Western Mass Social Forum Notes

Session Topic: Report from the World Social Forum

Facilitators: Sergio Reyes, Agustin Lao – Montes, Sonia Alvarez

This workshop was facilitated by activists and scholars who have participated in several World Social Forums (Porto Alegre, Caracas, Puerto Rico, and Nairobi). Boston organized a delegation, which was overwhelmingly people of color, to attend the WSF with the intention of focusing on migrant workers’ rights. A video from the WSF in Nairobi was presented that was filmed by ARCI (an Italian organization). There was a particular focus in this workshop upon migrant workers due to the decision made in Nairobi to hold an international week of action around migrant worker rights. These delegates reported that they learned migrant worker struggles face similar oppressions and challenges all across the world.

A brief history of the Social Forum was provided at this workshop, which was interesting as we saw how this movement is evolving. The Social Forum is Brazilian in its origins. The first WSF was held in 2001 and the following year it was held in Brazil as well. By 2003 over 100,000 people attended the WSF, 15% of which where not Brazilian. In 2004 the WSF was held in Mumbai where the participants where predominantly from communal groups rather than NGOs as in Brazil; there was also more participation by the classical Marxist left. In 2005 the WSF returned to Brazil and in 2006 it was decentralized throughout 3 different locations in the global South.

The 2007 WSF in Nairobi was valuably unique according to the Boston delegation, because it allowed the WSF to get out of a Eurocentric lens that is somewhat prevalent even in Brazil. However, some saw contradictions in the Nairobi WSF by the participation of protestant churches and other groups who are not normally welcomed to participate in the WSF. There was more of a challenge to translate the cultural context of some of the local struggles in East Africa to other areas of the world.

We engaged in a political analysis of the Social Forum as well. The WSF serves as a methodology for grassroots activism in a globalized world. There are many relationships between social movements and leftist parties within the WSF. We discussed the relation, as well as the importance, of local, regional, nation, and world social forums and the implications for movement building on the local and international scale. This establishes ongoing dialogues between social movements, NGOs, parties, workers, etc. The WSF is based upon a commitment to transnational activism, in which it is necessary to understand your own life / needs and how they are connected to the rest of the world. This is different than solidarity work, because it is about support rather than critical engagement. Therefore the one of the goals in the USSF should not be to establish a “we”, but to bring together many “we[s]”.

Lastly, we discussed the US Social Forum to take place in Atlanta this year. Some of the following questions were raised: What kind of social sentiments will the USSF produce? Will we move beyond protests and demonstrations? How do we address the fact that political organizing in the US is still male dominated?

Session Topic: Reducing Toxic Chemicals in Our Communities

Facilitators: Tina Clarke (Clean Water Action) and A.J. Juarez (Mass Public Health Association)

Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) is the oldest public health organization and is part of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, which is a statewide alliance fighting to eliminate toxins in MA. The Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemical Bill that MPHA is working to pass was discussed. However, MPHA works on the local and regional scale as well as statewide. The health problems that toxins pose in our communities were discussed.

Toxins are in our daily life. They’re common in the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, in our cosmetic products, etc. Toxins, microbes, and pollutants are indiscriminate and affect everyone. This workshop also discussed the socio-economic dynamics to this problem. Communities of color and low-income communities suffer disproportionately from environmental toxins due to environmental racism, which corresponds to a direct relation to racially disproportionate cancer and asthma rates. The workshop concluded by discussing ways to find common ground by listening to each other and working together. Too often we are pitted against each other in our organizing. Our challenge is to break down boundaries and stereotypes.

Session Topic: Healthy Food, Community, and Sustainability

Facilitators: Ryan Voiland (Red Fire Farm) and Helen Scharber (CPE)

Helen began this workshop by discussing the problematic nature of industrial food production in the United States and issues of consumption patterns. Ryan discussed how the Red Fire Farm serves as an example of an alternative economic model to corporate agro-business. In this section we learned about how community shared agriculture (CSA) works. We then took time to write out where our food comes from and how our knowledge of food production affects our decision making in what we consume. For example we reflected upon whether or not we knew people that are involved in the production of our food, how we access food, kinds of food that are available and what is not available, what working conditions are like at various levels in the process of food production, etc.

