globalising nonviolence. War Resisters' International Conference
War Resisters' International conference, 23-27 July 2006
With the conference 'Globalising Nonviolence' only six weeks away, it
is high time to register for the conference NOW. And to make travel
arrangements.
The Triennial programme - which is certain to change slightly - is now
available on the
href="http://wri-irg.org/wiki/index.php/Triennial_Programme">WRI Wiki,
as is a preliminary
href="http://wri-irg.org/wiki/index.php/Ideas/plans_for_self-organised_workshops_during_the_conference">list
of workshops, which you can also use to add your own workshop
proposals.
The General Structure of the Conference
Each day of the conference will begin with a plenary session on the
major topic of that day. Then participants will divide into 10 theme
and activity groups, where the same 10-30 people will meet every day
during the conference to discuss a specific theme in depth or engage in
action to produce some tangible outcome. After lunch there will be
one-time workshops, an afternoon plenary session and space for
different home-groups (groups of common language, geographical area or
field of interest) to meet and discuss the various issues that came up
during the day. There will also be an exhibition, music/art
performance, time for a party and other forms of social space, since
much of the best networking takes place in between the official
programme.
The details in the programme outline below are still in the planning
stages.We have not yet planned individual workshops for the conference,
and indeed, it is part of the plan for the conference to leave some
space for spontaneous organisation of workshops by participants on the
spot. Names of speakers, facilitators and other resource persons, as
well as the exact content of plenary sessions, are being discussed at
present, and are therefore not mentioned below.
Day Topics
Day one: Opening Plenary “Globalising Nonviolence”Facilitation:
Howard Clark, Majken Soerensen
Speakers: Joanne Sheehan, Jürgen Grässlin
The opening session aims to set a more participatory tone than in most
international conferences. In addition to two keynote speeches
(speakers yet to be invited), there will be activities to bring
participants together – first to explore their own involvement in
globalisation and second to present some of the projects they are
promoting.
The session will conclude with an exercise drawing up a list of the
assumptions that participants hold in common – points that do not need
debating or constant reiteration but can be assumed in the debates that
follow, so reducing the danger of too much repetitive stating of the
obvious.
A multi-media presentation on campaigns focusing on globalisation is
also being considered.
Day two: “Militarism and globalisation”
On this day we will analyse the process of globalisation and its links
with militarism, especially focusing on the economic aspects of
globalisation.
Morning plenary: "Economy and militarism"
Facilitation: ?
Speaker: Maria Mies
The speaker of the morning plenary will address the following questions:
* How does economic globalisation strengthen militarism?
* How does militarism strengthen economic globalisation?
* How is the justification (the public and the real justification) for
war changing (eg “war on terrorism”, “conflict prevention in failed
states”)?
* How is war itself changing?
Workshops
Workshops will include (still in planning stages):
* “The role of military intervention in globalising the sex industry”
* “Globalisation and the rise of belligerent religious fundamentalism”
* “Post-war peacebuilding: an abused concept”
Evening plenary: "Privatisation of Military and War"
Facilitation: ?
Speakers: Ann Feltham (Campaign Against Arms Trade UK), Simon G Harak
(WRL, USA)
One of the ways warfare is changing is the increase in private military
companies and private security, "outsourcing" of services for the
military and "mercenaries". The speaker(s) of the evening plenary will
address the following questions:
* How is the military in different parts of the world making use of
"outsourcing" and for what reasons?
* What is the role of "mercenaries"?
* Do private military contractors change warfare?
Day three: “Learning from globalisation from below”
This day will investigate nonviolent actions against the negative
aspects of globalisation already taking place and present the
possibilities for activists from all over the world to learn from the
experience of these nonviolent actions.
Morning plenary
Facilitation: ?
Speakers: Paul Russmann, Germany, Samiira Jama Ebli, Somaliland
The morning plenary will focus on a case study where groups from the
global south and global north have worked together as an example of
globalised cooperation from below. The case study will be on small
arms, where German and East African groups have worked together (wihtin
the IANSA network).
The plenary will address the following questions:
* How to start a north/south cooperation
* What are the benefits and challenges of campaigning together?
Workshops
Workshops will include:
* “Military, Conscription and Social Welfare”
* “Women – the global proletariat”
Evening plenary
Facilitation: Jorgen Johansen ?
