Workshop Descriptions

Tear Down the Wall National Gathering presents…

Click here to see the workshop schedule for the weekend (pdf)

(listed in alphabetical order)

A fondo: Women’s political participation in Mexico      

Whose interests are represented in women’s political participation in Mexico? What policies are being promoted under the name of gender equality and women’s rights? Since the mid-1980s there has been an opening in Mexico’s political and electoral process that has promoted the participation of women in the political life of the nation. This unprecedented participation of women coincides with the economic and political climate that prompted Mexico to adopt neoliberal policies, sign free trade agreements and increase democratization. The United States has had a crucial role in the institutions and policies that Mexico has created as a consequence of this economic and political climate. This role is seen in the interests that are defended through neoliberalism and NAFTA, but also in the funding of organizations that promote women’s political participation. This workshop compares the women’s voices that have gained access to political participation with the voices of women’s grassroots activism that continue to be left out of the political life. It also offers an analysis of the set of policies being promoted through women who have taken advantage of the opportunity to participate in the political process and how the policies relate to the struggle of women in grassroots activism.          Organization: Alliance for Global Justice—Presenter: Ana Gabriela Caballeros—Tracks: Latin America Solidarity, US political intervention

 

An Open Discussion on Border Militarization, the Migrant Experience, and Creating a Community Response

This workshop will be a collective discussion involving both the presenters and attendees to have a conversation about the pervasive problem of misinformation that is being perpetuated by the media, political players and mainstream immigrant rights groups.  What is the reality being experienced on the border by affected communities?  What are the true impacts of militarized communities, enforcement strategies, and the thousands of deaths and missing migrants that are the direct results of U.S. border policies?  And most importantly, how do we, as directly affected communities and those acting in alliance, create a collective response that speaks our truths while trying to create meaningful change?  This workshop seeks to create a space for this discussion, using both contemporary border research currently being done as well as grassroots discussion that invites all present to discuss a strategy for lasting border justice. Organization: Various organizations and affiliations—Presenters: Daniel Martinez, Robin Reineke, Kat Rodriguez, Jeremy Slack, Murphy Woodhouse—Tracks:  Immigrant Power

 

Abolish Corporate Personhood

Corporate lawyers use the illegitimate, court-created doctrine of “corporate personhood” to overturn democratically enacted laws designed to protect the environment, workers, public health and safety. The equally odious, also illegitimate doctrine that “money equals speech” prevents meaningful campaign finance reform. Together, these doctrines steal our sacred right to self-government, and then use the Constitution to legalize the theft. Move To Amend is a concrete campaign to help build a multi-racial social movement to fundamentally alter the basic law of the United States. Organization: Move To Amend (MTA) – Presenters: David Cobb, Spokesperson of MTA and Jerome Scott, League of Revolutionaries for a New America (LRNA). Tracks: Economic Justice, Poor People Power,
Democracy

 

Artful Activism: Grand Strategy & Creative Tactics

Delivering victories requires an understanding of how vision, goals, strategy and tactics relate to each other, the importance of values-based identity and sympathetic messaging for expanding alliances.  This workshop is an interactive presentation on Grand Strategy, domains of conflict, and how social movement power is built through a variety of modes of engagement, “sectors of agency.”   Participants will explore a spectrum of Creative Tactics from spectacle imagery to light projection to giant banners to nonviolent direct action as tools for growing your group, mobilizing your community, earning media attention, and shifting power. This workshop will be led by Bill Moyer a co-founder and director of the Backbone Campaign.  Over the past 10 years, Bill has designed and led hundreds of actions and trainings across the US. Organization: http://BackboneCampaign.org – Presenter:  Bill Moyer—Tracks: Economic Justice, Anti-Militarism , Black Power, Queer Justice, Immigrant Power, Poor People Power, Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity, Latin America Solidarity, Occupy Movement , Mideast Solidarity , Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism , Labor, Grand Strategy

 

Bhopali’ Film Screening

The Bhopal gas disaster (1984) is the world’s worst industrial disaster. Caused by the use of untested technology and hazardous conditions in a pesticide manufacturing plant owned by the American-owned Union Carbide Corporation (now owned by the Dow Chemical Company), the Bhopal gas disaster is a telling account of the impact of neoliberal-driven development. However, most are unaware that the Bhopal gas disaster is an ongoing, and in many ways, a growing chemical disaster. The film, ‘Bhopali’ details this ongoing disaster, with particular focus on the impact on the second-generation. This includes the birth of children with developmental disabilities and congenital malformations attributed to their parents’ exposure. The film also details the resolve of survivors, who have sustained a soon-to-be 30 year struggle for justice. This makes their struggle one of the longest running anti-toxic grassroots movements in history –a struggle that is still going strong! Organization: The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, North America (ICJB-NA) – Presenters: Sanjay Verma, a survivor-activist from Bhopal – Tracks: Economic Justice, Poor People Power, Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

Breaking the Chains of Modern Day Slavery

We will discuss how prisons serve as tools of oppression. We will show how policing and prisons target communities of color despairingly. We will also talk about prisons and how they destroy the fundamental right to family. We will share our experience as coming to this work and these realizations through surviving incarceration. We will highlight how central anti-prison work and this organization were to creating change in our individual lives and how we continue to connect with those inside. We will cover re-entry, policy, medical advocacy, and the scope of the work we do as a coalition and tie it to national and international movements for equality and justice. Organization: California Coalition Women Prisoners – Presenters: Samantha Rogers and Misty Rojo – Tracks: Prison Abolition

 

Building Multi-issue Coalitions

Systemic, progressive change has always been thwarted by patterns of domination built upon ranking hierarchies and the myth of disconnection. Building the new requires, and means becoming practiced at, non-hierarchical organization, communication, leadership, and decision making. Coalition building is also integral to systemic change, as it is a core requirement for building critical mass. To be successful, multi-issue coalitions must have a common goal congruent with a set of shared values, a process to discover their commonalities, and discover how their work fits into a comprehensive framework that supports moving toward that goal based on those values. For systemic, progressive change to be sustainable, it must be built from ecological integrity, social justice, economic equity, and participatory democracy. This workshop will address all of these issues, but especially their interrelated nature, how to actually put it into practice, and a brief overview of the evidence supporting how quickly it can be accomplished–by actual humans here on Earth. Organization: Coalitions of Mutual Endeavor  – Presenters: Dave Ewoldt, Allison Ewoldt – Tracks: Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism , Systemic progressive change

 

Cointelpro Then and Now

We will view Cointelpro 101 for the first hour and then use the film to launch a discussion about government repression, historically and now.  COINTELPRO may not be a well-understood acronym but its meaning and continuing impact are absolutely central to understanding the US government’s wars and repression against progressive movements. COINTELPRO is both a formal program of the FBI and a term frequently used to describe a conspiracy among government agencies—local, state, and federal—to destroy movements for self-determination and liberation for Black, Brown, Asian, and Indigenous struggles. Organization: Freedom Archives—Presenters: Stan Smith—Tracks: Black Power, Immigrant Power, Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism ,  Anti-repression

 

Community Economics Roundtable – Creative Organizing  for Building Local Equity

Building power in our communities requires plugging the leaks of human and natural resources and redirecting the flow of equity back into a local economy.   Learn about and share creative organizing strategies to redirect community wealth back into communities and keep it there.  Learn how the Backbone Campaign helped establish a credit union branch in its community.  Learn how they negotiated a win/win agreement that put community members on the board, moved nearly $30 million out of Wall Street banks and into the local credit union to make energy efficiency loans to save people money on their power bills and employ local contractors. How are you building your local economy?  What is your creative organizing strategy that others can learn from and replicate? Organization: http://BackboneCampaign.org – Presenters: Bill Moyer present and then facilitates a discussion amongst participants—Tracks: Economic Justice, Community Economics

