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 Tuesday, 26 June 2007 |
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Saturday, 26 November 2005 |
Call out and Consulta
AMPLIFYING RESISTANCE, CREATING ALTERNATIVES
When we are asked by others what is more important -- to
organize global days of actions or fight locally everyday -- we always
reply both. Dissent was originally created with the former in mind: to
enable anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist groups and individuals to
collectively and directly resist the G8 summit in Scotland and beyond
that to build a bigger and better alternative to the neo-liberal system
that oppresses us and people all over the world. The rush towards the
G8 didn't give us the time to think properly about how the Dissent
network could be useful to our local struggles of the everyday, how
they can best serve the struggle against capitalism, or how the network
could become more representative of the politics, priorities and
activities of all its groups and individuals, current and potential.Let's
find out how we reinvigorate and renew Dissent as a network of
resistance. We need to better understand who WE are, where WE have come
from and where WE want to go. The aim of the is to create a process of
dialogue and reflection among the individuals, groups and social
centres who are either already part of Dissent or who could be part of
it in the future, about how we create a wider, stronger, more
politically effective and visible network. A network that belongs to us
all and contributes as much to our everyday local struggle as towards
the global mobilizations.
We have so far managed to come together to confront the powerful in a
time and place chose by THEM; through the process, the hope is that WE
will now find the time and place when we next all come together to
shout our dissent stronger and louder then ever, to strengthens ties
between the network and to show our solidarity during other
mobilization of resistance all over the world.
[WHAT]
This consultation is open to all groups and individuals currently
involved in Dissent and those who are interested in being further
involved in a UK wide anti-capitalist/anti-authoritarian network, and
have an affinity with the hallmarks of the Dissent Network.
- A very clear rejection of capitalism, imperialism and feudalism; all
trade agreements, institutions and governments that promote destructive
globalisation.
- 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.
- 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.
- A call to direct action and civil disobedience, support for
social movements' struggles, advocating forms of resistance which maximise
respect for life and oppressed peoples' rights, as well as the
construction of local alternatives to global capitalism.
- An organisational philosophy based on decentralisation and autonomy.
[WHY]
The aim of this consultation is to achieve a more horizontally based
network that is representative of the politics and activity of the
autonomous groups and individuals who are involved, that will
facilitate those groups & individuals to work with others on
specific activity/actions and to network this with a larger body of
people. It will lead to a two day network-wide gathering sometime in
Jan/Feb 2006.
[HOW]
The agenda of this gathering will be composed of the presentations made
by the groups/individuals involved and the initiatives they propose. In
order for this to happen it is important that a consultation period of
discussion, self-organisation and preparation takes place. It is also
important that the working group organising this gathering can collate
and distribute all necessary information to aid others discussions and
prepare the agenda for the gathering. For this reason there is a
questionnaire below and a timeline for the consultation leading up to
this gathering.
[WHEN]
After the questionnaires have been returned, the information will
be collated onto a website that can be used as a communications tool
for groups/individuals who have expressed similar interests to form
network-wide initiatives/ proposals which can be presented at the
gathering. These proposals will also be circulated to all participating
groups/individuals for discussion shortly before the gathering.
It would also be helpful and much appreciated if groups/individuals
could let the 're-convergence' working group know if they are coming
and how many so they can plan ahead.
We ask that each group reach consensus on answers to the questions
below, and send it in as soon as possible. Early responses
will
aid in the planning of the reconvergence. By the end of
December
we will send out an initial update on the responses received.
We
also ask that each group email dissentconvergence@riseup.net, as soon
as they know they will participate.
QUESTIONAIRE:
NAME (for individuals, an alias or initials will do):
LOCATION:
CONTACT DETAILS:
(Email. Public Tel, Address, Website)
HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR COLLECTIVE/GROUP?
(For example: your politics, local political situation, what struggles
are
you involved in, how do you organise?)
WHAT INITIATIVES MIGHT YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN AS PART OF A
NETWORK?
(For example: Migration, Climate Chaos, Work/Precarity, Russia 2006 G8
Summit, Social Centres ... etc)
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FROM A NETWORK IN TERMS OF SUPPORT, SOLIDARITY AND
RESOURCES?
LIMITS AND ISSUES WITHIN DISSENT SO FAR - OPINIONS/SUGGESTIONS?
(For example: structure, hierarchy, diversity, gender, race,
activity...etc)
For this gathering to take place we need the questionnaires back as
soon as possible. A new website will host what is collated and
hopefully it will be used as a tool to organise initiatives/themes to
be presented at the gathering.
This will allow us to collate the information and form the
aforementioned website, leaving enough time for ideas/proposals to be
networked and worked out. We ask that these final initiative proposals
be sent in by: 15th January 2006.
This should leave enough time for all groups/individuals to receive
and
discuss the proposals before the network-wide gathering. The gathering
will be held on: End of January/early February.
: : SOME IDEAS:
It has been suggested that some groups/individuals might use this
opportunity to apply these and other questions by forming their own
regional and/or thematic discussions. To help facilitate this, please
indicate if you would be interested in organising regional
gatherings/consolations or thematically based gatherings (For example:
Migration, Climate Chaos, work/Precarity, Russia 2006 G8 Summit, Social
Centres ... etc) before the RECONVERGENCE CONFERENCE then please let us
know.
: : RE-CONVERGENCE WORKING GROUP:
The working group organising this initiative is comprised of
individuals
from groups (RAGE - Reading, Wombles-London, Common Place-Leeds,
Anarchist Federation-Sheffield, Soon to be Collective-Southampton,
CAN-Cambridge, Rising Tide-London) currently involved with Dissent, as
well as others. We
encourage other groups and individuals to get involved with the
organisation of this event. There are upcoming meetings and an email
discussion list being used. We can also be contacted via the email
address below.
NEXT PLANNING MEETING // December 4th- Leeds
EMAIL LIST // dissentprocess@lists.aktivix.org
CONTACT US // dissentconvergence@riseup.net with subject header:
RECONVERGENCE
WEBSITE // Work in Progress!
Thanks for participating; we look forward to hearing from you,
Love n Rage,
Dissent Reconvergence Working Group, 13th November 2005
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 14 May 2006 )
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2005 G8 Summit. Providing food, accommodation and support for the
convergence is likely to cost thousands. Please donate
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