[OccupyComms] [OccupyLondon] URGENT! - Agitating for a Participatory Democracy Debate in the PAAA

[Andria E-M]

Mark

we have the next OL Strategy meeting Feb 22nd, so if others are agreeable,
we could prepare a motion for that day yeh?

Any takers, apart from Julie, mark n me?

Andria


On 6 February 2014 11:14, Mark Barrett <marknbarrett at googlemail.com> wrote:

> Dear All
>
> I am re-sending this as a gentle or in some cases 1st reminder / point of
> info.
>
> If you would like to see a debate within the PAAA about participatory
> democracy, both locally but also at the inaugural National Conference (the
> sovereign body of the movement) taking place on March 15th, there is a  way
> to make it happen. This is because of some hard work done  behind the
> scenes in order to give us a fighting chance. For example, following
> interventions in the Signatories group meetings, all PAs have been told
> (see attachment 3 on electing delegates) and should be reminded they'be
> been told of the following :
>
> "..For the process to be democratic we also need to ensure respect and
> support for different organising approaches and demonstrate a commitment to
> transparency and accountability.
>
> To ensure the different currents in the Peoples' Assemblies movement are
> treated fairly and able to play their full part, where practical we welcome
> local Peoples Assemblies sending delegates from all elements of the
> movement: the variety of anti-cuts campaigns, the trades and student
> unions, the Labour Party, Green Party, the horizonalist organising groups,
> the revolutionary left and, most important of all, those who simply oppose
> austerity and are in no organised group at all other than the People's
> Assembly. So, in the delegate entitlement of 10 for a local Peoples
> Assembly, please try and reflect the diversity of traditions in the
> movement."
>
> So on this basis why not approach your local PAAA group (however you have
> found it before). They are duty bound to support delegates from across the
> organising spectrum and also to consider what motions they would like to
> support. Also, other groups who are affiliated with the PAAA can send quite
> a few delegates and also put forward resolutions. As you will see at
> attachment 2 (PAAA Conference Pack):
>
> "1.      Who can submit a motion
>
> Motions will only be accepted from recognised delegations and not from
> individuals.
>
> 2.      Delegation Entitlement
>
> For clarity, delegation entitlement is as follows:
>
> a.      Every local People's Assembly: a maximum of 10 delegates.
>
> b.      Local and regional union trade union organisations, including
> trades councils and students' unions: 2 delegates
>
> c.       Local anti-cuts campaigns that are recognised signatories of the
> People's Assembly: 2 delegates.
>
> d.      National trade unions: 10 delegates
>
> e.       National campaign organisations: 5 delegates."
>
> Finally see below, and Attachment 1 where a resolution HAS ALREADY BEEN
> WRITTEN for us (by an Occupier) to take to local PAs and also other
> campaign groups who are affiliated. Why not take it, as is and get the
> thing into the movement so its members are forced / given the wonderful
> opportunity (depending on your point of view) to properly consider it!
>
> NB
> *The deadline for resolutions to be submitted to the PAAA is midnight on
> 22nd February.  *---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Dear All
>
> Attached is a Motion on Participatory Democracy drafted by Occupier
> Michelle, and which she hopes to persuade the Manchester PA (who she has
> worked with a bit already) to take forward into the National PA Conference
> in London on 15th March.
>
> Other local PAs or groups affiliated with the PAAA movement are free to
> take the motion forward into the March event, either in its existing form
> or amended (however, presumably it will be stronger coming from more than
> one place in the exact same form) and we hope local PA and other affiliated
> groups are persuaded to do so. If you are up for taking it forward into
> your local PA or other group, please let us know.
>
>
> *The deadline for resolutions to be submitted to the PAAA is midnight on
> 22nd February.  *
> In love and solidarity
>
> Mark
> PS a note about the new PAAA web-site. the page
> http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/recall_conference
> does not presently show the two official documents and I am assuming this
> is because of the change to a new site in recent weeks (the page does refer
> to the Pack but doesn't appear to contain it) - I will chase this so you
> can have reference to these docs as and when you approach your local groups
> as it's important to have what you are referring to in writing to support
> your case, no? Hence the positive aspects of the ideal of a written
> constitution innit ;)
>



-- 

Andria


"Harm reduction" is often made an unnecessarily controversial issue as if
there was a contradiction between prevention and treatment on one hand and
reducing the adverse health and social consequences of drug use on the
other. This is a false dichotomy. They are complementary.

 Taken From UNODC (2008) Reducing the adverse health and social effects of
drug use: A comprehensive approach.
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