[Antiracism] [Workers' Rights] Solidarity Economy Forum 3/19-22
WMass Jobs With Justice
wmjwj at wmjwj.org
Thu Feb 26 08:54:17 EST 2009
From:
Emily Kawano, Exec. Dir., Center for Popular Economics, 413-545-0743,
emily at populareconomics.org
The Forum on the Solidarity Economy is happening soon. You can register
online <http://www.ussen.org/> . Hope to see you there.
The U.S. Solidarity Economy Network
invites you to the first national
Forum on the Solidarity Economy:
Building Another World
March 19-22, 2009 w Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst
Co-convened with Universidad de los Andes (Venezuela) & RIPESS-N.A.
(Intercontinental Social Solidarity Network-N. America)
The first U.S. Forum on the Solidarity Economy aims to bring together a
diverse array of people and organizations to share ideas and practices, to
forge new connections, and to build a more powerful and cohesive movement
for a just, democratic and sustainable economy. This four day conference
will include an inspiring range of solidarity economy tours, workshops,
plenaries and cultural events. We invite solidarity economy practitioners
and resource organizations, social movement activists, workers, academics,
students, researchers, cultural workers, journalists and other fellow
travelers, to come and be part of the growing global movement to build
'another economy' and 'another world'.
What is the solidarity economy?
The Solidarity Economy (SE) is an alternative framework for economic
development that is grounded in principles of solidarity, equity in all
dimensions, participatory democracy, sustainability and pluralism. The
solidarity economy framework seeks transformation rather than band-aid
solutions, yet rejects one-size-fits-all blueprints. It isn't abstract
theory nor pie in the sky utopianism. Rather, it pulls together and builds
upon the many elements of the solidarity economy that already exist. Some
are new innovations, some are old. Other elements have yet to be realized or
even imagined, and the journey of creation is ongoing.
Growing Movement
A vibrant movement for another economy is growing in the U.S. and around the
world. People are working together to build an economy that is grounded in
principles of social solidarity, cooperation, egalitarianism, sustainability
and economic democracy.
Indeed, we need not build a new economy from scratch; the seeds of a robust
solidarity economy are already planted. Many features of existing economies
are likely 'keepers', for example, environmental protections, minimum wage
and labor regulations and public education. Other elements of the solidarity
economy could be characterized as 'economic alternatives' such as worker,
consumer and housing cooperatives, land trusts, social currencies, community
supported agriculture, social investment funds, participatory budgeting,
green technologies, and the commons movement. Solidarity economy practices
are also powerfully rooted in social and economic justice movements that are
organizing against the oppression of women, people of color, poor people,
people with disabilities, workers, immigrants, indigenous peoples and
against the destruction of the planet.
Taken together, all of these elements offer stepping stones toward a new way
of organizing our economy that social movements around the world are calling
the "solidarity economy." There is a growing global movement to advance this
framework as an alternative to the failed model of neoliberal,
<http://?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=a9SCC6X1Wbg&am=x_k6ocT3aCEJBf1qUObqFA#11ec
a9ed18df2e58_11eca9d1411dc0b6_11cc4c8880010e04_11cc4b9632a0bee9__ftn1> [1]
corporate-dominated globalization.
While some elements of the solidarity economy have existed for hundreds of
years, the framework itself is young and still evolving. Defining the
solidarity economy is an ongoing process of practice, research, reflection,
discussion, and debate, and we look forward to engaging with all of you with
open minds and spirits.
Why a Forum on the Solidarity Economy
We face today an historic opening to create and push for a new framework for
social and economic development - one that puts people and planet before
private profits and power. There are serious cracks in the ruling model of
economic globalization that we call neoliberalism. Its policies that
privilege big corporations and Wall Street have contributed very generously
to the crisis that we currently face: a world sliding into a serious
economic downturn, greased by a teetering financial system, an obscene
divide between rich and poor, deepening poverty, growing unemployment,
rising food and energy prices, and climate change.
Its global promoters - the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and
the World Trade Organization are dogged by protesters and beleaguered by
criticism from outside and inside their ranks. In Brazil, Venezuela, Chile,
Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia, left-leaning governments
have been swept to power under the banner of anti-neoliberalism.
Ironically, the global penetration of neoliberalism has created conditions
of misery and poverty that are fueling the growth of the solidarity economy.
In the midst of growing inequality and corporate power, government cutbacks,
privatization and de-regulation, many people and communities are building
pieces of the solidarity economy. These may be acts of resistance, idealism,
practicality, survival or desperation. In Brazil and Venezuela
<http://?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=a9SCC6X1Wbg&am=x_k6ocT3aCEJBf1qUObqFA#11ec
a9ed18df2e58_11eca9d1411dc0b6_11cc4c8880010e04_11cc4b9632a0bee9__ftn2> [2]
the government and grassroots are working together to foster the social
solidarity economy with remarkable success.