 

Conflict Resolution

This workshop will explore the sources of conflict and present information on how to transform negative energy into more productive outcomes for those who encounter conflict in their personal, social, and/or professional roles. Organization: Occupy Tucson – Presenters: Mary DeCamp, BA, MA – Tracks: Occupy Movement

 

Confronting the U.S. War Drive

Learn how the insatiable need for profits inevitably leads to war and how, during times of capitalist economic crisis, the dangers of reckless and costly military adventures are further increased. Learn tactics and strategies for forging a united anti-war movement that opposes U.S. Imperialist intervention and occupations. Organization: International Action Center— Presenters: Sara Flounders, Paul Teitelbaum—Tracks: Anti-Militarism , Anti-Imperialism

 

Criminality and Responses to State Repression

We hope to initiate a conversation exploring how attitudes and perceptions of criminality and legitimacy affect responses to state repression. We will briefly look at recent responses to the use of grand juries to target both social movements and targeted communities and try to discern what made these responses effective. We strongly encourage people engaged in anti-repression work and movements against state violence to attend and share! Organization: Tucson Anarchist Black Cross— Presenters: Tucson Anarchist Black Cross—Tracks: Anti-Repression

 

Cuba and ALBA

Panel discussion describing the realities of Cuba today and its relationship with the Bolivarian Alternative for Our Americas (ALBA). We will cover the development of Revolutionary Cuba, The effects of the US Embargo and Travel Ban, The case of the Cuban Five, and The regional groupings – ALBA. We also hope to foster new solidarity activities with/for Cuba. Organization: National Network on Cuba—Presenter: Cheryl La Bash as moderator, and others—Tracks: Economic Justice, Latin America Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism , Cuba

 

Decolonization Skill Share

Primarily intended for people of European heritage but useful to all people exploring decolonization , this skill-share moves beyond theory and explores the practical and deep process of finding ancestors, discovering Indigenous thought and philosophy, regaining a lost sense of place and lifeway, and most critically – the liberating process of healing our hearts and spirits so that we may find our way back to our Indigenous selves and create healing with those facing colonization.  This is real information taught using western and traditional styles that has the power to unsettle and change your life. Organization: Lakota Solidarity Project—Presenters: Naomi Archer (Ana Oian Amets)—Tracks: Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity, Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism , Decolonization

 

Elections Unparalleled

Venezuela has the best elections in the world. If this sentence shocks you as being ridiculous come and hear from people who have actually been there and observed their elections. The propaganda against Venezuela is downright Orwellian in nature. The truth is that the country’s electoral system is shockingly innovative in its ability to create a democracy that encourages high turnout, informed voters and a near flawless transparent voting system. Skeptics beware, after hearing the truth your entire world view may be shattered as well as your faith in the US corporate media. Organization: Alliance for Global Justice—Presenters: Bruce Wilkinson—Tracks: Poor People Power, Occupy Movement , Anti-Imperialism , Labor

 

Exposing War Crimes is Not a Crime: Chelsea Manning & GI Resistance

Within discussions around U.S. militarization and imperialism, one voice often overlooked is that of active service members themselves who experience radical changes in conscience during deployment. Drawing on this summer’s trial of army whistle-blower Chelsea Manning, and the history of conscientious objectors, we will explore this crucial element of effective resistance to the military-industrial complex and abusive foreign policy. Organization: Courage to Resist—Presenters: Michael McKee, Farah Muhsin al-Mousawi—Tracks: Anti-Militarism , Mideast Solidarity , Anti-Imperialism , whistle-blowers

 

The Fat & the Furious

Regardless of their expressed rejection of societal norms and beauty standards, activist and feminist communities are often hostile to fat people. In this workshop, we will discuss fat within the realms of bodily autonomy, identity, patriarchy, capitalism and the media, privilege, and the medical field. As a community, we can benefit from unlearning oppressive ideas and behaviors so we can better support each other. Organization: Tucson Anti-Authoritarian Network – Presenters: Lauren, Adelaide, Lizzy, Corey – Tracks: Feminism, Gender

 

Freedom According to the Zapatistas: Lessons from the Escuelita of August 2013

The Zapatista Movement for indigenous rights in Chiapas, Mexico, led the fight against NAFTA and neoliberalism with its 1994 rebellion. Since then, the Zapatistas have been quietly building autonomy as they resist persistent attacks. Recently they began inviting their supporters to attend a one-week Escuelita de Libertad Segun L@s Zapatistas (“Little School of Freedom According to the Zapatistas”). The Escuelita includes home stays in Zapatista communities in which solidarity activists learn indigenous practices of agriculture, family life, self-government, and autonomous education and health care. The first round of the Escuelita was held in August, 2013, and more activists have been invited to attend two sessions in December and January. We will report our experiences as students in the first Escuelita, and share some of the lessons we learned. Through the workshop, we plan to apply these lessons to the struggles to tear down walls in our own communities and around the world. Organization: Chiapas Support Committee of Oakland – Presenters: Todd Davies, Carolina Dutton – Tracks: Ecological Solidarity, Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

From a War Economy to a Peace Economy – the Challenge of Economic Conversion

Millions of workers in the U.S. are employed by the military-industrial-security complex. What are the steps we must take to move the country from a war and military-dependent economy to a sustainable demilitarized economy? How do we engage those whose jobs and incomes depend on the war economy to participate in charting a course to a new economic order rather than resisting changes needed to dismantle the war machine? How can we protect them and their communities from becoming road kill on the road to demilitarizing our economy? What lessons can be learned from the environmental movement’s efforts to move the country from a carbon-based to a sustainable alternative economy? This workshop will tackle these and related questions to prepare activists to engage their communities in this conversation. Organization: U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW), New Priorities Network – Presenters: Michael Eisenscher, National Coordinator, USLAW – Tracks: Economic Justice, Anti-Militarism , Environmental Justice, Anti-Imperialism , Labor

 

Global Climate Change and the Initiative process

Roland James has experience with energy issues, including 14 years as assistant to an Arizona utility regulator, and with statewide Initiatives, including the 1970s Nuclear Safeguards Initiatives,  which changed the public dialogue about nuclear power and helped prevent further nuclear proliferation and the building of 1000 nuclear plants in the US by 2000.  Now fossil fuels and Global Climate Pollution are the overwhelming problem of our time.   The Initiative process is available in 22 states–almost all the western states except NM, Ks, and Tx and in Maine, Mass, Ohio, Michigan, Ark, and Missouri.   The purpose of Initiatives now is to educate and build a much bigger movement and constituency for U.S. and International action for all global carbon-based energy.  One possible Initiative is a carbon fee with dividend returned 100% equally (benefits low-use and low-income).  Initiative also could include Net Metering for all and seamless financing of efficiency, weatherization, and rooftop solar.   A carbon tax or fee and dividend mirrors Dr. James Hansen’s approach.  China, India and the developing world have opposed Cap and Trade as Eco-imperialism and the turning over the Global Atmospheric Commons to Wall Street.  However, they have indicated that they would accept an international carbon tax/fee adjusted for the economies of each country.  If they are around, will our grandchildren ask:  “Why didn’t we (humanity) save ourselves when we had the chance?    Over half this workshop will be discussion.  Organization: Hope for Climate Change—Presenters: Roland James—Tracks: Environmental Justice

