Rad Manual: Difference between revisions
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== | =name= | ||
rad"ish | |||
raising the root | |||
=Layout= | |||
Page 1:Title Page: Title + image | |||
Page 2: Table of Contents | |||
===Ricky=== | Page 3: Radical/progressive definitions. (sources internet, interviews and Vox Pop | ||
==Theory== | |||
* | Page 4: Theory + Community Organizing/Development/Direct Action | ||
* | |||
* | Page 5: Space + Image + quotation | ||
* | |||
*Education: | Page 6: CED/Economic theory/Charity/Incorporation | ||
Page 7: Education | |||
Page 8: Feminist Perspectives (womyn) | |||
Page 9: Social Change/Movements | |||
Page 10: Glossary | |||
=presentation= | |||
SOCIAL GRAFFITI | |||
Objective: To involve the class in the workshop/presentation and have them take part in the process of understanding radical activism. | |||
Activity Description: | |||
-several questions will be posted around the classroom | |||
-the class will be told that they are about to take part in a brainstorm session (meaning there are no wrong answers) | |||
-for 10 minutes (?) the class will move around to the posted questions and answer them in no particular order in any way they think is appropriate | |||
Debrief: | |||
-the facilitator will collect the questions from around the room and bring them to the front of the class | |||
-the facilitator will then highlight some of the answer that the class came up with in, point or trends and common answers | |||
-questions: | |||
1. Did you find the questions easy/hard to answer? Why? | |||
2. Were you answering the questions from a personal perspective? | |||
3. Were you surprised by other peoples answers? | |||
4. Did these questions raise any new questions for you? | |||
(*Rachel) | |||
Some video links to play at the beginning as space filler? Have a look...V | |||
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w7qF1BPHRs | |||
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGLVczDFbTo | |||
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCPEBM5ol0Q | |||
==presentation order== | |||
*YOUTUBE vid (during setting up) | |||
*narrative (ricky) (max 5 mins) | |||
*social graffiti (rachel) (35 minutes) | |||
#intro (2 mins) | |||
#answer questions (10 minutes) | |||
-note:: encourage note taking during clip | |||
*discussion (5 minutes for each question= 20 minutes) | |||
*clips (lise presses play)(15 minutes) *take notes | |||
*present manual (mel) (2 minutes) | |||
*question period (vincia) (whatever time) | |||
==social graffiti questions== | |||
#what are the challenges of being radical? | |||
#what are some strategies to remain radical? | |||
#what is your definition of radical activism? | |||
*other | |||
*how are your political views reflected in your work? | |||
*how can radical activist deal/resist with co-optation? | |||
*what is co-optation? | |||
*what drives your activism? | |||
*where does your understanding of radical activism come from? (*Rachel) | |||
==FINAL call== | |||
*what does radical mean to you? | |||
*are you radical? | |||
*what are the challenges of being radical? | |||
*what are the strategies to remain radical? | |||
=Ricky= | |||
==Co-optation== | |||
Most community organizations that become coopted do so to survive. The present state of capital has led to difficult situations, high levels of unemployment, and precarious work. Downsizing of state, has resulted in broad cuts to social services. | |||
Dependency on state and foundations money has resulted in an increase in bureaucratization, professionalization, and specialization in order to comply with state and foundation guidelines and rules. While the state is opting out collective responsibility, attacking the concept of universality, democratic rights and putting the burden of social costs on individuals and community, community groups are seen as alternatives to institutions but without the financing. So emphasis is put on service providing, and on immediate needs instead of organizing mass-based movements. Militant/activist work is replaced by voluntarism/specialization/expertism. No longer are community organizations defending the exploited and oppressed and trying to socially change the structures that upholds such oppression and exploitation, but are in fact contributing to such systems. | |||
==Theory== | |||
Theory needs to be understood as an attempt to make sense of encounters, patterns, and regularities of the world so to predict outcomes of actions, and a better understanding of the world. (taken from Keith Popple's Analysing Community Work: Its Theory and Practice). | |||
Theory explains relationships, envision possibilities. Theory facilitates and improves practical work thus benefits the end result of community organizing. At the same time, the use of theory in practice provides a framework that helps one adapt practice and, as a consequence, be more effective. Understand social and power relationships | |||
Within communities theory is shaped by examining underlying values and constructing a basic social standpoint/stance. | |||
And theory about how change can take place, including discussions around human agency and social processes. | |||
(Taken for Eric Shragge's Activism and Social Change). | |||
==Direct Action:== | |||
Acting directly to represent our interest ourselves. | |||
Direct Action Refers to any action that cuts out the middle man and solves problems directly, without appealing to elected representatives, corporate interests, and other powers. | |||
Direct action=results. | |||
Even if the results are not perfect, direct action process allows for the gain of experience, contacts, networks, and organizations. | |||
Have a real say in society. | |||
Direct action makes us familiar with our own resources and capabilities. Power of individual and collectivity. Issues are directly raised through direct action and direct action can be applied at anytime, and in all aspects of life. | |||
Direct Action puts power into the hands that it originates from. | |||
Direct Action Tips: | |||
Know what you are talking about. Research! | |||
Timing, Symbolism, and Location, Location, Location. | |||
Know Your rights. Know what you are getting into. | |||
Know your resources, including networks, media, allies and other groups. | |||
Planning is key | |||
Evaluate and follow up. Take the neccessary next steps. | |||
Direct Action Examples: | |||
People start their own organization to share food with the hungry, instead of just voting for a candidate who promises to ‘solve the homeless problem’. Zines, flyers,community gardens,workshops, co-ops,workplace unions, community groups. | |||
(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas; and “Dont Vote-Organize.) | |||
==Community Development/Organizing:== | |||
is about changing relationships between the governors and the governed, national ideals and local realities, technology and humanity. (Taken from Community Organizing: Canadian Experiences, by Brian Wharf, and Michael Clague). | |||
Is about redistributing power and resources. (Taken from Community Organizing: Canadian Experiences, by Brian Wharf, and Michael Clague). | |||
Is a site where people learn the true value of their work and how the dominant system excludes them (Friere). | |||
==Incorporation== | |||
Why incorporate? Some funding options, such as certain government grants and charitable | |||
foundations, will only grant money to incorporated non-profit organizations. | |||
Incorporation can provide advantages for an organization. It provides a legal structure that stays in place even as the active members change over the years. An incorporated non-profit can enter into contracts and have its own bank accounts. Also liabilities are limited to Inc though there are exception such as any tax owing to Govt, the board of directors will be held responsible personaly. | |||
What is incorporation: | |||
When you incorporate, you are establishing an artificial entity that is considered to be a legal person and is registered with a provincial and/or federal enterprise registrar. In Quebec, the provincial enterprise registrar is called Registraire des entreprises (www.registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca). The federal enterprise registrar is run by Industry Canada and called Strategis (www.ic.gc.ca). Once your organization is incorporated, some information about it will be available in a register for the public to see (your address, your last submitted list board of directors, whether you filed your annual documents on time, etc.). | |||
An incorporated non-profit organization must follow certain requirements by law. Here is a summary of some of the obligations for non-profit organizations incorporated with the province of Quebec: | |||
* The organization must have a governing board of directors with at least | |||
three directors who are elected by the members. | |||
* The organization must create and follow its bylaws or “règlements | |||
généraux” (also called the constitution by some organizations) which | |||
contain the general rules of how the organization should operate. Some | |||
of the rules you will find in the bylaws include: | |||
** who is eligible to be a member of the organization; | |||
**when the annual general meeting are held; and | |||
** how elections for board members occurs. | |||
*Depending on the organization’s circumstances and activities, the nonprofit | |||
organization may also have to meet other requirements including | |||
filing annual tax returns, paying the provincial and federal government | |||
remittances and source deductions for their employees, registering | |||
volunteers and employees for CSST (the Quebec government’s public | |||
insurance plan for work-related injuries), and applying for municipal and | |||
