<div>Hi Malcolm</div>
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<div>Thanks for themessage about Devolve! PIease do keep me posted. A lot of thinking and discussion has gone on at CRD about local structures. which would/could presumbly be relevant to spring event you mention aswell as TT. Also, is it the same initiative or related to this sent from George Morran? </div>
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<div>Also, I'd be interested to put it all in context of constitution but also international element ie EU of the regions, radical localism at neighbourhood level. See* below. </div>
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<div>Looking forward to hearing back.</div>
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<div>Mark</div>
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<div>"Could be interested.The Campaign for the English Regions. is about establishing democratic government based on the English Regions.This includes<br> <br>Downsizing and refocusing Westminster and Whitehall on UK business<br>
<br>Transferring as much Power and Representation from London to the English Regions and very local govt.<br> <br>Voting Reform<br> <br>Localising Economic and Political activity<br> <br>If this connects with what you have in mind please let me know<br>
<br>George Morran<br> <br>Secretary CFER<br>Vice Chair Localisation West Midlands"<br><br>2009/11/9 Malcolm Currie <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:dmc@globallylocal.net">dmc@globallylocal.net</a>></span><br></div>
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<div style="WORD-WRAP: break-word">I think I mentioned Woody Wood and "Devolve!", who are holding a low key consultation on 28th of this month.
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<div>There is a larger scale event planned by Devolve! with the West Mercia group - i.e. those still promoting the idea of the old major regions which once made up the ancient kingdoms of Britain. </div>
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<div>I'm not clear about the latter, but certainly the event planned for Spring may be of interest to you, as it aims to tackle issues around local democratic structures.</div>
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<div>I'll ask Woody to copy you in on that one, as the dates may clash.</div>
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<div>Malcolm</div></font></div></blockquote>
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<div>* The EU state is being born, like it or not. How will the polity shape its destiny?</div>
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<div>Whether your local area starts by campaigning for a collectively owned democratic run street market, or a social centre, or full autonomy over the licensing of shops, or about decisions relating to use of empty houses, or other forms of shelter/land access in the area, self-build or whatever, the important thing is to recognise that first steps towards full human autonomy in the EU or elsewhere lie down this path, and not some reactionary kneejerk nationalism. Especially not in this time, when the challenges we face need more joined up inter - national co-operation, whether at the EU level or worldwide, and, crucially, at the same time, RADICAL LOCALISM. <br>
<br>At both levels, this is about equality, inclusion and consensus. Equality, inclusion and consensus between nations, rich and poor at the transnational level, and between individuals, rich and poor loccally. That is where progressive politics lies, for national leaders forging new systems of global governance to deal with climate, poverty and economic disparity and for local activists and others instigating real democracy cellls in each and every neighbourhood to ensure real power is with ordinary folk, one day everywehere. <br>
<br>EU citizens looking to get their teeth into something would do well to remember the Zapatistas; localities democratically controlled by the people who live and work there and Local Agenda 21 and their politics should have that at the heart of their purposes. The people of Europe as elewhere should have sovereign powers, they cannot tell other communities what to do, but would operate under a universal constitution that applies to all world communities which, while not in any way infringing on the communities freedom to produce their own culture, at the same time would guarantee fundamental civil rights such as inclusivity, equality, non-sectarianism, compassion to all life forms and a commitment to solidarity to all other neighbourhood struggling to express their democratic identity on the same terms. That is what we should be dedicating our energies to as grassroots activists..<br>
<br>The EU project presents us with special possibilities and duties to workl together so I would like to invite LSF members to put on some events 2010 in the context of our search for a really universal, yet at the same time authentically European (yet also global) nationhood / identity and then take the ideas to ESF in Turkey in June. We need to fight together for the right to build the new society in the ashes of the old one,beyond state and market; a programme for a space in which real democracy can grow. <br>
<br>Here are a couple of good articles in the mainstream UK press about EU / need for new constitution / UK and universal issues of freedom, that may be of relevance <br><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6906694.ece">http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6906694.ece</a><br>
<a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6905283.ece">http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6905283.ece</a><br> <br>IN a nutshell: people of Europe let's pls stop skirting the issue of local sovereignty!<br>
<br>Mark</div>
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<div>On 4 Nov 2009, at 17:26, Mark Barrett wrote:</div><br>
<blockquote type="cite"> PS in addition to what is set out below, some of us are also planning an event in feb march about community democracy, the third sector and transformation of our culture with a view to creating a union for localism countrywide so if you know people or groups who might like to be involved / co-sponsor pls let me know (eg TT Midlands etc)<br>