 

Guatemalan Genocide Case: Tearing Down the Walls of Impunity

On May 10, 2013, Former President Efraín Ríos Montt was found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity and sentenced to 80 years in prison. The conviction marked the culmination of 12 years of dedication and determination by a national organization of survivors, the Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR), and their legal team, the Center for Human Rights Legal Action. Just 10 days later, Guatemala’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, overturned the historic sentence, exposing Guatemala’s legacy of impunity and the deeply rooted power structures which have undermined the will of the survivors and the integrity of the legal process. In this workshop, Don Anselmo Rodan, a survivor of a massacre in his own community, will present a workshop on the long and arduous road toward justice in Guatemala. As the AJR stated before the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues immediately following the Constitutional Court annulment: “Today, more than ever, it is imperative we continue to demand justice and face the past to ensure acts of genocide never again take place in Guatemala… As long as this does not happen, the state will continue to deny our rights and facilitate the dispossession of the lands and natural resources that are fundamental to the material and spiritual life of indigenous peoples. Brothers and sisters: we must stop the continuation of genocide in Guatemala.” Organization: NISGUA – Presenters: Anselmo Rodan, Ellen Moore – Tracks: Anti-Militarism , Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity, Latin America Solidarity, Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

Guatemala Rises Up: Resistance to Mega-Development Projects

Guatemala has been historically pillaged by foreign exploitation of its natural resources. Most recently, Free Trade Agreements have allowed the US and other powers to invest heavily in extractive industries in the country, particularly in the rapidly-growing mining and hydroelectric sectors. The consequences for local communities and their natural environment have been disastrous as the projects have contributed to human rights violations, displacement, destruction of ecosystems, and economic inequalities. But communities are resisting—organizing creatively and demanding protection of their social, political and environmental rights. Come learn about the impacts of multinational investment in Guatemala, how networks of activists are supporting community resistance to the exploitation of their lands and how you can get involved. Organization: Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA—Presenters: Kathryn Johnson—Tracks: Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, Latin America Solidarity

 

Health in US Funded Colombian Prisons – A talk about prisons as an absolute Social Determinant of Health

While US funding and the restructuring of Colombian prisons has been justified as a way of alleviating overcrowding and improving conditions, the effect, and direct consequence of “Prison Imperialism,” has been the opposite. Colombian prisons including those funded by US tax dollars, continuously deny prisoners their basic rights to health and their constitutional right to life. Overcrowding, limited access to clean water, reoccurring TB outbreaks, and the denial of health care services through the privatized prison health care insurance system, forces Colombian families to bear with the sole responsibility of the basic and catastrophic health care needs of their imprisoned loved ones.

The presenter will draw parallels between Colombia, Mexico, and Arizona, as the reality of these three regions, perfectly illustrate how prisons, again and again, are what determine the state of physical and mental health of not only the individual who is imprisoned, but their children, and the entire family.
Organization: Alliance for Global Justice—Presenters: Frida Espinosa Cárdenas, MPH, Former Health Program Evaluator, Member of the Latin American Association of Social Medicine, ALAMES, and member of AFGJ’s Colombia working group, Raquel Mogollón, who got an inside look at Colombia’s most notorious prison, La Tramacúa, built with US taxes.—Tracks: Poor People Power, Latin America Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

Honduras: The Struggle for Democracy, Human Rights, and the Environment

Since the June 28, 2009 military coup against the government of Honduras, systematic and serious repression is an ongoing reality for the people of this impoverished country. The Honduran elites – primarily the oligarchy and U.S. and Canadian corporations that have long controlled the economic, political and social reality in this country – are responsible for these abuses. In response, the Honduran people – students, teachers, artists, lawyers, journalists, indigenous groups, LGBT community, campesinos (farmers), environmentalists, and labor organizations – have established a unifying coalition and a political party, Libertad y Refundacion (LIBRE) that is challenging the dominant powers in Honduras in an election to be held on November 24th. This workshop will provide information about the election, the role of the U.S. and Canadian governments and corporations in legitimizing and benefiting from the military coup, and about the courage and spirit of Honduras’ peaceful pro-democracy movement. Organization: Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas, Honduras Solidarity Network – Presenters: Mark Sullivan and Rick Sterling – Tracks: Economic Justice, Anti-Militarism , Environmental Justice, Latin America Solidarity, Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

How the Meek can inherit the Earth; Creating the New Paradigm

After 40 years of mulling this over, the presenter has concluded that real power comes primarily from economics; duh!  Not the Wall Street kind but being able to provide food, shelter, healthcare, etc. for ourselves and, over time, to whoever wants/needs it.  And if we want to live on a peaceful, just, harmonious, sustainable, healthy planet, we are going to have to create that reality ourselves.  I mean, who is going to do it for us? Who would you trust to do it for you?  The thesis is that we have all the skills and resources necessary to do that.  What we lack are the focus and commitment and the ability to work effectively together (although we are getting better at it).  Once we get to the point where we can give people an option to how they currently obtain these basics of life than those who don’t like it but feel they have to feed the current system can quit doing that and feed a more righteous system.  After a time, the more righteous system makes the old system obsolete!  Yay! Organization: Creating the New Paradigm— Presenters: Jack Strasburg—Tracks: Anti-Militarism, Black Power, Queer Justice, Immigrant Power, Poor People Power, Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity, Latin American Solidarity, and Community Building

 

Imperialism, Ecology and the Green Economy

The Green Economy was officially unveiled at the United Nations’ Rio+20 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012.  It was developed to enable Capitalism and business as usual to continue as long as possible beyond all natural limits.  It is designed to enable corporations and the 1% to profit from global crises including the climate crisis, food and water crises, biodiversity crisis and economic crisis.  This workshop will explore the Green Economy and its plans in depth and discuss what is being done about it around the world. Organization: Global Justice Ecology Project — Presenters: Anne Petermann, Jacqui Patterson —Tracks: Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity, Latin America Solidarity, Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

Indigenous Rights & Sovereignty

Our workshop will focus on ecological, economic and social injustices.  Specifically dealing with the desecration and degradation of our Mother Land. We will discuss the systems that support and promote the disconnect between our traditional values and beliefs to that of the dominate society including education. Lastly, we will discuss Policies of Genocide imposed on our people by internal and external forces. Organization: Purpose Focused Alternative Learning—Presenters: Don Yellowman – Forgotten Navajo People Organization, Janene Yazzie – Sixth World Solutions—Tracks: Economic Justice, Anti-Militarism , Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity, Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

Introducing non-hierarchical tools for organizing, communicating, sharing leadership, and group decisions

Proven processes and methodologies for non-hierarchical organization, planning and running events and meetings, interpersonal and group communication, and basic democratic group decision making–all congruent with natural systems principles. Expend less energy and achieve better results by working with the life-affirming principles of the natural world, such as the tendencies to self-organize into relationships of mutual support, and increase diversity. Organization: Coalitions for Mutual Endeavor – Presenters: Dave Ewoldt, Allison Ewoldt – Tracks: Economic Justice, Anti-Militarism , Poor People Power, Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity, Occupy Movement , Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism , Labor, Sustainability

 

Is Peace with Justice within Reach in Colombia?