sales tax exemption. | |||
==Charity:== | |||
Registering as a charity is a process through the Canada Revenue Agency, different from registering as a non-profit organization. Organizations that have charitable status are exempt from income tax and can issue tax receipts for donations. Further, some funding options are only available to non-profit organizations that also have registered charitable status. | |||
Charities need to make sure that most of their resources are spent on charitable activities. According to the Canada Revenue Agency, charitable activities are distinct from political activities. Depending on the size of your organization, only 10% to 20% of your resources can be spent on nonpartisan political activities every year. This is often referred to as “the 10% rule” although the percentage varies according to the overall annual income of your organization. | |||
Are all types of political activities allowed? | |||
No, only non-partisan political activities are allowed. All partisan political activities are strictly prohibited. Illegal activities, are, of course, also forbidden. | |||
What are partisan political activities? | |||
The Canada Revenue Agency defines a partisan political activity as “one that involves direct or indirect support of, or opposition to, any political party or candidate for public office”. A charity can never endorse or oppose a political party or candidate at any government level. Partisan political activities are prohibited activities. Failure to comply with this rule can have serious consequences and result in an organization losing its charitable status. The Canada Revenue Agency (cra.gc.ca) defines non-partisan activities as anything that explicitly calls for a “law, policy or decision of any level of government” to be “retained, opposed or changed”. Non-partisan political activities are the only type of political activities charities can organize or participate in. | |||
So with these rules and guidelines in place, we can see that Charity Status allows: | |||
*Monitoring and control social justice movements. | |||
*Diversion of public money into private hands. | |||
*Manage and control dissent in order to make the world safe for capitalism. | |||
*Redirect activist energies into career-based organizing, instead of mass-based organizing capable of transforming society. | |||
*Allow corporations to mask their exploitative/colonial work via philanthropy. | |||
*Encourage social movements to model themselves after capitalist structures instead of challenging them. | |||
(Taken from Andrea Smith, the Revolution Will Not be Funded) | |||
NGOs: | |||
*Private sub-contractors instead of local governments, subsidized by corporate and private funders. | |||
*Not accountable to local people. | |||
*Divert funds from local people. | |||
*Programs are shaped around western ideals/values. | |||
*Subordinates local movement leadership to NGO leadership. | |||
(From James Petras in Imperialism and NGOs in Latin America). | |||
YOUR FIRST STEP TO SELLING OUT. BECOME CO-OPTED. KEEP WITHIN THE TRADITION OF CHARITY NOT SOCIAL CHANGE. EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT. BUSINESS AS USUAL. YOU CANT CHANGE THE WORLD. BE REALISTIC. I WENT TO SCHOOL FOR THIS. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN A SUIT. DONATING AND HELPING POOR PEOPLE. IF RELIGION CANT EXPLAIN IT, SCIENCE WILL. | |||
==Education:== | |||
*"...vision of progressive revolutionary change was based of the role of critical education in achieving mass political consciousness with democratic, grassroots base rather than an elite leadership"-(Margaret Ledwith in Community Development: A Critical Approach, talking of Antonio Gramsci). | |||
*Midwest Academy Strategy Chart: P. 156 from E. Shragge 1st course pack. | |||
*As social anarchists we inherit a body of theory (based on experience) that appears to grow more powerful as time passes. For us an analysis of power relations that locates oppression in hierarchy and domination gives us insights into many contemporary social movements -- insights that many in these movements may miss themselves. However, while we have the bare bones of an overarching social theory, we are obliged to learn from the new social movements in order to flesh out that theory. Thus we actively listen and learn from people of color about Eurocentrism and other forms of racism, from gay and lesbian activists about heterosexism and homophobia, from animal advocates about speciesism, etc.colin wright | |||
==Dos/donts/tips/tricks== | ==Dos/donts/tips/tricks== | ||
===Meetings=== | |||
Tips for Meetings: | |||
1) Tone and Body Language: | |||
Be aware of how your attitude influences others as well as the effectiveness of the meeting. Make thoughtful comments that maintain a positive and constructive vibe. | |||
2) Stay on Topic/Make Concise Statements: | |||
Respect the goals of the meeting by making succinct comments that pertain directly to objectives addressed in the agenda. Evaluate your comments as to whether they assist or divert the direction of the meeting. | |||
3) Step Back, Step Up: | |||
Notice how much you raise your hand and/or speak. Be aware of others who have not spoken and the environment in which they would feel comfortable to do so. If you aren’t speaking but have something to add, assert yourself with the understanding that your comment will be heard and respected. Don’t simply wait for your turn to talk. LISTEN. | |||
4) No Offense/Defense: | |||
Meetings should not be about winners and losers or personal attacks. Offensive and defensive behaviour and accusations detract from the objectives of the meeting. Be sensible about the intentions of others by giving them the benefit of the doubt. | |||
5) Respect the Role of the Facilitator | |||
Help the facilitator make the meeting effective. This does not mean pointing out minor mistakes, but rather allowing the facilitator to do their job to better the outcome of the meeting. It is not a personal attack when the facilitator fails to put you on the stack in the correct order. | |||
6) We're in this Together: | |||
Meetings of activists and organizations generally would not happen if the people in them weren’t committed to similar ideas and held similar values. Try to keep in mind that a grassroots organization is a joint effort which requires a healthy, positive, give and take atmosphere. Meetings should be productive in order to leave with specific plans and that great feeling of achievement and solidarity! | |||
(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.) | |||
*Zine Library | *Zine Library | ||
http://zinelibrary.info/ | http://zinelibrary.info/ | ||
===Art== | |||
Claire Fontaine- Ready-Made Artist and Human Strike http://zinelibrary.info/ready-made-artist-and-human-strike | =Mel= | ||
==International/Solidarity== | |||
“A downtrodden class … will never be able to make an effective protest until it achieves solidarity” (H.G. Wells). | |||
If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. | |||
Aboriginal activists group, Queensland, 1970s: | |||
Martin Niemoller: | |||
In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up. | |||
SOLIDARITY | |||
Solidarity can be defined in many different ways, but usually consists of a unity of different groups that is based on same interest and objectives. There is a focus on cooperation. Through this cooperation there is power in numbers. Key elements of solidarity include education coupled with action, and local empowerment with global connections. | |||
Examples of Solidarity: | |||
*Fair trade organizations. | |||
*Worker co-operatives. | |||
*Open Source Technology. | |||
*Autonomous Social Centres | |||
*No One is Illegal | |||
*Resistance 2010 | |||
*Solidarity Across Borders | |||
==Art/Photographs/Spoken Word/Symbols== | |||
Art | |||
*Claire Fontaine- Ready-Made Artist and Human Strike http://zinelibrary.info/ready-made-artist-and-human-strike | |||
"What I'm trying to do is point to a future when art will no longer exist as a category seperate from life."-Jerry Dreva | "What I'm trying to do is point to a future when art will no longer exist as a category seperate from life."-Jerry Dreva | ||
== | *culture that is part of liberation | ||
== | ==Vox Pop/Word in the Herd== | ||
==Womyn== | |||
== | *Men in Feminism: Men must struggle to create for themselves a kind of experience of their own gender location which male supremacy has forbidden.Sandra Harding ( p.286) | ||
*Feminism and the Liberal/Radical Split: the achievement of full freedom for women (all women, not a privileged few) presupposes such profound economic, social and political changes that, were such a historical development to take place, the present status quo could not and would not survive. Hester Eisenstein (p. xvii) | |||
*A serious anarchism must also be feminist, otherwise it is a question of patriarchal half-anarchism, and not real anarchism. Anarchist Federation of Norway | |||
*Feminist radicals, in contrast to feminist liberals, believe that the entire system -- patriarchal liberalism -- is a flawed construct, designed by and for men in their own interest. Thus, for these feminists, feminism is nothing less than revolutionary. | |||
*Co-optation leads to grassroots feminist organizations becoming services in and of themselves, and extensions of the social services delivery system. | |||
==Space:== | |||
People must be highly organized and active to influence power...need to create space to organize, create, build organizations to increase their power, capacity, and influence. | |||
Site where people learn true value of their work and how dominant system excludes them. Teaching of history if the oppression of particular groups so that community members can understand, articulate, and recognize the forces that oppressed them...raises political consciousness. | |||
