Event report: Think Global >> Act Local

“THINK GLOBAL >> ACT GLOBAL – Internationalism for new times” was a one day event held on 23rd March 2024 at Birkbeck, University of London.

This one day conference was set up by Another Europe is Possible, Compass, Global Justice Now, FPIF and five other organisations. It brought together activists, practitioners and thinkers from around the world to discuss destabilisation created by unrestrained free market neo liberalism, unfolding environmental disasters resulting in widening inequality, mass population displacement and putting global democracy in peril.

In far too many places the far right have seized the initiative, now threatening a new age of calamity and war. The conference was a chance to address these challenges and build progressive coalitions working together to find equitable solutions.

It began with a plenary session in the morning. The panel addressed the following topics:

• The under reporting of the settler colonialism of Putin and Netanyahu beyond their borders is now clearly apparent in their genocidal wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The war crimes on civilian populations committed on a daily basis contrary to most of the UN Conventions especially 22 to 30.
• The (offshore owned) mainstream media not reporting the interference and attacks on western democracy but criticising every aspect of progressive politics, demonising them as “woke”. Creating culture wars, inciting racism and xenophobia. They were aided and abetted by far right corporate evangelical lobbying networks influencing governments on both sides of the Atlantic.
• The Global North is still exploiting the Global South for resources whilst denying them the means to improve their standard of living. The wealthy North must pay to rectify the damage and debt burden loaded on the poorest countries in the South. The Climate Heating injustice must be eradicated, the South suffering the worst of the effects whilst producing only 9% of the emissions!

This set the scene for two sets of group meetings after lunch on a variety of topics. I attended: What does “climate internationalism” look like? and Brexit, the economy and the next UK government: what do progressives say?

Then followed another interactive plenary to review the themes of the day and discuss the next steps.

We need to:

• Educate the young in critical thinking to be better equipped to challenge the media and internet disinformation widely distributed across networks. A broader curriculum in the humanities and citizenship would help raise awareness of how society is organised.
• Reform the Parliamentary system to promote consensual politics – a PR vote is essential. Create a care- and needs-based economy to encourage growth and serve communities.
• Reinstate rights, rules and regulations to restore fairness, parity and security with our nearest partner the EU. Restore links to Europe-wide projects and enable people to travel, work, learn and live in the EU.
• Narrative matters, language matters, respect for our fellow humans matters to counteract racism and xenophobia. We must uphold and strengthen the UN Conventions and Declarations, especially 22 to 30.
• The existential threat to the planet must be addressed. The Global South voices must be heard and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty adopted internationally to enable a fair and equitable transition away from fossil fuels. No more subsidies for extraction or carbon offsetting of fossil fuels. The polluters must pay.
• The IMF must be returned to its original purpose to help countries diversify their economies and create a better standard of life for all. To enable this to happen faster the Global South debts should be written off.

Having to travel on a specific train, I missed the final plenary “Progressive Politics in Dangerous Times”.