[Cja] [climate09-int] The Future of CJA ; dissolve or find a new course

[Mark Barrett]

 Hi again

Here are a few cuts (although not of the austerity variety) from some of the
comments on various threads about future strategy for Climate Justice
Action, with my italics where I strongly agree added:


> Nicholas:
>


> (1) In this presentation Tony talks about *the need for activists to start
> to work with grassroots activists such as permaculture, transition, economic
> justice and others....* I remmeber at the time, saying to Tony, hurry-up
> lets bring people to this message, but he wisely suggested folks where not
> ready to hear the message, and that they needed to have their demo's,
> political theatre, trials by fire and then they might come to understand and
> need to settle into different levels of climate justice....
>

(2) *the political economy of precarity should be the next battle*, and no
doubt for many in Europe is the daily reality

And (3) as to uniting around a cause, forget values and words, *we need
radical democracy*... take the cue from *systems change *not climate change
and return to a global justice agenda

>
> Bert: The simple question is - *can people can think of a European-wide
> project that requires a network form to implement it?* And just saying
> 'stopping climate change!' doesn't cut the mustard I'm afraid. Unless there
> is an answer to that question, *in the form of a concrete project or a
> broad political trajectory (ie. inciting communism), then there is no
> purpose* in our traveling across Europe to sit in wet fields or cold
> squats.
>

Anna: [we need to] find *a common banner to unite under at a local,
international and global level, and as Bert says 'we must begin with the
issues that are the core of our lives - housing, food, healthcare,
transport, childcare, 'education'* - *and begin a process of
strategising*how people can assume
*common control* of these fundamental life processes'. [and I would add,
work / jobs and income / welfare ]

Olivier: The most fundamental unmet challenge has always been to *use
international networking and mobilisation to build much stronger, broader
social movements locally*, here in the north. From that point of view, I
think that the decision to call for a day of action on the 12th of october -
stepping overtly away from the summit as to some degree an illusory
political target -  is  new, bold and fundamentally correct.  It is the
logical continuation of the spontaneous call for *"peoples' assemblies" that
came out of the one in Copenhagen... We have to build the local power to do
it ourselves or be able to force the changes at a more local level... the
idea of organising soviets everywhere.. How can a network like CJA help
serve this purpose? For me, the decentralised actions should be clearly
aimed at building local power, attacking local issues, although of course
making global connections*.

As some of you may know here in London we followed up the Peoples Assembly
calls in May and occupied Parliament Square in Westminster for three months
in what became dubbed (as was the case in Vancouver at University of British
Columbia in 1997 at the anti-APEC tented village that sprung up in the lead
up to the conference on campus) 'Democracy Village'. Following a post about
this on the Climate09 list a few weeks back I received an email off list,
and had positive follow up correspondence from another list member who is
interested to put another Democracy Village / Peoples Assembly outside a
national Parliament in West Africa. This got me thinking, and very
encouraged of course. In correspondence I was asked what were "the
conditions" and also how could we support. So I am now casting around
looking to do a fundraiser here for our comrades in West Africa, and the
work on Values (for, essentially radical democracy, communism or whatever we
want to call it) and began putting some of it together, hence the last post
Peoples Assemblies Movement Building which is repasted below.

So, putting all of this together, is it not possible that we in Europe who
recognise that a notable pan-European (and, definitely world wide too)
social movement for a new low impact society, with wider demands for
national and international policy changes, but also actually rooted in local
communities (and workplaces) is just what's needed, we make a declaration to
that effect which we can all adhere too, whether as CJA Europe, CJA
Worldwide, CJA West Africa or a combination of all and more. And then,
we approach local community groups (of all kinds, Transition Towns to
migrant support to permaculture to grassroots planning - basically wherever
there are signs of life) with our agreed agenda, and, well yes basically
start inciting global communism. This may sound over ambitious but I think
that if we have the network behind us, and explain the thinking (we can put
it in context of LA21 too, which is quite tame really but also Zapatista so
let's bridge that divide - that in itself is revolutionary) and that there
are activists across the continent and further afield who are adhering to
the declaration and who are talking to, supporting and garnering support for
the trasnational movement of localists, I think we will be surprised by the
credibility and leverage that gives us.

