[matilda] PGA Hallmarks - an item for the 18th July meeting agenda?

[cuthbert at riseup.net]

  My main objection to putting 'PGA Hallmarks' on the agenda is that we
will end up spending an hour or so talking about them, not reach a
concensus and not be able get through all the really urgent stuff that
we need to do to keep the building in use.  Although by all means
disscuss it on here.

from
cuthbert




> Hi,
>
> Good plan to put it on the agenda.  Just to start the argument, there's
> things that I disagree with.  Don't know what others think.
>
> 1. Attacking capitalism is too easy.  One definition of it -
>
> "Capitalism has been defined in various ways.  In common usage it refers
> to an economic system in which all or most of the means of production
> are privately owned and operated (commonly for profit), and where
> investments, production, distribution, income, and prices are determined
> largely in a "free market" rather than by centralized state control (as
> in a command economy)." (Wikipedia)
>
> If that's all capitalism means, I'm not against it.  I'd rather the
> means of production were privately owned than state-owned, for example.
> The model of free software is excellent and refreshing, in that no-one
> and everyone owns it.  That probably can't work with my bike - I want to
> keep it, it's mine, f*ck off! -  but it shows its possible to get
> beyond  the state-private dichotomy.
>
> This is semantics really, but then words are important!  Markets and
> trade can be good things.  (Brambles cafe do good work for a start!)
>
> Being against destructive globalisation is cool - but not being against
> globalisation per se.
>
> 3. Confrontation / lobbying has no impact?  How many people on this list
> think change can only come about through confrontation, and lobbying
> does nothing?  That can't be everyone, can it?  For example, I certainly
> don't believe that withdrawing from lobbying is going to help stop
> Burngreave being McRegenerated.  I'm working on stuff that tries to show
> how the policies being pushed through are pants - and I'd like to try
> and persuade others of this.  How will confrontation help?  Equally,
> though, having absolutely no time for Tesco's cynical attempts to fit
> into the social exclusion agenda is obviously the way forward - but
> shouldn't we take things on a case-by-case basis?
>
> Plus, your case is helped a lot if its clear that you tried all avenues
> before resorting to confrontation.  E.g. maybe its time to have a go at
> that bloody incinerator again... Dioxins are really, really f**king
> evil.  The thing should be shut down.  If lobbying doesn't work...
>
> 4.  I don't understand how a blanket call for direct action and civil
> disobedience works.  What does that mean?  The rest of point 4 is
> brilliant, particularly constructing local alternatives - that fits into
> the Burngreave stuff really well...
>
> 5. Decentralisation and autonomy: better than the opposite, but it would
> be good to spend some time talking about what this means.
>
> E.g. Someone autonomously promoting Matilda on Indymedia recently.  This
> went against a collective (consensus) decision at a previous meeting.
> Were they within their rights to do so, since they were acting
> autonomously, or do we want people to abide by decisions reached by
> consensus?  What does autonomy mean in this context?
>
> On a different point, I'm hoping there will be space in Matilda, over
> time, to look over some of the questions that come from all of this.
>
> And, as Marcos said, we must always 'walk asking'.  Argument,
> disagreement and discussion, wherever possible, should never stop us
> from learning to trust one another, and from acting together.
>
> Or something. :)
>
> love
>
> Dan
>
> Chris wrote:
>
>>Hi
>>
>>I wonder if it would make sense to agree that the Matilda
>>social centre would use the PGA Hallmarks as one of it's
>>founding principals?
>>
>>These are simple and clear:
>>
>>  1. A very clear rejection of capitalism, imperialism and
>>     feudalism; all trade agreements, institutions and
>>     governments that promote destructive globalisation.
>>
>>  2. We reject all forms and systems of domination and
>>     discrimination including, but not limited to,
>>     patriarchy, racism and religious fundamentalism of
>>     all creeds.
>>
>>     We embrace the full dignity of all human beings.
>>
>>  3. A confrontational attitude, since we do not think
>>     that lobbying can have a major impact in such biased
>>     and undemocratic organisations, in which
>>     transnational capital is the only real policy-maker;
>>
>>  4. A call to direct action and civil disobedience,
>>     support for social movements' struggles, advocating
>>     forms of resistance which maximize respect for life
>>     and oppressed peoples' rights, as well as the
>>     construction of local alternatives to global
>>     capitalism.
>>
>>  5. An organisational philosophy based on
>>     decentralisation and autonomy.
>>
>>  http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/pga/hallm.htm
>>
>>Perhaps this could be an agenda item for the meeting on
>>Monday 18th July?
>>
>>Chris
>>
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> matilda mailing list
> matilda at lists.aktivix.org
> http://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/matilda
>