Left soc are holding a series of talks on campus. Please see the poster bellow for details. Hope to see you there!
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NSPM AGM
1PM
Saturday 17th July
The Sumac Centre, Nottingham (directions below)
Nottingham Student Peace Movement was first established by concerned students in the lead-up to the US-lead invasion of Afghanistan and has subsequently opposed wars and injustices including the illegal invasion of Iraq and the brutal blockade and bombardment of Gaza. Our main focus is to highlight and and work against the root-causes of war and injustice. We have been involved in a broad range of causes from anti-fascism and civil liberties to disarmament and the environment. We employ a huge diversity of tactics from awareness-raising and motions in the Students’ Union council to protests and direct action. We work with an inclusive and dynamic approach based on consensus processes.
In the lead-up to the war against Iraq, we organised dozens of coach-loads of Notts students to attend the massive protests in London. We have blockaded the nuclear bases in Aldermaston and Faslane. We have organised countless debates, discussions, conferences, workshops and have hosted fantastic lectures from timely voices in the political-wilderness. We played a large role in organising the highly successful ‘Free Hich campaign’ which mobilised the largest campus protest in the history of Nottingham University, and has ensured the freedom of our friend and NSPM-alumni Hicham. Many other projects and groups have emerged from NSPM, including the popular free summer-festival ‘Sounds on the Downs’. These are just a few of the concrete achievements of the society over years for which it has existed.
This has been a difficult year for NSPM. All those who have been involved are final-year students and all have been extremely busy with other commitments. As such NSPM has not been so active and effective as in previous years. We have not received the much-need injection of energy from the next generation of student activists. Thousands of people have attended our events over the years, but precious few get actively involved in helping to organise them. The entire committee are graduating this year and the future of the society is now in jeopardy.
In a last attempt to save NSPM we are calling an AGM on Saturday 17th July, at 1pm, meeting at The SUMAC Centre.
http://www.veggies.org.uk/sumac/welcome.html
We need everyone who is interested in the future of student activism at Nottingham to attend this meeting. If you are studying at Nottingham next year or are a member of the wider community, if you have been on our mailing list silently watching, if you are interested in peace and social justice but have never gotten actively involved, now is your time! Please step forward and help to save the most active and effective peace and social justice society on campus! If NSPM folds this will be a great loss to the diversity of political activism on campus and a great loss to the campaigns and causes which NSPM supports.
If you are unable to attend the meeting but are keen to get involved next year, please send an email to nspm@riseup.net. If you would like a place on the committee please indicate this.
We hope that this lull is not the end of NSPM, but just the beginning of the revival!
Yours in peace and hope.
NSPM
Full Circle: The Politics of Migration
The border regimes and immigration controls of the UK and Europe cause untold suffering for many thousands of people. Those who choose or are forced to migrate from poverty, war, and environmental destruction are often met with violence, oppression, and discrimination. Many of the root causes of migration into Europe can be traced back to countries in the West, from conflicts fuelled by the arms trade, military invasions of countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan as wall as support for oppressive regimes and human rights abusers, and the devastating effects of climate change caused by the rampant pollution of industrialised countries. This creates a ‘Full Circle’ of oppression and violence, and leaves many thousands of people desperate and hopeless, trapped in a vicious circle of suffering and poverty.
This day of workshops, films, and discussions has been organised to explore these issues in more detail. It will include sessions on the topics of climate migration, the ongoing situation in Calais and the oppression of migrants trying to cross the border into the UK, the workings of the European border regime and how migration is affected by developments in the global economy.
Saturday 8 May, 10am-5pm, University Park Campus, C Floor, Portland Building, University of Nottingham.
Free admission, everyone welcome. Email nspm@riseup.net for more info.
Schedule:
10.00am
CLIMATE NO BORDERS
What is the relationship between climate change and migration? This workshop will analyse some of the issues in connection to concepts such as ”climate justice” and ”climate refugees”. We will investigate the relationship between capitalism and nationalism in relation to climate change, and arguments surrounding freedom of movement.
FULL CIRCLE
A popular education workshop exploring how different political issues, campaigns, and struggles are connected, and how the common ground they share can be used as a base from which to move beyond single-issue campaigning.
11.30am
WOMEN, MIGRATION, AND CHALLENGING OPPRESSION
This workshop will provide space to explore more specifically the reasons why women may migrate, and the problems that women can face when trying to navigate throught the asylum process. We will also look at how, in order to build strong and effective movements against systems of oppression, hierarchies and domination need to be challenged within activism and the ways we organise.
NO BORDERS
No Borders is a network of groups across Europe who campaign and struggle against oppressive border regimes. This workshop will explore the political position of No Borders, addressing the question of why we have borders as well as the role of the state and capitalism in curtailing freedom of movement.
1pm LUNCH (unfortunately we are unable to provide food, so please bring a packed lunch)
2pm
CAPITALISM AND MIGRATION
Capital knows no borders – governments may claim to control the movement of people, but the increasingly globalised economic system has its own logic. What do current shifts in economic power mean for the future of migration, borders, nations and conflict?
