[WSMDiscuss] Fwd: WEAVING ALTERNATIVES #07: A periodical of the Global Tapestry of Alternatives

[Ashish Kothari]

Our latest periodical ... for further details, pl. contact Shrishtee and 
Urvi, copied here

ashish

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	[REDlistserve] WEAVING ALTERNATIVES #07: A periodical of the 
Global Tapestry of Alternatives
Date: 	Thu, 7 Apr 2022 08:36:11 +0530
From: 	Shrishtee Bajpai <shrishteebajpai at gmail.com>




	


  WEAVING ALTERNATIVES #07:
  A periodical of the Global Tapestry of Alternatives

*The contents of this periodical are also available online in this 
webpage <https://globaltapestryofalternatives.org/newsletters:07:index>.*


    Editorial

Dear readers,

It is our pleasure to share Global Tapestry of Alternative's seventh 
periodical with you. With this issue we announce the renaming of our 
traditional newsletter, now called/“WEAVING ALTERNATIVES: A periodical 
of the Global Tapestry of Alternatives”/.

The Global Tapestry of Alternatives seeks to build bridges between 
networks of Alternatives around the globe and promote the creation of 
new processes of confluence. You can know more about the project, in 
ourintroductory note 
<https://globaltapestryofalternatives.org/introduction>.

We, across the world are facing immense uncertainties that pose very 
serious challenges and have social, economic, political, cultural and 
ecological implications for most of us. The attempt is to bring to you 
the news, perspectives, thoughts, ideas, reflections, and dialogues on 
alternatives to the current dominant regimes. Importantly, what do they 
offer us as pathways towards just, equitable and ecologically wise 
futures. It is a humble attempt to bring together the collective 
envisioning of these pluriversal alternatives by creating a space for 
sharing and dialoguing.

We intend to share this periodical every two months sometimes thematic 
and sometimes general but broadly sharing perspectives, news on 
activities being seeded through GTA, as well as 
perspectives/news/thoughts/questions from tapestry weavers and endorsing 
organisations and networks. We see this periodical part of a process of 
knowing each-others' work, engaging with ideas, facilitating 
collaborations and initiating co-writing and co-learning processes. Yes, 
the objectives are ambitious and that is why we need your support, your 
contributions and engagement. We invite you to this sharing, reflecting, 
dialoguing, healing, and envisioning space.

This periodical comes at the times when we at GTA have lost our elder 
and wisdom holder, Gustavo Esteva. We dedicate this periodical to him 
and it starts with an obit for Gustavo authored by Franco Augusto and 
Arturo Escobar. Additionally, the periodical features updates from our 
weavers in India (Vikalp Sangam) and Mexico and Colombia (Crianza 
Mutua), envisioning of a post-growth economy by Post-growth Institute, 
and perspective pieces from Lina Álvarez Villarreal, Xochitl Leyva 
Solano and Axel Köhler and Talking Wings.


    Hasta siempre, Gustavo

This new installment of the GTA's periodical is certainly very special 
to us, infused with a collective feeling of great sadness. On March 17, 
Gustavo Esteva, co-founder and member of the Global Tapestry of 
Alternatives, left us. Gustavo was undoubtedly a strong inspiration and 
guide for several generations, a radical dissenting imagination and 
world referent of critical thinking. His vision and sensitivity to the 
world was fueled by the hope of “those from below”, the grassroots 
groups and movements that transform the world in the here and now.

Gustavo departed surrounded by the love of his family and friends, who 
accompanied him during his last weeks from all corners of the planet, 
whether in presence or in spirit. He passed away in his place in Oaxaca, 
with his son and daughters and his beloved/compañera/, Nicole. His 
farewell took place in his second home, the Universidad de la Tierra of 
Oaxaca, one of those remarkable places that for more than 20 years have 
illuminated the rebelliousness of other possible worlds.

Arturo Escobar, friend and member of the GTA core team, said to us:

    /“Let's take some time to accompany him in his journey. Let's keep
    the legacy of his incredibly autonomous, collective,
    and libertario thought alive and flourishing. His inspiration was
    unmeasurable, and it will go on for a long time.”/

Gustavo helped to create and shape the Global Tapestry and dedicated 
much of his energies to weaving and promoting it. His main priority was 
to foster a GTA oriented to strengthen local processes, grassroots 
groups, and radical alternatives.

He was a great friend and mentor, and those of us who promote the GTA 
will carry on under his guidance, following his thoughts and sense of 
political hope, walking together to accomplish his dreams.


      Vikalp Sangam (India)

Over the period of May to December 2021, the Vikalp Sangam (VS) process 
has continued to evolve and grow on multiple fronts.