People need a space to share experiences and knowledge, be creative. | |||
Workshops | |||
Setting up a safe space: | |||
*Welcoming | |||
*Accessible | |||
*Values statement | |||
*knowledgeable staff or volunteers | |||
==Glossary== | |||
**anti-imperialism: | |||
**\'liminal space\': a space of transformation between phases of separation and reincorporation. It represents a period of ambiguity, of marginal and transitional state.Victor Turner | |||
**White Supremacy: White supremacy is an historically based, institutionally perpetuated system of exploitation and oppression of continents, nations and peoples of color by white peoples and nations of the European continent; for the purpose of maintaining and defending a system of wealth, power and privilege. (From Colours of Resistance). | |||
**co-optation: Co-optation, that is the assimilation of something different into the mainstream, is a constant problem for any political movement. | |||
**Direct Action: Acting directly to represent our interest ourselves. Refers to any action that cuts out the middle man and solves problems directly, eithout appealing to elected reps, corporate interests, and other powers. (taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.) | **Direct Action: Acting directly to represent our interest ourselves. Refers to any action that cuts out the middle man and solves problems directly, eithout appealing to elected reps, corporate interests, and other powers. (taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.) | ||
**Consensus: A process which requires an environment in which all contributions are valued and participation is encouraged.(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.) | **Consensus: A process which requires an environment in which all contributions are valued and participation is encouraged.(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.) | ||
**Privilege: Special rights, advantages, or immunity granted to, or assumed by, certain groups and considered by them as their right; for example in the United States, privilege accrues mostly to whites, to heterosexual people, and most of all, to white, heterosexual males. | **Privilege: Special rights, advantages, or immunity granted to, or assumed by, certain groups and considered by them as their right; for example in the United States, privilege accrues mostly to whites, to heterosexual people, and most of all, to white, heterosexual males. | ||
**Intervention: Action to change a situation for the better; a deliberate, organized effort to improve the circumstances of one or more individuals by altering the environment, policies, and/or circumstances facing or affecting those individuals | **Intervention: Action to change a situation for the better; a deliberate, organized effort to improve the circumstances of one or more individuals by altering the environment, policies, and/or circumstances facing or affecting those individuals | ||
Line 56: | Line 279: | ||
**Collectives:A collective is a permanent organizational grouping that exists to accomplish a range of tasks or achieve a goal or maintain a permanent project. | **Collectives:A collective is a permanent organizational grouping that exists to accomplish a range of tasks or achieve a goal or maintain a permanent project. | ||
**Federation: Federations are essentially unions of autonomous organizations and/or affinity groups. Federations are formal organizations with constitutions, bylaws, and specific membership guidelines.(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.) | **Federation: Federations are essentially unions of autonomous organizations and/or affinity groups. Federations are formal organizations with constitutions, bylaws, and specific membership guidelines.(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.) | ||
**Direct Democracy : Literal direct democracy is a bottom up method of decision making that uses voting as the means to arrive at decisions. In direct democracy, anyone can call a vote on an issue and anyone can technically call an assembly, however, a group or council can draft and approve guidelines for calling votes and calling assemblies.(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.) | **Direct Democracy : Literal direct democracy is a bottom up method of decision making that uses voting as the means to arrive at decisions. In direct democracy, anyone can call a vote on an issue and anyone can technically call an assembly, however, a group or council can draft and approve guidelines for calling votes and calling assemblies.(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.) | ||
*Anarchism: "While the popular understanding of anarchism is of a violent, anti-State movement, anarchism is a much more subtle and nuanced tradition then a simple opposition to government power. Anarchists oppose the idea that power and domination are necessary for society, and instead advocate more co-operative, anti-hierarchical forms of social, political and economic organisation." (The Politics of Individualism, p. 106) L. Susan Brown | *Anarchism: "While the popular understanding of anarchism is of a violent, anti-State movement, anarchism is a much more subtle and nuanced tradition then a simple opposition to government power. Anarchists oppose the idea that power and domination are necessary for society, and instead advocate more co-operative, anti-hierarchical forms of social, political and economic organisation." (The Politics of Individualism, p. 106) L. Susan Brown | ||
*Despite the popular idea of anarchists as violent men, Anarchism is the one non-violent social philosophy.… The function of the Anarchist is two-fold. By daily courage in non-cooperation with the tyrannical forces of the State and the Church, he helps to tear down present society; the Anarchist by daily cooperation with his fellows in overcoming evil with good-will and solidarity builds toward the anarchistic commonwealth which is formed by voluntary action with the right of secession. | *Despite the popular idea of anarchists as violent men, Anarchism is the one non-violent social philosophy.… The function of the Anarchist is two-fold. By daily courage in non-cooperation with the tyrannical forces of the State and the Church, he helps to tear down present society; the Anarchist by daily cooperation with his fellows in overcoming evil with good-will and solidarity builds toward the anarchistic commonwealth which is formed by voluntary action with the right of secession. | ||
— Ammon Hennacy, The Book of Ammon, 1964 | — Ammon Hennacy, The Book of Ammon, 1964 | ||
*Community : | *Community :Part of the problem here is that the word has multiple meanings and can refer to small geographical communities (such as neighbourhoods or estates), social | ||
networks (online communities) or interest groups that serve a particular purpose (eg. Gay and lesbian activist communities). | |||
*Organizing : This term can mean different things to different communities. Organizing can refer to the process of base building and strengthening social movements by working with people in affected communities to define their objectives, and co-creating a strategy to achieve those objectives. Other organizing models focus more on engaging people outside of affected communities to support an issue or campaign. Yes, there is a tension between the two. Organizing activities, no matter the tactical model, can include education, outreach, power mapping, advocacy, civil disobedience, long-term relationship building, and targeting decision makers to affect policy. | |||
Social action : | Social action : | ||
Marginalized : | Marginalized :Marginalization is a form of oppression. Lack of capacity to participate politically, socially and culturally. Whole category of peoples, for example but not limited to people of colour, old people, unemployed, youth, single mothers, dis/abled is expelled from useful partcipation in social life and thus potentially subjected to severe material depravation and extermination. (from Iris Marion Young from Five Faces of Oppression). | ||
Power : | Power : Social division of those who have authority, status. Ability to affect change. | ||
Process : | Process : | ||
Sustainable : | Sustainable : | ||
Grassroots : | Grassroots :refers to bottom-up political processes which are driven by groups of ordinary citizens, as opposed to larger institutions or wealthy individuals with concentrated vested interests in particular policies. | ||
Change : | Change : | ||
Capacity building : | Capacity building : meaning developing the capacity and skills of the members of a community in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society. Providing opportunities for people to learn through experience - opportunities. Involving people in collective effort so that they gain confidence in their own abilities and their ability to influence decisions that affect them. | ||
Solidarity : | Solidarity : Unite people towards a common ends and unity. Based on mutual trust | ||
Structure : | Structure : | ||
System(ic) : | System(ic) : | ||