We then went over a brief history on food production in the United States: small family farms in the 19^th and early 20^th century, technical innovations that boosted food production post WW1, increased large scale production with the introduction of synthetic fertilizers and federally funded irrigation projects, to present day.

State and Federal subsidies are overwhelmingly allocated to large scale farms and encourage the overproduction of grain. The reduced enforcement of antitrust laws in the Regan era led to a few corporations with a lot of market power in the agro-industry.

We then discussed how the corporate conglomeration of the agricultural industry is detrimental to worker rights, animal rights, small scale farmers, and the environment. Additionally, we discussed how consumers are affected: unhealthy food is most often the cheapest, and supermarkets are not accessible to certain demographics. We concluded by writing about alternatives to industrial agriculture. In doing so we reflected upon what an ideal food production model would look like that served our interests; and how the government, farmers, consumers, and workers would fit into this system. To view the power point presentation from the workshop please see: http://wmsf.wikispaces.com/Workshop+A-4

Session Topic: Econ 101 – The Basics of Neoliberalism

Facilitators: Dale Melcher (UMass Labor Center) and Heidi Garret-Peltier (CPE)

This participatory workshop began with a brief explanation of the Center for Popular Economics and the Labor Center. This workshop was lead in a manner that empowered participants by building on knowledge that people bring to the classroom rather than relying on “experts.” We began by breaking into groups of four and introduced ourselves. In these smaller groups we discussed the dynamics of the communities that we work in, the challenges our communities face, and the challenges we face in our work. When we reconfigured in the large group we discovered that our communities and workplaces are facing an all out attack on gains of the past. This attack is the result of neo-liberalism.

We looked at Neoliberalism through a Shrink – Shift – Shaft model. “Shrink” refers to a decrease in social spending, which directly affects our public services, health care, community infrastructure, social welfare programs, etc. “Shift” refers to who carries tax burdens, public control of social wealth shifting into private ownership, job availability, etc. “Shaft” refers to who / what inevitably gets the shaft – unions, democratic institutions, the working class, etc.

Heidi then walked us through an in depth look at Neoliberalism. Basically, Neoliberalism is a strategy to remove all barriers to the free market. This entails letting the market reign by removing government protections and scaling back government as much as possible. We explored the history of political economy from the advent of liberalism through the New Deal and globalization.

We then broke into small groups again to discuss how this informs our struggles and work. One of the several handouts in this workshop was a triangle diagram of the Shrink – Shift – Shaft model, which we used to contextually place our work and struggles in. We also discussed how Neoliberalism affects women, people of color, and socio-economic classes differently. We concluded by identifying some of the social and environmental effects of Neoliberalism such as crumbling infrastructure, contaminated water, failing education system, crime, increased prison populations, environmental degradation, and other social ailments that are a product of the economy.

For more information please follow the link below:

http://wmsf.wikispaces.com/Teaching+Notes+and+Handouts

Session Topic: Inside n’ Out: Queer Youth and the Prison Industrial Complex

Facilitators: Quest, Out Now

Out Now is a diverse LGBTTSQQIA organization sponsored by the Statewide Harm Reduction Coalition (SHARC) and the Queer Empowerment through Solidarity and Truth (QUEST). Out Now works to stop all forms of oppression and to raise awareness on social justice issues. They work to sponsor needle exchange programs, stop jail constructions, and with other projects that affect Queer youth. Out Now takes a grassroots approach to social justice projects, and also works on legislative initiatives.

This workshop incorporated personal stories of young queer people who lack access to resources and face high chances of incarceration. Workshop facilitators and participants discussed how they faced a rejection from their community based upon the criminalization of gender expression, and how this oppression is internalized. We also discussed hazing that occurs in prisons, the school to prison pipeline, and the endemic racism of the criminal justice system. This workshop was both personal and theoretical and highly interactive. There was also a skit that looked at social issues such as homelessness, sex work, drugs, etc.

Session Topic: Uncommon Conversations

Facilitators: Paula Green and Olivia Dreier (Karuna Center)

The Karuna Center is a local non-profit women directed organization that was founded in 1994 to address the growing global challenge of ethnic, religious, and political conflict. In this workshop examples of the Karuna Center’s dialogue facilitation in conflict regions of the world were presented. An excerpt from the film Healing the Wounds of War was screened. The Karuna Center taught the audience the core dialogue principles and skills, and led the workshop in a dialogue experience on a controversial topic.

