Note: Presence Counts is not organizing any of these events, we are publishing this text for people across the US and Europe to be able to see what is going on and for documentation only.
HUMANITY WELCOME
Gorizia – Saturday December 16th, 3pm, Casa Rossa/Rusa hiša
Transnational mobilization for the rights of migrants and against fascism.
Gorizia is by its nature a crossing point in the centre of a common territory, which was always, and is nowadays more than ever, transnational, multilingual and multicultural. It is not a coincidence that diverse nations in this city stood together to stop the rise of Nazi after the fall of the Fascism in September 1943. For the same reasons, Gorizia is also under constant pressure of nationalisms, of racism and fascism. A hundred years ago in its surrounding area there used to be the most bloody battles of the First World War, which left hatred and false divisions behind.
In the past weeks this contrast was evident as never before: we could witness the civil war of institutions against the migrants who found shelter in the Bombi gallery – the gallery that years ago used to be a shelter for people during Second World War bombardments. This gallery is a symbol and a proof of the past and actual Fascism. A proof that can be summed up in one word: INHUMANITY.
IT IS INHUMAN:
neglecting the hygienic minimum and even water to whom has no place to go to,
forcing hundreds of people to sleep in makeshift shelters;
in the depths of winter preventing an access to a few shelters, which protect from rain and snow;
transforming the person who comes from somewhere else into an object of miserable political campaigns, stirring up xenophobia and intolerance.
This inhumanity has already many faces and too many responsibilities. On the one hand, we can notice an obvious inhumanity, claimed by the mayors of Gorizia and Pordenone and their councils – among the members of the councils there are persons who have no problem sharing the table with whom openly praises Fascism. On the other hand it is also true that the tragic situation of the migrants in Italy, Europe and African countries facing the Mediterranean, is a result of precise choices.
IT IS INHUMAN:
externalizing the control of migration flows and national borders as the European Union does;
the Italian Government’s deals with Libyan criminal militia, that practices slavery;
the exploitation of migrants and the idea that someone can migrate only if he/she sacrifices his/her personal freedom and life itself;
the criminalization of those who offer first aid to migrants, on the sea and land;
the Dublin agreement and the pervert bureaucratic mechanisms asylum seekers are bound to;
the false welcome actions, based on the principles of security, and the permission to application of them to private institutions that follow profits, or to volunteers, that are taking the risk of becoming instrument of control and blackmail;
the use of administrative detention and imprisonment for those who don’t have personal identification documents;
the exploitation and the denial of migrant labor rights as a feature of European labor policies;
the economic exploitation by the European Union countries of the territories from which the migrants come;
the military interventions and sale of weapons by the European Union countries, which perpetuate a state of permanent war in the countries from which migrants are forced to escape.
From Gorizia we can and we want to start renewing the idea of humanity, reconstruct the concepts of hospitality, mutualism, mutual recognition and universal equality.
FOR US IS HUMAN:
rejecting and fighting any kind of war between the poor, and the inhuman idea that the poorest and weakest are the ones to pay the cost of a crazy development system;
guaranteeing a suitable welcome, that is not only guaranteeing secure and easily accessible places, but also places integrated with the territory, which allow real mutual awareness and the approach of autonomy, identity and individual integrity of everyone;
opposing ourselves to the opening of detention centres and fighting for the closure of the existing ones;
unveiling that there is no “immigration emergency”, and that migrations are a structural phenomenon of human history, very extended in an irreversibly globalised world;
understanding that this phenomenon can only be tackled by involving and including migrants in the decisions and routes that are related to them;
learning to change through mutual recognition, all of us, HUMAN BEINGS, BORN EQUAL ON THE ONE AND UNIQUE PLANET.
To reaffirm these principles of universal humanity, in Gorizia we are starting a common transnational fight with common mobilization, which starts on the border crossing Casa Rossa/Rožna dolina, on Saturday, 16 December at 15 h.
The attacks in Paris, Beirut, Bamako, Tunis and on a Russian civil aircraft over Sinai, the developments in Brussels and the war-ghosts that cruise through the media and politics in Europe, serve simultaneously to impose the new border regime, pass laws that criminalize civic disobedience and protest, stop the transnational mobilizations for climate, and legitimize state’s racist practices. A wicked political swiss-knife threatens not only to tear societies and humanity apart some more, but also to cut through their resistance. We all have a choice, though. We can let division win and bear its consequences for the decades to come. But we can also declare a state of solidarity, committing to recognize and support struggles for peace, freedom and dignity.
In this context, it is imperative to support -practically and politically- the refugees and migrants movement and to acknowledge it as one. These people, fleeing war, poverty and violence have marched to the European borders, fearless and ready to risk their own lives. The hope for a better life in peace, united them in bravery. The numerous Marches of Hope (#marchofhope) ignited a broad and transnational wave of practical solidarity. We believe that this has to be translated to political common action and therefore call all individuals, organizations, collectives and civic society movements to join their voices now, as a first step culminating on the 18th of December (global day of migration).
The hegemonic narrative of a refugee crisis is almost perfectly orchestrated to hide the actual crisis. A political crisis caused by decades of failed european policies, at national and european and global level. Austerity, nationalism and racism, division in south and north, the demolition of social state and the precarization of life per se, were imposed silently with democracy playing only a decorative role.
Only embedded in a culture of fear can this logic of the illogical fruit. Blaming terrorism on people fleeing it, when all assailants were Europe-bounds, is a perfect example, in which none of the problems is addressed and the status quo is only reinforced. But protesters are banned from the streets, the very people our societies have most deprived are prevented from political organization by generalized suspicion.
Like in an Orwelian dystopia, the answer that leaders in Europe and elsewhere give to blind violence is more surveillance, more security, more control, more suppression, more oppression and more violence. Military interventions, war and bombing, arms trade have caused human, cultural and political tragedies and dramatically consequences for the global peace. Europe has been and still is supporting dictatorships and regimes, has neglected real support to democratic forces and activists fighting for freedom and peace in many Mediterranean and Southern countries, only to serve its own geopolitical interests and financial capital driven agenda. Politics for the few, on the lives of the many. The economical and trade war to impose neoliberal market has destroyed whole economies and stolen valuable resources everywhere.
Instead of acting on preventing this catastrophy, the political climate as manifested in the mainstream, from the segregation at Europe’s borders justified by the attacks in Paris, to the reborn war-lords, imposes a far-right narrative supported by a widespread sense of western cultural supremacy and frames a dire world without alternative.
No matter how dark our times may seem, it takes only a closer look into cities, villages and neighbourhoods and the answer is there. Although seemingly paralyzed by this imposed “state of emergency”, resistance is building up in various forms, formations and formats: from the environmental justice movements, the feminist movements, the human rights activists, the self-organized spaces across the world, to the amazing people in Paris that took the streets, defying the curfew to protest in solidarity with migrants and refugees, it takes just some rays of light for the darkness to be no more.
A culture of fear is imposed to become the norm in Europe and the rest of the world. A culture that aims to leave us numb in front of tv boxes and screens, after exhausting and unfulfilling working days. A culture that wants us to look away when injustice happens and keep us fragmented in front of today’s global challenges.
Within this trajectory we consider it crucial to visualize our solidarity and break the monopoly of fear. We choose to keep our eyes open looking for friends and not accept invisible enemies. We choose to feel, reflect and engage with the reality of life, of injustice, of struggle.
We propose to all, to unite under the competitive narrative of a state of solidarity. Joining campaigns, actions and voices inside a narrative that hits directly in the heart of the matter. If we let fear win over our societies, the future will be taken over by it. Let’s create the space to collectively express our solidarity and messages of resistance. Let’s reoccupy our reality, meet and act on our future.
