chrome://flags/, in your URL bar, and enable “Experimental Web Platform features”about:config, in your URL bar, and enable “media.track.enabled”Last Assembly of this year!
Acknowledging the times and the crisis we are facing; so much of our movements and communities are much more threatened. Space for you to share how you're keeping your hope alive, and how you are sharing solidarity.
Marco: MushukAway network, Alternatives network in Ecuador; gathering in different parts of the country; next gathering dedicated to supporting each other and processing.
Steven: Still in shock over Trump's election; hard to believe in general, every day a new apalling decision taken. No guardrails. I have a lot of support from friends and colleagues, but we're still in the process of how to live with this. I have started meditating, as a way to work through. Coping is hard, and fleeing the country is not an answer. Started a hashtag: Capitalism is criminal. Most important to remember: this is temporary, and we need alternatives more than ever.
Mark: A moment most immediately of grieving, and checking in with one another. Realising that this one person is a symptom of a much bigger systemic problem. More people realising how this particular election clarifies what's at stake and what we're up against. A lot of people checking out of electoral politics entirely, because they see the limits of change electoral politics can bring.
Vasna: Matt’s comment on electoral politics makes the work on alternatives and radical democracy even more urgent. I like the idea of an opening.
Valentina: COP-16 in Cali: an exercise in resistance and hope. Negotiation is important, but one of the outcomes we should think about is the solutions not coming from negotiations. Important, but we need to keep mobilising actions.
Resource mobilising through the diversity gap, and nothing was achieved because the Global North does not see the need to create a dedicated fund to address the gap. The Global South proposed many systemic measures, but there was no decision to take action for Indigenous peoples. Another important element: a lot of core solutions for earthy mobilisations, but nothing that will actually solve the systemic problems.
Still important to engage with these spaces, to keep interactions alive because they are resisting against capitalism, the root cause of the climate crisis.
Ashish: The work and the special positioning of the GTA becomes even more important now. In many civil society movements a lot of discussion about capturing the state; but also showcasing where these alternatives where they are actually taking place. Sharpening our understanding of alternatives, and also understanding exactly what is wrong with liberal democracy; and reaching out to everyone's hearts and minds.
Melanie: Very much on my mind, I've been looking at Ethnicity this semester; at the point of rupture. Is it going to go this way, or that? And even the World Bank, who proposed that we eliminate 2/3rds of the world's population. A reckoning is coming, and GTA is exactly the space we need.
Nourshan: Greetings from Rojava. After the recent attacks on Rojava with the aim of dispersing the autonomous administration, we live in difficult times. Mobilising external support.
The middle east experiencing a lot of difficulties from the Palestinian war. People are busy with the elections for the alternative municipalities; in stages. The autonomous administration has no official recognition from either the region or the international community.
We are excited too be in South Africa next year, meeting movements and exchanging experiences. A lot of support to be with friends.
Nati: Living with 12-14 hour electricity shortages, and also will face water issues. Our neighbors are facing flooding, and we face droughts. The denying of what is happening.
GARN is helping provide hope, rights of nature for rivers, ecosystems; a powerful tool to change the systems that look at nature as object.
It was an amazing space, Colombia did an amazing thing by making space for civil society participants, especially from Indigenous communities. We are really advancing with the rights of the Amazon; it could be a reality.
Steve: Reading from Naomi Klein. In my inbox this morning was an email from PeDAGoG, the latest article on Radical Ecological Democracy. And we have a wonderful webinar coming up on Radical Democracy which is happening on 17th Nov.
Ryan: Our first time holding it outside the Philippines, in a community. Hosted for about 3-4 days, by the Sundanese peasant farmers. It has successfully reclaimed land in Indonesia, demonstrating what can happen if peasants are given all rights and resources. Meeting our comrades across the region, and lovely to welcome the GTA weavers into our space.
Carlos: It was a very nice experience to meet everyone, the emergence of alternatives is becoming more common. Not just electoral politics but also the limits of the state. Articulations around food sovereignty, education, and the right to learn. Opening up local struggles to global spaces: the globalisation of rebellion. Inter-, and intra- weaving. The importance for weavers to share and facilitate, and keep creating dialogues and common processes.
Vasna: The conviviality, the joy, and some pictures I can share; just to give a taste. SPP hosted us, coming back to listening and learning together, Drawing together, building together, an opportunity for us to talk and listen to the community. Sights set on creating a college of MASSA there. How much commonality we had, when Shrishtee and Carlos talked about VSVikalp Sangam (India) and CMMCrianza Mutua Mexico.
If any members are interested in joining any of these themes please join; very open to doing activities!