In the context of the current economic crisis and the possible death throes
of neoliberalism, we have an opportunity to push for a fundamental
transformation in our economic and social system, one in which the very
assumptions about 'what the economy is for' are challenged and transformed.
Is the economy about maximizing profits and growth, producing and consuming
ever more and more, and a rising stock market? Or should it be about people,
our communities, connecting with family, friends, neighbors, kindred spirits
and fellow humans; decent healthcare, jobs, education, and a healthy
environment; opportunities to realize the best of our human potential; and
the ability to have a say in how we achieve all of this? The solidarity
economy is a global movement to push for the latter kind of economy.
<http://?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=a9SCC6X1Wbg&am=x_k6ocT3aCEJBf1qUObqFA#11ec
a9ed18df2e58_11eca9d1411dc0b6_11cc4c8880010e04_11cc4b9632a0bee9__ftn3> [3]
While the U.S. has many solidarity economy practices and institutions, the
term itself is almost unknown in this country. This Forum on the Solidarity
Economy seeks to remedy that. In the midst of what has been called the worst
economic crisis since the Great Depression, it is time to build the
solidarity economy in the U.S and link up with the global movement for
economic and social transformation. The Forum will be a space to meet,
network, learn, discuss, debate, share, strategize, tour the local
solidarity economy, celebrate and join the movement.
Aims of the Forum
1) Raise awareness and understanding of the solidarity economy among
the general public, practitioners, support organizations, labor, academics,
and social movements.
2) Strengthen cross-national linkages between all social solidarity
economy sectors, practitioners, academics, and social movements. This
includes strengthening linkages through RIPESS (see co-conveners below) and
its continental networks.
3) Build up the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network and strengthen linkages
between all solidarity economy sectors in this country.
4) Identify concrete strategies to advance the solidarity economy and
where possible lay the groundwork for implementation.
5) Celebrate the solidarity economy.
6) Publish a book of the conference proceedings.
7) Publish a special issue of the Cayapa (Venezuelan journal on the
social solidarity economy) focusing on the social solidarity economy in the
U.S.
8) Seed a cross-national research working group on the social solidarity
economy.
Co-conveners
The U.S. Solidarity Economy Network (SEN) has convened this Forum as the
first such conference on the solidarity economy in the U.S. SEN emerged out
of a series of solidarity economy meetings at the U.S. Social Forum in June
2007. This Forum will be our inaugural meeting and we have interspersed
several SEN organizational meetings in the schedule where we will make key
decisions about structure, strategy and priorities. These meetings are open
to anyone and we welcome input from all, although only members will be
allowed to vote. Individuals and organizations will be able to join SEN at
the Forum.
We are delighted that the Universidad de los Andes in Venezuela is working
with us to convene this Forum. It just so happened that they were planning a
conference in the U.S., focusing on the social solidarity economy in both
the U.S. and Venezuela around the same time that we were planning to have
ours. It made sense to combine the conferences and work together. Venezuela
is engaged in some of the most innovative and wide-reaching initiatives to
build the solidarity economy, in large part due to the serious support of
the Venezuelan government. At the same time, we want to be clear that this
is one model among many, and while tremendously important and inspiring, it
is not the only path.
We are also happy to have RIPESS (Intercontinental Network for the Promotion
of the Social Solidarity Economy) on board. This global network of networks
connects solidarity economy networks that exist in North and South America,
Europe, Asia and Africa. RIPESS was instrumental in SEN's founding meetings
at the U.S. Social Forum, and brings to this conference great knowledge,
experience, and international connections regarding the solidarity economy.
RIPESS will be having its Fourth International Forum on the Solidarity
Economy in April 2009 in Luxemburg. We plan to organize a delegation from
the U.S. to attend the Luxemburg conference and will dovetail this effort
with the organizing and outreach for our Forum.
Forum Participation
The program will kick off on Thursday March 19 with a tour of the solidarity
economy in the Pioneer Valley. The rest of the program will include
plenaries, concurrent workshops, and cultural events. We are working hard to
integrate a process in which participants get to meet each other, brainstorm
and strategize. Our hope is that people will take away some concrete next
steps.
We currently have 10 broad tracks for workshops and a preliminary
<http://www.populareconomics.org/ussen/node/107> list of workshops can be
viewed on our website.