**Safe space: A place where anyone can relax and be fully self-expressed, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe on account of biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, age, or physical or mental ability; a place where the rules guard each person's self-respect and dignity and strongly encourage everyone to respect others | **Safe space: A place where anyone can relax and be fully self-expressed, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe on account of biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, age, or physical or mental ability; a place where the rules guard each person's self-respect and dignity and strongly encourage everyone to respect others | ||
**Oppression : Refers to the subordination, marginalization, and exclusion from society of these groups, thereby denying them social justice, citizenship, and full democratic rights to participate in society. (Margaret Ledwith in Community Development: A Critical Approach). Oppression is structural and refers to the vast and deep injustices some folks suffer as a consequence of often unconscious assumptions and reactions of well-meaning people in ordinary interactions, media, and cultural stereoptypes, and structural features of bureaucratic hierarchies and market mechanisms. (Taken from Iris Marion Young, Five Faces of Oppression). | **Oppression : Refers to the subordination, marginalization, and exclusion from society of these groups, thereby denying them social justice, citizenship, and full democratic rights to participate in society. (Margaret Ledwith in Community Development: A Critical Approach). Oppression is structural and refers to the vast and deep injustices some folks suffer as a consequence of often unconscious assumptions and reactions of well-meaning people in ordinary interactions, media, and cultural stereoptypes, and structural features of bureaucratic hierarchies and market mechanisms. (Taken from Iris Marion Young, Five Faces of Oppression). | ||
*Tripple Oppression: The theory states that a connection exists between various types of oppression, specifically classism, racism, and sexism. It hypothesizes that you must strike concurrently at all three types of oppression to overcome the oppression. | |||
**Sexual minority: An umbrella term for people whose sexuality is expressed in less common ways; may include people who self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, Two-Spirit, third gender, and so on. | **Sexual minority: An umbrella term for people whose sexuality is expressed in less common ways; may include people who self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, Two-Spirit, third gender, and so on. | ||
**Two-Spirit: A term whose definition varies across Native American cultures, but which generally means a person born with one biological sex and fulfilling at least some of the gender roles assigned to both sexes; often considered part male and part female or wholly male and wholly female; often revered as natural peace makers as well as healers and shamans. | **Two-Spirit: A term whose definition varies across Native American cultures, but which generally means a person born with one biological sex and fulfilling at least some of the gender roles assigned to both sexes; often considered part male and part female or wholly male and wholly female; often revered as natural peace makers as well as healers and shamans. | ||
Anti-oppression | **Oppression: refers to a social dynamic in which certain ways of being in this world--including certain ways of identifying or being identified--are normalized or privileged while other ways are disadvantaged or marginalized. Forms of oppression include racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, anti-Semitism, ablism, colonialism, and other "isms." | ||
**Anti-Oppression: aims to challenge multiple forms of oppression. | |||
advocacy : | advocacy : | ||
Poor : | Poor : | ||
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Cooperative : | Cooperative : | ||
===Community org. and CED practice (J.Panet Raymond's coursepack) | =Kamala= | ||
Radicalism (historical) | |||
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | |||
Jump to: navigation, search | |||
For opposition to all forms of government, social hierarchy or authority, see Anarchism. For other meanings see also radical, extremism, far-right and far-left. Radicalism as a political movement should be distinguished from the modern American usage of radical merely to denote political extremes of right or left. | |||
The term Radical (from the Latin radix meaning root) was used during the late 18th century for proponents of the Radical Movement. It later become a general term for those favoring or seeking political reforms which include dramatic changes to the social order. Historically, early radical aims of liberty and electoral reform in Great Britain widened with the American Revolution and French Revolution so that some radicals sought republicanism, abolition of titles, redistribution of property and freedom of the press. Initially identifying itself as a far left party opposed to the liberal Orleanists, the Legitimists and the Bonapartists in France in the nineteenth century, the Republican, Radical and Radical‐Socialist Party progressively became the most important party of the Third Republic (1871 – 1940). As historical Radicalism became absorbed in the development of political liberalism, in the later 19th century in both the United Kingdom and continental Europe the term Radical came to denote a progressive liberal ideology. | |||
In my opinion, racalism has been existing ever since the creation of plants,animal,reptiels etc have been there. | |||
It is about caring others,voicing out for oppressed and marginalized. | |||
How one cares for and other does not. Does someone acquire it by learning or you inherite it by nature or you realize and answer your inner call sooner or later. I would say Eric Shragge is someone who answered the call early when he was sixteen, .It is like other feelings such as love,selfish etc | |||
I notice in wikipedia,Talking about radicalism, in 1800'S it started becoming popular the word radicalism but the action has been there ever since the ceration. | |||
But the difference after 1800s and before 1800s though in reality not much differece in civilization only in writings and preaching not in action. The power you have what are all about,even the meaning is different from what the books say, it could be twisted as ones tongue could be so long the power is in your hand. | |||
In early days, people had opposed the invasion,the power put you in a corner and you are not able to come out of it. That created low class people. It is because there were radical who opposed the invasion and they became more oppressed and not able to live like other co citizens. | |||
The radicals were oppressed. If they were no radicals there would not be indegineous people in the world. | |||
I would like to talk about a book written by | |||
==Organizations== | |||
==Organizations== | |||
Let us look at some radical organizations: | |||
Solidarity across the boder, | |||
Immigrant workers center, | |||
peoples commission, | |||
Tadomon, | |||
center for philipines concern, | |||
no one is ilegal, | |||
The above are a few that are radical challenging the system for social issues,human rights,labor rights etc | |||
I just want to talk about one organization here how radical it is and how did it become radical. | |||
They are radical because they do more advocacy | |||
They are radicals for the confidence they have without any state grant to run the organizaiton | |||
They are radicals as they they take up to fight agaist human right violation for people,association that have been banned by the goverments. | |||
They are radicals as challenge provincial/federal decicision | |||
They are radicals by encouraging, educating making you standing for your own rights | |||
They are radical as they they have no fear to bring any issue or problems that are taboo, to light | |||
They are also radical being open,transperant,easy,friendly......clients are respected as such they become involved eventualy,clients become commitee members | |||
What do they(IWC)do, | |||
Case work and advocacy | |||
labour issues and immigration issues | |||
Campaigns | |||
For Lamour textile factory for massive layoffs | |||
Abolish the Delai de carence,a provincial law bans immigrants fro receiving health insurance for the three months of thier permit | |||
CSST doe Domestic Workers | |||
The Tamil action commitiee formed late in 2008 to address the wave of deportation Tamil people to Srilanka where they have been the taget of violence of genocidal proportions. | |||
The Juctice for Anas coalition was formed following the death of Mohammed Anas Bennis,a young man shot death by Montreal police. | |||
The IWC has engaged in this campaign because police brutality and profiling are an unfortunate part of the experince of racialized and immigrant people in Montreal | |||
Workshops | |||
The IWC animates a series of workshops about immigraiton and work issues for community group. | |||
Workshops on labour standards and your rights at work | |||
A step by Step guide to community organization | |||
women's rights | |||
CSST | |||
Immigration status and access to social programs | |||
Skill for change | |||
Computer literacy while incorprating analysis of workpalce situations and labour rights. | |||
==Good/Bad practices== | |||
==Good/Bad practices== | |||
Radicals are so committed ,genuine,have empathy. They get so absorbed and difficult to have balnced life. | |||
Very demanding on time,lot of acrifice needed. once you start it will be never ending ,radical activities become your social activies thus become hard to seperate from your own life.Day to day struggle of others become part of radicals life. | |||
you read a new paper or browse internet all you see where you should bring changes and start marking your calender to attend that will fill your calender. | |||
Bad qualities | |||
You dont take time for yourself,you forget in reality you need money,you need good quality food,shelter etc | |||
AS if you are kind of possesed, | |||
you should have balance in life in order to continue your good work. | |||
difficulties | |||
you are kind of noticed as if you disturbe the peace | |||
