As the world struggles to find ways out of multiple global crises (ecological, climate, inequality, health, food), myriad alternatives are emerging, grounded in specific ecological and socio-economic contexts, and based on diverse cosmologies and ethical principles that challenge the dominant capitalism-heteropatriarchal system. While attempting to sustain all life on earth, these transformative alternatives are also innovating on a full range of (non)human concerns, including food, water, health, education, livelihoods, governance, culture, justice. However, as they are often isolated, there is a need to build more bridges amongst them to enable cross-cultural and cross- mutual learning and critical engagement, and new collective envisioning of possible futures leading to a critical mass for macro-change. 

This is a free event, but we are requesting donations to support the Zapatista visit to the UK.

All funds raised will go directly to the groups who have taken on the financial burden of funding the Zapatista visit to the UK. 

Speakers details:

The Global Tapestry of Alternatives (GTA) aims to weave this transformative alternatives. It is a non-hierarchical bottom up process, seeking to create solidarity and strategic alliances amongst alternatives at local, regional and global levels. In this process of ‘weaving’ the GTA locates itself in and/or helps to initiate interactions among these transformative alternatives, and organises through light, horizontal, democratic, inclusive and non-centralised structures. As an ever-expanding, complex set of tapestries, woven together by already existing communal or collective webs, the GTA builds on and expands on already existing and new alternatives to dominant regimes and promotes regional, national and global encounters, and close and synergistic linkages with existing organisations (e.g. the World Social Forum and Grassroots to Global).

The GTA embraces the Zapatista’ Declaration for life and welcome their visit to Europe! Their revolutionary struggle has been one of the sources of inspiration for GTA (core members and endorsers). The GTA honours the Zapatista’s proposal to build ‘A World Where Many Worlds Fit.’ In this webinar, speakers will honour the Zapatista struggle by presenting the GTA’s vision and ideas about radical change, illustrated by real-life experiences from various groups in different geographic locations. 

Speakers (all of whom are in the GTA Core Team): 

Shrishtee Bajpai  (India) Activist-researcher based in Pune, India and member of Kalpavriksh. Her research is focussed on documenting, analysing, and networking alternatives to development. She helps in coordinating the Vikalp Sangam (alternative confluence) process in India.

Ana Cecilia Dinerstein (Argentinean/UK) teaches political sociology and critical, decolonial and feminist theory at the University of Bath. She created the global politics of hope: a post-disciplinary and intersectoral field for radical transformation

Arturo Escobar (Colombia/USA): Arturo is a Colombian activist-researcher, working on territorial struggles against extractivism and on post-development regional transitions, and ontological design. He taught anthropology and political ecology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill until 2018. TBC

Ashish Kothari (India): Founder-member of Indian environmental group Kalpavriksh. He has (co)authored or (co)edited over 30 books, including Pluriverse and Alternative Futures, and helps coordinate the Vikalp Sangam and Radical Ecological Democracy processes. 

Vasna Ramasar (South Africa/Sweden): Academic and activist from South Africa living and working in Sweden. She has always been involved in environmental justice, politics of environment and alternatives to development. 

GTA’s website: https://globaltapestryofalternatives.org

Contact: contact@globaltapestryofalternatives.org.

This session will be introduced and chaired by Shelda Smith. 

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