The Ladakh Vikalp Sangam on Food and Agriculture was held on 19th and 
20th September 2021 at Saboo village near Leh, Ladakh. It was a two-day 
Sangam with around 25 participants ranging from farmers to scientists. 
The first day was spent on discussing the policies currently being 
applied in Ladakh, and whether they are relevant to Ladakh or not. On 
the second day, the possibility of a Ladakh Wellbeing Index was 
discussed, and SLC-IT and Kalpavriksh are currently working towards 
creating a comprehensive Index, for not only Ladakh but all of Western 
Himalayas.

The third Western Himalaya Vikalp Sangam was held from 21st to 24th 
October 2021 at Devalsari, Uttarakhand. The Western Himalaya Vikalp 
Sangam is an alternatives confluence based around Jammu, Kashmir, 
Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The participants included 
people working on social movements, agrarian issues, sustainable rural 
livelihoods, environmental conservation, community-based tourism, youth 
issues, and education. The discussions covered key issues which present 
challenges to the region, as well as actionable responses and 
collaborative agendas for the upcoming years.

This was shortly followed by the annual Vikalp Sangam Core Group meeting 
held on 27th and 28th October 2021 at Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The Sangam 
was attended by 32 Core Group members. The discussions included a review 
of last year’s activities, key issues that require urgent focus through 
advocacy, as well as roadmaps for synergies and collaborations among the 
various groups present.

Vikalp Sutra (threads of alternatives) is a collective, non-hierarchical 
platform initiated in June 2020, to facilitate dignified livelihoods, 
workers’ rights and economic democracy in India. The network aims to 
promote community self-reliance, based on the principles of dignity, 
justice, equity, peace and ecological sustainability. The platform is 
currently hosting three projects. Sutra AjeeWiki is a database of 
organisations and individuals working on dignified livelihoods across 
India. Sutra Vaani is a free and locally facilitated HELPLINE for 
workers (especially informal/ unorganised sector) in livelihoods’ 
distress. The information of this helpline is curated in local languages 
by the community themselves. Lastly, Sutra Mandalis are action oriented 
conversation discussing dignified livelihoods through various lenses. 
They have had dialogues exploring the craft sector, women farmers, and 
dignified livelihood in Asia Pacific. They have been documenting all 
their recent conversations on theirFacebook page 
<https://m.facebook.com/sutravikalp/>.

Vikalp Varta, an online dialogue series started in April 2020 which aims 
to document the different grounded alternatives around India and create 
a colearning space has started a collaboration with National Alliance of 
People's Movements (NAPM) Grounded Voices, which started in 
acknowledgement of the invisibilization of many voices and assertions 
from people's struggles against oppression, which don't make it into 
'mainstream' conversations and spaces. The sessions is scheduled for 
6:00pm IST, every first Sunday of the month! The collaboration's first 
session ‘Women Farmers: Resistance and Alternatives’ explored the 
challenges, struggle, alternatives, and the way forward for women 
farmers in direct conversation with them from Maharashtra, Haryana, 
Punjab and Telengana in India.You can access the talk here 
<https://youtu.be/tfjNhPd4H8g>.

Vikalp Sangam helped in facilitation of Asia Pacific Social Forum. In 
2020 organisations in India, began a discussion to revive the processes 
of World Social Forum which had been dormant since 2006. A newly formed 
group called Forum Connect, focusing on mobilising people in a renewed 
Social Forum process in Asia and Africa, started working together, and a 
new process evolved, which resulted in the creation of an ever expanding 
group called “Asia Moblising towards WSF 2022 in Mexico' in preperation 
for the next World Social Forum event - which will be both physical and 
online will be in Mexico from 1 May to 7 May 2022.

They held an Asia Pacifc Social Forum with organisations, movements, 
networks and groups based in the region held between 18th - 20th 
February. Vikalp Sangam facilitated 4 activities:

 1.
    Self Organised Activity: Water Security And Climate Justice
 2.
    Panel Discussion of Thematic Focus Group 7 (Climate, Ecology and
    Transition): Reimagining Just Transitions
 3.
    Self Organised Activity: Sutra Mandali (Action-Oriented
    Conversation) on Dignified Livelihoods
 4.
    Self Organised Activity: Young People Energising Social Change


      Crianza Mutua Mexico

Crianza Mutua is a network process that is taking place in México, 
inspired by Zapatismo and emerged within the autonomous Universidad de 
la Tierra in Oaxaca, Mexico. It seeks to identify, document and connect 
groups through communal webs which are actively dismantling hierarchies 
in everyday life, putting principles of sufficiency into practice and 
constructing and extending their autonomy from the market and the State.