Session Topic: Organizing Against Genetic Engineering at MA Town Meetings

Facilitators: Ben Grosscup (NOFA / Mass Social Action)

"Another World is Possible."

This is true. But we have to say more specifically what that world involves and articulate concrete strategies to actualize getting there.

Ben’s presentation focused on two important questions: What are the potentials for connecting ecological issues and social justice issues in political organizing; and what are some of the problems and questions that have emerged with municipal organizations combating agricultural genetic engineering (GE)? The purpose of these questions is to critically reflect upon the most strategic way to undermine biotechnology companies’ grip on food supplies in order to assert the rights of communities for safe local food. This workshop also explored what is happening to local food economies in Western Mass.

Ben discussed his experience working for the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA). NOFA has been supporting resolutions against GE since 2002, and Ben joined the Town-to-Town campaign in 2006. The campaign involves educating, organizing, passing resolutions, and building political support. There was a map shown of the 9 towns that passed resolutions last year against GE and the 9 others that should pass resolutions this year. Since 2000 85 towns have passed resolutions against biotechnology; Ben refers to this type of organizing as town meeting advocacy.

Town meeting is the official municipal governance structure of most New England municipalities, and anyone who is registered to vote in a town can freely attend its town meeting, speak on matters pertaining to the meeting's agenda, and propose articles to be discussed. Town meeting is a vestigial form of direct democracy with roots that date back long before the American Revolution. Ben discussed the role of statewide campaigns in influencing town meetings. Statewide organization serves to: push forward an agenda; provide resources, strategies and tactics; and work to develop a more broad based social movement. Ben also spoke of some of the limitations of town meeting advocacy such as the paradoxes between participating in an expression of direct democracy while living in an undemocratic society, and feeling powerless against cooperate lobbyists in the statehouse.

Although this workshop was primarily focused upon organizing against GE, it also incorporated methods and tactics of political organizing that resonated on both a theoretical level as well in praxis. Ben went into an in depth discussion to explain the rationale for the campaign’s strategy. Additionally, Ben discussed some of the defeats the anti-GE movement has been faced with. One key problem that we have encountered even in the context of efforts to bring forth non-binding resolutions is opposition from farmers that use GMOs. Resolutions put forth in Orange, Shelburne, Colrain, and Conway, were all defeated by local dairy farmers. In Mass there are 183 dairy farms left and almost all of the conventional ones use GMO corn as feed for cows. Ben related what is going on in local and regional agriculture political economy on the national scale. The workshop ended with a more interactive discussion on the threat of GMOs in our communities.

For more information about getting involved in NOFA contact Ben at ben.grosscup@nofamass.org or check out the website at NOFA/Mass Press Room or to view Ben’s facilitation notes follow the link below:

The section beneath Gaza is particularly depleted with salty Mediterranean water and is virtually undrinkable. Palestinian West Bank cities are largely without sewage treatment facilities. International efforts to remediate this situation are at a standstill due to the freeze on international aid. In the wars of 1948 and 1967, Israel secured control of all the waters in the Israel-Palestine region plus the Golan Heights, a watershed for the Sea of Galilee. Israel has taken more than its share of a very precious resource and done it in ways that violate international law. International water law is based on equitably sharing common water resources. Basic principals include not harming other states and not exporting water from a basin without the agreement of all riparian countries.

International aw also prohibits an occupier from extracting natural resources from occupied territory for its own gain.

In 1967 Israel outlawed any expansion of irrigated agriculture in the West Bank. Since 1967 Israel has rarely allowed Palestinians to dig new wells or to deepen old ones, while settlements are readily given permits. Settlement wells are often located close to existing Palestinian wells and are usually deeper, sometimes causing Palestinian wells to go dry. There are times when villages are dependent on trucked in water. With the checkpoint system in place, military closures that can cut off water give Israel great leverage over the Palestinian population. Settlement swimming pools are one symbol rampant inequality. Sewage flows down from Jewish settlements on hilltops into streams that Palestinians depend on for drinking water and irrigation. Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas on earth. The salinization of the Gaza aquifer has greatly reduced Gaza’s citrus industry and agricultural output. Well water in Gaza has become so polluted and salty that in many places it is hardly fit for human consumption. Future challenges include the privatization of water production and of sewage treatment facilities.

