[fse-esf] AW: Public letter from Russian Committee to organizers of the G8 summit

[Hugo Braun]

Dear friends, 

thanks for your letter. The g8 organizers in Germany will discuss it and
answer very soon. 

 

Best regards 

 

Hugo Braun

 

 

------------------------------------

Hugo Braun

Journalist

Feldstr. 34

D-40479 Düsseldorf

Tel. +49 211 674980

 

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: IKD [mailto:info at ikd.ru] 
Gesendet: Samstag, 27. Januar 2007 11:26
An: Alternativy
Cc: "Carla Kruger"; fse-esf at lists.fse-esf.org; braun at attac.de
Betreff: Public letter from Russian Committee to organizers of the G8 summit

 

  

Comrades! Friends!

 

Starting from the Counter-Summit in Genoa in 2001, activists and social
movements from Russia took part in the world alterglobalist movement. Ever
since then Russian delegations attended all important European and World
alterglobalist events, with the help of Solidarity Fund and support of some
western comrades.

This period resulted into a new rise of the social and protest movements in
Russia, which occurred in quite tough political environment. New alternative
trade-unions appear, primarily in transnational corporations and export
branches. The protest movement against the social guaranties cancellation is
increasing, as well as the housing rights movement. The movement for free
and qualitative education appeared. The leftist youth movement gets more
radical. The rights protection movement activates and struggles against the
social rights violation and for the political liberties. More and more
people passive and indifferent to politics in the past become active and
settle down to a course of struggle for their rights. The protest network,
as well as coalitions and national social movements develop. We have
efficient contacts with the International network on a number of fields of
action. Many groups take outreach actions towards the grass-root members
concerning the alterglobalist movement goals and values.

All mentioned above made it possible to hold both Russian Social Forums – in
Moscow in April, 2005, and in St-Petersburg in July, 2006 (along with the G8
Counter-Summit). About 1500 activists from all over the country from
Vladivostok in the Far East to the Western Russia and Ukraine participated
in RSF-2006 in spite of the information siege and the political repressive
system intensification (more then 500 activists were apprehended in their
hometowns, on their way to St.Petersburg, and at the Forum actions), with
the minimum expenses.

 

However there were not more then only 50 activists from western countries to
join us in the Counter-Summit and RSF in St.-Petersburg. That happened in
spite of all the efforts of the Russian activists, and of all the promises
of the western comrades, including the ones given during the ESF in Athens,
in May, 2006.

 

That makes us ask: what are the appeals to the international solidarity with
only few activists from Europe who managed and considered necessary to join
the Counter-Summit in Russia?

Frightened by repressions? Well, the struggle is certainly easier where some
democratic freedoms are still respected. 

Lazy to apply for the visa? It is certainly easier to struggle for the world
without borders in lands with no borders anymore


Was the information about the Russian social movements too abstract? Well,
why not meet and see with your own eyes instead of only learning about them
from liberal European media.

Too expensive? Well, was the ticket to Porto Alegre or Nairobi cheaper? It
was definitely very special fun for our comrades from the Far East of Russia
to travel to St.Pete by the cheapest trains for 6 days.

These are the questions we ask all Western alterglobalists, except those few
who have been with us in St.Petersburg. And we want to hear the answers! 

 

The Rostock Counter-Summit organization is in work now, starting from May,
2006. It was already quite clear then, that the summit in Germany is
considered more important then the one in Russia.

Political activists, along with social movements’, unions’ and rights
protection movements’ representatives from Russia plan to participate in
Rostock. We do not ask for charity or financial aid. We just do not want the
Russian activists’ participation to be only the next demonstration of the
geographical widespread of the alterglobalist movement. It should be a real
political doing. The odious capitalistic and anti-democratic globalization
process mostly hits Eastern and Southern Europe. In our struggle against
globalization, these are the regions to start with; otherwise the Western
Europe will not insulate itself either.

Therefore our suggestions are listed below:

-accord the right of speech to the representatives of the Russian movements
on the most important Counter-Summit events;

-put a political accent on the significance of the East European, and, in
particular, Russian alterglobalists within the common struggle of the
alterglobalist movement;  

-perform an action at the opening of the Counter-Summit, of the relay
touch-off in the protesting against G8, from Russia to Germany; 

-implement solidarity of the West and the East of Europe. In particular, we
suggest organizing at least one action of solidarity with the Russian
movements’ struggle, for instance picketing the Russian Embassy. 

 

Massive venue of foreign participants would make the RSF-2006 an
international event which will contribute to the development of the
struggles in the country, to the creation of solidarity networks and to the
exit of Russian social movements from their international isolation.

 

The above mentioned actions would not be necessary, if the western movement
did not de facto ignore the Counter-Summit in Russia, and Russian Social
Forum. In the circumstances concerned we believe it necessary to overcome
the misconception by demonstration of a strong positive political attitude
towards the Russian movements. Otherwise there might raise an impression
that the iron curtain still exists for our western comrades, and the Russian
social movements are still in international isolation.

 

We are also glad to inform you about Former USSR Social Forum that will take
place in 2007.

Social and political activists from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova,
Kazakhstan and other republics of the former Soviet Union will join the
Social Forum, which will take place in Kiev, Ukraine, on 2-4 of June, 2007.
The most harmful problems of our countries and peoples will be discussed
during the event. The following are some of the Forum Sections names: 

 

-Right protection

-Labor problems and labor movement

-Ecology

-Theoretical problems of the left and the protest movement

-Education

-Housing maintenance and utilities board problems

 

Solidarity action is planned at the end of the Social Forum, with the
following slogans:

 

THE WORLD IS NOT FOR SALE!

ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE!

WE SAY NO TO THE ATTACK ON SOCIAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS!

AGAINST THE ARBITRARY RULE AND DICTATORSHIP!

 

2-4 June, 2007, Kiev, Ukraine - Former USSR countries Social Forum 

 

Russian Social Forum Organizational Committee: 

Institute “Collective Action”

Movement “For human rights”

“Alternatives”

Indimedia

Network expert community “Informational”

Left Front

Independent trade union “Labor Defense”

Russian Union of the Coordinating Soviets (SKS)

 

Please we would like to have some answers to our collective letter, send
them to address: info at ikd.ru, alternativy at tochka.ru

 

 

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