The Marcha Patriótica is the largest popular Left organization in Colombia advocating for peace with justice and popular participation in negotiations to end the armed and social conflicts in Colombia.  The Alliance for Global Justice and the National Lawyers Guild were the two US organizations represented at the installation of the Marcha Patriótica in April, 2012, and for years, AfGJ was the only US organization with a solidarity relation with the Fensuagro agricultural workers union–one of the world’s most targeted labor organizations.  Come hear representatives from Colombia’s Marcha Patriótica as well as the AfGJ and NLG give an informative presentation about the prospects for peace in Colombia today. Organization: AfGJ—Presenters:  Diego Martínez, Coordinator of the Comité Permanente en Defensa de los Derechos Humanos and member of the Executive Committee of the Marcha Patriótica, Mark Burton, National Lawyers Guild, Raquel Mogollón, Alliance for Global Justice and Pan Left, Frida Cárdenas, Alliance for Global Justice—Tracks: Anti-Militarism , Poor People Power, Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity, Latin America Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism , Labor

 

Learn practices for active Peace

(CCP) workshop: (1)Throughout the workshop we practice reflection, spiritual interfaith thoughts.(2)Exploring roots and nature of violence. Gaining an understanding of active violence. (3) Models and practices for Social Change using peace and nonviolence. (3) Peace in Community creation.(4) Participants develop an action plan for their own community. Handouts and CCP groups practice community during the workshop. We also respect, and expand our work in cooperation with communities of all races as we are one with the world. Organization: Creating A Culture of Peace – Presenters: Martha Dominguez, Maya-Lenca Indigenous – Tracks: All people learning about peace as we all experience violence.

 

Lessons for Indigenous Solidarity: Lakota Solidarity Project Report Back

The Lakota Solidarity Project is a history making effort to document and challenge genocide of the Lakota people while supporting traditional matriarchal leadership on Pine Ridge Reservation. But the United States Government has used various tactics to slow the project down and other factors have contributed to its results.  This workshop will use videos, photos and discussion to share the lessons learned from the project which are critical to activists and groups seeking solidarity with Indigenous resistance. Organization: Lakota Solidarity Project—Presenters: Naomi Archer, Christine Blachly—Tracks: Economic Justice, Poor People Power, Ecological Solidarity, Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

Meaning of the Economic-Political Changes in Cuba Under the Unrelenting U.S. Blockade

The economic changes taking place in Cuba are often painted as a movement away from socialism. Today, Cuba is recognized as a world leader in education, medical care, women’s rights, organic farming, and environmentally sustainable economy. Popular participation in the revolution has been deepening, in part inspired the democratic movements in power in Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia. Yet the US blockade of Cuba, instituted 50 years ago, designed to crush the Cuban people by destroying their economy, remains firmly in place and has even worsened. Four of the Cuban 5, despite support from the UN Human Rights Commission, and even Amnesty International, remain in US prisons for exposing CIA-Miami terrorism against Cuba. Organization: Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5 – Presenters: Stan Smith – Tracks: Economic Justice, Anti-Militarism , Environmental Justice, Latin America Solidarity

Native History Under Attack

This workshop will provide a youth-led perspective on how Palestinian solidarity intertwines with local organizing around a high-profile movement to save ethnic studies, under fire in Arizona. The moderated discussion will cover how issues of Palestine solidarity developed in the Tucson youth’s local organizing, from meeting with Palestinian youth-education activists, writing/publishing educational materials (articles, handouts, etc.), giving joint presentations on cross-movement connections, and holding internal political education workshops focusing on Palestinian justice. Organization: Students for Justice in Palestine, University of Arizona chapter—Presenters: Gabriel M. Schivone, Denise Rebeil—Tracks: Anti-Militarism , Immigrant Power, Latin America Solidarity, Mideast Solidarity , Indigenous Solidarity

 

Nicaragua and the Canal: Should a government of the left be building a megaproject?

The Sandinista government of Nicaragua has given a concession to a Chinese businessman to carry out environmental and feasibility studies and raise the funding to build a massive shipping canal across Nicaragua. This workshop will examine the possible impacts of this project on the environment (including negative ones on Lake Nicaragua and positive ones on the rainforests essential to the provision of water for the canal). The traditional lives of Indigenous groups would also be impacted. President Daniel Ortega, whose record on anti-poverty programs has won widespread praise, says that the profits and jobs from the project, which also includes ports, a railroad and an oil pipeline, will be enough to lift Nicaragua out of poverty. Even with a government of the left leading the way, is this enough justification for a massive multi-faceted project that will be constructed and probably run by transnational corporations? Organization: Nicaragua Network/AfGJ – Presenters: Katherine Hoyt, National Co-Coordinator, Nicaragua Network , Ambassador Francisco Campbell, Nicaraguan Ambassador to the US (not confirmed),Suzanne Baker, coordinator, NICCA, San Francisco Bay Area (not-confirmed),Nan McCurdy, United Methodist Church, Managua, Nicaragua (not-confirmed) – Tracks: Economic Justice, Poor People Power, Environmental Justice, Latin America Solidarity, Indigenous Solidarity

 

‘No Justice, No Peace’: New documentary on the police brutality movement

The past year saw a surge in activism against killer cops in California. In May 2013 alone, police killed 13 people, just in southern California. More than 50 families of victims of police murder throughout the state have networked and begun organizing historic actions against the cops. Come see the new 30-min film documenting their struggle, and join a discussion with police brutality activists to get the experience and tools to help you organize against police violence in your community. Organization: ANSWER Coalition—Presenters: Frank Lara, Victor Quintero, Yvonne Bonilla—Tracks: Police brutality

 

No More Deaths             

No More Deaths is an organization whose mission is to end death and suffering on the U.S./Mexico border through civil initiative: the conviction that people of conscience must work openly and in community to uphold fundamental human rights. Our work embraces the Faith-Based Principles for Immigration Reform and focuses on the following themes:  Direct aid that extends the right to provide humanitarian assistance, Witnessing and responding,  Consciousness raising,  Global movement building, Encouraging humane immigration policy.

Organization: No More Deaths—Presenters: As yet, undetermined.  Perhaps John Fife or Jim Marx—Tracks: Economic Justice, Immigrant Power, Poor People Power, Latin America Solidarity, Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

Nonviolence as a Powerful Organizing Strategy

Gandhi said, “Nonviolence is the greatest power humankind has been endowed with.” We have witnessed the power of nonviolence to bring about massive social change in India, in South Africa, and during the Civil Rights Movement. This workshop will introduce participants to the six principles and six steps of Kingian Nonviolence and review eight things to remember when organizing nonviolent direct action campaigns. As Gandhi, King, and Chavez all stressed, the means you use must reflect the end you want to achieve. To successfully defend human rights, we must utilize a methodology that enhances the humanity of everyone involved, no matter what side of the conflict they represent. This is much easier said than done. It is so tempting to demonize the “enemy”. However, the goal of nonviolence is to achieve justice –not to defeat or humiliate your opponent. We will review several key aspects of nonviolence including: non-cooperation with unjust laws; preventing wrongs from happening; negotiation and direct action to bring about specific changes; and constructive programs or “acting out the future” in terms of creating social structures that help build the “beloved community”…a community that supports all people in reaching their highest potential. Organization: Nonviolence Legacy Project (NVLP) – Presenters: Ann Yellott, Hassan Clement, Cruz Verdugo & possibly other members of the NVLP Youth Crew – Tracks: Economic Justice, Anti-Militarism , Black Power, Queer Justice, Immigrant Power, Poor People Power, Environmental Justice, Occupy Movement , Mideast Solidarity, Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

Occupy Intentional Communities

It is difficult if not impossible to tear down a corrupt system when you rely on it for your daily bread.  There are literally thousands of people with values very similar to Occupiers trying to build Intentional Communities who have land, skills and other needed resources.  Often they lack the people power to get it done.  Occupiers could provide that people power and build a viable alternative economic structure that could offer an option to those trapped in the current system.  The less one relies on the current mainstream system the less power it has over you.  This may be the most effective way to diminish the power of the dominate system and build a peaceful, just, harmonious, healthy planet. Organization: Creating the New Paradigm—Presenters: Jack Strasburg—Tracks: Economic Justice, Poor People Power, Ecological Solidarity, Occupy Movement , Anti-Imperialism , Community Building

 

Operation Streamline: What is it? And why should it end?