The U.S. provides billions of dollars in military assistance to Israel. The Middle East Peace Coalition of Western Massachusetts (MEPC) organizes locally to End the Israeli Occupation. June 10 marks the 40^th anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and the MPEC will lobby and rally to end the United States’ support for Israel’s illegal military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. For more information please see http://wmsf.wikispaces.com/Workshop+B-2

Session Topic: Immigrant Workers Today

Facilitators: Harris Freeman (UMass Labor Center), Ruth Trujillo (Greensboro Justice Fund), and Lisa Henderson (5 College & Community Immigration Group)

“We discussed the H-2 Guest Worker Program and its various similarities to slavery; one example being that under this program, employers confiscates workers’ documents.”

On May Day, 2006 millions of authorized and unauthorized immigrants and their political allies demonstrated for amnesty across the U.S. and held the first nationwide political general strike in U.S. history. In 2003 The Department of Homeland Security established the Detention and Removal Program to ensure within ten years the “removal of all aliens through the fair and effective enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws.” This workshop included a brief history of immigration in which we learned the Chinese were the first to face racist immigration policies in 1882. We saw that in the early 20^th century racism, xenophobia, and working class militancy shaped immigration policies. The Mexican / American border patrol began in the 1920s.

We looked at an array of different immigration policies signed into legislation; one being the Bracero Program (1942-1964), which is the largest U.S. labor contract program in the 20th Century. 4.5 million Mexicans were legally contracted for seasonal agricultural work in the U.S. However, this program did not stop deportations, but rather, deported more than 720,000 Mexicans in ‘Operation Wetback’. In 1954 1 million workers were deported including U.S. citizens of Mexican descent and were denied due process and the right to prove their claim of US citizenship. We discussed the effects of the Patriot Act and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security has had upon immigrants, and the government classifications of immigrant workers.

Immigrant workers are essential to the US economy and new immigrants contributed to at least 60% of growth in civilian labor force over past 5 years. However, immigrants face different challenges in the workplace in comparison to non-immigrant workers; such as disproportionately comprising high risk low pay jobs, lacking access to basic social services, deprived of workplace rights, and denied a path towards citizenship. We discussed the H-2 Guest Worker Program and its various similarities to slavery; one example being that under this program, employers confiscates workers’ documents.

We discussed the legislation that is being debated in Congress today and how it would affect immigrants nationally and in western Mass. We had an in depth discussion of some of the raids that have taken place in Danbury and New Bedford. For more information on a path to residence or citizenship pleas contact the Mass. Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA): www.miracoalition.org View the power point presentation from the workshop at the following link http://wmsf.wikispaces.com/Workshop+B-3

Session Topic: Teaching Students about War

Facilitators: John Fitzgerald (Historians Against the War)

One of the focuses of this workshop was the manner in which public education often provides a curriculum with a distorted version of history. While this workshop was primarily concerned with the Vietnam War, we discussed the manner in which the people’s history in general is misconstrued in mainstream history texts. History textbooks are the products of compromise, consensus, diplomacy, and a number of political and commercial interest groups. To go beyond the textbook, teachers need to have access to a number of primary and secondary sources on the war. In 2002, John helped prepare a short book on the Vietnam War, which is an excellent text for teachers looking for a quick introduction:

Kantoreks Marilyn B. Young, John J. Fitzgerald and A. Tom Grunfeld, editors. The Vietnam War: A History in Documents. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

John went over a detailed lesson plan to teach a class on the Vietnam War. This lesson plan includes practice quiz and a warm up exercise. The warm up exercise is a sheet of quotations regarding war. The students are asked to identify the quotation with which they most agree and the quotation with which they most disagree. This allows students to critically reflect upon differing opinions on the value of war. Click onto the link below for more information on texts and a detailed lesson plan drafted by John http://wmsf.wikispaces.com/Workshop+B-4

Session Topic: Building Community Economies in the Pioneer Valley

Facilitators: Janelle Cornwell, Karen Werner, and Ted White (Community Economies Collective)

This workshop provided an opportunity for organizers to share their work with regard to building community based economies. Karen discussed some of her work in starting an alternative currency in Orange and Athol. Janelle discussed different cooperative initiatives. Ted presented the idea of economies based upon trust with a focus on farm stands in Western Mass. Ted, Karen, and Janelle are members of the Community Economies Research Group (CERG).