In this sentence: “I oppose a culture of fear and hereby solemnly declare a state of solidarity!”, we see a potential beginning. Share and care, as always.
This text is available in 1) English 2) Français 3) Español 4) Português 5) Pусский, 6) Deutsche, 7) Italiano 8) ελληνικά
9) 繁體中文 10) 简体中文
1) ENGLISH – United for Our Common Future ( Call for desobedience and solidarity)
All Climate Marches scheduled for Nov. 29th in France before the start of the Climate Summit have been banned by the Government in response to the terrorist attacks. But there is simply too much at stake to surrender now. We in Paris will not respect the ban to march. We reject this shock strategy by which the tragic attacks of Nov. 13th are used to restrict civil liberties. We will be at Place de la Republique on Sunday to defend our basic liberties and climate justice for us all.
We make a global call for desobedience and solidarity. We in Paris now that in this trascendental moment for humanity millions of people will march from Madrid to Rio, from Delhi to New York to join the largest demonstration in history in defense of our common future. Thank you for your warmth and support, it does give us strength in these difficult moments. You can look for the march in your city at www.climatejusticenow.info
We in Paris have just paid a very high price for our dependency on fossil fuels, which is the main cause of climate change, a major source of revenue for terrorism and also has motivated an enormous amount of colonial wars. War leads to despair, hatred and violence, which end up hitting us in the heart of our cities. No more blood for oil, please, no more gratuitous destruction of the planet and of our collective future for the sake of Big Oil´s profit.
Nov. 29th we march to show the unity of all people regarding the global challenges that we face. We march in solidarity with the victims of violence in Paris , Beirut, Boston, Bali, Bagdad, Ankara, Bamako and elsewhere. We march to show our determination to fight together until victory for a future of peace, freedom and common wellbeing for each other and for our children.
We are going to make sure that in this Summit an ambitious and legally binding treaty is signed, that boosts inmediate transition to 100% renewables, swift divestment from oil and fossil fuels and a set of policies that restore and heal the ecological equilbrium of the planet. Nothing can help to secure peace and freedom for all in the near and long term future than working for a socially and environmentlly sustainable world.
We, the people from all nations and creeds united, are the hope of the world. We are going to lead the needed transformations and change the course of history. Nov. 29th is a day that marks the start of a long journey we will make together, a day we will remember forever. See you at the march!
Le président de la République et son gouvernement viennent de décider d’interdire la Marche mondiale pour le climat du 29 novembre et les mobilisations prévues le 12 décembre à Paris.
Nous à Paris ne respecterons pas l’interdiction de manifester le 29 pour le Climat. Nous refusons la stratégie du choc qui consiste à utiliser les attentats tragiques de ce vendredi 13 novembre pour restreindre les libertés.
Dimanche nous serons donc à la place de la République pour exprimer l’urgence de nous attaquer aux causes du dérèglement climatique, de préserver nos biens communs et les libertés fondamantales et de construire un monde juste et durable.
Nous faisons une appelle à la désobeissance et la solidarité globale. Nous à Paris savons que le 29 novembre de millards de personnes marcheront de Madrid à Rio, de Delhi à New York dans ce moment trascendental pour l´humanité, unis dans la défense de notre avenir en commun. Merci de vôtre chaleur, on peut le resentir et ça nous donne des forces dans ces moments difficiles. Vous pouvez chercher le manif dans votre ville sur www.climatejusticenow.info
Nous venons de payer le prix du sang de notre dépendance au pétrole, qui produit justement le réchauffement climatique, finance le terrorisme et a aussi été à l’origine de nombreuses guerres coloniales. La guerre, en semant le désespoir, alimente la haine et la violence finalment jusqu’au cœur de nos villes. Plus de sang pour le pétrole, plus de destruction gratuite de la planète et de notre avenir pour le profit des Grands Pétroliers.
Nous appelons chacune et chacun à venir ce jour-là, dans le calme, sans haine et sans violence, conscient des risques certes, mais présent parce que le risque est plus grand de ne pas nous manifester : combien de sécheresses, d’inondations, de famines, de guerres, combien de millions de victimes pouvons-nous éviter si nous affirmons la voix des citoyens du monde entier ?
Nous contacter :
Xavier 0664183421
Benjamin 0649985753
3) ESPAÑOL: Unidos por nuestro futuro común (Llamamiento a la desobediencia y la solidaridad)
Amigos, las Marchas del Clima previstas el 29 de noviembre en París y en toda Francia han sido prohibidas por las autoridades a causa de los atentados terroristas. Este giro de los acontecimientos es una rara oportunidad histórica. En París vamos a desafiar la prohibición en un acto de desobediencia civil, porque hay demasiado en juego para dejarnos dominar por el miedo y quedarnos en casa, mientras en el resto millones de personas se manifestarán con más fuerza que nunca, confluyendo en la mayor marcha global de la historia en defensa de nuestro futuro común.
Entra en www.climatejusticenow.info, consulta en el mapa la hora y lugar de la manifestación en tu ciudad e invitemos a todo el mundo a sumarse a este sprint por el clima! Es hora de dar lo mejor de nosotros mismos.
Caros amigos, as marchas do clima do 29 de novembro pela Cumbre do Clima em Paris tem sido proibidas em toda França pelas autoridades em resposta aos atentados terroristas. Esta evoluçâo dos acontecimentos é uma raraoportunidade histôrica. Na França nos vamos desobecer à probiçâo de marchar pelo clima, e vamos procurar novas formas de protesto, mais impatantes e eficazes, e no resto do mundo vamos marchar com mais força que nunca por quem nâo pode fazer-lo, e vamos nos unir-mos na maoir marcha da historia em defesa do nosso futuro em comum.
Entre em www.climatejusticeno.info, chequee o lugar e hora da marcha na sua cidade e vamos convidar à tudo o mundo à se sumarem à este histórico sprint pelo clima! É hora de dar o melhor de nós mesmos.
Дорогие друзья, французское правительство запретило проведение климатических маршев во Франции, запланированных на 29 ноября в преддверии климатического саммита ООН в Париже. Теперь нам нужно найти новые дерзкие и креативные стратегии воздействия на саммит во Франции, в то время как на всех пяти континентах мы проведем марши за тех кто не может и радостно объединимся в величайший глобальный марш в истории в защиту нашего общего будущего.
Посетите www.climatejusticenow.info, где вы можете найти на карте ближайший к вам марш и пригласить всех друзей присоединиться к этому спринту за климат! Пришло время проявить наши лучшие качества!
Liebe Freunde, der Klimamarsch, der am 29. Nov. vor dem Start des COP21 Paris Klima Gipfels geplant war, wurde quer durch Frankreich hindurch durch die Verwaltungen verboten. Jetzt müssen wir neue kraftvolle und kreative Strategien entwickeln, um den Gipfel in Frankreich zu beeinflussen, während wir auf allen fünf Kontinenten für die marschieren werden, die dazu nicht in der Lage sind, und freudig am größten globalen Marsch in der Geschichte der Verteidigung unserer gemeinsamen Zukunft teilnehmen.
Gehe auf www.climatejusticenow.info, suche auf der Karte den nächsten Marsch und lade jeden ein, sich an diesem Lauf für das Klima zu beteiligen! Es ist Zeit, unser bestes zu geben
Cari amici, la marcia per il clima programmata per il 29 novembre prima dell’inizio della COP21 di Parigi è stata vietata in tutta la Francia dalle autorità. Ora troveremo nuove strategie coraggiose e creative per avere un impatto sul summit in Francia, mentre nei cinque continenti marceremo anche per coloro che non possono e ci uniremo con gioia alla più grande marcia globale in difesa del nostro futuro comune.
