Oxford Anti-authoritarian Activist Network ready for the G8 and ESF
Student | 10.12.2003 15:26 | European Social Forum | Oxford
Oxfords alternative political and activist scene is vibrant and large... but it is not very easy to penetrate and access.
In order to facillitate a wider National/international network of activists social and community projects, and campaigns - that believe in organising democratically and horizontally it would be good to start thinking about ways of becoming more high profile and open.
In order to facillitate a wider National/international network of activists social and community projects, and campaigns - that believe in organising democratically and horizontally it would be good to start thinking about ways of becoming more high profile and open.
Hey all
a few people have been talking about making the Oxford (non globalise
resistance) activist scene a bit more obvious, approachable and
contactable. As part of an attempt to create a stronger network both for
the ESF and the G8 2005.
A suggested process for this could be something like that done for the Oxford Students Activist Network.
For this we made a proposed Basis of Unity (losely based on the Peoples Global Action Hallmarks) and an organising structure (based on principles of non-hierarchy) and then invited people to a meeting where we discussed and formed the body, emphasising that these things were only proposals and could be changed.
It would be nice to do this in conjunction with a screening/social event
etc.. and obviously the Oxford city network would not have to meet so
regularly, but the tools could be set up, as they were to some extent
with the Anti-war movement.
anyway here is OSAN basis of unity and Organising structure as something
to think about. OSAN works by making a space from which affinity groups
form around issues raised. Those affinity groups do not act in OSANs name
they are seperate - but meet through the OSAN organising tools.
------------------
OSAN stands for Oxford Student Activist Network .
Here is our basis of unity, agreed upon at the OSAN meeting on Wednesday
December 3rd. It is not eternal and can always be modified... :-)
1. We believe another world is possible, in which both individuals and
communities enjoy the autonomy necessary to determine their own destinies.
We also recognise the gross abuse of concepts such as 'democracy', 'human
rights' and 'social justice', and thus strive for a more genuine and
meaningful realisation of these ideals. We are therefore in solidarity
with all local and global social movements working towards these ends and
which are consistent with the principles expressed in this Basis Of Unity.
2. We reject all forms of domination and discrimination, including those
based on race, colo(u)r, caste, creed, religion, gender, sexuality, and
nationality. We oppose imperialism, unjust wars, capitalism and other
exploitative systems of economics, environmental destruction, and all
other forms of injustice and oppression.
3. We embrace forms of resistance which maximize respect for life and
oppressed peoples' rights.
4. Our organisational philosophy is based on decentralisation, autonomy
and non-hierarchical decision-making. For further commentary on OSAN's
structure, see the OsanStructure statement.
---------------
Organisational structure for OSAN, agreed upon at OSAN's meeting on
Wednesday December 3rd. Again, it is not eternal and can always be
modified... :-)
1. OSAN has no membership or fees, it is a network open to anyone who
wishes to participate under the guidelines of the OSAN Basis of Unity.
OSAN is simply meant as a tool for people to work together on various
projects, actions, protests and events. Does exactly what it says on the
tin. And one more thing - OSAN works through YOUR participation; it will
be as good as we collectively make it :)
2. All decisions affecting the whole of OSAN should be made through
consensus at a weekly plenary (open meeting), unless there is consensus
otherwise. Any changes to OsanStructure and/or BasisOfUnity will be
announced on the email list a week in advance.
This second bit touches on a more general principle - that anything can be
changed at a later time if the group wants to; nothing is set in stone.
3. Facillitators for discussions and plenary should rotate weekly (at
least), and everyone is encouraged to try their hand at facilitating at
some point (although of course, they don't have to).
This keeps power moving around healthily, allows people to build their
confidence etc
----------
www.OSAN.org.uk
a few people have been talking about making the Oxford (non globalise
resistance) activist scene a bit more obvious, approachable and
contactable. As part of an attempt to create a stronger network both for
the ESF and the G8 2005.
A suggested process for this could be something like that done for the Oxford Students Activist Network.
For this we made a proposed Basis of Unity (losely based on the Peoples Global Action Hallmarks) and an organising structure (based on principles of non-hierarchy) and then invited people to a meeting where we discussed and formed the body, emphasising that these things were only proposals and could be changed.