Speakers: N.N. (ISM), Dorothee Naor (New Profile), Sheering al-Ajab,
Palestine
Global politics created and continues to fuel the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. But this conflict has also been the focus of a range of
nonviolent initiatives – among Palestinians and Israelis, as well as
internationally. These range from promoting cooperation and dialogue
between various types of counterparts in each community – youth, women,
professions, etc – to solidarity projects, various forms of
“accompaniment” and international nonviolent presence. To some extent,
non-governmental initiatives around this conflict can be seen as an
example of “globalisation from below” trying to support local attempts
to attain a just peace. The plenary will thus address the following
questions:
Some international nonviolent initiatives has been seen as an attempt
to dictate strategy to the Palestinians. *What can be learnt from the
interaction between international movements and local actors?
* Solidarity actions with various groups inside Israel-Palestine are
often a means of pressure on external actors such as foreign
governments. What leverage for change do they exert, and how can that
be strengthened?
* Can we consider nonviolence as effective in this context?
Day four: “For a nonviolent strategic framework”
Building on the previous day, day four will look at how WRI can develop
its nonviolent strategies and how WRI can contribute with its knowledge
of nonviolent actions to the globalisation-critical movement.
Morning plenary
Facilitation: ?
Speaker: Stellan Vinthagen
For several years, globalisation from below movements have organised
actions at summits and meetings of the global financial institutions
like the World Bank. The movement has established its own structure of
world, regional and local social forums.
* What are the strengths and weaknesses of the actions at global
summits? How can their nonviolent character be strengthened? What means
are appropriate in challenging non-state structures of power? How
relevant is civil disobedience in this context?
* What are the possibilities for action against corporations making
profit of war? Mobilisation is itself a goal but for what goals do we
mobilise?
* What is needed to move beyond protest and towards social change?
Workshops
Among the workshops this afternoon there will be:
* “Nonviolent strategic planning for globalization from below groups”
* “Alliance-building - overcoming the marginalisation of women at
Social Forums”
* “Alliance-building – accepting diversity while maintaining
nonviolence”
Evening plenary
Facilitation: Howard Clark
Speakers: Felix Kolb, Germany, Sian Jones, Britain
The evening plenary will have two speakers, one identified with the
globalisation from below movement, and one more identified with the
peace/pacifist movement - a speaker from the WRI council. The speakers
will discuss several aspects of nonviolence and globalisation:
* What does a nonviolent strategy have to contribute to the movement
for globalisation from below?
* What does involvement in the movement for globalisation from below
have to contribute to a nonviolent antimilitarist strategy?
The plenary will use an interview format to create more interaction.
Day five: Closing Plenary From Protest to Social Change
Facilitation: ?
Presentations from Theme Groups
* Analysis: A dialogue on alliances and goals
* Campaigns: short presentations and comments/questions/answers with
audience on plans for action in the coming years
* Action: video presentation and short training exercise
Theme and Activity Groups
The list of groups below is not yet final.
Campaigning against military interventions
Convenors: Hans Lammerant, Forum voor Vredesactie, Belgium, and Claudia
Haydt, IMI, Germany
Today the military industry, like other branches of the economy, is
privatised, diversified, and globalised. But unlike other industries,
it is still the classical example of a two-sided monopoly, of a
political economy and industry. This group will be dealing with the
connections between both aspects and their consequences, with the
connection between neo-liberalism and neo-imperialism, arms production
and export on a global level, and concentration and diversification in
military industry. It would work out an analysis of both the strategy
and the practice of the global military-industrial complex.
Military presence
Convenors: Sergeiy Sandler, Israel, N.N., Germany or elsewhere??
The military does more than just wage wars. It has a profound impact on
society and culture through processes of militarisation. It occupies
space, both physical and cultural. In some countries (eg Israel and
Turkey), this is done in a deliberately conspicuous manner. In other
countries military presence is less apparent, but it is still there.
This theme group will study the various forms of this military presence
and will work on incorporating the concept of militarisation into
global political analysis. Finally, it will examine possible strategies
of nonviolent resistance to militarisation and constructive action
towards demilitarisation to be taken globally and locally.
Nonviolent citizens’ intervention
Convenors: Jorgen Johansen, Norway/UK, Jill Sternberg, East Timor/USA
Nonviolent citizens' intervention is a practical example of
globalisation from below, making links globally and supporting peace
building and resistance to oppression in other parts of the world.
This group will review different styles of intervention, on a spectrum
from solidarity action to non-partisan “accompaniment”, evaluate the
goals and impact of various movement initiatives, and will discuss
issues of analysis and strategy involved.
Nonviolent strategy and globalisation
Convenors: Stellan Vinthagen, Sweden, and Jai Sen, India
This group combines the central issues of the conference, promoting
nonviolence in the context of resisting globalisation. The theme group
will begin with analysis. What are the strategies and objectives of the
globalisation-critical movement and the place of nonviolence within
these? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the apparent
diffuseness of its goals? What alliances have grown up within the
“movement of movements” and what has been neglected? How do the
activities of the international anti-war movements mesh with this? The
discussion will then move on to propose means of strengthening the
nonviolent character of “globalisation from below”, including
considering how to focus certain strategic alliances and how to clarify
strategic objectives. Issues of raising the profile of antimilitarism
in “globalisation from below” will be addressed in this context.