Visita www.climatejusticenow.info, cerca sulla mappa la marcia più vicina a te, invita tutti a unirsi a questo sprint per il clima! È il momento di dare il meglio di noi!
#WeAreParis #NotAfraid #ClimateMarch #COP21
8) ελληνικά
Αγαπητοί φίλοι σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο, οι Διαδηλώσεις για το Κλίμα που έχουν προγραμματιστεί για τις 29 Νοεμβρίου, πριν το ξεκίνημα της Παγκόσμιας Διάσκεψης του ΟΗΕ για το Κλίμα στο Παρίσι, έχουν απαγορευτεί από τις αρχές ύστερα από τις πρόσφατες επιθέσεις.
Πολλοί συνάνθρωποί μας στην Γαλλία έχουν αποφασίσει να αψηφήσουν την απαγόρευση ή έχουν βρει άλλους δημιουργικούς τρόπους και στρατηγικές για να διαμαρτυρηθούν και να ασκήσουν πίεση στους ηγέτες όλου του κόσμου ώστε να σταματήσουν να αγνοούν την μοναδική πραγματική απειλή που αντιμετωπίζει η ανθρωπότητα σήμερα, την κλιματική αλλαγή λόγω των ανθρωπίνων δραστηριοτήτων. Στον υπόλοιπο κόσμο εκατομμύρια άνθρωποι σε εκατοντάδες διαδηλώσεις θα διαδηλώσουμε πιο δυνατοί από ποτέ στην μεγαλύτερη παγκόσμια διαδήλωση της ιστορίας, υπέρ του κοινού μας μέλλοντος.
Επισκεφτείτε τον ιστότοπο www.climatejusticenow.info και δείτε στον χάρτη που θα πραγματοποιηθεί η κοντινότερη σε εσάς διαδήλωση. Προωθείστε την εκδήλωση αυτή και γίνετε μέρος της προσπάθειας για κλιματική δικαιοσύνη σε όλον τον πλανήτη. Είναι ώρα να δράσουμε.
Before the election of the European Parliament social movement activists, altermondialists, migrants, precarious and industry workers, party members and unionists and many more people call for European days of action from 15th to 25th with the slogan “solidarity beyond borders – building democracy from below”. Activities in dozens of cities in nine different European countries have been announced already.
+ Europeanwide days of action from 15th to 25th of May
+ International press conference at blockades of “Business Europe” Summit – Brussels, May 15th, 10 am, Petit Sablon
“The EU-crisis regime is dismantling democracy and social rights by authoritarian austerity measures and the transatlantic free trade agreement TTIP. The international Blockupy coalition resists these policies during the week of action with actions of civil disobedience. We struggle in solidarity to take over the commons and to build democracy from below.”, states Hanno Bruchmann of the International Blockupy coalition.
On the 15th of may the International Blockupy coalition will take part in the blockade of the “Business Europe summit” as kick-off for ten days of action. As umbrella organization of single national business federations, this is the biggest continental lobbying group which permanently tries to influence and condition European institutions to continue hard neoliberal politics that force the people to pay the highest price of crisis.
All over Europe we will reaffirm the widespread social opposition to the austerity policies conducted by the Troika, and indicate which financial oligarchies are instigators of these policies. The real alternatives to the present situation are: self-governance of commons, strengthening of social rights for a more equitable redistribution of wealth. Democracy in Europe can only be built from below by the direct initiative of millions women and men, against all authoritarian and excluding measures. In the may of solidarity we will therefore fight racism and fascism, nationalism and xenophobia fueled by right-wing politicians.
In this situation migrants and refugees are among the most affected by the crisis, also because EU border regime threatens their lives by detentions and deportations, while at the same time wealth is extracted from them by extreme exploitation. During the May of Solidarity migrants and non migrants will struggle for their livelihood, for their rights, on the working places, against institutional racism that creates hierarchies and divisions as in the “March for Freedom” of the refugees.
Moreover, coordinated transnational actions in front of many Apple-stores will protest against unsustainable working conditions and the global chain of exploitation which links workers in Western Europe with Foxconn factories in Eastern Europe and China, which are the biggest suppliers of Apple.
Italy: 17th May, Rome – National demo against austerity and privatisation, for public water, commons, social rights, democracy in Italy and Europe. www.globalproject.info
18th May, Bologna – Rally against the re-opening of the deportation centre for migrants.
Actions in front of Apple stores, in solidarity with the struggles of thousands of rural migrants and other young Chinese workers against the transnational exploitation chain that links the main global technology companies with Foxconn and other factories.
March for Freedom starting 17th May and concludes in a week of action in Brussels 20th – 28th June
Transnacionalno srečanje NI ŠE GOTOVO!, ki se je ta vikend odvilo v Ljubljani, je uspešno zaključeno! Hvala vsem za udeležbo, vsebinske in druge prispevke! Uspelo nam je zgraditi odprti prostor vzajemne izmenjave, solidarnosti in boja, ki se mora v prihodnosti še razširiti in poglobiti. Spodaj objavljamo izjavo, ki je nastala na zadnji skupščini srečanja. Več o bodočih aktivnostih in drugih izplenih srečanja, prevod izjave v slovenščino in angleščino, lahko pričakujete v naslednjih dneh/tednih/mesecih.
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Izjava udeležencev in udeleženk transnacionalnega srečanja vstajnikov in vstajnic iz BiH in Slovenije (in drugod) »NI ŠE GOTOVO!«
Udeleženke in udeleženci srečanja »Ni še gotovo!«, ki je med 11. in 13. aprilom 2014 potekalo v Ljubljani, ugotavljamo da:
Obstoječe institucije reprezentativne politike ne zastopajo naših interesov. Protesti, plenumi in dtuge oblike alternativnega samoorganiziranja prebivalcev in prebivalk ter druge prakse neposredne demokracije, ki vznikajo tako v naši regiji kot širše v svetu, so posledice družbene nepravičnosti. Naše raznolike izkušnje in prakse investiramo v proces spreminjanja obstoječih odnosov moči, pri tem pa se naslanjamo na načela solidarnosti, horizontalnosti, neposrednih metod sprejemanja odločitev in samoorganizacije ter na načeli delovanja od spodaj navzgor ter od lokalnega k transnacionalnemu. Druži nas stališče, da so plenumi, protesti ter druge oblike samoniklih in avtonomnih združevanj, ki upoštevajo načeli vključevanja in enakosti, učinkovita orodja, s katerimi lahko skozi dolgotrajen proces dosežemo trajne družbene spremembe.
Vsako delovanje, ki se zoperstavlja obstoječemu redu, se neizogibno sooča z represijo in napadi s strani sistema. Neposredno nasilje represivnega aparata nad protestniki je zgolj ena od oblik nasilja institucij oblasti nad človekovimi pravicami. Oblast nas dodatno izsiljuje s potiskanjem v medsebojne delitve na dobre in slabe, kar ustvarja lažno sliko realnosti, ki ni nikoli črno-bela. Procesi kriminalizacije individualizirajo krivdo za dejanja, ki izhajajo iz kolektivnega upiranja obstoječemu sistemu in ki so legitimni izrazi nezadovoljstva. Proti tem procesom se borimo z absolutno zavrnitvijo individualizacije in solidarnostjo, saj se zavedamo, da se lahko vsakdo izmed nas kaj hitro znajde na mestu tistih, ki so osebno izpostavljeni tako naposredni represiji kot sodnim postopkom, ki so v sami osnovi politični. Poskusi kriminalizacije protestnikov in protestnic ter nekaterih manjšinjskih družbenih skupin, ki so tarča kriminalizacije v vsakdanjem življenju, vedno kažejo na globlje družbene probleme. Boj proti kriminalizaciji razumemo kot ključni sestavni del vsakega političnega, še posebej neizogibno pa tistega delovanja, ki teži v vzpostavljanju novih oblik skupnega.