Ted is also involved with the Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) - a local agriculture advocacy organization that contends it’s likely that the Pioneer Valley has more farm stands per capita than anywhere else in the country. Ted focuses most of his work on farm stands that use the honor system for monetary transactions and are based on trust.

Farm stands represent informal temporary economic realms set up by individuals and are largely un-regulated--not unlike tag sales or lemonade stands. A few planks are nailed together to form a table with shelves covered perhaps by a patio umbrella or tarp as a makeshift roof. This is an example of an economy based not on fear, growth and competition but on fairness and trust.

In terms of geography and resource use - farm stands bring fresh food into rural areas and can, to some extent, function as non-franchised convenience stores in remote places. This helps to reduce miles driven and fuel combusted. Ted’s ongoing research on farm stands has implications upon the origins and possibilities for proliferation of not just farm stands but other trust based economies. Ted concluded on some of the characteristics of farm stands.

To view the power point presentation from the workshop follow the link below:

http://wmsf.wikispaces.com/Workshop+B-5

Session Topic: How to Support Your Young Revolutionary & 101 Things Not to Say to Adults

Facilitators: Youth Leadership in the Arts

This workshop focused on building youth / adult collaboration. We did introductions – name, age, name meaning, and one thing you wouldn’t know by looking at me. We had a conversation on what a youth is and what an adult is. When then broke into two groups based on whether individuals identify themselves as a youth or as an adult. We then explained why we considered ourselves either the former or the latter. This was a very interactive and engaging workshop.

Session Topic: Simbolos de un Mundo Nuevo (Symbols of a New World)

Facilitators: Anaelisa Vanegas-Farrara, Maria Bermudez, Orlando Vargas (Manos Unidos)

Multilingual session – Spanish and English

“If you want to organize you must learn to listen first, speak later”

In this workshop, the participants had a chance to express themselves through poetry and mask making.

The poetry exercise was an exploration of ways in which we experience and respond to oppression and other challenges. We heard a poem by a Palestinian poet Suheir Hamad. People shared their impressions of this poem and then participants were invited to do some free writing in response to the poem. People volunteered to share what they had written and then others had the chance to speak to what stood out about the poem. There were some very moving and expressive poems, some written by people who don’t normally write poetry at all.

The mask making exercise was a chance to explore symbols of a new world. Participants took cardboard and paint to create masks that expressed visions of a new world. These masks were colorful, playful, and beautiful – they became part of the WMSF mural that people contributed to during the two days. At the same time the creative process of mask making was good medicine for the soul.

Photo were taken from the Manos Unidos website - http://unitedmanos.blogspot.com/

Session Topic: Time to Get Yourself a Union

Facilitators: Jerry Friedman (labor historian), Jessica Levy (Student Labor Action), Dave Cohen (UEW), Jon Weissman (WMJwJ)

But no one can be trusted to take our side now – not the Democrats, certainly not the Republicans, and not even the most friendly, liberal, well-meaning corporate leaders. We are back to the world before the New Deal and the Wagner Act (1935) where the only way to get anything is to make such a fuss that the powers-that-be have to concede.

"It's Time" means conditions are ripening. "Get Yourself" means unions are organized by "you." This workshop discussed some of the legislative obstacles in union organizing, and discussed the necessity of more democratic, independent, and effective unions. The facilitators spoke a bit of their own experience in union organizing. We discussed what "minority unions" are – unions that emerge more organically and operate more democratically than larger unions that dominate an entire trade such as United Steel Workers of America. Minority unions also help prevent union busting. Handouts were provided on: “Unions 101”, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), Western Mass Jobs with Justice, and “inoculation”.

Jessica spoke of her involvement with unionizing wait-staff employees at Applebee’s. She discussed some of the struggles that wait staff face. Tipped Employees are exempt from federal minimum wage laws. In Massachusetts the minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.63, which is relatively low considering that Connecticut’s tipped worker wage is $5.41. Wait-staff have been forgotten in Massachusetts by both the State and the Unions. There is a dire need for union organizers to organize hotel and restaurant workers of Western Mass.