The right to refuse to kill
Convenors: Aimee Allison, USA and Andreas Speck, UK/Germany
Globalisation leads to new roles for the military, or new
justifications for old roles. This has some influence on resistance
against conscription and recruitment. Discussions in this group will
Include the themes of conscientious objection, war tax resistance,
deserters, and/or war resistance without conscription. “The Right to
Refuse to Kill” is one of WRI's major programmes. This group will
discuss how to develop this programme further in the context of the
general theme of the conference.
War Profiteers
Convenors: Javier Garate, Chile/Britain, and Joanne Sheehan, USA
This theme group has a very specific task: to develop a campaign
against war profiteers. Many campaigns are focused on the negative
aspects of profit; this campaign should focus on the negative aspects
of making a profit on war. It should name some of the biggest
transnational corporations that make a profit through war, develop a
campaign with informational material, identify potential allies, seek
ways to direct nonviolent actions against these companies, and draw up
appropriate goals.
Nonviolence training for beginners
Convenors: N.N., Germany, and Enrique Gauto Bozzano, MOC Paraguay
Nonviolence is an important tool of struggle in the movement for
globalisation from below. Through games, role plays, exercises and
discussions, the participants in this group will be introduced to
various aspects of the field of nonviolence. The group is intended for
participants who are new to the nonviolence tradition. What is
nonviolence, and what is the difference between nonviolence as a
technique and nonviolence as a way of life? Which nonviolent methods
are efficient for what purposes and under what circumstances? How can
nonviolent actions inspire us, and how to sustain a commitment to
nonviolence through time?
Home groups
The home groups will meet for half an hour at the end of each day, and
be a support and discussion group with no more than 10 people. The
participants will here have the opportunity to exchange what they have
experienced during the day, and come up with suggestions on how to
improve the conference.
Home Groups should be language and affinity groups, so members have a
common origin or common interest. This is an excellent chance to
socialise and network, and to build up sustainable connections for
future work.
Conference Timetable
| style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Sat | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Sun | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Mon | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Tue | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Wed | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Thu | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Fri | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Sat | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Sun |
| style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" | style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" | style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" | style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" | style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" | style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" | style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" | style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" | style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" | style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" |
| align="left">Day's | colspan="1" align="left"> | align="left"> | align="left">militarism and | align="left">learning from | align="left">nonviolent | align="left"> | align="left"> | align="left"> | align="left"> |
| align="left">08.00- | Arrival |
style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" align="center">Breakfast | |||||||
| align="left">09.00- | Council | Morning Session | Morning Session | Morning Session | Theme Groups Home Groups |
Business Meeting | Council | Exec | |
| align="left">10.00- | style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" | Departure |
|||||||
| align="left">10.30- | Council | Theme Group | Theme Group | Theme Group | Closing Plenary | Business Meeting | Council | ||
| align="left">12.30- | style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" | ||||||||
| align="left">14.30- | Opening Plenary | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Departure | Business Meeting | Council | ||
| align="left">16.30- | style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" | ||||||||
| align="left">17.00- | Exec | Theme Groups | Afternoon Session | Afternoon Session | Afternoon Session | Departure | Departure | Departure | |
| align="left">18.45- | style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;">Dinner | ||||||||
| align="left">20.00- | Arrival | Home Groups | Home Group | Home Group | Home Group | Departure | Departure | ||
| align="left">20.30- | align="left">cultural | align="left">cultural | align="left">cultural | align="left">cultural | align="left">cultural | ||||
Travel Information
Plane
There are many international and regional airports as well as cheap
and more expensive airlines in Germany. Warning: Airports of budget
airlines often will not be as close to the next city as they seem!
- Frankfurt, the biggest airport with 130 airlines and 260 daily
connections, directly to and from all continents: href="http://www.frankfurt-airport.de/">www.frankfurt-airport.deIf you fly Lufthansa, it may be cheaper and/or faster to have a flight
connection to Düsseldorf, Hannover or Paderborn, which costs only the
airport fees. But it may be as cheap or fast to take a train from the
airport station. You have to check... href="http://www.lufthansa.com/">www.lufthansa.com - Düsseldorf (www.duesseldorf-international.de)
is closer to Paderborn and also has many international connections and
an airport train station. Besides Lufthansa and similiar airlines there
are some international budget airlines like Air Berlin ( href="http://www.airberlin.com/">www.airberlin.com) and Germania
Express (www.gexx.de), too. The local
train from Düsseldorf to Paderborn is almost as fast as the express
train (ICE), but cheaper. - Niederrhein (www.flughafen-niederrhein.de/)
is what Ryan Air calls Düsseldorf. Ryan Air ( href="http://www.ryanair.com/">www.ryanair.com)
flies to "Düsseldorf" (or Berlin) from Milano, Jerez, Glasgow, Bologna
(Forli), Montpellier, Rome, Pescara, Tampere, Alghero, Gothenborg,
Venice (Treviso), Kerry, Stockholm (Skavsta), Oslo (Torp), Shannon,
London (Stansted), Girona (Barcelona), Pisa (Florence), Reus (Salou).