Upoštevaje različne ravni, na katerih delujejo meje, skupaj mislimo Evropo kot prostor povezovanja, enotnosti izven in onkraj obstoječih ekonomskih in nacionalnih okvirjev ter teritorij materializiranja novih oblik skupnega. Sodimo, da obstoječa, hierarhična struktura Evropske unije, ki je podrejena interesom kapitala, nima nikakršnega posluha za nove kategorije subjektivitet, ki na raznolike načine vznikajo skozi prav takšne družbene prakse. Splošno nezadovoljstvo in potiskanje vse večjega dela prebivalstva na margino sproža prakse upiranja, v katerih se razvijajo nove emancipatorne oblike samoorganizacije; te delujejo proti centralizaciji družbene moči, ki jo vsiljuje obstoječi red. Zavračamo sleherne poskuse uvrščanja socialnih nemirov v kategorijo t. i. mednacionalnih napetosti in se zavzemamo za povezovanje vseh lokalnih delovanj – naše srečanje, na katerem smo izmenjali obstoječe izkušnje in jih tako naredili za skupne ter odprli prostor za prihodnje sodelovanje, je eden od korakov našega povezovalnega procesa.
Ni še gotovo, mi smo šele začeli!
Socialni center Rog, Ljubljana
13. 4. 2014
Izjava učesnica i učesnika skupa “Nije još gotovo!”
Mi, učesnice i učesnici skupa Nije još gotovo!, održanog u Ljubljani, od 11.4. do13.4.2014. zajednički poručujemo da:
Postojeće institucije reprezentativne politike ne zastupaju naše interese. Protesti, plenumi i drugi oblici alternativnog građanskog samorganizovanja , te druge prakse direktne demokratije , koji se rađaju u regionu i šire, posljedica su socijalne nepravde. Kroz raznolikost naših iskustava i praksi mijenjamo postojeće odnose moći, vođeni slijedećim principima: solidarnost, horizontalnost, direktne metode donošenja odluka, samoorganizacija, princip djelovanja odozdo prema gore, od lokalnog prema transnacionalnom. Složni smo u stavu da su plenumi i protesti, kao i drugi oblici samoniklih i autonomnih udruživanja, koji počivaju na principima uključivanja i jednakosti, efikasan alat kojim se kroz dugotrajan proces dolazi do neminovnih društvenih promjena.
Sve što je suprostavljeno postojećem poretku izaziva represiju i napade od strane sistema. Pored direktnog nasilja represivnog aparata na čijem su udaru demonstranti, od strane institucija moći nameće se i nasilje nad ljudskim pravima. Ucjenjuje nas se na podjele, na dobre i loše , što daje lažnu sliku stvarnosti koja nikada nije crno-bijela. Kriminalizacijom se nastoji individualizirati krivnja u čijem korijenu leži opravdano nezadovoljstvo i kolektivni bunt protiv postojećeg sistema. Protiv toga se borimo deindividualizacijom i solidarnošću jer se svi možemo naći na mjestu onih izloženih direktnoj represiji i sudskim postupcima, a svaki takav je u osvojoj osnovi – politički. Pokušaji kriminalizacije demonstanata, aktivista, kao i manjinskih grupa koje su mete kriminalizacije u svakodnevnom životu, uvijek ukazuju na dublje društvene probleme. Borbu protiv kriminalizacije smatramo ključnim dijelom svakog političkog djelovanja, a neizostavno onog koji teži uspostavljanju novih oblika zajedništva.
Na raznim nivoima granica, zajednički promišljamo Evropu kao prostor povezivanja, ujedinjenosti izvan i iza postojećih ekonomskih i nacionalnih okvira, te kao teritorij za materijaliziranje novih oblika zajedništva. Smatramo da je postojeća evropska zajednica hijerarhijska struktura određena interesima kapitala čija je slijepa mrlja uspostavljanje novih kategorija subjektiviteta koja se na razne načine već odvija u praksi. Nezadovoljstvo i potiskivanje sve većih dijelova stanovništva na marginu uzrokuje prakse otpora koje razvijaju nove emancipatorne oblike samorganizacije i decentraliziraju postojeći poredak. Odbijamo pokušaje svrstavanja socijalnih nemira u međunacionalne tenzije. Zbog toga se zalažemo za povezivanje svih lokalnih procesa. Jedan korak ka tome je i skup na kojem smo zajedno objedinili postojeća iskustva i otvorili prostor buduće saradnje.
Location: Brussels Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 – 18:00 to Thursday, December 19, 2013
Join citizens, farmers, NGOs and trade unions from across Belgium to fight back against the EU’s destructive austerity policies and its attempt to give corporations the keys to Europe through a new EU-US free trade deal:
****BLOCKADE THE EU SUMMIT – 19 DEC 2013!****
The day of action is organised by the D19-20 Alliance, and is part of two days aimed at fighting the EU’s ultra-neoliberal austerity policies and for democracy, food sovereignty and the future of the planet. 18th December
– Meeting Against Austerity Representatives from different sectors of European society will be speaking about how the impacts of ultra neoliberal austerity policies are felt on a daily basis. 18:00 – Bvd Roi Albert II, 5, 1210 Brussels 19th December –
Blockade of the European Summit From 7am on December 19, strategically picked cross-roads will be blockaded to prevent our so-called leaders reaching the European Summit and push on with their damaging neoliberal agenda. More details will be announced in the following days, but until then, spread the word, tell your friends, colleagues and families, get your organisation to sign-up, put up posters, print out flyers, book the day off work!
About the Alliance D19-20
D19-20 is a non-partisan alliance of citizens, farmers, NGOs and trade unions fighting against austerity policies, the TSCG (national treaty establishing austerity in Belgium) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP – the EU-US free trade agreement currently being negotiated).
Following the call from the D19-20 platform in October, many representatives and active members of Belgian civil society gathered to build a broad coalition and a counter-balance against the attacks by the European Union on all sections of the population. The first assembly was attended by over 80 people representing farmers, citizens, working people, the unemployed, artists, trade unions, NGOs, social movements, community organisers and activitsts etc.
All responded to the call because of a shared belief that the time has come to join forces rather than each fighting in silos for sectoral victories. Those in attendance took turns at the podium to affirm their commitment to converge their struggles and to create unity against the ultra-neoliberal austerity policies embodied in the TSCG treaty and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP); they pledged to fight for democracy, food sovereignty and the future of the planet. All called on Belgian civil society to come together and raise the pressure at the national level, specifically disrupting the European summit on 19 and 20 December in Brussels.Concretely, it was decided to organize a meeting on December 18 bringing together European and Belgian voices from diverse backgrounds to highlight the consequences of policies pursued by the European Union and to organize one or more actions to stop the EU summit taking place on 19 and 20 December.
The assembly of the participants of the Balkan Anarchist Bookfair 2013 (that was taking place in Ljubljana/Slovenia 24 – 26 May 2013) decided to use the opportunity and make a political intervention in the city.
WE ARE THEIR CRISIS — for a transnational struggle against capitalism and repression!
We, the participants of the Balkan Anarchist Bookfair in Ljubljana, are taking to the streets today in order to express our common rejection of capitalism and repression. We are an international community of anarchists and anti-authoritarians, engaged in struggles against the regime of capitalist exploitation, austerity measures, the rise of nationalism and fascism and state repression.
The global crisis of capitalism has completely discredited the dogma that capitalism and liberal democracy can provide for the well-being of all. As anarchists and anti-authoritarians, we reject austerity measures and authoritarian crisis management as a solution to the crisis. We understand austerity measures as a path towards a Europe of generalized poverty. We also reject nationalist populism and fascism as responses to the social crisis that the austerity measures are causing. The only solution to the crisis can be the destruction of capitalism and the state and the continuous construction of new social relations, free of all forms of exploitation and domination. Building a new world in the shell of the old!