you dont mind your business and you are jobless | |||
==Dos/Donts/Tips/Tricks== | |||
==How radicals are used/brainwashed== | |||
How radical are used: being used to bring social change on free of charge where as state has to spend a lot on planning to execution including all kinds of research paying a lot to scholars and experts | |||
They are also brain wased by being flattered that they contribute to society of course free of charge in develoed countries that expect do important work done by volunteer sector. | |||
you should be remunerated by state. How I am yet to find out. | |||
=Other= | |||
==Community org. and CED practice (J.Panet Raymond's coursepack)== | |||
*Self-mobilization : spread if government and NGOs provide an enabling framework of support. Such self-initiated mobilization may or may not challenge existing distributions of wealth and power. | *Self-mobilization : spread if government and NGOs provide an enabling framework of support. Such self-initiated mobilization may or may not challenge existing distributions of wealth and power. | ||
Line 113: | Line 420: | ||
*Ten tools for organizing power (p.59, p.64) | *Ten tools for organizing power (p.59, p.64) | ||
==Activism and social change (shragge)== | |||
*Theory p. 60-61 | *Theory p. 60-61 | ||
*Organizing models : p. 68-69-70 | *Organizing models : p. 68-69-70 | ||
===Crypto-anarchism/techno-anarchism | ==anarchism== | ||
*anarchism is emerging as the radical touchstone for understanding the logic of capitalism, its statist foundations, racism and the predatory relationship to the natural environment undergirding its economic agenda. allan antliff | |||
==Crypto-anarchism/techno-anarchism== | |||
[10:43:42 PM] David H. Mason: well the internet is supposed to be promote autonomism.. check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypto-anarchism ... and there are a lot of libertarian trends.. would be interesting to link them.. hah hah.. libcom is supposed to be include these perspectives, derived from software and media piracy, but you'd also run into cryptography and survivalist types.. http://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Alibcom.org+anarchism+technology | [10:43:42 PM] David H. Mason: well the internet is supposed to be promote autonomism.. check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypto-anarchism ... and there are a lot of libertarian trends.. would be interesting to link them.. hah hah.. libcom is supposed to be include these perspectives, derived from software and media piracy, but you'd also run into cryptography and survivalist types.. http://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Alibcom.org+anarchism+technology | ||
*[10:43:56 PM] Mélanie Hughes: perfect thanks | *[10:43:56 PM] Mélanie Hughes: perfect thanks | ||
*[10:46:07 PM] David H. Mason: well i hope you run across http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Anarchism hah hah | *[10:46:07 PM] David H. Mason: well i hope you run across http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Anarchism hah hah | ||
==quotes== | |||
*Today the task is to make the system comply with the transformation of the world.Raoul Vaneigem | |||
*“The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out, the conservative adopts them.” -Mark Twain | |||
*“Radical simply means grasping things at the root."” Angela Davis | |||
*"If we want a beloved community, we must stand for justice, have recognition for difference without attaching difference to privilege."-bell hooks | |||
*"Feminist education -- the feminist classroom -- is and should be a place where there is a sense of struggle, where there is visible acknowledgment of the union of theory and practice, where we work together as teachers and students to overcome the estrangement and alienation that have become so much the norm in the contemporary university."-bell hooks | |||
*Direct Action Page: “We who in engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive.”-Martin Luther King, Jr. | |||
*Theory Page: "This work deals with a very obvious truth: just as the oppressor, in order to oppress, needs a theory of oppressive action, so the oppressed, in order to become free, also need a theory of action." -Paulo Freire | |||
"Radical: from Latin radic-, radix : of, relating to, or proceeding from a root" -Merriam-Webster Dictionary. |
Latest revision as of 13:28, 12 August 2009
name
rad"ish raising the root
Layout
Page 1:Title Page: Title + image
Page 2: Table of Contents
Page 3: Radical/progressive definitions. (sources internet, interviews and Vox Pop
Page 4: Theory + Community Organizing/Development/Direct Action
Page 5: Space + Image + quotation
Page 6: CED/Economic theory/Charity/Incorporation
Page 7: Education
Page 8: Feminist Perspectives (womyn)
Page 9: Social Change/Movements
Page 10: Glossary
presentation
SOCIAL GRAFFITI
Objective: To involve the class in the workshop/presentation and have them take part in the process of understanding radical activism.
Activity Description:
-several questions will be posted around the classroom -the class will be told that they are about to take part in a brainstorm session (meaning there are no wrong answers) -for 10 minutes (?) the class will move around to the posted questions and answer them in no particular order in any way they think is appropriate
Debrief:
-the facilitator will collect the questions from around the room and bring them to the front of the class -the facilitator will then highlight some of the answer that the class came up with in, point or trends and common answers -questions:
1. Did you find the questions easy/hard to answer? Why? 2. Were you answering the questions from a personal perspective? 3. Were you surprised by other peoples answers? 4. Did these questions raise any new questions for you?
(*Rachel)
Some video links to play at the beginning as space filler? Have a look...V http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w7qF1BPHRs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGLVczDFbTo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCPEBM5ol0Q
presentation order
- YOUTUBE vid (during setting up)
- narrative (ricky) (max 5 mins)
- social graffiti (rachel) (35 minutes)
- intro (2 mins)
- answer questions (10 minutes)
-note:: encourage note taking during clip
- discussion (5 minutes for each question= 20 minutes)
- clips (lise presses play)(15 minutes) *take notes
- present manual (mel) (2 minutes)
- question period (vincia) (whatever time)
social graffiti questions
- what are the challenges of being radical?
- what are some strategies to remain radical?
- what is your definition of radical activism?
- other
- how are your political views reflected in your work?
- how can radical activist deal/resist with co-optation?
- what is co-optation?
- what drives your activism?
- where does your understanding of radical activism come from? (*Rachel)
FINAL call
- what does radical mean to you?
- are you radical?
- what are the challenges of being radical?
- what are the strategies to remain radical?
Ricky
Co-optation
Most community organizations that become coopted do so to survive. The present state of capital has led to difficult situations, high levels of unemployment, and precarious work. Downsizing of state, has resulted in broad cuts to social services.
Dependency on state and foundations money has resulted in an increase in bureaucratization, professionalization, and specialization in order to comply with state and foundation guidelines and rules. While the state is opting out collective responsibility, attacking the concept of universality, democratic rights and putting the burden of social costs on individuals and community, community groups are seen as alternatives to institutions but without the financing. So emphasis is put on service providing, and on immediate needs instead of organizing mass-based movements. Militant/activist work is replaced by voluntarism/specialization/expertism. No longer are community organizations defending the exploited and oppressed and trying to socially change the structures that upholds such oppression and exploitation, but are in fact contributing to such systems.
Theory
Theory needs to be understood as an attempt to make sense of encounters, patterns, and regularities of the world so to predict outcomes of actions, and a better understanding of the world. (taken from Keith Popple's Analysing Community Work: Its Theory and Practice).
Theory explains relationships, envision possibilities. Theory facilitates and improves practical work thus benefits the end result of community organizing. At the same time, the use of theory in practice provides a framework that helps one adapt practice and, as a consequence, be more effective. Understand social and power relationships
Within communities theory is shaped by examining underlying values and constructing a basic social standpoint/stance. And theory about how change can take place, including discussions around human agency and social processes. (Taken for Eric Shragge's Activism and Social Change).
Direct Action:
Acting directly to represent our interest ourselves. Direct Action Refers to any action that cuts out the middle man and solves problems directly, without appealing to elected representatives, corporate interests, and other powers.
Direct action=results. Even if the results are not perfect, direct action process allows for the gain of experience, contacts, networks, and organizations.
Have a real say in society. Direct action makes us familiar with our own resources and capabilities. Power of individual and collectivity. Issues are directly raised through direct action and direct action can be applied at anytime, and in all aspects of life. Direct Action puts power into the hands that it originates from.