Under Operation Streamline, unauthorized entrants are charged with criminal violations of federal law, facing prosecution for ‘illegal entry’ as well as ‘illegal re-entry’, if they have been previously deported, and incarceration for 6 months to 2 years, sometimes longer. En masse ‘assembly line’ plea hearings are held for up to 70 immigrants at a time daily in Tucson, and in other cities along the US-Mexico border. The workshop will delve into procedural concerns, the costs of these prosecutions, Operation Streamline’s part in the ‘consequence delivery system’ of the Department of Homeland Security, and how private prisons reap a windfall from Operation Streamline. What is in store for Operation Streamline in the upcoming CIR legislation? We will look at this, as well as concrete action ‘next steps’. Organization: End Streamline Coalition – Presenters: Murphy Woodhouse, Matt Loewen, Isabel Garcia – Tracks: Immigrant Power

 

OT’ed Talks

This workshop session will be a series of several 15-30 minute talks on subjects important to the speakers and which they feel are worth sharing. Talks will range from Activist Strategy and Water Management to Dealing with Conspiracy Theory and Health Care for All. Organization: Occupy Tucson—Presenters: David Gibbs, Sarah Sheehe, Matthew Smith, Christopher Puca, and others—Tracks: Occupy Movement

 

People’s Power and Socialism: Another World is Possible

As the economic crisis deepens, we see intensifying racist attacks on young people of color and an endless push for US/NATO war. We realize that we need a movement which unites people and connects all the issues effecting us. All across the world, people are organizing and uniting by forming assemblies to discuss their fightback plans. This workshop will be a discussion of how to connect the struggles against the wars abroad and the war at home on workers, immigrants, people of color, women, and LGBTQ people through building People’s Assemblies. An intergenerational panel of activists from various struggles across the US will discuss their experiences building local People’s Assemblies, while also exploring the historical and contemporary examples of People’s Assemblies. Lastly, we will discuss how connecting our struggles makes it possible to fight for a new society based on human need rather than profit, a socialist society. Organization: FIST- Fight Imperialism, Stand Together and the International Action Center—Presenters: Eva Panjwani- North Carolina FIST, Workers World Party , Teresa Gutierrez- NY/NJ People’s Power Assembly and May 1 Coalition for Worker and Immigrants Right- NYC, Scott Williams- Philadelphia FIST, John Parker- Los Angeles International Action Center—Tracks: Economic Justice, Queer Justice, Immigrant Power, Poor People Power, Occupy Movement , Mideast Solidarity , Anti-Imperialism , Labor

 

Performance Art Workshop

Hands on, fun and informative session to find new ways to “enter” into big issues.  No experience necessary, just willingness to participate and open mind. This workshop session will be facilitated by Denise Uyehara, an award winning performance artist and writer, whose work deals with issues of a gender, civil liberties, and queer identity.  Presenter: Denise Uyehara—Tracks: Art

 

Prison Support Work from an Abolitionist Framework

Organization: Red Bird Prison Abolition—Presenters: Weslie Coleman, Alec Armstrong—Tracks: Prison Abolition

 

Prison Imperialism and the New Penitentiary Culture

The United States Bureau of Prisons and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have funded and advised prison restructuring projects in Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Haiti, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. The infamous Guantanamo prison is another example of the internationalization of the US model. This model was largely developed in the US and in Colombia, where the US funded and advised some of the country’s most notorious prisons, and where political prisoners are concentrated. In Mexico, the US is funding construction of 16 new federal prisons, and personnel are being trained by both US and Colombian officials. The export of this model constitutes a kind of “prison imperialism”. But even more, “prison imperialism” refers to the explicit role played by US spending internationally on jail construction, border militarization and expanded police forces and powers. Together these reinforce the hold of US power and influence around the world. Organization: Alliance for Global Justice – Presenters: James Jordan, Nat’l Co-Coordinator, AfGJ – Tracks: Latin America Solidarity, Imperialism, Prison Justice

 

Public Banking

Through a power point presentation and discussion, the workshop could explore how credit is created. The only place in the USA in which credit is created and made available publicly is in North Dakota. The workshop would examine how this has been beneficial to workers, students, entrepreneurs, and the State itself since its creation in the early 20th century. We could examine how tax dollars in Arizona are transferred to Wall St. banks who then create credit from them and loan them back to the State at great profit. During the workshop we could explore what would be necessary to end this arrangement and put Arizona on a public banking footing instead. Organization: Progressive Democrats of American Tucson Chapter – Presenters: Jim Hannley – Tracks: Economic Justice

 

Racial Profiling: Personal Stories & Empowering Actions

It is not just police and border patrol who practice destructive racial profiling in our communities. All of us contribute to the reality that people of color, especially young men of color, encounter daily examples of racial profiling…when sales people follow them around in stores, an older woman clutches her purse and moves away from them in an elevator, people cross the street apparently to avoid interacting with them, or a school monitor or teacher uses disrespectful language in addressing them. These constant reminders that people are judging you and making negative assumptions solely on the basis of your skin color and racial identity does harm to everyone involved. Racial profiling obviously harms the individuals who are the recipients of repeated negative assumptions. Less obvious is the damage done to people practicing such dehumanization of others and those of us who may witness such discrimination as “bystanders” without intervening. In this workshop, we will hear personal stories from youth and adults who have experienced such racial profiling, acknowledge the harm done, and explore empowering actions they have taken and each of us might take to make a positive difference in eliminating  racial profiling/racism. Organization: Nonviolence Legacy Project— Panel Members: James Stubbs Jr., Hassan Clement, Becky Hall, others—Tracks: Black Power, Queer Justice, Immigrant Power, Indigenous Solidarity, discrimination/racism

 

Refusing to fight in Afghanistan – Organizing inside the military against war

Last year, veterans and active-duty troops launched a campaign called “Our Live, Our Rights,” which had the simple message: “don’t go to Afghanistan.” They have distributed thousands of leaf-lets on military bases calling on U.S. troops to refuse to fight in Afghanistan, with information on why they should, why they have the right, and how they will be supported. Several have answered that call–learn about this bold initiative to organize active-duty troops against U.S. wars and disrupt the war machine from within, and learn how non-veterans can help. Organization: March Forward! and Veterans for Peace—Presenters: Mike Prysner, Ryan Edicott, Adam Fuentes—Tracks: Anti-Imperialism

 