During 2022 we had several virtual encounters where various groups that 
participated shared initiatives and activities that are currently being 
developed in their territories related to:

Experience in food production and consumption processes linked to the 
respect of the mother earth. Processes of defending the Territory and 
the importance of the Assemblies in the communities. The work and 
prevention of diseases with plants and knowledge of the communities.

Process where they rescue the traditional plants to cure and also to 
rescue the knowledge of the ancestors.The importance of valuing food as 
a fundamental health process. The importance of learning beyond the 
institutional processes of education that are often linked to power 
systems. The need to communicate through means that are in the 
communities themselves and receive information that builds life and does 
not divide it.

At the end of 2021, we had the opportunity to gather physically in two 
different occasions because we saw the need to weave ourselves together 
in person beyond the virtual world that at times has separated us more.

The first encounter occurred in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, 
that allowed women and men from various communities in Mexico and other 
countries to share their experiences around healing to take care of 
life. The experiences were through the sharing of concrete practices 
around midwifery, the use of medicinal plants, the spiritual strength of 
ancestral knowledge and respect for grandmothers and grandfathers, the 
importance of rituals in daily life, the sacred bond with food, the role 
of women in healing processes and finally healing as a way of defending 
the territory.

The second occurred Capulalpam de Mendez, Oaxaca, that it gather 
authorities from different communities in the region, traditional 
healers, community radio stations, learning centers and inhabitants from 
different regions of Oaxaca, in order to share experiences around the 
defense of the territory, weave forms of struggle in the region and the 
state, invite to build changes in everyday life, which allows to advance 
in the defense of the territory from different areas; legal and 
political, as well as from community life through food, healing and 
communication.

At the end the proposed to document the history of defense and that this 
history be part of community education. Generate accompaniment among the 
communities in resistance to continue walking together, weaving autonomy 
but also sharing the struggles, and making an attentive call to all the 
communities and groups that keep the battle alive in defense of the 
territory.

In Crianza Mutua Mexico the affection, the friendship, constitutes the 
pillar that nourishes our daily life. It is not about mere 'feelings', 
but about ways of relating that have become political categories that 
represents experiences that can inspire many people. Alternatives that 
we also share with process that are happening in India and Colombia and 
that we are weaving in the context of the Global Tapestry of Alternatives.


      Crianzas Mutuas Colombia

During the last months, Crianzas Mutuas Colombia has participated in 
several activities. By the end of November 2021, we had a first 
encounter with Vilkrap from India and Crianzas Mutuas México. Since we 
all speak different languages, we decided to share our paths through a 
video that compiles our struggles in different territories of Colombia. 
Concretely, we have been nurturing emerging alternatives in the spheres 
of health, economy, education, and art. The aim of these efforts is to 
liberate Mother Earth and the peoples that have learned to live in a 
symbiotic relationship with her. We encourage solidarity economies 
through the creation of peasant markets that are better understood as 
“markets of resistance”. The idea is to create exchange webs that ensure 
reciprocity through food sharing. This means that trade must assure 
benefits both for the producers and the buyers, and that these benefits 
must be based on the regeneration of agriculture. We also encourage 
urban gardens and short commercial circuits. Regarding health systems, 
we are working on the construction of popular and communitarian systems 
that build from ancestral knowledges. We have also been working on 
harvesting water, for water brings life, movement, and knowledge. In 
midst of fierce and egregious violence, we see life flowering thanks to 
the resistance build from and with the earth, and indigenous, peasant 
and afro-colombian modes of life.

Also, we are collectively writing a book titled/“Pluritopías. Después 
del fin del mundo de la civilización y la barbarie”/(Pluritopias. After 
the end of the world of civilization and barbarism). The aim of the book 
is double. We want to bring back to our memory the paths that we have 
been walking over the last years in Crianzas Mutuas Colombia, and to 
shed light on the multiple ways of weaving with the territories that we 
inhabit on behalf of life, joy, and abondance beyond State, capitalism 
and patriarchy. The book traces back the emerging processes of more than 
40 collectives in Colombia that are building alternatives in the face of 
coloniality and development. The book also recalls the conversations 
entertained with Crianzas Mutuas Mexico and Vilkrap India, dialogues 
that nurture and inspire our own paths. The book is written both in 
Spanish and in non-colonial languages, it also includes non-logocentric 
languages, such as videos, songs and images.

On February 2022, we gathered in Cali around the presentation of the 
book/“Pluriverse. A post-development dictionary”/. The book was 
presented by Arturo Escobar and Alberto Acosta, and it was commented by 
afro-Colombian, indigenous, and peasant social leaders. This was the 
opportunity to reflect on the importance of inspiring the imagination of 
sustainable futures by shedding light on existing alternatives in the 
region.