Another key factor identfied is the political economy of precarity. Here in
the UK where the new Con-Dem Coalition Gov is showing itself to be brutal
beyond even Thatcher in its desire to use 'austerity' to sort out the debt
crisis. There are already Anti-Cuts campaign groups springing up in
districts across the country and the battle for what they stand for, beyond
anti-cuts is an open question. The rest of Europe is going to follow suit
with the cuts so the possibility of a Europe wide grassroots movement in
response becomes a possibility too. If we can present ourselves as a
grassroots international network of activists committed to global revolution
(which, essentially we are, right?) but with the ideas clearly presented we
can incite through that channel and who knows where that will lead.

We should connect with Right to the City, urban Housing activists - do you
know Reclaiming Spaces also a good international list see their blog at
http://www.reclaiming-spaces.org/project/ and list serve at
http://www.reclaiming-spaces.org/project/list-serve we should explore
connections there too. Indeed we should endeavour to bring together
different groups in communities under the auspices of the Peoples Assembly
ideal, as conferences or outdoor rallies for Real Democracy or some such,
and /or do Peoples Assemblies at national parliaments, simultaneous ones and
/or at local government and other buildings. We should invade buildings and
occupy them peacefully all under the one (possibly blank) banner/placard so
that the movement becomes visible and meaningful, including all the many
campaigns but also going beyond it into a new paradigm.

And all the while we should be connected to real campaigns in communities,
protecting people from being evicted, planting trees, whatever is already
going on we should support it and move forward towards one movement for a
new, local sovereignty everywhere.

So can we use this opportunity to reassess the future of CJA and work out a
declaration and a local community focused strategy we can all adhere to so
that the world can see some real practical anti-capitalist solidarity and an
alternative be revealed?

Yes we can!

Mark
PS vis a vis slightly daft ambition I will use as an epithet "daftly
ambitious" on my gravestone, I've been looking for the right phrase for
years -  thanks for that Olivier ;-) PPS will however leave out "slightly"
as that rather dilutes the sheer scale of the daft ambition!!

Some ideas on Peoples Assemblies
A. A World to Win:
http://www.aworldtowin.net/frontline/BuildPeoplesAssemblies.html
B. Campaign for Real Democracy:

Peoples Assemblies and the world we believe they can bring about
Values:
Equality - each person is able to speak and be listened to -  there is
no elite platform
Difference - we learn from each other's perspectives; we may disagree,
but we listen to one another respectfully and our views become refined
through the experience
Solidarity - we are together because we believe in the existence of a
common agenda. In spite of our differences, we pursue and find
consensus over ideas and shared actions
Sharing - we believe in a society in which sharing and co-operation
trump competition. We freely share food and other gifts at our
meetings
Secularity and Spirituality - we respect and are happy to learn from
different belief systems
Ecology - we believe in a new, really democratic society with a very
low/zero carbon footprint
Self-determination - we struggle for a new kind of freedom based on
community nurturing true individuality, and vice versa - "It takes a
village to bring up a child"

Democratic Processes:
(1) Peoples Assemblies make decisions horizontally
(2) Peoples Assemblies are interested to learn about, try out and
embody new democratic practices
Core Aims:
(1) Real Democracy - PAs should find ways to campaign for a really
ecological, democratic society at local, national and global levels
(2) Decentralisation - to bring this about sovereignty should be
vested at the neighbourhood / community / workplace level
(3) Internationalism - PA communities link up in solidarity and
support across the world
(4) Ideals - we are interested to bring about a world based on a
Reclaimation of the Commons, Truth, Peace, Sustainability, Justice and
Compassion above all things and we are willing to fight non-violently
to this end
(5) Peoples Assembly movement - to bring these aims about we are
calling for a movement based on the idea of Peoples Assemblies
Ideology:
(1) local, democratic not private or state led provision of public
services (the real third way)
(2) really democratic, people powered globalisation not capitalist or
state-led (the real third international)
(3) a new appropriate political economy to match
C. Systemic Fiscal Reform:
http://gco2e.blogspot.com/2010/08/geoarchy-goal-of-peoples-assmeblies.html
D. Campaign for a 21st Century Constitution
http://www.peopleincommon.org/archive/C421.html

*DEMOCRATIC ECO VILLAGE
*(MANIFESTO)
The Parliament Square Democratic Eco Village was an evolving sustainable
solution to
climate change and economic collapse, based on consensus at daily
democratic meetings and inspired by the Diggers of 1649 (See
http://www.bilderberg.org/land/diggers.htm#True)On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at
11:30 AM, Mark Barrett <marknbarrett at googlemail.com> wrote:

>     Dear CJA
>>>
>>> Unfortunately I shan't be able to make the international climate meeting
>>> - which as I understand it is a CJA one? - this weekend in Holland. Anyhow,
>>> in terms of future course, this is what I was going to suggest there, if I
>>> had been able to afford the journey.
>>>
>>> I would like to suggest CJA definitely does not dissolve (well, at least,
>>> not in the sense intended) but rather takes full advantage of its amazingly
>>> diverse international reach and radicalism. Definitely we should stay
>>> together and we should develop itself strategically as a global network,
>>> but I think we should widen our appeal while also staying true to our
>>> radicalism.
>>>
>>> With this in mind I strongly believe we should be uniting under one
>>> banner that goes beyond, but includes Climate Justice. The sanctity of the
>>> environment requires a localisation of political economy, while at the same
>>> time globalisation requires a grassroots movement for democratisation /
>>> people power with which to transform the increasingly hegemonic forces of
>>> state and capitalism. We should set our sights there and put it into the
>>> environmental and wider context in one move.
>>>
>>> Therefore we should accept that the seizure, or reclaimation of power by
>>> the people in each and every neighbourhood, workplace and/or other
>>> institutions across the world is, and always has been the aim of the global
>>> justice movement, and we should therefore be brave, and purposefully put
>>> ourselves as a group on the line with that express medium to long term aim.
>>>
>>> It may seem like an impossible task but what other alternative is there,
>>> and what other network is remotely in a position to work toward that? We may
>>> seem dispersed, but we will have allies (aswell as enemies, and those who
>>> are unsure of what side to be on) in each and every community - those
>>> believing in community, people power and equality, aswell as environmental
>>> guardianship are everywhere and we need to join the dots for people to see
>>> these are all of a piece.
>>>
>>> So it may seem like an enormous and impossibly ambitious task, but just
>>> by making it clear what we stand for, and getting started on it we will be
>>> moving forward together and magical things will happen, inshallah.
>>>
>>> Therefore, we should get our politics in order (see below for some
>>> suggestions drafted by myself and colleagues in the UK below) and then start
>>> organising at whatever scale we feel appropriate to our local conditions
>>> (township, city, nation, local neighbourhood) Peoples Assemblies (or whateve
>>> you want to call them, for want of a better word, Soviets.. :-) ) and
>>> actually begin that process of collective united struggle for the
>>> democratisation and ecologification of globalisation. By communicating to
>>> each other our successes, failures, needs and what we have to offer - via
>>> emails, video blogs, skype conference calls, actual meetings we can then
>>> begin to build a genuine solidarity, and really use this and othe
>>> international lists, and web services to the amazing purpose to which they
>>> lend themselves...
>>>
>>> These are extraordinary (and dangerous) times in which anything is
>>> possible. Country-wide, worldwide, Europe wide, if we work strategically and
>>> do not allow ourselves to dissipate we really can do this now. If not now,
>>> when? If not us, who?
>>>
>>> Here in London and the UK some of us have been working on the idea of
>>> uniting under the banner of Peoples Assemblies. After occupying Parliament
>>> Square for 3 months as "Democracy Village" (with Peoples Assemblies,
>>> discussions, decisions and direct actions takling place every day) we were
>>> eventually evicted by the Mayor of London. Here a lot of the energy was put
>>> into the campaign to get the troops out of Afghanistan, but also the camp
>>> was an eco-village, and we were consciously linked, and spoke about in the
>>> media, the International community of climate justice activists and the call
>>> for PAs that had come, albeit shakily from CJA. Since our eviction the
>>> authorities have boarded up the whole of Parliament Square, but Democracy
>>> Village Peoples Assembly has been meeting in Victoria Tower Gardens and we
>>> are now planning a Democracy Rally and Peoples Assembly in Trafalgar Square
>>> in October. We are also calling on the growing domestic anti-cuts alliance
>>> to see the importance of decentralised organising in communities, Peoples
>>> Assembly structures as both a way of helping one another (and the
>>> environment) in the community, resistance to state-capitalist solutions and
>>> building the new society all in one go.
>>>
>>> Here are some of the thoughts on PAs, and the idea of Democracy
>>> Village, including political ideology that have been put forward in the UK.
>>> For an iconic symbol that can be recognised and replicated (and also drawn
>>> upon according to local conditions) some people are suggesting blank
>>> placards
>>>
>>> A. http://www.aworldtowin.net/frontline/BuildPeoplesAssemblies.html
>>> B. Peoples Assemblies and the world we believe they can bring about