Reproductive Justice for Incarcerated Women

Women on the Rise Telling HerStory (WORTH) is run and led by currently and formerly incarcerated women. We are aware of the specific challenges women face and are dedicated to changing policies and perceptions within the U.S. criminal justice system. WORTH builds and strengthens leadership skills amongst its members to assist them in navigating these challenges and impact the political decisions that affect our lives. By sharing our stories, WORTH members seek to change public policies and perceptions of women who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. WORTH was instrumental in limiting the shackling of pregnant women in New York State. Formerly incarcerated women spoke about being pregnant while in jail and prison, being handcuffed and shackled while in labor, and being separated from their newborn babies almost immediately. The power of women’s individual stories to enact change is powerful. Understanding this, WORTH is currently developing its Birthing Behind Bars project in which we will collect stories from women across the country who have experienced pregnancy while incarcerated; we will also strengthen their capacity and ability to share their stories. Organization: Women on the Rise Telling HerStory – Presenters: Tina Reynolds, Victoria Law, Rachel Roth – Tracks: Prison Justice, Reproductive Justice

“Revolution Is Not Neat or Pretty or Quick”: Keepin’ On

An open discussion and exchange of ideas about what keeps you going. We have been activists, revolutionaries, struggling for social justice for many years — so many years — and we have to admit: we lose more than we win. So, how do we redefine “success”? How do we create ongoing communities of struggle who take care of each other — from basic needs like food and shelter, to spiritual/artistic/emotional healing? What brings you satisfaction and joy in the face of oppression, suppression, and repression? (Name of workshop is from Pat Parker’s essay in This Bridge Called My Back).  Organization: everyone working for social justice—Presenters: blaze mason—Tracks: Economic Justice, Anti-Militarism , Black Power, Queer Justice, Immigrant Power, Poor People Power, Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity, Latin America Solidarity, Occupy Movement , Mideast Solidarity , Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism , Labor

 

Running for Mayor from an Occupy Tent

I’d like to share my unique political experience of running for Mayor of Tucson in 2011 as a third-party candidate and the lessons I took away from the campaign that might help other would-be candidates. The Green Party offered Tucson’s 2011 voters the only primary contest on the ballot, and my primary opponent signed on as my campaign manager for the general election. I was the only clean-elections candidate that year, the only female candidate, and the only contender to launch a political campaign from a tent. Organization: Occupy Tucson – Presenters: Mary DeCamp – Tracks: Economic Justice, Poor People Power, Occupy Movement , Political campaigns

 

The School of the Americas and the Movement to Shut it Down: Building Cross-Continental Grassroots Resistance to U.S. Militarization

The conquest continues today as the region’s highly profitable natural resources are extracted by multinational corporations with little or no benefit returning to the people. And, as in the colonial era, military force is used to control the people of Latin America. The SOA is at Fort Benning, Georgia and has trained over 70,000 Latin American soldiers. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor Over the past two decades, SOA Watch has grown from a handful of people into one of the most dynamic multi-generational, cross-continental movements against militarization in the Americas. Thousands have been educated and mobilized to speak out against U.S. foreign policy and to engage in nonviolent direct action. November 2013 marks the 23th anniversary of the vigil that brings together torture survivors, religious communities, students, teachers, veterans, community organizers, musicians, puppetistas and many others. New layers of activists are joining the movement to close the SOA in large numbers, including numerous youth and students from multinational, working-class communities. Organization: SOA Watch—Presenters: Irene Romulo, María Luisa Rosal, SOA Watch Field Organizer—Tracks: Anti-Militarism , Latin America Solidarity, Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

Screenprinting for Outreach and Community Building

We will discuss techniques, methods and philosophies of guerrilla screenprinting. We would also like to incorporate a live demonstration of how to print a tee shirt, and maybe show a short film clip of how screens are made in our shop. Additionally, we’d like to host a Q & A session on radical artwork, and a brief overview of how our Cooperative grew from its origins in Zuccotti Park to become a full service custom print shop. Organization: OWS Screen Printer Coop – Presenters: Julie Goldsmith & David Yap – Tracks: Occupy Movement , Labor, Arts and/or Outreach

 

Sensible Drug Policies and Harm Reduction Strategies

We will examine the effects of the drug war and militarized police on our communities and work to develop harm reduction strategies that can be implemented and unifying the communities most affected by these policies. Creating programs and policies that will help protect the drug using communities while encouraging those who choose to use drugs, do so safely. We will also talk about medical marijuana as a harm reduction strategy. Organization: AZ4NORML – Presenters: Jon Gettel – President, AZ4NORML, Aari Ruben – Healthcare Southwest, Kimberly Haslett – Southwest Patient Association, Kimberly Swanson – former Arizona Senate candidate, community activist, Kim & Dana – Tumbleweeds Health Center, Tom Maza – Vice-President, AZ4NORML – Tracks: Drug War

 

Sex Worker Rights: The movement and where we are now

We believe that sex workers should have rights: the right to work in safety, the right to work in health, the right to work with dignity, and the right to work with integrity.  We’re against criminalization in all forms. Criminalization projects and programs tend to target the most vulnerable of our population including trans workers, including immigrant workers and we say no to all of it. We will present our work challenging the coercive criminalization effort in Tucson and Phoenix that has grown out of anti-trafficking efforts. Organization: Sex Worker Outreach Project—Presenters: Matthew Jackalinski, Val Bryant (SWOP Boulder), Cristine Sardina, MA (Desiree Alliance)—Tracks: Economic Justice, Labor

 

Shackled & Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America

This workshop will present an examination of mass incarceration, its cause and consequences. We will examine the evolution of mass incarceration as a product of the exigencies of U.S. monopoly capitalism as well as bipartisan political fealty to the system’s needs. Organization: Party for Socialism and Liberation—Presenters: Eugene Puryear—Tracks: Economic Justice, Black Power, mass incarceration

 

Single-payer Health Care

Let’s Tear Down the Walls of access to healthcare. The Affordable Care Act won’t get us there. Let’s explore the limits of the current law, the advantages of a single-payer system, how it works, and how we can get there from here. Organization: Progressive Democrats of America – Presenters: Eve Shapiro MD, MPH – Tracks: Healthcare Access, Economic Justice

 

Stopping the Trans-Pacific Partnership: The Corporate Power Tool for the 1%

This workshop will be a chance for people to not only learn about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), but more importantly to share ideas about how to we can work together to defeat it The TPP is a massive “free trade” agreement currently being negotiated behind closed doors by officials from the United States and 11 other countries – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The TPP has been under negotiation for five years. The public cannot see the draft TPP text, and even members of Congress, after being denied the text for years, are now only provided limited access. Yet, more than 600 official corporate “trade advisors” have access. Although it is called a “free trade” agreement, the TPP is not really mainly about trade. Of TPP’s 29 draft chapters, only five deal with traditional trade issues. Most would set rules on non-trade matters that affect our daily lives – food safety, internet freedom, medicine costs, financial regulation and more. Our domestic policies would be required to comply with the TPP rules. Organizations: Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch and Tucson Progressive Democrats of America—Presenters: Bill Moyer, Executive Director of Backbone Campaign,  Phil Lopes, Tucson Progressive Democrats of America, Steve Valencia, Jobs with Justice, Alisa A. Simmons, National Field Director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch—Tracks: Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, Occupy Movement , Anti-Imperialism , Labor

 

Tear Down the Wall of One Percent Control Over Politics, Laws, & Govt

In the first half of the 75-minute workshop, Bill Onasch will show a documentary “Labor’s Turning Point,” then lead a discussion of how labor can reach a new turning point today. This will address the issue of labor’s need for a party of its own, independent of corporate control, as part of a three-point program: (1) “fight on the job”; (2) ally with community groups and social movements; (3) organize our own party. Organization: Labor Party Advocates / Por Partido Obrero – Presenters: Bill Onasch, representing Kansas City Labor Party Advocates, is a former vice-president of the Kansas City local of ATU (Amalgamated Transit Union), Eduardo Quintana, Former President of the Tucson local of the IAM – Tracks: Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, Labor

 

The Foreclosure to Homelessness to Criminalization Pipeline

We will discuss the relationship between foreclosure and homelessness. In Colorado, measures to support homeowners who are facing foreclosures have been defeated in the legislature over the past few years.  Those standing to financially gain from the foreclosure process have been identified as having an influence on the formulating of laws that prevent homeowners from fighting back against foreclosures and evictions.