It would be nice to do this in conjunction with a screening/social event
etc.. and obviously the Oxford city network would not have to meet so
regularly, but the tools could be set up, as they were to some extent
with the Anti-war movement.
anyway here is OSAN basis of unity and Organising structure as something
to think about. OSAN works by making a space from which affinity groups
form around issues raised. Those affinity groups do not act in OSANs name
they are seperate - but meet through the OSAN organising tools.
------------------
OSAN stands for Oxford Student Activist Network .
Here is our basis of unity, agreed upon at the OSAN meeting on Wednesday
December 3rd. It is not eternal and can always be modified... :-)
1. We believe another world is possible, in which both individuals and
communities enjoy the autonomy necessary to determine their own destinies.
We also recognise the gross abuse of concepts such as 'democracy', 'human
rights' and 'social justice', and thus strive for a more genuine and
meaningful realisation of these ideals. We are therefore in solidarity
with all local and global social movements working towards these ends and
which are consistent with the principles expressed in this Basis Of Unity.
2. We reject all forms of domination and discrimination, including those
based on race, colo(u)r, caste, creed, religion, gender, sexuality, and
nationality. We oppose imperialism, unjust wars, capitalism and other
exploitative systems of economics, environmental destruction, and all
other forms of injustice and oppression.
3. We embrace forms of resistance which maximize respect for life and
oppressed peoples' rights.
4. Our organisational philosophy is based on decentralisation, autonomy
and non-hierarchical decision-making. For further commentary on OSAN's
structure, see the OsanStructure statement.
---------------
Organisational structure for OSAN, agreed upon at OSAN's meeting on
Wednesday December 3rd. Again, it is not eternal and can always be
modified... :-)
1. OSAN has no membership or fees, it is a network open to anyone who
wishes to participate under the guidelines of the OSAN Basis of Unity.
OSAN is simply meant as a tool for people to work together on various
projects, actions, protests and events. Does exactly what it says on the
tin. And one more thing - OSAN works through YOUR participation; it will
be as good as we collectively make it :)
2. All decisions affecting the whole of OSAN should be made through
consensus at a weekly plenary (open meeting), unless there is consensus
otherwise. Any changes to OsanStructure and/or BasisOfUnity will be
announced on the email list a week in advance.
This second bit touches on a more general principle - that anything can be
changed at a later time if the group wants to; nothing is set in stone.
3. Facillitators for discussions and plenary should rotate weekly (at
least), and everyone is encouraged to try their hand at facilitating at
some point (although of course, they don't have to).
This keeps power moving around healthily, allows people to build their
confidence etc
----------
www.OSAN.org.uk
Student
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
Agree!
11.12.2003 14:21
i think a good idea would be to organise a big event, maybe a screening of the film "the fourth world war", i would suggest in the beginning of February. This could be done in conjunction with the launch of the new national anti-authoritarian network "Dissent! A network of resistance", created in view of the G8 protests. Oxford indymedia and OSAN could be involved in this event also, where this new Oxford anti-authoritarian network could be launched.
Should we start a mailing list to discuss this?
societelibre
"unjust wars"
11.12.2003 15:39
Can OSAN clarify this?
cheers
an womble
an womble
On the word "unjust"
12.12.2003 13:48
this a suggested model (not text for the oxford group). It is the ratified OSAN basis of unity.
We chatted about a lot of the wording in this document including the war bit. We ended up adding "unjust" because we didn't agree that wars only happen between states. Many of us expressed support for groups such as the Zapatistas that in their first declaration of the Lacandon Jungle (january 2 1994) declared "war" on the mexican government. If we support their struggle and they term it "war" then we felt that the word needed further clarification i.e. using the term "unjust." It also meant that we didn't have to force everyone in the network to be a pacifist.
If you define all wars as "unjust" then this statement does not contradict your beliefs and if you believe there are 'just' wars (e.g. for self-defence or against oppressive regimes) then it can also apply to you as no-one will admit to supporting an "unjust WAR!" (except perhaps some one like Kissinger or Rumsfeld).
Anyway its just a model not a final proposal. Hope this clarrifies
Chakuwi