>>>
>>> Values:
>>>
>>> Equality - each person is able to speak and be listened to -  there is no
>>> elite platform
>>> Difference - we learn from each other's perspectives; we may disagree,
>>> but we listen to one another respectfully and our views become refined
>>> through the experience
>>> Solidarity - we are together because we believe in the existence of a
>>> common agenda. In spite of our differences, we pursue and find consensus
>>> over ideas and shared actions
>>> Sharing - we believe in a society in which sharing and co-operation trump
>>> competition. We freely share food and other gifts at our meetings
>>> Secularity - we respect and are happy to learn from different belief
>>> systems but are committed to the ideal of secularism
>>> Ecology - we believe in a new, really democratic society with a very
>>> low/zero carbon footprint
>>> Self-determination - we struggle for a new kind of freedom based on
>>> community nurturing true individuality, and vice versa - "It takes a village
>>> to bring up a child"
>>>
>>> Democratic Processes:
>>> (1) Peoples Assemblies make decisions horizontally
>>> (2) Peoples Assemblies are interested to learn about, try out and embody
>>> new democratic practices
>>>
>>> Core Aims:
>>> (1) Real Democracy - PAs should find ways to campaign for a really
>>> ecological, democratic society at local, national and global levels
>>> (2) Decentralisation - to bring this about sovereignty should be vested
>>> at the neighbourhood / community / workplace level
>>> (3) Internationalism - PA communities link up in solidarity and support
>>> across the world
>>> (4) Ideals - we are interested to bring about a world based on a
>>> Reclaimation of the Commons, Truth, Peace, Sustainability, Justice and
>>> Compassion above all things and we are willing to fight non-violently to
>>> this end
>>> (5) Peoples Assembly movement - to bring these aims about we are calling
>>> for a movement based on the idea of Peoples Assemblies
>>>
>>> Ideology:
>>> (1) local, democratic not private or state led provision of public
>>> services (the real third way)
>>> (2) really democratic, people powered globalisation not capitalist or
>>> state-led (the real third international)
>>> (3) a new appropriate political economy to match
>>> C.
>>> http://gco2e.blogspot.com/2010/08/geoarchy-goal-of-peoples-assmeblies.html
>>> D. http://www.peopleincommon.org/archive/C421.html
>>>
>>> Up the global revolution
>>>
>>> Mark
>>>
>>>   On 24 August 2010 10:49, Peter / GroenFront! <peter at groenfront.nl>wrote:
>>>
>>>>  Dear friends,
>>>>
>>>> The next meeting op Climate Justice Action should, in my view , have
>>>> just one agenda point. Dissolve the network of not.
>>>>
>>>> Climate Justice Action was formed to mobilise for Copenhagen. In 2009 it
>>>> was a lively, planet wide network that was powerfull enough to make a stand
>>>> in the streets of Copenhagen. In all the stress and rush to prepare for that
>>>> event, we forgot to think about the future of the network itself. As a
>>>> result many people dropped out after the Copenhagen summit. Discussions at
>>>> the last two meetings have focused on finding a cause to keep the network
>>>> alive. The standard recipe of global day of actions was brought up.  But
>>>> that's not enough to keep people motivated and keep the network alive.
>>>> The meeting in bonn only had 30 people, the next meeting in Holland
>>>> looks to be even smaller. Tasks taken up  in Bonn haven't been done.
>>>>
>>>> Apperently the time and energy to keep the network alive isn't there any
>>>> more. Most likely because the network is missing a concrete common goal. A
>>>> battle to prepare for.
>>>> I think it is time to face facts, and dissolve CJA as it is at this
>>>> moment.
>>>>
>>>> I would be good to keep the mailing list up, to make contacts easier, or
>>>> maybey organize a conference on Climate justice in Europe. But to keep
>>>> dragging the burden of an international network would be a mistake. It will
>>>> drain the time and energy needed elsewhere, and give people the false hope
>>>> that we are able to mobilise large amounts of activist for future actions.
>>>>
>>>> I ofcourse hope to be mistaken, and see lot's of angry people at the
>>>> next meeting to oppose my proposal. If not come over to have a drink at the
>>>> campfire. I hope anyway to see you all on the barricades , somewhere,
>>>> sometime.
>>>>
>>>> Peter Polder
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> skype:peterpolder
>>>> www.groenfront.nl
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -.-.- Climate Justice Action Network International Coordination List
>>>> -.-.
>>>> POST TO LIST: climate09-int at lists.riseup.net
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> "We hear men speaking for us of new laws strong and sweet /Yet is there
>>> no man speaketh as we speak in the street.”
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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>


-- 
"We hear men speaking for us of new laws strong and sweet /Yet is there no
man speaketh as we speak in the street.”
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