament and is organizing a referendum on whether to change the constitution to permit him to serve a third term. 

IRAQI REFERENDUM: The 2009 referendum most important to Americans may take place in Iraq.   Sunni parties won a commitment for a public referendum by July 30, 2009 on the new security agreement between the U.S. and the Baghdad government. That agreement calls for full American withdrawal by the end of 2011. A vote by the Iraqi people to reject the agreement could lead to an even earlier withdrawal by the U.S.

POLL: UKRAINIANS WANT VOTE ON NATO MEMBERSHIP: Some 80 percent support a vote on whether to join NATO. The poll is less clear on what Ukrainians would do if they had such a vote.

 GREENLAND INDEPENDENCE: The world's biggest island votes for more independence from Denmark.

BULLYING THE IRISH: It looks like the Irish, who turned down the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, are going to be forced to vote again.

French president, and new EU president, Nicolas Sarkozy has announced a timetable for moving forward with the Lisbon Treaty, a new reform plan for the European Union that Ireland -- the only country to permit its citizens to vote on ratification -- rejected last month. There weren't many details, but from what Sarko said last week, he won't change the treaty and seems to be counting on bullying the Irish into changing their minds. Sarko is traveling to Ireland next week to begin the arm-twisting. Memo to the people of Ireland: French diplomacy is on the way. Brace yourselves. 

On a related note, the Irish Times has an interesting piece raising the question of whether a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty was really necessary under Ireland's constitutional. The notion that such a vote was a constitutional requirement has been reported over and over -- including on this blog -- as fact. But the argument of this new piece is that the treaty doesn't have an impact on Irish sovereignty and thus didn't need to be submitted to the people.

We Irish so often are.... This column from the Guardian makes a good point. By attacking the irish vote against the Lisbon Treaty and so quickly demanding a new referendum, European Unoin leaders probably have hardended Irish attitudes against the treaty, which represents a backdoor way to impose a new constitution in Europe. A better approach would be to respond to Irish concerns, amend the treaty, and then, humbly, try again.

While Europe watches nervously. Here's an informative Q&A from the Guardian explaining the details.

Today is the day of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the backdoor new constitution -- though it can't be called a new constitution because that would require too many other public votes -- being adopted by the EU. There are 27 countries that signed the treaty. But only in Ireland do the people get to vote on it. So the Irish have outsized power today -- they are the voice of the people of Europe. If they vote the treaty down, they can scuttle the whole thing.

The political leadership of the country supports the treaty. But nationalists think it infringes on sovereignty. And Irish farmers, one of the few industries that the EU hasn't benefited, are leading the charge against it. Polls suggest the treaty is in trouble--the final results are likely to be close.

A referendum on ratifying the Lisbon Treaty had been leading handily, but support is collapsing in the final days before the June 12 vote. The Irish vote is critical to the future of Europe. ireland is the only one of the 27 signatories to the treaty, which establishes new rules to govern the EU, permitting its citizens to vote directly. If Ireland votes it down, the entire treaty likely would be a dead letter.

ANTI ABORTION BAN MAY BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL: South Dakota's attorney general suggests that if approved by voters, a November ballot initiative to ban abortion in almost all cases there could face a legal challenge. Such challenges are common, and often are successful. In California, nearly half of all inititiatves passed by voters since World War II have been invalidated at least in part by the courts. (Hat tip: ballotpedia).

DENVER COUNCIL DOESN'T WANT INITIATIVE REVIEW: In California and other initiative states, there is often talk of giving legislative bodies more of a role in reviewing initiatives before they go on the ballot. In Denver, however, the city council, which has such power, doesn't want the headache anymore. Perhaps this has something to do with the extraterrestial commission.

PROBLEMS FOR UTAH BAN ON LAND USE REFERENDA: Is Utah ban on land use referenda and initiatives constitutional? The state's attorney general thinks not.

ADDICTED TO INITIATIVES? An Oregon activist with a love of initiatives is found in contempt of court for using assets to pay for campaigns that a judge says should have gone to a fraud judgment.

IRISH REFERENDUM CLOSER: A new poll shows the Irish referendum on the new Lisbon Treaty (a backdoor new constitution for the European Union) tightening. Yes 41, No 33. Ireland is the only one of 27 EU countries permitting its voters to ratify the treaty. If the Irish say no, the entire treaty could unravel. What's important about the changes to blockbuster democracy followers? The treaty would provide for a European, trans-national referendum, the first in recorded history.

ONLY INSANE READ IRISH REFERENDUM: In related news, an Irish minister is getting some criticism for saying publicly that only the insane would read the entire treaty, a long document. Insane may be a strong word, but "rare" works. It's rare for anyone voting on a referendum anywhere to read the entire legislation or treaty before voting.

MACEDONIAN RENAME REFERENDUM? The country's prime minister thinks that voters should decide whether to change the country's name. Macedonian apparently implies some ownership by Greece.

LISBON TREATY GAINS IN IRELAND: Polling shows the Lisbon Treaty (the backdoor new constitution EU) gaining support in Ireland, the only country that is allowing its citizens to ratify the pact. (In other countries, parliaments will do it). The referendum in Ireland is June 12.

SICK JOKE OF THE WEEK: Myanmar's ruling junta claims there was a huge turnout in Saturday's referenda.

BACKFIRING IN BOLIVIA: Could a referendum on Bolivian president Evo Morales give him a boost?

URANIUM REFERENDUM IN CANADA: Conservatives in the province of New Brunswick want a referendum on uranium exploration there. The conservatives, who are in opposition, want a moratorium. 

A WORLD DEMOCRACY FORUM: Bruno Kaufmann of the Initiative & Referendum Institute Europe contacted me recently with an update on his efforts to convene people from all over the world to talk about and study direct democracy. Bruno is working hard to establish a World Democracy Forum that includes tours, workshops, panels and other events. Watch this blog for more details as they become available. It looks like there may be events in Switzerland and the United States this fall.

KIRKUK REFERENDUM? The Economist takes a look at what might happen in the Iraqi province of Kirkuk if a promised June referendum takes place. Direct democracy is a blunt instrument, and a referendum could lead to more violence.

NOTHING TO SEE HERE: The European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso was in Dublin this week to reassure the Irish that the new Lisbon Treaty will not cost them control over tax rates. Ireland is the only EU country holding a public referendum on the treaty. It's scheduled for June 12, and Barroso predicted the "eyes of Europe" will be on the island nation.

UKRAINE NEEDS MORE THAN A VOTE: A referendum is not enough to change the Ukraine constitution, according to the head of its constitutional court.