More than Human (Shrishtee) The More than Human is an Radical Democracy (Ashish) GTA is working on a three year programme on radical democracy and this includes a gathering in South Africa in Feb 2025. In preparation for this, there will be a radical democracy webinar series. There will be a regenerative stories volume on the communities practising radical democracy. Gathering of people across the next 3-4 years, as well as a running theme of earthy/More than Human/multi-species governance. How is the rest of the world taken into consideration when taking political decisions. Energy webinar and further collaborations with Pacto (Carlos) Beginning to explore with other networks like Pacto. Left out of focus for quite some time; we are kickstarting a dialogue. A periodical about Energy, #15. Moving to understand how energy itself is rooted in coloniality. We are also doing a series of workshops around communities' specific experiences with energy. Workshop with Pacto Ecosocial. Challenges with energy transitions.
For many many years there have been no discussions around energy; left to hard science spaces. It is time to reclaim it back, rooted into our struggles of alternatives and relationality.
Franco: @Carlos T it maybe a good idea to start to think a proposal for a Thematic Group about “Alternatives & Energy” (embracing both alternatives energy and alternatives to energy), as an space that could emerge after the next periodical circulates (it could even be mentioned there)
Working group: A specific mandate given to a particular task, with a timeline and to share it with the Assembly.
Mugdha introducing
This group is trying to work on visibilising alternative ways of thinking and worldviews. Please engage with this process as much as you can. Carlos will be coordinating.
Franco introducing
We did this collectively, the best way to explore what that means, and how we can do something useful, getting together physically. Organised a workshop to get together; 5 people: Franco, Shrishtee, Carlos, Vasna, Ryan. The advance we made was very important, and we almost had a prototype. It was learning space for all the weavers. We hope to share it soon. Not a linear document. The way of doing it together: strengthened our own relationships.
Vasna introducing
We have a facilitation team, but most people have not been active. 2-3 weeks before the Assembly, inputs on the Agenda. Please reach out if you would like to join.
Melanie would like to join!
Marco introducing
Have joined about 4-6 times by now. The question: what comes to your mind-heart with a Collaborative Learning Ecosystem. What kind of humans we need to be in these challenging times, both on the personal and collective.
Exploring what already is the advanced path on this; our communities for becoming these kind of humans, and creating earthy actions. Something quite challenging: defining the boundaries of leanring. Next meeting is next week Friday (22nd Nov).
Valentina: Exploring the gender component, as well as the Womxn's Assembly. Capacity to build something in that space.
Deissy introducing
A couple of months ago, need of someone to anchor this group. Trying to come back to the roots of why this group was created. Would like to have a meeting about the roots, the initial members; and we can see how to revitalise this process and see what direction the thematic group takes. Annabelle and Nariman had also volunteered. deissy.perilla@gmail.com
Franco: Thanks @Deissy Perilla . Regarding the “conflict resolution”, it maybe a good idea to move forward a “Care guidelines” for the Assembly space (both virtual and in person)
Shrishtee: We can share some notes from the Assembly. Also challenging the understanding of peace, and critiquing it.
Ashish: Would be good to connect to the Peace Armaments space, in Europe. Associated with the World Social Assembly of Struggles.
We had several powerful conversations, but we are revitalising the space on Dec 11. Felt the connection of practices around the world.
Ashish: The lack of dignified livelihoods: more and more vulnerabilities. Precariat. If this group could also think through that and come up with stories of radical alternatives, especially in Just Transitions.
Important gatherings in 2025 COP 30 in Brazil to organise something on Radical Alternatives
Spaces wherein GTA can converge and discuss, amplifying radical alternatives. Encounters where we need to be present as a group?
Carlos: Anti-COP meetings, in Brazil. Maybe we could go to the Anti-COP rather than COP.
Matt: Keeping our sharing going as our opportunities come up. A conference in Montreal next May/June. Contributions, sessions, etc. If there is interest I'll follow up with the organizers. https://thegreattransition.net/call-for-contributions/
Valentina: Alternative platform to build bridges with official spaces, penetrating them. The mandate is not to focus on the official spaces but rather radical strategies to fight against the colonial capitalist process. My email is valentinafmartinez@globalforestcoalition.org, for more information.
Ashish: Degrowth event mid-next year, happening in Oslo. In case we want to do 1-2 sessions; date for one type of session still open.
Nourshan: There is a different event we are preparing in CDC, I think it will be great if friends from GTA attended the panel and give their reflections.
On the 26th Nov, we will hold a panel with Kongra Star & the Provisional Neighborhood Parliaments in India PNPI, entitled (Democratic Confederalism and Sociocracy the emerging human community). The discussion will be about the similarities between the two terms and how to build a communal life as an alternative to the nation state.
We will send you the invitation as soon as the flyer is ready.
Franco: Full-Circle foundation, SWIFT foundation. Main thing for next year, Radical Democracy. Expanding for long-term support. Exploring other sources as well. Madhuresh and I were in New York, had some meetings with potential funders.
We opened up new actions and initiatives this year; our capacity can be built for support around specific projects.