In the time of the crisis and intensified social conflicts, state repression is becoming increasingly brutal and police is transforming more and more into a paramilitary force, serving the interests of political and economic elites. Basic rights of all those who resist capitalist expropriation of our lives are being continuously suspended. We stand in solidarity with all political prisoners and subjects of repression. We strongly reject the criminalization of widespread revolts. No justice, no peace, fuck the police!
We invite everyone who is interested to take part in the common struggle:
Let’s kick capitalism while it’s down!
General assembly of the Balkan Anarchist Bookfair 2013
Skupna izjava udeležencev evropskega in mediteranskega Hub meetinga / povezovalnega srečanja 2013 Maribor – Ljubljana, ki je potekalo od 18. do 20. aprila 2013 v Mariboru in Ljubljani
Hub meeting / povezovalno srečanje 2013 Maribor – Ljubljana je nadaljevanje procesa srečanj evropskih gibanj. Izmenjevali smo izkušnje s petih področij: znanja, migracij, radikalnega socialnega dela, vladovanja v mestu in konstituirajočega procesa. Izhajajoč iz lokalnih razlik smo razpravljali o odpiranju skupnega prostora, v katerem razumemo Evropo ne kot geografski prostor, razdeljen z mejami in definiran s strani hegemonskih struktur, temveč jo razumemo kot regijo, ki jo definirajo boji. Zato vanjo vključujemo tudi boje Arabske pomladi ter upoštevamo razlike med severom in jugom. To je proces, v katerem mislimo skupni prostor skozi rezoniranje lokalnih bojev proti transnacionalnem nivoju.
Konstituirajoči proces je ključni horizont, ki ga polnimo z vsebino in praksami. Te temeljijo na splošnem raziskovanju okolja, v katerega so gibanja vtkana, ob tem pa spoštujejo heterogenost družbe ter lokalnih kontekstov. Prepoznavamo občo nujnost kritike finančnega kapitala, Troike itn., a ta ne sme ostati le na simbolni ravni, temveč mora obstajati tudi materialno, skozi konkretne prakse.
Zgolj dialog med radikalnimi gibanji, ki so že vključena v proces, ne zadostuje. Boje je potrebno generalizirati.
Kot gibanja se želimo videti kot del družbe, ne ločeni od nje. Boje želimo spodbujati na terenih, kjer se kapitalistični sistem reproducira. Med njimi so neoliberalno vladovanje v mestu, znanje, migracije, socialno delo in evropski konstituirajoči proces, vsiljen od zgoraj.
Na delavnici „Upiranje neoliberalnemu vladovanju v mestu“ smo se pogovarjali o bojih in praksah v mestu in urbanem prostoru nasploh ter o organiziranju potreb na teritoriju.
Na delavnici „Migracije“ smo govorili o bojih proti vsakršnim ekonomskim in političnim mejam, skozi njih pa smo zaznali povezave med boji beguncev in boji migrantskih delavcev.
Na delavnici „Znanje“ smo to prepoznali kot temeljno bojišče, ki nam nudi orodja za spodbujanje novih bojev.
Na delavnici „Ženske, kriza in (radikalno) socialno delo“ smo govorili o povezavah med patriarhatom, kapitalizmom in krizo. Najprej smo razpravljali o vključitvi feminističnih perspektiv v skupen boj proti politikam zategovanja pasov; nato smo se pogovarjali o mehanizmih radikalnega socialnega dela v skupnosti.
Na delavnicah „Perspektive političnih procesov in bojev v Evropi“ in „Konstituirajoči proces“ pa smo izmenjevali mnenja o delovanju v okviru koncepta „družbene stavke“ z dolgoročno perspektivo. „Družbena stavka“ pomeni forme stavkanja izven formalnih struktur, denimo sindikatov ipd. Pretresali smo mehanizme in metode, ki jih ljudje že uporabljamo in so del tovrstnih akcij ter razpršenih mrež teh praks. Prvi test „družbene stavke“ bo 15M.
Poleg tega smo prepoznali agendo evropskih dogodkov, vključujoč Blockupy Frankfurt, Que se lixe a Troika (na Portugalskem) in španskimi dnevi mobilizacij Plan de Rescate Ciudadano, kot del nadaljnjih korakov proti jeseni aktivnosti. Poudarjamo pomen teh dogodkov kot uporabnih orodij za izgradnjo konstituirajočega procesa.
Common Statement Maribor – Ljubljana Hub Meeting 2013
Hub Meeting 2013 Maribor ‐ Ljubljana is the continuation of a European movements meetings process. We shared our experiences around five topics: governance of the city; knowledge; migration; women, crisis and radical social care; and the constituent process. Starting from our local differences we talked about opening common space in which we think of Europe not as a geographical space divided by borders and defined by hegemonic structures, but rather as a struggle defined region. In this we also consider the struggles of the Arab Spring, and differences between south and north. This is a process in which we imagine the common space through which local struggles resonate to a transnational level.
The constituent process is a crucial horizon to be filled with content and practices that have to be based on a general inquiry in which the movements are embedded, respecting heterogeneity of society and local circumstances. There is a general need to attack financial capital, troika, etc., not only on a symbolic level but also in a material way through concrete practices. It is not enough to just talk to radical movements already included in the process, but to generalize the struggles.
As movements and activists, we want to see ourselves as embedded in society and not separate from it. We want to create struggle on the terrains where the capitalistic system reproduces itself: for example in governance of the city, knowledge, migration, social care and a top down European constituent process.
In Governance of The City we discussed struggles and practices in the city and urban space and the organizing of needs on the territory;
In Migration we discussed struggles against any economic and political border through which we found the lines that cross the refugee struggles and the struggles of migrant workers;
We recognized Knowledge as a fundamental battleground that gives us the tools to create new struggles.
In Women, Crisis and Radical Social Care we discussed the link between patriarchy, capitalism and the crisis. First it was how to insert feminist perspectives in the common struggle against austerity; second was mechanisms of radical social care in the community;
And in the Constituent Process we discussed working on a social strike with a long-term perspective, where “Social Strike” means forms of strike outside formal unions, etc. We inquired about mechanisms and methods of how people create by themselves and are involved in such actions and diffuse networks of practices, rescuing the next 15th May as a first test.
Besides this we recognize there is an agenda of European events, including Blockupy Frankfurt, Que Se Lixe A Troika and Plan de Rescate Ciudadano days of mobilizationin the perspective of further steps towards the autumn, and we stress that those events must be useful tools for building a constituent process.
Prvi val privatizacij v Bolgariji se je odvijal med leti 1992 in 1994 pod stranko ZDS (Združenje demokratičnih sil). Zemlja in industrija so bile privatizirane preko izdaje delnic državnih podjetij vsem državljanom, vendar je to spremljala množična brezposelnost, ko so nekonkurenčna podjetja propadla.
Negativna reakcija na gospodarske reforme je omogočila BSS (Bolgarska socialistična stranka) prevzem oblasti leta 1995. Že v letih 1996-1997 so se začeli množični protesti proti vladi BSS, ki je državo pripeljala da hiperinflacije in splošne krize.
Leta 1997 je vlada BSS padla in na oblast je prišla UDF, ki je prva preživela celoten 4-letni mandat od časov komunizma. S pomočjo IMF (Mednarodni denarni sklad) so bile izvedene gospodarske reforme, vključno z množično privatizacijo podjetij v državni lasti. Država je začela pristopna pogajanja za sprejem v EU (ki se ji je Bolgarija priključila 1. januarja 2007).