We discussed the role of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), including section 7 of the act. Currently, in any one trade enterprise or business the National Labor Relations Board will not recognize a minority worker union. There was also some discussion on the history of unions, the Wagner Act, and the appeal of unions to capitalists during the Great Depression to deter populist class struggle.

The Wagner Act’s aspirations have been scaled back along with its pro-organization tilt. First the Supreme Court affirmed a right of "Employer Free Speech" against the NLRA’s presumption that workers should choose a union freely without employer involvement. This trend has led to the state of the labor movement today - the orientation of centralized and leadership dominated unions towards collective bargaining has undermined popular unrest. The only way to move forward is to abandon the entire Wagner Act approach of elections, exclusive representation, and reliance on a state body, in order to enforce good-faith bargaining. Instead, we need to act on our own, using the only real resources workers have: numbers and solidarity to create enough trouble that they will give us something. Some further comments on where to go from here were are as follows, “forget the legal process and go back to harassing the employer”, “work to rule”, “make life difficult for the employers”, “solidarity works combined with militancy”. For further information please visit the following link: http://wmsf.wikispaces.com/Workshop+B-8

Workshop C Saturday 3:15 to 4:45

Session Topic: Why we do not need the death penalty in Mass., the USA, and the world.

Facilitators: Bob Lawson (Mass. Citizens Against the Death Penalty)

The Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty opposes the death penalty in Massachusetts and works to educate the public. This workshop was a presentation of basic arguments against the death penalty. We held a discussion on participants’ personal views on the Death Penalty. We discussed the manner in which the death penalty is inherently racist and barbaric. The facilitators presented numerous cases of prisoners who were exonerated based upon new evidence brought forth – often DNA testing. This discussion also led into a general discussion of the role of prisons and cops in society, and how these racist institutions uphold white supremacy.

Session Topic: A Revolution in Money and Banking (from the Bottom Up)

Facilitators: Chris Lindstrom (E.F. Schumacher Society)

This workshop covered a brief history of our current monetary and banking system and then explored some of the innovations arising through out the world that are transforming the way money works. Such topics included complementary currencies (i.e. local currencies, barter, and community currencies), micro credit, business structuring, and trusts. The Schumacher Society builds off of a rich tradition often known as decentralism, the society initiates practical measures that lead to community revitalization and further the transition toward an economically and ecologically sustainable society.

Session Topic: Another World is Here: Lessons from the Real World

Facilitators: Julie Graham and Emily Kawano (WMass Economic Alternatives Network)

This workshop, which drew around 40 people, aimed to provide an overview of existing economic alternatives and open up a space to share, discuss, and make connections. The W. Mass. Economic Alternatives Network is a loose group that emerged out of a Roundtable on Economic Alternatives held in Dec. 2005.

Nuestras Raices

Julie started off the workshop with a slideshow that showcased many examples of community economies that exist in the Pioneer Valley, including worker cooperatives such as Food for Thought, Collective Copies and a landscaping co-operative that grew out of the organizing of the Anti-Displacement Project; urban agriculture, such as Nuestras Raices, and community supported agriculture; local currency as used by the Highland Valley Elder Services; socially oriented financial institutions, including credit unions, community loan funds, the Common Good Bank and E2M; and capacity building organizations such as the Co-operative Development Institute, Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives, Community Development Corporations, the Center for Popular Economics, Community Economies Collective and others. These are just some of the existing economic alternatives that put social and environmental aims front and center.

Collective Copies

The next part of the workshop was structured as a fishbowl exercise in which a number of chairs were set out, comprising the fishbowl. Participants were invited to take turns joining the fishbowl to share their views, experiences, comments.

Collective Copies

Emily started off the fishbowl discussion, talking about movements that are growing to create and support alternative economic practices and policies. The Solidarity Economy is a framework that brings together these economic alternatives in the interest of creating a more coherent, unified and powerful movement for social and economic justice. In the U.S., the concept of the solidarity economy is practically unknown, but elsewhere in the world, regional, national and international networks have emerged to connect and strengthen the solidarity economy. For example, in Canada, the Social-Solidarity Economy Network has been able to leverage $130 million for capacity building, social lending and research and development.

Carolyn Murray from the Anti-Displacement Network, based in Springfield talked about a landscaping and painting co-operative that they helped to create, the Casa Obrera worker center, and a new stored value card that people without bank accounts can use at stores, to pay bills, and remit money to other countries.