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<div class="gmail_quote">2009/11/4 Mark Barrett <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:marknbarrett@googlemail.com" target="_blank">marknbarrett@googlemail.com</a>></span><br>
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<div>Hi again Malcolm</div>
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<div>Following our conversation last week on line, do you know Karen Leach (see below) ? And any other TT / localise activists in the area?</div>
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<div>Best wishes</div>
<div>Mark<font color="#888888"><br></font></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Karen Leach</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:karen@localisewestmidlands.org.uk" target="_blank">karen@localisewestmidlands.org.uk</a>></span><br>
Date: 2009/11/4<br>Subject: Re: crd strategy<br>To: Mark Barrett <<a href="mailto:marknbarrett@googlemail.com" target="_blank">marknbarrett@googlemail.com</a>><br><br><br>
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<div><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="2">Just to do you the courtesy of replying - belatedly - it sounds excellent to me but I simply don't have time to get involved in anything let alone initiating anything in my area/region. If someone else did I'd be more than happy to promote it locally.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="2">Karen</font></div></font>
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<div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial"><b>From:</b> <a title="marknbarrett@googlemail.com" href="mailto:marknbarrett@googlemail.com" target="_blank">Mark Barrett</a> </div></div>
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<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org" href="mailto:campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org" target="_blank">campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org</a> ; <a title="project2012@googlegroups.com" href="mailto:project2012@googlegroups.com" target="_blank">project2012@googlegroups.com</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 26, 2009 1:37 PM</div></div>
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<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> crd strategy</div>
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<div>Having met with local colleagues yesterday, I want to draw together some of what has emerged from picnics, meetings and discussions on lists and elsewhere. Do people agree with the tenor of this? If so, I will draw up a brief leaflet including these points for distribution. </div>
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<div>The short/medium term aims of CRD are to : </div>
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<div>(1) link different individuals and groups working at the local level around the concept of real democracy</div>
<div>(2) promote real democracy as equality via horizontal, inclusive consensus-decision making, in groups & starting at the neighbourhood level</div>
<div>(3) encourage groups to connect for an alternative, democratic society locally, nationally and internationally</div>
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<div>The strategy (so far identified) to make this happen is to offer advice / support / encouragement / materials to individuals and groups to start CRD cells in local boroughs, wards, neighbourhoods (here and ideally also abroad). </div>
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<div>Presumably by: </div>
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<div>(1) connecting with like-minds in local area, whether by advertising for a new group or via already organised groups such as Transition Towns, NO2ID, LA21, Community Development Network, Housing Co-ops, Residents/Tenants Associations, anti-tescos campaigns or other</div>
<div>(2) focusing on council run meetings operating at the smallest (ie ward or, as in my case three ward) level and developing the group as a strategic challenge to the non-democratic structure of the council run meetings </div>
<div>(3) local independent meetings as CRD/ CRD aligned groups</div>
<div>(4) considering in the medium term the possibility of decentralised simultaneous actions - eg militant picnics at town halls - to raise awareness, recruit and get positive media coverage..</div>
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<div>And at the London/wider level we also have the possibilities of :</div>
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<div>(1) taking up the offer of a regular monthly CRD slot at the Peace not War sessions at Dalston's Passing Clouds, as a way of sharing info, spreading campaign literature and connecting with the wider public</div>
<div>(2) developing regular CRD meetings and strategic partnerships (with members of the 21st Century Network (<a href="http://www.meetup.com/21stcenturynetwork" target="_blank">www.meetup.com/21stcenturynetwork</a> see for example meeting on Dec 2nd ), the Community Sector Coalition <a href="http://www.communitysectorcoalition.org.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.communitysectorcoalition.org.uk/</a> Peace not War <a href="http://www.peace.fm/" target="_blank">www.peace.fm</a> and possibly others such as NCIA, Transition Towns, Climate Camp and others. </div>
<div>(3) using the web / live streaming / other tech possibilities for meetings </div>
<div>(4) more picnics! </div>
<div>(5) connecting with other groups nationally and internationally on line to see if they would like to join forces under the same banner </div>
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<div>What do people think? good, bad, indifferent? are people up for doing it / getting involved? any other ideas? </div>
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<div>Mark </div></div></div></blockquote></div></div> </div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>"We hear men speaking for us of new laws strong and sweet /Yet is there no man speaketh as we speak in the street.” <br>
</blockquote></div><br></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>"We hear men speaking for us of new laws strong and sweet /Yet is there no man speaketh as we speak in the street.” <br>