UDF je bila obtožena korupcije, nepotizma in nelegane privatizacije. Večina obtožb je letela na prodajo podjetij s t.i. “Videnovega seznama za likvidacijo in izolacijo” po najnižji ceni.
Privatizacija se nadaljuje do dandanes. Leta 2004 je Republika Bolgarija prodala 67% delež svojih treh podjetij za distibucijo elektrike nemškemu podjetju E.ON Energie AG, avstrijskemu EVN AG in češkemu CEZ a.s..
Gospodarske težave in val korupcije so povzročila, da se je 800.000 Bolgarov, vključno s številnimi usposobljenimi strokovnjaki, moralo izseliti. Reforma, ki so jo začeli leta 1997, je privedla do naraščajočih socialnih neenakosti. Politični sistem od leta 1989 praktično ni bil sposoben zvišati življenjski standard državljanov. Ravno nasprotno, glede na izsledke raziskave Pew Global Attitudes Project iz leta 2009, je 76% Bolgarov izjavilo, da so nezadovoljni s sistemom demokracije, 63% je menilo, da prosti trg ni izboljšal življenja in samo 11% Bolgarov se je strinjalo, da so navadni ljudje nekaj pridobili s spremebami iz leta 1989.
Protest v Bolgariji se je začel v Blagoevgradu pozno v januarju, potem ko so porabniki prejeli račun za elektriko, ki je bil dvakrat višji od prejšnjega meseca. Protestniki so simbolično zažgali račune.
Motivacijski video protestov v Bolgariji
10. februarja so se dogajali protesti v številnih krajih – Sofija, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Šumen, Blagoevgrad, Sandaski, Silistra, Jambol, Goce Delčev, Belene, Montana, Dobrič in Kardžali. Isti dan sta bili zažgani delovni vozili EVN (EVN Bolgarija, del avstrijske EVN AG za elektro-distribucijo) v Plovdivu. Demostranti v Sofiji so se zbrali pred Ministrstvom za gospodarstvo, energetiko in turizem in s snežnimi kepami obmetavali ministra Deljana Dobreva. En protestnik je bil zaboden v Varni 13. februarja.
Do srede februarja je bilo na cestah na deset tisoče ljudi, ki so med drugim zahtevali nacionalizacijo privatnih regionalnih monopolov, odstranitev podjemnih izvajalcev, dodelitev elektrodistibucije in prometa NEK EAD (državnemu podjetju za elektrodistribucijo), razveljavitev vseh pogodb med državo in energetskimi družbami in bolj liberalno uporabo zakonov o uporabi elektike in ogrevanja.
17. februarja je državna demonstracija proti monopolom zbrala 10.000 ljudi v Plovdivu, 8.000 (do 30.000 po drugih ocenah) v Varni, in manjše število v drugih mestih. Skupno je protestirako 150.000 ljudi po celi državi v 35 mestih. Glavne avtoceste in regionalne ceste po državi so bile zaprte; v glavnem mestu je na žandarje, zgradbo Ministrstva za gospodarstvo in Državni zbor letelo kamenje, steklenice in jajca. Ljudje so vzklikali “mafija” in “odstop” in nosili napise kot “To ni potest, to je proces – boj za novo Bolgarijo”, “dol z GERB” in “Janičarji, konec se bliža”. Vladi so dali en teden, da odgovori na njihove zahteve. Spopadi so se zgodili v bližini sedeža ČEZ (Češke distribucijske družbe) v Sofiji.
18. februarja so se demonstracije nadaljevale po celi državi. V Sofiji so prerasle v državljansko nepokorščino in protestniki so poskušali zasesti Državni zbor. Množico so porinili nazaj na Orlov most (začetno točko protesta) in ko niso dobili odgovora na zahteve, da se takoj začnejo pogovori s predstavniki vlade, so se pomaknili proti Državnemu kulturnemu domu. V spopadih s policijo in žandarmerijo sta bila poškodovana dva policista in šest policijskih vozil. Enajst ljudi so aretirali.
19. februarja, ki je obeleževal 140-letnico usmrtitve narodnega heroja Vasila Levskega, so se v Sofiji zgodili nasilni spopadi med protestniki in policijo. Več kot 20 ljudi je bilo ranjenih med policijskom naskokom na protestnike na Orlovem mostu. V Varni je bilo okoli 8.000 protesnikov.
Kronologija protestov v Bolgariji 19.02.2013
20. februarja je Boris Bojkov oznanil, da bo njegova vlada odstopila. O odstopu so naslednji dan zjutraj glasovali v parlamentu. 209 poslancev je bilo za in 5 proti. Borisov je rekel: ” Mandat za vladanje so nam podelili ljudje, danes jim ga vračamo, saj država potrebuje vodstvo, ki ima novo kredibilnost.”
Po Borisovem odstopu so se po celi državi osnovali odbori za državljansko pobudo.
21. februarja je okoli 500 članov združenja za boj proti mafiji izrazilo svoje nazadovoljstvo s sodstvom. Protestniki so pozvali k odvzemu imunitete in odstranitvi sodnikov, ki so sodelovali v goljufijah z zemljišči. Predsednika so pozvali, naj določi vlado strokovnjakov do sklica Velikega državnega zbora za spremembo ustave in celotnega političnega in sodnega sistema.
23. februarja so se koordinatorji demostracij zbrali v Slivenu, da bi predebatirali nadaljnje akcije po odstopu vlade. Številne člane različnih političnih strank, ki so bili prisotni, so odstranili. Zahteve po spremembi političnega sistema, prepoved vladajočih političnih strank, ukinitev DDVja na električno proizvodnjo in državno lastništvo naravnih virov so bile dodane uvodnemu pozivu za nacionalizacijo elektro podjetij. TIM, pollegalna družba, naj bi preprečila organizacijo srečanja odbora za državljansko inciativo v Varni. “Legija Rakovski”, organizacija, ki vključuje vojaške častnike in podpornike bolgarske vojske, se je pridružila protestom.
Na okrogli mizi, ki jo je organizirala Narodna organizacija svobodnih “Svobodna izbira”, je okoli 100 državljanov in NVO zahtevalo spremembo ustave, posebej 12. člena, po katerem združenja državljanov, vključno s sindikati, ne morejo imeti političnih ciljev in izvajati političnih dejavnosti. Zahtevali so tudi državljansko kvoto povsod – na ministrstvih, agencijah, vključno s sodstvom in tožilstvom, zato da lahko državljani izvajajo neke vrste nadzor nad političnim sistemom. Deklaracija, ki so jo sprejeli na okrogli mizi in tista, ki so jo sprejeli v Slivenu, sta skoraj enaki.
Zahtevo protesnikov po ustavnih spremembah so prevzeli nekateri poslanci in stranke. 22. februarja so neodvisni bolgarski poslanci začeli peticijo za sklic Velikega državnega zbora z nalogo, da sestavi novo ustavo. Tako pobudo lahko da polovica od 240 poslancev, predsednik ali državljani na referendumu. Ustava zagotavlja dva meseca za pripravo na volitve, med katerimi bi lahko vsaka politična stranka ali družbena skupina izrazila svoje mnenje glede ustave, potem pa bi jo Veliki državni zbor pripravil v kratkem času.
Konec iluzij! Samoupravljanje. Družbena dejavnost vsak dan!
Bolgarski Veliki državni zbor (Велико народно събрание, Veliko narodno sabranie), je edino državno telo, ki lahko osnuje ustavo, sprejema novo ustavo ali spreminja ureditev države. Do sedaj je bilo v Bolgariji sedem Velikih državnih zborov, zadnji od 10.7.1990 do 12.7.1991, ki je sprejel trenutno ustavo.