CALAIS MIGRANT SOLIDARITY
After a long and difficult journey across Europe, Calais is where many migrants attempt to cross the border into the UK. Living in squats and makeshift camps, and facing constant police harassment, the migrants in Calais are subject daily to the brute oppression and violence of the joint UK – France border regime. This session will include a film documenting the situation in Calais followed by a short discussion.
3.30pm
ANTI-FASCISM
Fascism is underpinned by the desire to defend a perceived national race from outsiders and therefore poses a significant threat to those who want to see freedom of movement for all. This workshop will explore some of the history of fascism and the different forms anti-fascist resistance has taken, as well as developing consciousness of the underlying assumptions of fascist politics.
IMMIGRATION DETENTION
Hicham Yezza, editor of Ceasefire Magazine, was arrested under the terrorism act at his Nottingham University office in May 2008. He was cleared of those charges after six days but was immediately thrown into an immigration detention centre to be deported within days. He spent six months in total between immigration detention centres and Foreign-National prisons until he won his case against the Home Office in August 2009. This workshop aims to both share what he has discovered in his two years fighting Home Office oppression in al its forms and also to encourage participants to think about how to challenge the government’s inhumane immigration policies and tactics.
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Organised by a group of students at Nottingham University, a week of workshops exploring a variety of issues around radical social change will be held from 2-6 November on university park campus. There will be a different theme for each day, from migration, climate change and the environment, anti-militarism, anti-capitalism and finally direct action. Full details of times and locations will be posted at nottinghamfreeschool.wordpress.com, where you can also find a brochure with a full list of workshops.
For more info, please contact activestudents@riseup.net
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10am – 6pm, Saturday 9th May
Portland Building, University Park
Free entry – No need to book – Everyone welcome
Programme:
Click here to join the event on facebook.
‘Capitalism has destroyed our belief in any effective power but that of self interest backed by force’
George Bernard Shaw
Why is there so much fighting, destruction and suffering on our planet? Is modern warfare really ‘human nature’? How are conflicts related to economics and geopolitics? Is the capitalist system to blame?
Join us for a day of talks, interactive workshops, discussions, debates, films and food. The conference will engage in a range of topics exploring the links between war and the dominant economic system of our time.
Confirmed speakers, groups and participants:
Milan Rai, editor of Peace News
Dr. Matthew Rendall, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations
Dr. Srila Roy, Lecturer in School of Sociology
Dr. Tim Jacoby, Lecturer in the School of Environment and Development at Manchester University
Dr. Andy Robinson, Research Fellow in the School of Politics and International Relations
Steve Yemm, from the think-tank Compass
Campaign Against the Arms Trade
New Internationalist
Shut Down H&K
Amnesty International
Frank Jackson, editor of World Disarm!
For more information, email: nspm@riseup.net
Whether for one session or all day, join us for some informative and insightful investigation of these pressing issues.
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On 1st April, just before the G20 meet in London, Climate Camp is going to the City! All are welcome to join them for the day or the full 24
hours of camping in the square mile, together with workshops, positive alternatives and direct action. Bring a pop-up tent, smiles and ideas.
See http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20 for details.
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49600653225
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NSPM invites you to…
Morning sessions 10-2:
Peak Oil and Food
With the world’s oil supply starting to peak and eventually decline, this session will give a comprehensive view of the importance of oil globally, the impact of oil shortages, and potential alternatives for the future. Includes ‘A Crude Awakening’, ‘The Future of Food’ and ‘A Farm for the Future’.
Climate Change
This session will assess the impact of climate change on our global ecology, how our lifestyles need to be addressed, and the gap between scientific knowledge and political will to act. Includes ‘David Attenborough: ‘The Truth About Climate Change”, ‘Reach for the Sky: Aviation and Climate Change’ and ‘Planet Earth: We Have a Problem’.
* Lunchtime food from Veggies and stalls by various university societies and environmental groups.
* 2.45pm – Plenary session in C11 -short film and group discussion.
Afternoon sessions 3.15-7pm:
Ecology and Humanity
How has modern society’s relationship with the planet become so destructive? What is the future for humanity? Also followed by some oil related comedy with some hilarious and shocking insights. Includes ‘The 11th Hour’, ‘Koyannisquatsi: A Life Out of Balance’, and ‘Rob Newman’s History of Oil’.
Activism and Alternatives
Be inspired and find out what people are doing right now to tackle climate change. This session will show the variety of ways that people have taken the issue into their own hands, ranging from inventive uses of waste materials, to setting up a sustainable camp for action. Includes ‘The Convenient Solution’, ‘The Coconut Revolution’, short films about this year’s Camp for Climate Action, and ‘Ancient Futures’.
Hope you can come along and get involved in some marathon ecological documentary sessions!
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A group of students have occupied B62 of LASS to demand urgent action from the University for the people of Gaza.
MP Alan Simpson makes address in occupied B62
For more inormation please visit: http://occupationnottingham.wordpress.com/
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Nottingham Student Peace Movement 