Direct Action Tips: Know what you are talking about. Research! Timing, Symbolism, and Location, Location, Location. Know Your rights. Know what you are getting into. Know your resources, including networks, media, allies and other groups. Planning is key Evaluate and follow up. Take the neccessary next steps.
Direct Action Examples: People start their own organization to share food with the hungry, instead of just voting for a candidate who promises to ‘solve the homeless problem’. Zines, flyers,community gardens,workshops, co-ops,workplace unions, community groups.
(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas; and “Dont Vote-Organize.)
Community Development/Organizing:
is about changing relationships between the governors and the governed, national ideals and local realities, technology and humanity. (Taken from Community Organizing: Canadian Experiences, by Brian Wharf, and Michael Clague). Is about redistributing power and resources. (Taken from Community Organizing: Canadian Experiences, by Brian Wharf, and Michael Clague). Is a site where people learn the true value of their work and how the dominant system excludes them (Friere).
Incorporation
Why incorporate? Some funding options, such as certain government grants and charitable foundations, will only grant money to incorporated non-profit organizations. Incorporation can provide advantages for an organization. It provides a legal structure that stays in place even as the active members change over the years. An incorporated non-profit can enter into contracts and have its own bank accounts. Also liabilities are limited to Inc though there are exception such as any tax owing to Govt, the board of directors will be held responsible personaly.
What is incorporation: When you incorporate, you are establishing an artificial entity that is considered to be a legal person and is registered with a provincial and/or federal enterprise registrar. In Quebec, the provincial enterprise registrar is called Registraire des entreprises (www.registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca). The federal enterprise registrar is run by Industry Canada and called Strategis (www.ic.gc.ca). Once your organization is incorporated, some information about it will be available in a register for the public to see (your address, your last submitted list board of directors, whether you filed your annual documents on time, etc.).
An incorporated non-profit organization must follow certain requirements by law. Here is a summary of some of the obligations for non-profit organizations incorporated with the province of Quebec:
- The organization must have a governing board of directors with at least
three directors who are elected by the members.
- The organization must create and follow its bylaws or “règlements
généraux” (also called the constitution by some organizations) which contain the general rules of how the organization should operate. Some of the rules you will find in the bylaws include:
- who is eligible to be a member of the organization;
- when the annual general meeting are held; and
- how elections for board members occurs.
- Depending on the organization’s circumstances and activities, the nonprofit
organization may also have to meet other requirements including filing annual tax returns, paying the provincial and federal government remittances and source deductions for their employees, registering volunteers and employees for CSST (the Quebec government’s public insurance plan for work-related injuries), and applying for municipal and sales tax exemption.
Charity:
Registering as a charity is a process through the Canada Revenue Agency, different from registering as a non-profit organization. Organizations that have charitable status are exempt from income tax and can issue tax receipts for donations. Further, some funding options are only available to non-profit organizations that also have registered charitable status.
Charities need to make sure that most of their resources are spent on charitable activities. According to the Canada Revenue Agency, charitable activities are distinct from political activities. Depending on the size of your organization, only 10% to 20% of your resources can be spent on nonpartisan political activities every year. This is often referred to as “the 10% rule” although the percentage varies according to the overall annual income of your organization.
Are all types of political activities allowed? No, only non-partisan political activities are allowed. All partisan political activities are strictly prohibited. Illegal activities, are, of course, also forbidden.
What are partisan political activities? The Canada Revenue Agency defines a partisan political activity as “one that involves direct or indirect support of, or opposition to, any political party or candidate for public office”. A charity can never endorse or oppose a political party or candidate at any government level. Partisan political activities are prohibited activities. Failure to comply with this rule can have serious consequences and result in an organization losing its charitable status. The Canada Revenue Agency (cra.gc.ca) defines non-partisan activities as anything that explicitly calls for a “law, policy or decision of any level of government” to be “retained, opposed or changed”. Non-partisan political activities are the only type of political activities charities can organize or participate in.
So with these rules and guidelines in place, we can see that Charity Status allows:
- Monitoring and control social justice movements.
- Diversion of public money into private hands.
- Manage and control dissent in order to make the world safe for capitalism.
- Redirect activist energies into career-based organizing, instead of mass-based organizing capable of transforming society.
- Allow corporations to mask their exploitative/colonial work via philanthropy.
- Encourage social movements to model themselves after capitalist structures instead of challenging them.
(Taken from Andrea Smith, the Revolution Will Not be Funded)
NGOs:
- Private sub-contractors instead of local governments, subsidized by corporate and private funders.
- Not accountable to local people.
- Divert funds from local people.
- Programs are shaped around western ideals/values.
- Subordinates local movement leadership to NGO leadership.
(From James Petras in Imperialism and NGOs in Latin America).
YOUR FIRST STEP TO SELLING OUT. BECOME CO-OPTED. KEEP WITHIN THE TRADITION OF CHARITY NOT SOCIAL CHANGE. EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT. BUSINESS AS USUAL. YOU CANT CHANGE THE WORLD. BE REALISTIC. I WENT TO SCHOOL FOR THIS. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN A SUIT. DONATING AND HELPING POOR PEOPLE. IF RELIGION CANT EXPLAIN IT, SCIENCE WILL.
Education:
- "...vision of progressive revolutionary change was based of the role of critical education in achieving mass political consciousness with democratic, grassroots base rather than an elite leadership"-(Margaret Ledwith in Community Development: A Critical Approach, talking of Antonio Gramsci).
- Midwest Academy Strategy Chart: P. 156 from E. Shragge 1st course pack.
- As social anarchists we inherit a body of theory (based on experience) that appears to grow more powerful as time passes. For us an analysis of power relations that locates oppression in hierarchy and domination gives us insights into many contemporary social movements -- insights that many in these movements may miss themselves. However, while we have the bare bones of an overarching social theory, we are obliged to learn from the new social movements in order to flesh out that theory. Thus we actively listen and learn from people of color about Eurocentrism and other forms of racism, from gay and lesbian activists about heterosexism and homophobia, from animal advocates about speciesism, etc.colin wright
Dos/donts/tips/tricks
Meetings
Tips for Meetings: 1) Tone and Body Language: Be aware of how your attitude influences others as well as the effectiveness of the meeting. Make thoughtful comments that maintain a positive and constructive vibe. 2) Stay on Topic/Make Concise Statements: Respect the goals of the meeting by making succinct comments that pertain directly to objectives addressed in the agenda. Evaluate your comments as to whether they assist or divert the direction of the meeting. 3) Step Back, Step Up: Notice how much you raise your hand and/or speak. Be aware of others who have not spoken and the environment in which they would feel comfortable to do so. If you aren’t speaking but have something to add, assert yourself with the understanding that your comment will be heard and respected. Don’t simply wait for your turn to talk. LISTEN. 4) No Offense/Defense: Meetings should not be about winners and losers or personal attacks. Offensive and defensive behaviour and accusations detract from the objectives of the meeting. Be sensible about the intentions of others by giving them the benefit of the doubt. 5) Respect the Role of the Facilitator Help the facilitator make the meeting effective. This does not mean pointing out minor mistakes, but rather allowing the facilitator to do their job to better the outcome of the meeting. It is not a personal attack when the facilitator fails to put you on the stack in the correct order. 6) We're in this Together: Meetings of activists and organizations generally would not happen if the people in them weren’t committed to similar ideas and held similar values. Try to keep in mind that a grassroots organization is a joint effort which requires a healthy, positive, give and take atmosphere. Meetings should be productive in order to leave with specific plans and that great feeling of achievement and solidarity!
(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.)
- Zine Library
Mel
International/Solidarity
“A downtrodden class … will never be able to make an effective protest until it achieves solidarity” (H.G. Wells).
If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. Aboriginal activists group, Queensland, 1970s:
Martin Niemoller:
In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.
