Rendering of reStructured text is not possible, please install Docutils.
==================================================================
Invitation to the next european gathering of Peoples Global Action
==================================================================
August 19th - September 3rd 2006 - Around France
================================================
PGA - People's Global Action - started in 1997. It has been a tool and a
diffuse structure coordinating groups and people sharing common
struggles and practices, in accordance with various anticapitalist and
anti-authoritarian principles (see the hallmarks below). PGA initiated
the Intercontinental caravan in 1999, as well as international action
days of actions against the G8, the WTO, the World Bank, the IMF... In
Seattle, Genoa, Prague, and in a number of less mediatic events, PGA was
a driving force behind numerous actions and reflections. Amidst
counter-summits, social forums & various actions, groups close to the
PGA are now looking for new drives to challenge stagnation.
PGA hallmarks:
--------------
- 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
- maximize 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.
In Europe, groups who identify with the PGA principles meet about once
every two years, through the initiative of a "convenor" collective.
Since 1997, these conferences have been the opportunity for several days
of exchanging practices and knowledge, and of establishing bonds, which
allow us to be better organized in common actions.
The last conferences were held in Leiden (Netherlands) in September 2001
and in Belgrade (Serbia) in July 2004. Each time, they drew hundreds of
people together and generated contacts, exchanges and strategical
reflections. This year, the Francophone group STAMP is the convenor and
the next european gathering of PGA will take place from the 19h of
August to the 3rd of September 2006.
STAMP started through a bunch of individuals involved with "sans-titre",
a network of individuals involved in direct action, autonomy and
self-managed spaces around France. They now would like to open up the
organizing process to all, around the few following principles.
Decentralization and local grounding:
-------------------------------------
This gathering will take place in two stages:
1. Decentralised gatherings will be held between smaller groups of
people (around a hundred) in various locations. During nine days, in
five different places, we'll mix thematic discussions and workshops
linking local issues with reflections and initiatives from participating
European groups. Each space will also propose a collective practical
project and common realisation (construction, action...). Several
locations are anticipated, including Lyon, Toulouse, Lavaur, Dijon,
Geneva...
2. A centralised part will bring everyone together on one site, for four
or five days, to allow everybody to share previous discussions and take
decisions about the organization and future projects of PGA in Europe.
Non-specialization and "dishwashing-theory" mix:
------------------------------------------------
During these meetings we want to favour non-specialization and the
horizontal sharing of tasks. We would like to put particular attention
on the collective organization of everyday life. Projects proposed by
each conference space should allow us to exchange practical know-how,
linked to the needs of the host locality.
A desire to strenghten links with Eastern Europe:
-------------------------------------------------
During the months leading up to the meeting, several travels will take
place in these regions, in order to present the meeting and get to know
local projects. Solutions will be investigated, in terms of visas and
transport, to help people and collectives in precarious situations to
travel here.
The organization of this gathering is a political and joyful project for
us. It requires a lot of energies and commitment in order to become an
open collective adventure, rather than the performance of a few
"activism experts".
Regular organizational meetings will bring STAMP to different towns
during the upcoming months. International meetings allow us to assess
the advancement of this project and open up the organization to other
people and groups of PGA Europe. The next one will take place the 21st
and 22nd of April in Budapest.
About the contents...
---------------------
Here are themes to be tackled around within the PGA encounters, some of
which are rooted in some of the decentralized locations already. This
list aims at opening perspectives, so that each participant can propose
contents, workshops, texts... in the months preceding the conference.
Specific themes:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- development & preservation of autonomous spaces
(squats, self-managed spaces, collective projects in cities and in the
countryside);
- gender issues, struggles against male domination &
patriarchy;
- industrial society, its relationship with space and the
transformation of the social environment; the effect of industrial
technology of human relationships;
- social control, security and its
politics, militarism and repression of protest; digital struggles:
- digital struggles: Indymedia & the movement; alternative servers
(riseup.net, squat.net), users' responsability & solidarity facing new
repressions;
- adult/child relationships, parenthood, education, ageism;
- rejection of the State: experiences of self-management & direct
democracy; market economy & consumerism versus alternative non market
based economies;
- struggles of workers and welfare claimants; anti-wage slavery; the
fight against capitalism and its institutions (WTO, IMF, WB, EU,
etc.); state of European capitalism (free exchange agreements,
privatisation, etc.); the
- current dead-end regarding anti-racism in our
anti-capitalist/anti-establishment sphere. Post-colonialism, struggles
around immigration, the abolition of borders;
- capitalist management of resources and energy, impending environmental
catastrophes, foreseenable alternatives and practical ecology;
- the anarchist ghetto: militant politics & elitism; how to escape its
insularity?
- anti-essentialism and critique of the religious relation to « nature »,
as a shaper for our perception of age, gender, race; anti-speciesm &
animal liberation.
Transversal themes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"towards a new type of struggle?"
- Confrontational direct action tactics and/or autonomy & practical
alternatives building?
- Co-existence or divorce with institutions, unions, NGO's and The Left
- Our techniques and methods of organisation, actions and debates.
- The question of class, gender and racism at the heart of our struggle
- Links with other protests within a global "across the board" strategy
We are already looking for various resources, including funds, to help
for travel/visas, as well as other logistic costs. Any initiative, from
money, to mosquito repellent cream, screwdrivers or tofu...) is welcome.
Donations can be made to "Accueil caravane" at:
STAMP
c/o Longo Mai
04300 Limans
France
A detailed list of locations, events and issues will be available soon.
You can contact us at: stamp@poivron.org
Webpages:
http://pgaconference.org/
http://stamp.poivron.org/
http://www.agp.org/
To be kept up-to-date with our progress, subscribe to this mailing-list:
http://pgaconference.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