There is an airport shuttle bus to Weeze rail station, from where you
can get local trains to Krefeld or Düsseldorf proper. From there you
can get other trains to Paderborn. - Hannover is almost as close to Paderborn as Düsseldorf, but not
so big and so well connected by train: href="http://www.hannover-airport.de/">www.hannover-airport.de - Besides there are some other convenient international airports
like Köln/Bonn (www.koeln-bonn-airport.de)
and Berlin-Tegel or -Schönefeld (www.berlin-airport.de). - Dortmund (www.flughafen-dortmund.de)
and Münster/Osnabrück (www.fmo.de) are
even closer, but have less airlines and connections, though some very
cheap ones (EasyJet: www.easyjet.com,
Air Berlin: www.airberlin.com,
Eurowings: www.eurowings.de).
You have to take a bus or a taxi to get to the next train station. - Paderborn/Lippstadt is of course the closest, but has the least
connections (including London). You have to go on to the venue by taxi
(8 km only): www.flughafen-paderborn-lippstadt.de
Train
If you are coming from London, Amsterdam, Brussels, or Paris, you
can go to Cologne with Thalys, an international railways service:
href="http://www.thalys.com">www.thalys.com/.
In any case you should see the very good german railways service
website www.bahn.de
including a query form in english, french, spanish and italian.
Reference: Regular one way express train ticket from Frankfurt to
Geseke costs 63,- € via Kassel, and 83,- € via Cologne (longer
distance, but higher speed and same time)!
There are different prices for local trains (RB, RE) and express
trains (IC, ICE) and different offers:
Express and Local Train Ticket Offers
|
BahnCard 25 |
25 per cent off |
in Germany |
for 51,50 |
|
BahnCard 50 |
50 per cent off |
in Germany |
for 206,- |
|
RailPlus |
25 per cent off |
in Europe |
for 15,- more |
Local Train Ticket Offers
|
Schönes Wochenende |
up to 5 persons |
up to 24 hours on weekends |
in Germany, Poland, and Czechia |
for 32,- |
|
Schöner Tag NRW |
up to 5 persons |
up to 24 hours |
in North Rhine-Westphalia |
for 29,- |
|
Schöner Tag NRW |
1 person |
up to 24 hours |
in North Rhine-Westphalia |
for 23,- |
|
Schöne Fahrt NRW |
1 person |
up to 2 hours |
in North Rhine-Westphalia |
for 13,20 |
North Rhine-Westphalia includes the cities of Cologne, Dusseldorf,
Dortmund, Munster, and Paderborn.
Within NRW it may be almost as fast to go to Geseke by local train
as by express train.
If you come by express train via Kassel, you have to go to
Paderborn, if you come via Hamm, you have to go to Lippstadt. Then you
have to go on to Geseke by local train. Trains leave appr. every 30
min. and take appr. 10-15 min. There will be a connection to the venue
in Eringerfeld by bus (during working week buses leave appr. every 60
min. and take appr. 20 min.) or mini-van (at weekend on demand) or taxi
(at night; 8 km only).
Car
You have to get on the highway/motorway/autobahn A 44 between
Dortmund and Kassel.
You have to get off at exit Geseke and go on in direction of
Steinhausen.
In Steinhausen in front of the Volks-Bank you have to turn hard
right in direction of Eringerfeld.
In Eringerfeld pass the castle, cross the side street and then turn
right onto the parking.
Visa information
Please check visa requirements on the website of the German Foreign
office at
href="http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/en/willkommen/einreisebestimmungen/index_html">http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/en/willkommen/einreisebestimmungen/index_html.
If you need a visa to come to Germany, please contact WRI after
registration for the conference. We will provide you with an invitation
after payment for participation in the conference has been received.
We are looking forward to meeting you in Germany in July 2006!
Kind regards,
The Conference Team
Registration information
War Resisters' International, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX,
Britain
+44 20 72784040
registration@globalisingnonviolence.org
globalisingnonviolence.org
Add new comment