Bradford revisited………………….

Imagine a blank sheet of paper and you’re considering ways of organising a political movement. One that seeks to challenge and destroy capitalist class society. What would that movement look like? Would it look anything like the one we have now, or would it, could it, look different? 

Does what we do at the moment work, when we are marginal, fragmented, and almost invisible to the very people we seek to address?

Lets ask ourselves this question, “if our ideas are so brilliant, why are they so irrelevant to the daily lives of most working class people?”

Once before, in Bradford in 1997, we asked these questions, and more, and although ultimately nothing came of it (some will strongly disagree with this), being as we are still more or less in the same position, some of us believe that we need to do it again. To go back to basics and question everything that we say and do. And hopefully we mean all of us – not just bits of our movement.

Can we generate the confidence that would change our ideas and the way we work with each other? Can we generate the confidence that would play a small part in changing everything?

To this end we propose to organise a conference sometime in 2009, that will be organised in a creative manner, challenge assumptions, and any preconceived ideas we have about each other. We hope it will break down rigid and ossified ways of thinking and acting, to turn everything about our world upside down.

 

Some are suggesting this should be a London wide event. Some are suggesting it should be a national event. The verdict is still out on this; as well as where in the country it should be; how many days it should run over; and should it be an annual event. These and many more questions about the event are still undecided. This is why we want to have a large gathering of interested people to come and discuss what we should be organising. But, this initial meeting is to decide practical thing, and it is for people to take on helping organise the event – not just a talking shop. It is not the conference itself. That will be a bit down the line and needs a lot of though and organisation.

 

It is long over due for the lot of us to get together and talk through our politics in a friendly atmosphere with no other pressing issues. This conference is for ALL aspects of our movement and beyond.

The planning meeting for the Bradford initiative is Saturday 17th January at 1:30pm (at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London)

For further information or any questions email us at: conference@haringey.org.uk

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CLIMATE ACTION 09

We stand at a crossroads. The facts are clear. Global climate change, caused by human activities, is happening, threatening the lives and livelihoods of billions of people and the existence of millions of species. Social movements, environmental groups, and scientists from all over the world are calling for urgent and radical action on climate change.

On the 30th of November, 2009 the governments of the world will come to Copenhagen for the fifteenth UN Climate Conference (COP-15). This will be the biggest summit on climate change ever to have taken place. Yet, previous meetings have produced nothing more than business as usual.

There are alternatives to the current course that is emphasizing false solutions such as market-based approaches and agrofuels. If we put humanity before profit and solidarity above competition we can live amazing lives without destroying our planet. We need to leave fossil fuels in the ground. Instead we must invest in community-controlled renewable energy. We must stop over-production for over-consumption. All should have equal access to the global commons through community control and sovereignty over energy, forests, land and water. And of course we must acknowledge the historical responsibility of the global elite and rich Global North for causing this crisis. Equity between North and South is essential.

Climate change is already impacting people, particularly women, indigenous and forest-dependent peoples, small farmers, marginalized communities and impoverished neighborhoods who are also calling for action on climate- and social justice.
This call was taken up by activists and organizations from 21 countries that came together in Copenhagen over the weekend of 13-14 September, 2008 to begin discussions for a mobilization in Copenhagen during the UN’s 2009 climate conference.

The 30th of November, 2009 is also the tenth anniversary of the World Trade Organization (WTO) shutdown in Seattle, which shows the power of globally coordinated social movements.

We call on all peoples around the planet to mobilize and take action against the root causes of climate change and the key agents responsible both in Copenhagen and around the world. This mobilization begins now, until the COP-15 summit, and beyond. The mobilizations in Copenhagen and around the world are still in the planning stages. We have time to collectively decide what these mobilizations will look like, and to begin to visualize what our future can be. Get involved!

We encourage everyone to start mobilizing today in your own neighborhoods and communities. It is time to take the power back. The power is in our hands. Hope is not just a feeling, it is also about taking action.

To get involved and recieve news about this ongoing and open process, send an empty mail to: copenhagen2009info-subscribe[a]lists.riseup.net (make [a] into @ when you send the mail)

http://www.climateaction09.org/

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