1) Solidarity based finance, complementary currency
2) Commons movement, social welfare programs, housing
3) Solidarity based production, jobs, labor, unions
4) Solidarity based distribution, marketing, consumption
5) Solidarity Economy (SE) & the environment, sustainability, climate
change
6) SE & food sovereignty, food security, agricultural sustainability
7) SE & democratic participation/ local economies
8) SE research, measurement, collaborations
9) SE networking, organizing & social movements
10) Housing, land and community
Support the Forum on the Solidarity Economy
Co-sponsorship: Support the Forum on the Solidarity Economy by co-sponsoring
the event. This means including your organization's name in our materials,
providing a sliding scale contribution and helping with outreach. For more
details, see FSE Co-sponsorship
<http://www.populareconomics.org/ussen/node/101> .
Buy an ad: Support the Forum by taking out an ad in the FSE Program Booklet.
For rates and deadlines, see FSE ads
<http://www.populareconomics.org/ussen/node/105> .
Join us!
Mark your calendars! Save the date! Spread the word! Another world is
possible and the foundation exists all around us. Come and build the
solidarity economy together.
For more information or to get involved in a working group, please contact:
Emily Kawano, Coordinator, U.S. Solidarity Economy Network, www.ussen.org
<http://www.ussen.org/> , 413-545-0743, emily at populareconomics.org
Co-Sponsors
BALLE <http://www.livingeconomies.org/>
<http://www.natfed.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1>
Center for <http://www.populareconomics.org/> Popular Economics
Center for Labor <http://www.clcr.org/index.php> & Community Research
Charter of Human Responsibilities
<http://www.charter-human-responsibilities.net/spip.php?rubrique20>
Community Services Unlimited <http://www.csuinc.org/>
Co-op Power <http://www.cooppower.coop/>
Cooperative Development <http://www.cdi.coop/> Institute
Cooperative Fund of <http://www.cooperativefund.org/> New England
Common Good Finance <http://www.commongoodbank.com/>
Good Works <http://www.goodwork.org/index.php>
Guramylay: <http://www.growingthegreeneconomy.org/> Growing the Green
Economy
Highlander Research <http://www.highlandercenter.org/> & Education Center
National Association of <http://www.nasco.coop/> Student Cooperatives
National <http://www.natfed.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1> Federation of
Community Development Credit Unions
On the Commons <http://onthecommons.org/>
School of Community <http://www.snhu.edu/388.asp> Economic Development,
SNHU
U.S. Federation of <http://www.usworker.coop/front> Worker Cooperatives
U.S. Solidarity Economy Network Coordinating Committee
Carl Davidson, Global Studies Association, N. America
Tanya Dawkins, Global-Local Links
Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy
Melissa Hoover & John Parker, U.S. Federation of Worker Coops
Emily Kawano, Director, U.S. SEN & Center for Popular Economics
Julie Matthaei & Jenna Allard, Guramylay: Building the Green Economy
Michael Menser, Amer. Fed. of Teachers, City Univ., NW
Ethan Miller, Grassroots Economic Organizing
Cliff Rosenthal & Dan Apfel, National Federation of Community Development
Credit Unions
Neelam Sharma, Community Services Unlimited
Dan Swinney & Erica Swinney, Center for Labor and Community Research
Elandria Williams, Highlander Research & Education Center
_____
<http://?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=a9SCC6X1Wbg&am=x_k6ocT3aCEJBf1qUObqFA#11ec
a9ed18df2e58_11eca9d1411dc0b6_11cc4c8880010e04_11cc4b9632a0bee9__ftnref1>
[1] Neoliberalism is currently the dominant global economic model which
favors the corporate and financial elite by pushing for an agenda of
privatization, de-regulation, lower taxes, 'free' trade and markets, and
minimal government.
<http://?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=a9SCC6X1Wbg&am=x_k6ocT3aCEJBf1qUObqFA#11ec
a9ed18df2e58_11eca9d1411dc0b6_11cc4c8880010e04_11cc4b9632a0bee9__ftnref2>
[2] In Venezuela the term "social economy" is often used instead of
"solidarity economy" to refer to transformative economic institutions and
organizing efforts. In other countries, most notably Canada and the E.U.,
"social economy" refers to enterprises with a social aims and doesn't
necessarily embrace broad economic transformation.
<http://?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=a9SCC6X1Wbg&am=x_k6ocT3aCEJBf1qUObqFA#11ec
a9ed18df2e58_11eca9d1411dc0b6_11cc4c8880010e04_11cc4b9632a0bee9__ftnref3>
[3] More information about the solidarity economy framework, including
articles and in-depth papers, can be found in SEN's Resource Library at
<http://www.ussen/node/resource_library>
http://www.ussen/node/resource_library
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