Peticijo za referendum za sklic bolgarskega Velikega državnega zbora za sprejem nove ustave je pred tem leta 2010 že organizirala stranka Red, zakon, pravičnost (RZS), kontroverzna marginalna konservativna stranka.
Glede na pregled bolgarskih statističnih inštitucij je bilo zbranih 389.705 avtentičnih podpisov v podporo RZSjevi peticiji za referendum za novo ustavo. Po bolgarski zakonodaji more biti peticija, ki zbere več kot 200.000 podpisov, dana v razpravo v parlamentu, če pa sprejme več kot 500.000 podpisov je zavezujoča.
Stranka RZS je 26. februarja predlagala v parlamentu referendum na to temo.
24. februarja se je predsednik Plevenliev srečal s protestnki, ki so bili zbrani pred Ministrstvom za gospodarstvo, energetiko in turizem, pred uradnim začetkom demonstracij in sprejel njihovo odprto pismo z zahtevami, ki ga je podpisalo 35 odborov za državljansko pobudo. Protestniki so predsedniku določili rok 7 dni, po izteku katerega bodo zahtevali tudi odstop predsednika, če do takrat ne bo nobenih rezultatov.
Če na kratko povzamemo, protestniki v pismu zahtevajo:
– da se državni zbor ne razpusti (torej nobenih predčasnih volitev)
– ustanovitev strokovnega sveta z obvezno kvoto za predstavnike civilne družbe za izvedbo zahtev državljanov
– programsko vlado
– prehod od proporcionalnega na večinski volilni sistem
– možnost odpoklica poslancev
– pravno in kazensko odgovornost za poslance in ministre
– 50% kvoto predstavnikov civilne družbe v vseh državnih regulativnih organih
– zaustavitev tožb proti državljanov zaradi neplačil elektike ali vode do ugotovitve legitimnosti le-teh
– prenos elektrodistibucije v državne roke
– preklic škodljivih pogodb, raziskovanje odgovornosti
– preklic vseh koncesij za vodo in prevzem teh funkcij s strani države
Tisoči Bolgarov, ki živijo v tujini, so podprli proteste v domovini s shodi in demonstracijami v številnih mestih po Evropi. Demonstracija je bila organizirana pred ambasado na Dunaju. Udeleženci so podprli odprto pismo 35ih odborov državljancke iniciative. Mnogi Bolgari so protestirali po ulicah Londona v znak solidarnosti s protestniki v Sofiji. Bolgarske skupnosti v Valencii, Madridu, Atenah in Münchnu so se tudi zbrale v podporo rojakov protesnikov v Bolgariji. Številni bolgarski študenti so se zbrali pred občinsko zgradbo v Manchestru in dejali, da je treba politični model v Bolgariji spremeniti.
Ker so vse stranke zavrnile oblikovanje vlade v sklopu tekočega, 41. državnega zbora, ki bi se moral zaključiti julija, je predsednik Rosen Plevenliev določil datum za predčasne volitve – 12. maj 2013. Dejal je, da “morajo biti ključne spremembe odločene v novem parlamentu.” Spremeniti vse, zato da se ne spremeni nič? Bodo protestniki in poslanci “pozabili” na svoje zahteve po spremembi ustave? Stranke so s svojo zavrnitvijo naredile ravno to, česar protestniki niso hoteli – dosegle so predčasne volitve in onemogočile razpis referenduma o Velikem državnem zboru, ki bi spremenil določene člene ustave. Cene elektrike naj bi se znižale za 8% (potem ko so se v enem letu povišale tudi za 100%). . Nek protestnik je dejal, da njegova položnica znaša 310 levov (150 evrov). Povprečna plača v Bolgariji znaša 400 evrov. Druga protestnica, upokojenka, je dejala, da ima pokojnino 80 evrov, 90 evrov pa znaša njen račun za elektriko.
V Bolgariji so se v desetih dneh zažgali trije ljudje. V Velikem Tarnovu se je moški zažgal in umrl v bolnišnici. 36-letnik iz Varne je zaradi samosežiga v komi. Nek drugi moški je bil hospitaliziran z opeklinami po 71% površine telesa. V Sofiji je moški začel gladovno stavkati in bil pridržan s strani policije.
Čeprav so bolgarski protesti dosegli odstop vlade, simbolično znižanje cen elektrike in mogoče še kaj, so problemi protestnikov po celem svetu podobni. Politika, strankarska (predstavniška) demokracija vedno najde način, da vodo spelje na svoj mlin, da se izogne bistvenim spremembam, da se ne zavzame za “navadne” ljudi. Tej odgovornosti se vztrajno izmika, dela samo simbolične korake, se pretvarja, da se spreminja z zamenjavo obrazov, kupuje čas. Toda kmalu bo tudi njen čas potekel. Če se ne zmore prilagoditi novim razmeram, je to neizogibno. Kaj k temu pripomore ustanavljanje novih strank, ki (čeprav mogoče z najboljšimi nameni) igrajo isto igro, ki so (ali sčasoma postanejo) distancirane od civilne družbe, od “navadnih” ljudi, od povprečnega državljana? Nič. (Skrajni) čas je za nove načine, ne za nove obraze.
Kot pravijo bolgarski protestniki: “Mi nismo protest, mi smo proces.” V vsakem primeru se lahko protestniki (oziroma trenutno relativno “nemočna” civilna družba) drug od drugega učimo in drug drugega dopolnjujemo, da dosežemo tisto, kar želimo – dostojno in pravično življenje VSEH državljanov in nedržavljanov VSEH držav.
The first wave of privatization in Bulgaria took place between 1992 and 1994 under UDF (Union of Democratic Forces). Land and industry was privatized through the issue of shares in government enterprises to all citizens, but accompanied by massive unemployment as uncompetitive industries failed.
The negative reaction against economic reform allowed BSP (Bulgarian Socialist Party) to take office in 1995. In late 1996 and early 1997, mass protests took place against BPS’s government which had led the country to hyperinflation and a complete crisis.
In 1997 the BSP government collapsed and the UDF came to power, the first government to serve its full 4-year term since communism. Economic reforms were carried out under the guidance of IMF, including privatization of state-owned enterprises on a large scale. The country started accession talks with the European Union (which Bulgaria joined on January 1, 2007). UDF was accused of corruption, nepotism and illegal privatizations. The majority of the charges were aimed at selling at minimum value the enterprises from the so called “Videnov list for liquidation and isolation”.
The privatization has continued up to now. In 2004 The Republic of Bulgaria sold a 67% stake in its three electricity distribution companies to E.ON Energie AG of Germany, EVN AG of Austria and CEZ a.s. of Czech Republic.
Economic difficulties and a tide of corruption have led over 800,000 Bulgarians, including many qualified professionals, to emigrate. The reform package introduced in 1997 led to rising social inequality. The political and economic system after 1989 virtually failed to improve the living standard. On the contrary, according to a 2009 Pew Global Attitudes Project survey, 76% of Bulgarians said they were dissatisfied with the system of democracy, 63% thought that free markets did not make people better off and only 11% of Bulgarians agreed that ordinary people had benefited from the changes in 1989.
The protest in Bulgaria began in Blagoevgrad in late January after consumers received electricity bills that were two times higher than those for the previous month. Protesters symbolically burned their bills.
Motivation video of protests in Bulgaria
On 10 February, demonstration took place in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Shumen, Blagoevgrad, Sandanski, Silistra, Yambol, Gotse Delchev, Belene, Montana, Dobrich and Kardzhali. The same day, two EVN (EVN Bulgaria, part of EVN AG – Austrian power company) utility vehicles were set ablaze in Plovdiv. Demonstrators in Sofia gathered in front of the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism and threw snowballs at minister Delyan Dobrev. One protester was stabbed in Varna on 13 February 2013.
