This series, organized by the Global TapestryThe weaving of networks of Alternatives of AlternativesAre activities and initiatives, concepts, worldviews, or action proposals by collectives, groups, organizations, communities, or social movements challenging and replacing the dominant system that perpetuates inequality, exploitation, and unsustainabiity. In the GTA we focus primarily on what we call "radical or transformative alternatives", which we define as initiatives that are attempting to break with the dominant system and take paths towards direct and radical forms of political and economic democracy, localised self-reliance, social justice and equity, cultural and knowledge diversity, and ecological resilience. Their locus is neither the State nor the capitalist economy. They are advancing in the process of dismantling most forms of hierarchies, assuming the principles of sufficiency, autonomy, non-violence, justice and equality, solidarity, and the caring of life and the Earth. They do this in an integral way, not limited to a single aspect of life. Although such initiatives may have some kind of link with capitalist markets and the State, they prioritize their autonomy to avoid significant dependency on them and tend to reduce, as much as possible, any relationship with them. during 2021, bringing together movements, communities, and initiatives from different regions of the world to reflect on how they confronted the COVID-19 crisis from below. Across diverse contexts, these sessions explore collective responses rooted in solidarity, care, self-determination, and grassroots organization, highlighting how communities have resisted extractive and exclusionary systems while nurturing pathways of recovery and re-existence. Rather than returning to a “new normal,” the series foregrounds plural, lived alternatives that reimagine ways of learning, governing, producing, and sustaining life in times of profound crisis.

Inspired by the work of community support networks of marginalized groups located on the peripheries of institutional power, the aim of this virtual assembly is to explore feminist alternatives to the new normality going beyond the State and policy recommendations.

Go to the session page

In October 2019, Chile experienced one of its most significant uprisings. People demanded the end of neoliberalism, while hundreds of grassroots organizations and local assemblies emerged. During the Covid crisis, the Government's response has favoured the market over people, denying them basic social protection and food security. However, grassroots organisations are actively trying to tackle poverty with popular solidarity and mutual aid. In this webinar, we will explore some of these local experiences, their strategies, challenges and contributions to radical social transformation.

Go to the session page

This webinar will share the experience of the association between CoopeSoliDar R.L and small scale fisher communities in Costa Rica in the defense of their rights to responsible, small-scale fisheries. In particular, the experience in the context of COVID 19 and how community resilience has been a result of collective action, community-based governance models, equity, and the innovation of a fair market. These aspects have guaranteed community livelihood security in a moment of great struggle, when traditional markets and tourism collapsed.

Go to the session page

The Salween Peace Park is an initiative in Myanmar declared by Indigenous Karen people in December 2018 to bring peace, cultural harmony, self determination, and environmental integrity after 70 years of armed conflict in the region. However, the community continues to face threats from the Burmese military dictatorship. In this webinar, Saw Paul Sein Twa and Naw Wah Ku Shee talk about the experience of the Karen people working towards self determination, navigating a global pandemic, and facing a violent military offensive.

Go to the session page

Beautiful Resistance emerges from Palestine as a concept and philosophy that aims to inspire hope and promote life through performing and visual arts as non-armed ways for peaceful and creative self-expression. It helps to build peace within individuals, in turn to become peace-builders in their community and beyond.

Go to the session page

In this session, we will discuss about the competing narratives for transforming African agriculture/ food system. In the West, everyone has a solution for Africa. They propose a Green Revolution and other failing and destructive approach to food, agriculture, and the environment into Africa must be challenged. And it has been challenged. Agroecology is a realistic strategy for improving our nutrition, increasing production, enhancing biodiversity, raising resilience, and boosting farmer income.

Go to the session page