Finally, with the/Tejido de transicionantes por el Valle del Cauca/we 
are currently working on a dream that is already emerging: to redesign 
the Valley of Cauca region based on enrooted conceptions of Buen vivir 
(good living) and abundance. This region has been marked by racial 
violence and ecological devastation, due to sugarcane plantations and 
illegal economies that actively produce the rural and urban zones 
divide. This violence is not hazardous but results from a modern design 
whose aim is the accumulation of capital. Our hope is to weave the 
relationship between the countryside and the city with and from 
communitarian initiatives that already exist in the region.

*<https://globaltapestryofalternatives.org/newsletters:05:frederic>*


    Nurturing bonds through education

*By Lina Álvarez Villarreal*

It is beyond doubt that we are going through a deep civilizational 
crisis. This crisis has expressed itself in a multiplicity of crises: 
political, economic, ecological and, more recently, health crises. I 
believe that the driving principle of this devastating situation is to 
be found in the breakdown of the relationship of modern societies with 
the Earth (understood as living web of relationships). This rupture is 
manifested in the exclusion of nature from the social contract, in the 
pre-eminence given to the growth economy that treats nature as a mere 
resource to be exploited, and in modern conceptions of politics where 
anthropocentric elements (such as human reason or power) are conceived 
as the only source of normativity. I believe that the antidote to this 
crisis lies in the re-establishment of this primordial relationship with 
the Earth, an objective that can only be attained through practices that 
enable rootedness in a living place.

*Keep reading -> 
<https://globaltapestryofalternatives.org/newsletters:07:lina>*


    Gesturing Towards Post Growth

*By Robert Wanalo and Natalie Holmes*

The Post Growth Institute (PGI) is an international, not-for-profit 
organization leading the shift to a world where people, companies, and 
nature thrive together within ecological limits. We work collaboratively 
to develop ideas, programmes, events, and alliances that promote the 
equitable circulation of money, power, and resources in our local 
communities and global economy.

*Keep reading -> 
<https://globaltapestryofalternatives.org/newsletters:07:postgrowth>*


    Yutsilal Bahlumilal Pluriversity: Co-creation of agro-eco-visual
    alternatives

*by Xochitl Leyva Solano and Axel Köhler*

Many people across our planet have been inspired by the Zapatista 
movement, not least by their call for creating local alternatives for a 
world in which many worlds fit.

*Keep reading -> 
<https://globaltapestryofalternatives.org/newsletters:07:yutsilal>*


    When Rivers Speak: A Storytelling Tapestry of a Regions Waterways

*By Talking Wings*

A tapestry of stories, pieces of a puzzle that fit together, memories 
that are woven to form the land we call home. We are all made of 
stories. They shape our sense of self, the cultures we inhabit, and the 
environments we navigate, nurture and exploit. For centuries (some would 
say millennia) storytelling has also been a weapon of the rich and 
powerful. The colonizing and self-destructive narrative capitalism 
currently spins is all-consuming. The oligarchs and their accomplices 
want us to believe that they hold a monopoly on storytelling.

*Keep reading -> 
<https://globaltapestryofalternatives.org/newsletters:07:rivers>*

*Global Tapestry of Alternatives*
/contact at globaltapestryofalternatives.org/

To subscribe and get our updates, visit this link 
<https://globaltapestryofalternatives.org/contact>

	

---
To unsubscribe from this list, send an email to this address: 
global-tapestry-alternatives-observers-unsubscribe at lists.riseup.net



-- 
Shrishtee Bajpai
Kalpavriksh <http://kalpavriksh.org> / Vikalp Sangam 
<http://www.vikalpsangam.org>/ Global Tapestry of Alternatives 
<http://www.globaltapestryofalternatives.org>/Rights of Rivers South 
Asia Alliance <https://rorsa.org/>/ Global Alliance for the Rights of 
Nature <https://www.therightsofnature.org/>

Twitter <https://twitter.com/shrishtee?s=03> LinkedIn 
<https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrishtee-bajpai-18055390/> Writings 
<https://linktr.ee/shrishteebajpai> Flickr 
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/194276902@N08/?>





-- 
To reply to the author of this message, select "reply"; to reply to the 
whole list, select "reply to all".
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google 
Groups "Radical Ecological Democracy" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send 
an email to radical_ecological_democracy+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web, visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/radical_ecological_democracy/CAE3vkFCPDkGHzz69FawEecUwaLuqFDF1dooVpCMRXz2r%2Bw49%3DA%40mail.gmail.com 
<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/radical_ecological_democracy/CAE3vkFCPDkGHzz69FawEecUwaLuqFDF1dooVpCMRXz2r%2Bw49%3DA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.openspaceforum.net/pipermail/wsm-discuss/attachments/20220410/fb605957/attachment.htm>