Adam Trott from the Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives shared his enthusiasm and experience at Collective Copies which is owned and run by the workers. There were many other great stories and thoughts that people shared and the workshop ended with a feeling of rejuvenation and hope. For more information and to view the power point presentation from this workshop please visit http://wmsf.wikispaces.com/Workshop+C-3

Session Topic: Building Community Owned Assets

Facilitators: Larry Union (Northeast Biodiesel) and Lynn Benander (Co-op Power)

Lynn presented a power point presentation that began by discussing the advantages of community owned sustainable energy. Community owned assets allow for increased job security, increased food, housing, and job security. Additionally, community owned assets allows for retained public investment for ongoing public use rather than for private accumulation. We also discussed the benefits to the community and the workers from democratically worker owned co-ops whereby profits are distributed by owner-members. We then compared this business model with non-profits and municipalities of government entities. This business model design has a market entrance strategy that has an initial cost on home heating oil in order to expand co-op membership.

To build sustainable energy resources it is necessary to have powerful community outreach, successful replicable models, financial partners, and technical assistance resources. We spoke of the environmental implications that private ownership over energy resources has – private enterprise, especially in the energy industry, exploits the environment and workers. A section of the workshop presented the interest we have in partnering with Co-op Power such as saving money and time, access to Co-op Power’s pool of investors, and access to Co-op Power’s immense resources that will assist in building residential retail products and services that are need to encourage people to invest their equity.

We learned the benefits of biodiesel as an alternative fuel. Co-op Power is building a biodiesel refinery in Greenfield called Northeast Biodiesel. It will produce 5 million gallons of biodiesel a year from yellow grease and recycled vegetable oil beginning in 2007 and will provide 22 quality jobs. By ten years time, Co-op Power and the biodiesel plant staff will own 100% of the biodiesel plant. To view the power point presentation from this workshop please see http://wmsf.wikispaces.com/Workshop+C-4

Session Topic: Responding to the War Against Nature: Direct action and community-based action in defense of the planet

Facilitators: Tina Clarke, D.O., and Jean Grossholtz

Session Topic: Mini-Help Increase the Peace Project (HIPP)

Facilitators: Cassie, Amina, Shira, Orendah

This workshop opened with an explanation of HIPP - how it started and what is has become. HIPP is a training model for people to participate in conflict resolution. Western Mass HIPP usually has 3 day trainings starting at either a basic or advanced level. They provide training for trainers as well; for more information contact the Western Mass American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). HIPP was started by youth and was utilized originally among the incarcerated and has since spread elsewhere.

We talked about what is considered violence (racism, poverty, etc.) and we discussed the strategic use of non-violence. Then, we mapped the root causes of violence (i.e. government, fear, media, science, borders, religion, nationalism, etc.) and circled what we saw as root causes and how these issues are interconnected. This proved to be a fruitful exercise. We also engaged in an exercise to personify economic stratification by dividing ten chairs amongst five people. We discussed the history of racism and broadened it a bit. In addition, we discussed communication skills and how to apply them to issues of race, class, age, and culture, in order to overcome differences in communication.

Session Topic: 80 Years of Organizing: Mistakes made and lessons learned

Facilitators: Susan & Rene Theberge (SAGE)

This was an interactive workshop lead by facilitators who have over 40 years of organizing experience. The facilitators and the audience discussed their experiences in organizing over the years and focused on how to start, build, and sustain community based political action organizations. We also spoke of ways in which activists can sustain themselves in this type of work over the course of the long haul. SAGE, a six year old grassroots organization, was used as a concrete and current example to provide context and real life examples of mistakes made and lessons learned.

Session Topic: The Real Costs of War

Facilitators: WMass chapter of Veterans for Peace

There have been 3,300 US troops killed in the Iraq war and 25,000 injured. The war has now cost this nation $400 billion dollars. In this workshop we discussed what we can do to organize against the war such as speak out, call legislators, and pressure politicians. We discussed the psychological effects on Iraq war veterans returning home and the amount of jailed and homeless vets. 80% of Iraq Vets return with emotional problems from killing innocent civilians and/or watching others killed. So far there are 8,000 soldiers AWOL, which has doubled in the last year. There are 250 known war resisters in Canada and 19 have been court martialed.