 

In Denver last year, the City Council approved an Urban Camping Ban wsexblahich has resulted in the number of those without housing to move farther into the darker areas of the city which are less populated and less safe.  We will present the results of a recent study which outlines the effects of the Urban Camping Ban and the work that we have done to have the Ban repealed. Organization: Colorado Foreclosure Resistance Coalition and Denver Homeless Out Loud—Presenters: Darren O’Connor, Janet Matzen and Terese Howard—Tracks: Human Rights

 

The Legacy of Chavez

Hugo Chavez ranks as one of the most demonized world leaders in the US corporate media but elsewhere in the world he has been lionized as a hero of the poor and a leader who championed the ideas of a multi-polar world, a reinvigorated participatory democracy, fair trade agreements and 21st Century Socialism. His fearlessness in the face of constant US hostility bolstered a resurgence of leftist leaders across Central and South America who work together economically and stand up for the social movements instead of repressing them. This is his story told by a former priest and author Charles Hardy who lived there for many years and wrote “Cowboy In Caracas.” Organization: Venezuela Solidarity Network—Presenter: Charles Hardy—Tracks: Economic Justice, Anti-Militarism , Poor People Power, Latin America Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

 

The Place Beyond Nation States

The nation-state system has built a political world of artificial borders and walls. Doctress Neutopia will explore a way out of our these man-made borders by perceiving the world not as separate political systems, but as a unified global network that has recently formed into the Internet, a place of an emerging global consciousness that is rooted in universal human rights. Seeing Cyberscape as Stateless liberates us to think like a planet and reorganize the world for the good of all. Neutopia will speak about the fate of Internet hacktivists such a Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, Aaron Swartz, and Edward Snowden. She will illustrate the role they have played in bringing forth a new world where information is free and truth guides the global village to a new era peace. Her intention is to provide a goal for Anonymous to tear down the cyberwalls of unjust capitalistic economic and political systems and start typing the codes for ecological city designs. Organization: Occupy Tucson – Presenters: Doctress Neutopia aka Libby Hubbard EdD – Tracks: Occupy Movement , Hacktivism

 

The Wall and Arcology

Architecture has mutated very little over the past thousands of years since the birth of civilization. One innovation that changed our use of space was the invention of the wall. The wall allowed us to move out of the collective space of the cave and move into the private space of the house. Another factor in the evolution of architecture is climate change. Architecture is a survival art and science in that it responds to hostile environments and our need for shelter. In this workshop, Doctress Neutopia will move through the history of architecture and begin planning for a positive future by constructing a new evolutionary architectural design, arcology that fuses together architecture and ecology. Basing a global civilization on the principle that sustainable housing is a human right means that to fulfill this right, a massive building initiative is called for to build arcologies. In this workshop, we will develop such an initiative for an Occupy Arcology movement. Organization: Occupy Tucson – Presenters: Doctress Neutopia aka Libby Hubbard EdD – Tracks: Architecture and human rights

 

Together We Win: Building Local Power for Global Justice through Direct Action the Solidarity Network Way

Can we expect working people to care about global issues that affect people “over there” when they can’t seem to win their fights for their own basic needs here at home? To grow our movement, we must bridge these divides, and show people concretely that together, we win. The solidarity network model offers a way to organize a far broader base of everyday working people in fights for concrete issues, which can contribute to the radical change in consciousness needed in the long-term struggle for global justice.

 

In this interactive workshop, we will learn how the solidarity network’s direct action model works, how it builds collective power among workers and tenants alienated by disempowering social services and we will discuss and contribute ideas as to how interlinked local solidarity networks can contribute to the global justice movement. The workshop will be based on the experiences of the all-volunteer Seattle Solidarity Network (SeaSol), a rapidly growing worker and tenant mutual support organization that fights for specific demands using collective direct action. SeaSol has successfully defeated a wide variety of employer and landlord abuses, like wage theft and slumlord neglect against targets as large as Chase Bank. Similar but independent “solidarity networks” (solnets) have sprung up across the country and abroad using adaptations of the model fit for local conditions.  Organization: Seattle Solidarity Network—Presenters: Dean Chahim—Tracks: Economic Justice, Poor People Power, Labor

 

Turning Towards One Another: Practices for Tearing Down Walls of Difference

As we work for justice, it is imperative that we put into practice the principles that we envision in a just future.  Although we are often working against grave injustices, we must learn how to position ourselves so that our work reflects compassion and hope, not only for the victims of oppression, but for the oppressors as well.  For many of us, our committed to justice has been a journey of learning to recognize and transform our social locations of power and privilege.  And so as we work, we must practice patience and inclusion towards all. This workshop will examine how we, as practitioners, can turn ourselves towards those with whom we politically and ideologically disagree.  We will address how we avoid building walls and isolating ourselves ideologically through our practices and principles. We will address how we sustain ourselves and our communities in the long journey towards justice.  And finally, we will offer a vision of justice grounded in hope, inclusion, and empathy. Organization: Arizona State University School of Community Resources and Development, Arizona State University School of Social Transformation—Presenter: Bjorn Peterson, PhD Student Arizona State University School of Community Resources and Development, Luke Black, MA Transformational Leadership and MS student Arizona State University School of Social Transformation—Tracks: Community Building and Sustainability

 

US Social Forum 3 People’s Movement Assembly (PMA)

This workshop will discuss and model the People’s Movement Assembly (PMA) process of USSF3, and use it to analyze, vision, and strategize movement building in the current moment. We live in an urgent historical moment of crisis, danger, and opportunity – deep and irreversible crisis of global capitalism, massive social and ecological destruction, intensifying political oppression and war, and rising social struggle in the U.S. and globally. In the current context, USSF3 is a movement building tool for going from defensive to offensive, to reorganize society to meet human needs and protect the earth, and to connect with global movement forces. It facilitates systemic analysis, visioning the world we need, developing political program and action agendas, and building collective power from below to win it and hold it. The PMA process is the leading edge of the USSF3 process. PMAs are foundational strategically to developing our political consciousness, revolutionary consciousness, to developing political content, and to our efforts to align the multiplicity of our programmatic demands, while charting an increasingly unified political path forward. The methodology of the PMA includes these common elements: 1) political analysis of the current moment and the systemic root causes of our myriad problems, 2) visioning the world we are creating and specifying short-term, medium-term, and long-term programmatic demands to resolve these problems, and 3) putting forward related short, medium, and long-term collective actions, campaigns, and strategic movement agendas to transform society and protect the earth. Another world is possible! Another U.S. is necessary! Organization: US Social Forum (National Planning Committee) – Presenters: Jerome Scott, David Cobb, Rose Brewer, Walda Katz-Fishman – Tracks: bottom-up movement building

 

Venceremos! Popular Power and the Path Towards Workers’ Control in Venezuela Under the Bolivarian Revolution

The Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela, with Hugo Chavez at the forefront, brought profound change to every area of society including that of work. The workshop will describe how, through popular power, social movements in Venezuela have transformed labor, cooperatives, communities of production and ultimately the government’s policies and programs. The dynamic between the needs expressed by the people and the response of their government will be illustrated through the experiences of cacao workers, trade unionists and workers in nationalized industries. Organization: Venezuela Solidarity Network – Presenters: Bert Hestroffer – Tracks: Economic Justice, Poor People Power, Labor, Latin America Solidarity

 

Visibility Tactics for Day & Night

Saul Alinsky one said, “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.” Eric Ross, organizing director for the Backbone Campaign will present a broad pallet of tactical tools to boost the visibility of your group.  Learn fun, affordable ways to increase your visibility day or night.  From Overpass Light Brigade’s LED tactic to Backbone Campaign’s giant net banner technique to their quickly spreading light projection, you will leave this workshop inspired to replicate these tactics in your community. Organization: http://BackboneCampaign.org– Presenters: Eric Ross—Tracks: Creative Tactics and Visibility

 

Voices of Refugee Youth

Since the Israeli occupation of what was left of historical Palestine began in 1967, more than 650,000 Palestinians have been imprisoned by Israel. Since the beginning of the second Palestinian uprising started in 2000, over 20,000 prisoners, men, women, and children have been coming in and out of Israeli prisons. Based on my work over the past 10 years with Palestinian refugee youth in different refugee camps in the West Bank, I have witnessed a dramatic change in the demography of the refugee camps, in large part due to the high level of imprisonment among youth. The age of arrest varies; youth may be detained or arrested anytime between ages 11 to 25 years old. Many of those children and young men and women have no knowledge of interrogation techniques in interrogation centers. Not only do these youth miss out on their education, they leave prison with many psychological problems due to harsh interrogations and bad prison environment. We’ll be using short films and photographs to present these issues.  Organization: Lajee Center – Presenters: Nidal Al-Azraq, Mohammad Al-Azza – Tracks: Poor People Power, Mideast Solidarity , Anti-Imperialism

 

Walmart: Driving down wages around the world!

As the largest private employer in the world, Walmart is setting the standard for jobs. Hundreds of thousands of its employees live in poverty—even many that work full time. That includes workers in subcontracted warehouses and workers in developing countries making incredibly low wages while manufacturing the goods on Walmart’s shelves. This pulls down standards for workers around the globe. Across this country, in rural and suburban communities, there are too many small businesses to count who have closed their doors due to unfair competition from Walmart. Now, Walmart has aggressively set its sights on large urban communities like New York City and Los Angeles. The company is a major contributor to the widening gap between the very rich and everyone else. The average full time Walmart “associate” makes about $15,500 a year and Walmart is pushing more workers toward a permanent part-time status. Meanwhile, the six members of the Walton family have a combined wealth of $93 billion. That’s more than the bottom 30% of Americans combined. Learn about the campaign anchored by the UFCW Union that brings Walmart workers, community organizations and ordinary citizens together to make a change! Organization: United Food and Commercial Workers Union–Presenters: Jamie Way, Making Change at Walmart Campaign, and Katherine Hoyt, Alliance for Global Justice–Tracks: Economic Justice, Immigrant Power, Poor People Power, Labor.

 

 

What’s Behind the Drug War in Mexico and Central America?

The objective of this workshop is to provide information about the Drug War in Mexico and Central America and to look at what is behind this war, the possible motives and connections to US policy. We also hope to make connections between the Drug War in the US and issues of immigration and the criminal “justice” system to be explored in the large peoples power assembly with an eye toward the possibility of a bi-national (or more) movement. Organization: Latin America Solidarity Coalition Drug War Working Group – Presenters: Prof. Laura Carlsen and others – Tracks: Drug War, Latin America Solidarity

 

What’s Going On In Syria?

The highlight of this workshop will be a presentation by Mother Agnes-Mariam, Mother Superior at the Monastery and Convent of St. James in Qara, Syria.  She is coming directly from the Middle East and
starting her North America Tour at the Tear Down the Walls Conference. Mother Agnes will present her “on the ground” observations and experiences in Syria. She says that much Western reporting on Syria is
inaccurate, false and even fabricated.  Mother Agnes has launched the Mussalaha Initiative seeking nonviolent resolution and reconciliation in Syria. Organization: Syria Solidarity Movement and Mussalaha (Reconciliation) Movement—Presenters: Mother Agnes-Mariam of the Cross  with support from Syria Solidarity Movement and ANSWER—Tracks: Mid-East Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

Who are the Political Prisoners in the US

We give an overview of the different political prisoner cases and their defense campaigns: Bradley (Chelsea) Manning, Lynne Stewart, Leonard Peltier, Cuban 5, Mumia Abu Jamal, Guantanamo prisoners, at least 18 Black Panther Party prisoners, Ricardo Palmera, Sami Al-Arian, Oscar Lopez Rivera, Holy Land 5, Eric McDavid and Marie Mason, Abdelhaleem Ashqar, Dr. Rafil Dhafir, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. We hope to make more people aware of these cases, why they were framed up, how you can learn more about them and help with their defense. Organization: Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5— Presenters: Stan Smith—Tracks: Anti-Militarism , Black Power, Environmental Justice, Latin America Solidarity, Mideast Solidarity , Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Imperialism

 

Why is the Working Class Important?

The overwhelming majority of folks either work for wages or are supported by family members who do.  They are the working class who produce all the goods and services.  This interactive workshop will examine the special role the working class must play in coalition building and building the broad based movement needed if we are to move beyond capitalism.  Organization: Salt of the Earth Labor College – Presenters:  Steve Valencia and/or Joe Bernick – Tracks: Economic Justice, Labor, socialism. 

 

Wild Versus Wall

U.S. immigration, trade and border policies are reaping havoc on the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. More than 650 miles of barriers and walls were built without regard for dozens of laws that protect land, air, water, historic and cultural sites and religious freedom. Instead of addressing issues at the root of human migration, lawmakers continually call for a more-of-the-same approach: more walls, agents, and sweetheart deals for security contractors. Sierra Club fights for better border policies and strives to educate the public about the importance of natural areas along U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada. Come learn how you can get involved. Organization: Sierra Club – Presenters: Dan Millis, program coordinator, Borderlands Project  –Tracks:  Environmental Justice, Ecological Solidarity

 

Women fighting back. The status quo must go.

The workshop will include women involved in struggles both local and national to stop the war on women being waged in the United States. Hear about the fight to free Marissa Alexander, an African American woman convicted of aggravated assault for firing a shot into the ceiling to stop her abusive husband, the struggle against the anti-choice ballot measure in Albuquerque, the fight to stop the WIC shutdown, and more.  Organization: W,O,R,D, Women Organized to Resist and Defend—Presenters: Sydney Hodge, WORD Albuquerque, Yvonne Bonilla, WORD Los Angeles—Tracks: Women’s Rights

 

Writing for Home, School, and Everyday Life

This workshop introduces writing pedagogy developed at Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Sandy, and enacted in public parks as part of occupations of the Free University of NYC, and in Bronx, NY open-access college classrooms in the weeks and months following Hurricane Sandy. Participants will practice writing as a process of transformation through participatory action. We will focus on writing for home, school, and everyday life, in light of the Occupy movement and in the wake of current claims of austerity. Organization: Free University of NYC – Presenters: Susan Naomi Bernstein – Tracks: Economic Justice, Occupy Movement , Free Education

 

 

 

 

 

 

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