By mid-February tens of thousands of people were on the streets, demanding nationalisation of the private regional monopolies, removal of subcontractors, assigning traffic and distribution to NEK EAD (the state-owned power distribution company), declassifying all contracts between the state and energy companies and more liberal combined heat and power usage laws, among others.
On 17 February, a national demonstration against monopolies gathered 10,000 people in Plovdiv, 8,000 (up to 30,000 by other estimates) in Varna and a smaller number in other cities. In total, 150,000 people protested all over the country in 35 cities and towns. Key motorways and transport routes in the country were blocked; rocks, bottles and eggs were thrown against Gendarmerie units, the Ministry of Economy and the National Assembly in the capital. People chanted “mafia” and “resignation”, and carried slogans such as “This is not a protest, it’s a process – the struggle for a new Bulgaria”, “Down with GERB” and “Janissaries, the end is coming”. They gave the government one more week to respond to their demands. Clashes occurred near CEZ’ headquarters (Czech power company) in Sofia.
On 18 February mass demonstrations continued all over the country. In Sofia, they escalated into civil resistance and protesters attempted to attack the National Assembly. The crowds were pushed back to Eagles’ Bridge (the starting point of the protest), and after their demands to begin immediate talks with government representatives remained unanswered, they moved towards the National Palace of Culture. Clashes with police and Gendarmerie units left two police officers injured and six patrol vehicles were damaged. Eleven people were arrested.
The same day Boyko Borisov dismissed finance minister Simeon Dyankov, unpopular among the population because of his abrupt manners and strong insistence on austerity, but this did not reduce public tensions.
On 19 February, which marked 140 years of national hero Vasil Levski’s execution, violent clashes between protesters and police occurred in Sofia. Two dozen people, including Gendarmerie officers, were injured during a police charge on protesters at Eagles’ Bridge. President Rosen Plevneliev was booed at during his speech at the Levski Monument. The number of demonstrators in Varna was around 8,000.
Protests in Bulgaria 19.02.2013 Sofia – chronology
On 20 February, Boyko Borisov announced that his cabinet would resign. The resignation was voted in Parliament next morning, with 209 MPs voting “for” and 5 “against”. Borisov said: “Our power was handed to us by the people, today we are handing it back to them” as the state “needs leadership that has new credibility.”
After Borisov’s resignation initiative committees by citizens formed around the country.
On 21 february around 500 members of the Anti-mafia civic associacion voiced their discontent with the judiciary. Posters called for stripping magistrates of immunity and of ousting magistrates involved in fraud schemes with real estate. The protesters called on the President to appoint an expert government until the convocation of a Grand National Assembly to amend the Constitution and the entire political and judicial systems.
On 23 February coordinators of demonstrations gathered in Sliven to discuss further actions after the resignation of the government. Several members of different political parties who were present at the gathering were expelled. Demands for a change of the political system, a ban on all political parties in power, abolishment of value added tax on electricity production and state ownership of natural resources and strategic sectors were added to the original calls for nationalisation of the power companies. TIM, a semi-legal company, was reported to have organised a crackdown on an initiative committee gathering in Varna. The “Rakovski Legion”, an organisation of military officers and supporters of the Bulgarian Army, have joined the protests.
At a roundtable discussion, which was organized by the National Association of the Free “Free Choice” about 100 citizens and NGOs demanded constitutional change, especially of article 12, according to which citizens’ associations, including trade unions, cannot have political goals and carry out political activity. They also demanded a civil quota everywhere – ministries, agencies, including the judiciary and prosecutor’s office so that citizens can exercise some kind of control over the political system. The declaration adopted at the roundtable discussion and the one adopted at another roundtable discussion in the southern city of Sliven were almost one and the same.
The protesters’ demand for a constitutional change was adopted by some MPs and parties. On 22 February Bulgarian independent MPs launched a petition calling for the convocation of a Grand Assembly tasked with drafting a new Constitution. Such a decision can be initiated by half of the total of 240 MPs, the President or by a referendum. The Constitution provides for a two-month long procedure before elections could be held, during which each political party and social group could state its ideas on the Constitution, after which the Grand Assembly would prepare it within a short term.
End the illusions! Self-government. Civil activity every day!
The far-right party Ataka also expressed support for the convocation of the Grand Assembly. Ataka also wanted a revision of the privatization deals, cancellation of the contracts with the power distribution companies and bringing all people who were to blame for the privatization to justice.
Bulgaria’s Grand National Assembly (Велико народно събрание, Veliko narodno sabranie) is the only body entitled to draft and adopt new constitutions and to change the organization of the state. A total of seven Grand National Assemblies have been in operation in Bulgaria, the last one from 10 July 1990 to 12 July 1991 adopting the current constitution.
A petition for a referendum on the summing of Bulgaria’s Grand National Assembly for the adoption a new constitution had been organized in 2010 by the “Order, Law, Justice” (RZS), a controversial marginal Bulgarian conservative party.
According to the inspection of the Bulgarian census authorities, there were a total of 389 705 authentic signatures backing RZS’s petition for a referendum for a new constitution. Under Bulgarian legislation, any petition backed by more than 200,000 people has to be considered by the Parliament, and any one backed by more than 500,000 signatures is binding.
The party tabled to the Bulgarian Parliament a motion for the holding of a referendum on this topic on 26 February.
On 24 February president Plevenliev met the protesters gathered in front of the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism ahead of the official start of the before the announced protest and received an open letter, signed by 35 initiative committees, with their demands. The protesters set a deadline of one week after which the resignation of the president would also be demanded if there were no results.
Thousands of Bulgarians living abroad supported the national protest with demonstrations and rallies held in a number of cities across Europe.
A demonstration was held in front of the Bulgarian embassy in Vienna. The participants pledged support to the open letter of the 35 initiative committees. Many Bulgarians marched the streets in London showing their solidarity with the protesters in Sofia. The Bulgarian communities in Valencia, Madrid, Manchester, Athens and Munich also rallied in support of their protesting compatriots across Bulgaria. A number of Bulgarian students gathered in front of the city hall in Manchester. They said that the political model in Bulgaria had to be changed.
The left-wing Coalition for Bulgaria Parliamentary Group declined the exploratory mandate to form a government in the framework of the 41st National Assembly, as they had stated earlier. Under the constitutional procedure President Rosen Plevneliev handed the mandate to the second largest parliamentary group on Wednesday, after GERB declined to form a cabinet on Monday. On Friday the mandate will go the third largest group in Parliament – the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF). The MRF have also said that they will not accept a mandate to form a government under the incumbent Parliament. If all three attempts fail, the President must appoint a caretaker cabinet, dissolve the National Assembly and, by the same decree, schedule new parliamentary elections within two months.
In less than 10 days there have been three self-immolations in Bulgaria. In Veliko Tarnovo a man set himself on fire and later died in a hospital. A 36-year-old from Varna is in a coma due to severe burns and another man has been hospitalized with burns over 71% of his body. A man who began a hunger strike in Sofia was detained by police.
Management of corrupt politicians and the alienation of people from making decisions affecting directly their economic and social prosperity inevitably leads to similar acts of civil unrest. Of course, the more important question is what happens after that. Whether it leads to phase transition into a whole new state of the system, or just as a discharge valve of social stress and the replacement of some people in a return to a power system which creates the same problems.
Tuesday, 26 February 2013 the first open meeting among citizens and protesters from all the country was held in Sofia. The next meeting will be organized on Friday, 1 March. One of the protesters said, “For now we are dissscusing the short term demands, for example minimising the price of electricity and majority vote for parliament elections. There are no debates about a new system we want to live in. But I hope we start soon.”
As the protesters stated in one of their slogans, “We are not a protest, but a process.”
Presence Counts · 15o · OccupyLjubljana 