SOLIDARITY
Solidarity can be defined in many different ways, but usually consists of a unity of different groups that is based on same interest and objectives. There is a focus on cooperation. Through this cooperation there is power in numbers. Key elements of solidarity include education coupled with action, and local empowerment with global connections.
Examples of Solidarity:
- Fair trade organizations.
- Worker co-operatives.
- Open Source Technology.
- Autonomous Social Centres
- No One is Illegal
- Resistance 2010
- Solidarity Across Borders
Art/Photographs/Spoken Word/Symbols
Art
- Claire Fontaine- Ready-Made Artist and Human Strike http://zinelibrary.info/ready-made-artist-and-human-strike
"What I'm trying to do is point to a future when art will no longer exist as a category seperate from life."-Jerry Dreva
- culture that is part of liberation
Vox Pop/Word in the Herd
Womyn
- Men in Feminism: Men must struggle to create for themselves a kind of experience of their own gender location which male supremacy has forbidden.Sandra Harding ( p.286)
- Feminism and the Liberal/Radical Split: the achievement of full freedom for women (all women, not a privileged few) presupposes such profound economic, social and political changes that, were such a historical development to take place, the present status quo could not and would not survive. Hester Eisenstein (p. xvii)
- A serious anarchism must also be feminist, otherwise it is a question of patriarchal half-anarchism, and not real anarchism. Anarchist Federation of Norway
- Feminist radicals, in contrast to feminist liberals, believe that the entire system -- patriarchal liberalism -- is a flawed construct, designed by and for men in their own interest. Thus, for these feminists, feminism is nothing less than revolutionary.
- Co-optation leads to grassroots feminist organizations becoming services in and of themselves, and extensions of the social services delivery system.
Space:
People must be highly organized and active to influence power...need to create space to organize, create, build organizations to increase their power, capacity, and influence.
Site where people learn true value of their work and how dominant system excludes them. Teaching of history if the oppression of particular groups so that community members can understand, articulate, and recognize the forces that oppressed them...raises political consciousness. People need a space to share experiences and knowledge, be creative. Workshops
Setting up a safe space:
- Welcoming
- Accessible
- Values statement
- knowledgeable staff or volunteers
Glossary
- anti-imperialism:
- \'liminal space\': a space of transformation between phases of separation and reincorporation. It represents a period of ambiguity, of marginal and transitional state.Victor Turner
- White Supremacy: White supremacy is an historically based, institutionally perpetuated system of exploitation and oppression of continents, nations and peoples of color by white peoples and nations of the European continent; for the purpose of maintaining and defending a system of wealth, power and privilege. (From Colours of Resistance).
- co-optation: Co-optation, that is the assimilation of something different into the mainstream, is a constant problem for any political movement.
- Direct Action: Acting directly to represent our interest ourselves. Refers to any action that cuts out the middle man and solves problems directly, eithout appealing to elected reps, corporate interests, and other powers. (taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.)
- Consensus: A process which requires an environment in which all contributions are valued and participation is encouraged.(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.)
- Privilege: Special rights, advantages, or immunity granted to, or assumed by, certain groups and considered by them as their right; for example in the United States, privilege accrues mostly to whites, to heterosexual people, and most of all, to white, heterosexual males.
- Intervention: Action to change a situation for the better; a deliberate, organized effort to improve the circumstances of one or more individuals by altering the environment, policies, and/or circumstances facing or affecting those individuals
- Affinity Group: An affinity group is a small group of 5 to 20 people who work together autonomously on direct actions or other projects. You can form an affinity group with your friends, people from your community, workplace,or organization. Affinity groups challenge top-down decision-making and organizing, and empower those involved to take creative direct action.(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.)
- Collectives:A collective is a permanent organizational grouping that exists to accomplish a range of tasks or achieve a goal or maintain a permanent project.
- Federation: Federations are essentially unions of autonomous organizations and/or affinity groups. Federations are formal organizations with constitutions, bylaws, and specific membership guidelines.(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.)
- Direct Democracy : Literal direct democracy is a bottom up method of decision making that uses voting as the means to arrive at decisions. In direct democracy, anyone can call a vote on an issue and anyone can technically call an assembly, however, a group or council can draft and approve guidelines for calling votes and calling assemblies.(taken from Shawn Ewald's Anarchism in Action: Methods, Tactics, Skills, and Ideas.)
- Anarchism: "While the popular understanding of anarchism is of a violent, anti-State movement, anarchism is a much more subtle and nuanced tradition then a simple opposition to government power. Anarchists oppose the idea that power and domination are necessary for society, and instead advocate more co-operative, anti-hierarchical forms of social, political and economic organisation." (The Politics of Individualism, p. 106) L. Susan Brown
- Despite the popular idea of anarchists as violent men, Anarchism is the one non-violent social philosophy.… The function of the Anarchist is two-fold. By daily courage in non-cooperation with the tyrannical forces of the State and the Church, he helps to tear down present society; the Anarchist by daily cooperation with his fellows in overcoming evil with good-will and solidarity builds toward the anarchistic commonwealth which is formed by voluntary action with the right of secession.
— Ammon Hennacy, The Book of Ammon, 1964
- Community :Part of the problem here is that the word has multiple meanings and can refer to small geographical communities (such as neighbourhoods or estates), social
networks (online communities) or interest groups that serve a particular purpose (eg. Gay and lesbian activist communities).
- Organizing : This term can mean different things to different communities. Organizing can refer to the process of base building and strengthening social movements by working with people in affected communities to define their objectives, and co-creating a strategy to achieve those objectives. Other organizing models focus more on engaging people outside of affected communities to support an issue or campaign. Yes, there is a tension between the two. Organizing activities, no matter the tactical model, can include education, outreach, power mapping, advocacy, civil disobedience, long-term relationship building, and targeting decision makers to affect policy.
Social action : Marginalized :Marginalization is a form of oppression. Lack of capacity to participate politically, socially and culturally. Whole category of peoples, for example but not limited to people of colour, old people, unemployed, youth, single mothers, dis/abled is expelled from useful partcipation in social life and thus potentially subjected to severe material depravation and extermination. (from Iris Marion Young from Five Faces of Oppression). Power : Social division of those who have authority, status. Ability to affect change. Process : Sustainable : Grassroots :refers to bottom-up political processes which are driven by groups of ordinary citizens, as opposed to larger institutions or wealthy individuals with concentrated vested interests in particular policies. Change : Capacity building : meaning developing the capacity and skills of the members of a community in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society. Providing opportunities for people to learn through experience - opportunities. Involving people in collective effort so that they gain confidence in their own abilities and their ability to influence decisions that affect them. Solidarity : Unite people towards a common ends and unity. Based on mutual trust Structure : System(ic) :
- Safe space: A place where anyone can relax and be fully self-expressed, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe on account of biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, age, or physical or mental ability; a place where the rules guard each person's self-respect and dignity and strongly encourage everyone to respect others
- Oppression : Refers to the subordination, marginalization, and exclusion from society of these groups, thereby denying them social justice, citizenship, and full democratic rights to participate in society. (Margaret Ledwith in Community Development: A Critical Approach). Oppression is structural and refers to the vast and deep injustices some folks suffer as a consequence of often unconscious assumptions and reactions of well-meaning people in ordinary interactions, media, and cultural stereoptypes, and structural features of bureaucratic hierarchies and market mechanisms. (Taken from Iris Marion Young, Five Faces of Oppression).
- Tripple Oppression: The theory states that a connection exists between various types of oppression, specifically classism, racism, and sexism. It hypothesizes that you must strike concurrently at all three types of oppression to overcome the oppression.
- Sexual minority: An umbrella term for people whose sexuality is expressed in less common ways; may include people who self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, Two-Spirit, third gender, and so on.
