Nadia: We are here to begin define the terms of the questions of the Alliance
for those who have arrived. How to relate, expose questions and reactions,
things you have experienced, what are your limits, advances.
Nadia introduces herself, while giving an idea of her views and how she became
involved in the Alliance. States that ideally, financing should exist for
participants to be able to dedicate themselves exclusively to the Alliance.
She
talks of the feminine participation in the Alliance and how France took the
lead in the formation of the Alliance.
Question (Marcos Arruda): What is the relation between workshops? Ying-Yang
permeates all the workshops. I would like to include more feminine views in
the
workshops, and not only masculine. Especially masculine aggression against
nature. The parallel exists between the earth and the feminine nature.
Question: What have you done with all your experience and information acquired
in your workshops? Nadia - It's a slow process and the question of male
dominance over women is never really faced. We intend to integrate the
dialogues. We must always think of the other side. Everybody should
participate
in this kind of discussion. Always seek some kind of balance, representing
harmony. Starting with the individual you later move to the collective.
We must not concentrate on masculine and feminine, we must express our points
of view. Let us then introduce ourselves.
Participants introduce themselves and give their stronger work points. A
Spanish speaker tells of a method that he used in Spain for conducting
workshops; he finds this method is very efficient.
Talks revolve around the democratic distribution of speakers' rights within
the
workshop. What are the priorities in each country and region? Are they
workshops? The Indian speaker says that workshops should not be a one-time
event, to not become and end in itself. The Nepalese speaker says that as his
work is very young in Nepal; his colleagues there are trying to build up
experience.
A French representative speaks about her work with women and youth in
grassroots structures in France. Another speaker postulates on the meaning of
the workshops; she then talks about the creation of forces to combat negative
affects.
A Russian participant speaks. We often speak about the Russian "conversion" in
Russia. You can imagine how many different initiatives have taken place in our
Russian totalitarian regime to start any kind of change.
An Italian speaker says that he is principally concerned with those excluded
from society. People have the need to meet individually and not only through
Internet. He would like to start different workshops in his country, maybe
they
will start them with a geo-political group. The Brazilian speaker says
that he
is interested in sustainable system in the mountain area where he lives. He
has
already worked with political entities there in conjunction with other
factions
to conserve the Atlantic ecosystem along the Brazilian seaboard.
A Canadian speaker has tried to involve the French universities and wonders if
they can not be convinced to involve themselves more in Alliance workshops
matters. Exchange is essential, but her group would like to go beyond this
exchange. She would like to know how to really use the workshops to go beyond
our individual transformations.
The Togo speaker says he started working with a solidarity group only a year
and a half ago, and doesn't really know how to reach any kind of cohesion, to
be able to transform society.
A Brazilian speaker talks about economics transformed into social benefits. He
talks about the difference, as Marisa did, in the word *workshop* and
*canteiro* and *chantier* in French and Portuguese, and how it is better
adapted for the purposes put forth here. He goes on to say that today the
participants are ready to better define a working model to be followed. We
must
think and act both locally and globally.
The Uganda participant says that he would like to compare the process with his
own farming bed, as he would like the values planted there to flower. The
Canadian participant has several experiences with environmental militancy,
experience which he would like to share with the others. It is important to
form people. Experience is basic. He maintains contact with various groups in
Quebec. He questions the existence of the workshops. One participant has
worked
for more than 40 years with pertinent questions in the Philippines: He became
disenchanted with the government's participation, so he has become
independent.
With wide experience in large companies he knows how these companies think,
and
how they destroy his country: We have tried to bring back the community
spirit,
and I am here today to exchange my experiences.
Another speaker talks about the general unbalance, each day taking the world
further away from the Alliance's objectives in France: I have seen that many
people think like me. The financial problem of my group is very important.
Nadia: We must try now to go from an individual point of view to the
collective
point of view. Looking for originality while building a common platform.
Contact between groups is very important. Results cannot be expected in the
short term, we must plant for the future generations.
The workshop must be discussed as a support for our work.
What is a workshop? It is a possibility to transform ourselves. It changes our
sensations, and consequently must be used to transform others. We must be able
to reach the public. One speaker proposes that only 5 people should be
initially united to discuss the questions. Each group should work on one
concrete theme. One speaker thinks that first some basic concepts and values
should be defined. A great semantic diversity exists. The actors and processes
are more important right now, where all the changes can occur. The workshop
must have a collective singularity. We should realize that what is happening
here is happening in other places and that our singularity can contribute to
the collective.
We must think on a daily basis of a vertical axis.
What is concrete? What do we have to combat styles of life? What kind of
dynamics do we have to start the momentum of workshops? Consumerism is only
one
of the elements.
Nadia: We cannot talk of the Alliance as a separate organism. We are here all
to invent new forms of doing our part. I would like for somebody to say
something concrete about workshops.
The limits should be defined for our workshop. It is important to talk more
about the singular versus the collective. Another speaker is in doubt as what
to do to be able to change things in her country. The ideas exist, but
concretely, what do they mean? A workshop produces knowledge. It can change
through time. We must find some kind of political action. What can I do when I
return to my country? I must look for people who can find solutions and have
the same interests as me. Another question: Where can we find financing? In
another's opinion, the exchange of opinions is extremely effective, for it is
there where we can find intersections. We return to our countries with more
arguments to better achieve any kind of power or influence. To further this
proposition the people dealing, let's say, with forests, should get together
and discuss the relative questions.
Nadia: There are two different types of groups working in the Alliance. Those
who work for the institution and have financing, and those who do not. Those
that have financing without a doubt will contribute to countries who have the
same kind of problems. In this sense we must go and look for this
financing. It
is wise also to define the differences between *chantier* and *workshop*. The
first is a specific event, the other a constant fight.
Strategy depends on many factors to be able to build its bed, such as
legislation, education, and social aspects. We must arm ourselves with
stronger
information to be able to open doors in our countries. We also need more
permanent dynamics for the workshops. We depend on the changes in mass
communication. We must try to see and use the Alliance as a network.
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