- Two-Spirit: A term whose definition varies across Native American cultures, but which generally means a person born with one biological sex and fulfilling at least some of the gender roles assigned to both sexes; often considered part male and part female or wholly male and wholly female; often revered as natural peace makers as well as healers and shamans.
- Oppression: refers to a social dynamic in which certain ways of being in this world--including certain ways of identifying or being identified--are normalized or privileged while other ways are disadvantaged or marginalized. Forms of oppression include racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, anti-Semitism, ablism, colonialism, and other "isms."
- Anti-Oppression: aims to challenge multiple forms of oppression.
advocacy : Poor : Intervention : Asset-based : Mobilization : Neo-liberal agenda: LGBTQ : Political : Ecological : Non-profit organizations : Incorporation : Social Economy : Cooperative :
Kamala
Radicalism (historical) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search For opposition to all forms of government, social hierarchy or authority, see Anarchism. For other meanings see also radical, extremism, far-right and far-left. Radicalism as a political movement should be distinguished from the modern American usage of radical merely to denote political extremes of right or left. The term Radical (from the Latin radix meaning root) was used during the late 18th century for proponents of the Radical Movement. It later become a general term for those favoring or seeking political reforms which include dramatic changes to the social order. Historically, early radical aims of liberty and electoral reform in Great Britain widened with the American Revolution and French Revolution so that some radicals sought republicanism, abolition of titles, redistribution of property and freedom of the press. Initially identifying itself as a far left party opposed to the liberal Orleanists, the Legitimists and the Bonapartists in France in the nineteenth century, the Republican, Radical and Radical‐Socialist Party progressively became the most important party of the Third Republic (1871 – 1940). As historical Radicalism became absorbed in the development of political liberalism, in the later 19th century in both the United Kingdom and continental Europe the term Radical came to denote a progressive liberal ideology.
In my opinion, racalism has been existing ever since the creation of plants,animal,reptiels etc have been there. It is about caring others,voicing out for oppressed and marginalized. How one cares for and other does not. Does someone acquire it by learning or you inherite it by nature or you realize and answer your inner call sooner or later. I would say Eric Shragge is someone who answered the call early when he was sixteen, .It is like other feelings such as love,selfish etc I notice in wikipedia,Talking about radicalism, in 1800'S it started becoming popular the word radicalism but the action has been there ever since the ceration. But the difference after 1800s and before 1800s though in reality not much differece in civilization only in writings and preaching not in action. The power you have what are all about,even the meaning is different from what the books say, it could be twisted as ones tongue could be so long the power is in your hand. In early days, people had opposed the invasion,the power put you in a corner and you are not able to come out of it. That created low class people. It is because there were radical who opposed the invasion and they became more oppressed and not able to live like other co citizens. The radicals were oppressed. If they were no radicals there would not be indegineous people in the world. I would like to talk about a book written by
==Organizations==
Organizations
Let us look at some radical organizations: Solidarity across the boder, Immigrant workers center, peoples commission, Tadomon, center for philipines concern, no one is ilegal, The above are a few that are radical challenging the system for social issues,human rights,labor rights etc I just want to talk about one organization here how radical it is and how did it become radical. They are radical because they do more advocacy They are radicals for the confidence they have without any state grant to run the organizaiton They are radicals as they they take up to fight agaist human right violation for people,association that have been banned by the goverments. They are radicals as challenge provincial/federal decicision They are radicals by encouraging, educating making you standing for your own rights They are radical as they they have no fear to bring any issue or problems that are taboo, to light They are also radical being open,transperant,easy,friendly......clients are respected as such they become involved eventualy,clients become commitee members What do they(IWC)do, Case work and advocacy labour issues and immigration issues Campaigns For Lamour textile factory for massive layoffs Abolish the Delai de carence,a provincial law bans immigrants fro receiving health insurance for the three months of thier permit CSST doe Domestic Workers The Tamil action commitiee formed late in 2008 to address the wave of deportation Tamil people to Srilanka where they have been the taget of violence of genocidal proportions. The Juctice for Anas coalition was formed following the death of Mohammed Anas Bennis,a young man shot death by Montreal police. The IWC has engaged in this campaign because police brutality and profiling are an unfortunate part of the experince of racialized and immigrant people in Montreal Workshops The IWC animates a series of workshops about immigraiton and work issues for community group. Workshops on labour standards and your rights at work A step by Step guide to community organization women's rights CSST Immigration status and access to social programs Skill for change Computer literacy while incorprating analysis of workpalce situations and labour rights.
Good/Bad practices
Good/Bad practices
Radicals are so committed ,genuine,have empathy. They get so absorbed and difficult to have balnced life. Very demanding on time,lot of acrifice needed. once you start it will be never ending ,radical activities become your social activies thus become hard to seperate from your own life.Day to day struggle of others become part of radicals life. you read a new paper or browse internet all you see where you should bring changes and start marking your calender to attend that will fill your calender.
Bad qualities You dont take time for yourself,you forget in reality you need money,you need good quality food,shelter etc AS if you are kind of possesed,
you should have balance in life in order to continue your good work.
difficulties you are kind of noticed as if you disturbe the peace you dont mind your business and you are jobless
Dos/Donts/Tips/Tricks
How radicals are used/brainwashed
How radical are used: being used to bring social change on free of charge where as state has to spend a lot on planning to execution including all kinds of research paying a lot to scholars and experts
They are also brain wased by being flattered that they contribute to society of course free of charge in develoed countries that expect do important work done by volunteer sector. you should be remunerated by state. How I am yet to find out.
Other
Community org. and CED practice (J.Panet Raymond's coursepack)
- Self-mobilization : spread if government and NGOs provide an enabling framework of support. Such self-initiated mobilization may or may not challenge existing distributions of wealth and power.
Pretty’s typology of participation (1995) p.46
- Space :
p.47
- Participation :
p.48, p.50 p.62. Community org. and CED practice
- Organizing :
p.53, p. 54, p.58 - SIMs : single issue mobilisation - approaches; community development and social action p.55, 56
- Ten tools for organizing power (p.59, p.64)
Activism and social change (shragge)
- Theory p. 60-61
- Organizing models : p. 68-69-70
anarchism
- anarchism is emerging as the radical touchstone for understanding the logic of capitalism, its statist foundations, racism and the predatory relationship to the natural environment undergirding its economic agenda. allan antliff
Crypto-anarchism/techno-anarchism
[10:43:42 PM] David H. Mason: well the internet is supposed to be promote autonomism.. check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypto-anarchism ... and there are a lot of libertarian trends.. would be interesting to link them.. hah hah.. libcom is supposed to be include these perspectives, derived from software and media piracy, but you'd also run into cryptography and survivalist types.. http://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Alibcom.org+anarchism+technology
- [10:43:56 PM] Mélanie Hughes: perfect thanks
- [10:46:07 PM] David H. Mason: well i hope you run across http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Anarchism hah hah
quotes
- Today the task is to make the system comply with the transformation of the world.Raoul Vaneigem
- “The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out, the conservative adopts them.” -Mark Twain
- “Radical simply means grasping things at the root."” Angela Davis
- "If we want a beloved community, we must stand for justice, have recognition for difference without attaching difference to privilege."-bell hooks
- "Feminist education -- the feminist classroom -- is and should be a place where there is a sense of struggle, where there is visible acknowledgment of the union of theory and practice, where we work together as teachers and students to overcome the estrangement and alienation that have become so much the norm in the contemporary university."-bell hooks
- Direct Action Page: “We who in engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive.”-Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Theory Page: "This work deals with a very obvious truth: just as the oppressor, in order to oppress, needs a theory of oppressive action, so the oppressed, in order to become free, also need a theory of action." -Paulo Freire
"Radical: from Latin radic-, radix : of, relating to, or proceeding from a root" -Merriam-Webster Dictionary.