By Josette Combes, Ripess Europe
One may indeed wonder when one notices that one can be thrown in jail for solidarity crime, which is disguised as “criminal association, embezzlement and aid to illegal immigration”. This kind of “crime” consists in welcoming refugee migrants (and it doesn’t matter whether they are climatic, political or any other reason for misery) and helping them to settle in a village that is reborn thanks to the contribution of new forces and motivated people. This is the story of the mayor of Riace who has just been sentenced to 13 years in prison. This iniquitous decision has aroused widespread indignation beyond Italy, whose judiciary is guilty of such a verdict. See the article and the link to the petition to be signed without hesitation.
More cheerful are the anniversaries that are being joyfully celebrated this year. RIPESS gathered more than its members this year for its 10th anniversary. We will circulate the proceedings of this meeting and we are preparing the video testimony.
The Master 2 New Social Economy of the University of Toulouse has brought together several generations of former students who have been trained over these twenty years and are now the bearers of some very fine creations, twenty of which were selected for the booklet designed for this anniversary and illustrate the diversity and creativity of these young (and not so young) promoters.
To transmit in order to last and to last in order to transmit, the title of an article by Jean-Louis Bancel in the RECMA, whose intention we can only share largely. RECMA, “an unworthy old lady” as its current director Jean François Draperi calls her, is celebrating its 100th anniversary and among the events planned will be an exhibition of its flagship issues, from 3 to 30 November, an exhibition for the general public entitled “100 years of RECMA, an epic within the SSE” – Sciences Po Grenoble.
Socioeco, which is also celebrating its tenth anniversary, has a fundamental role to play in transmitting information and can be proud of its achievements. It is an extremely valuable tool for all those who work in the field and particularly for students who, thanks to the key words, can access quality information in five languages and more in some cases.
We are creating a “Youth” section within the Newsletter. This reflects the dynamism of the youth group that emerged from the WSFTE meetings and which, thanks to the energy of Andréa and Sofia, is carrying out several projects whose news can be followed.
Our members share their work with us and a specific section brings them together. The fields of activity are diverse and address the fundamental questions that humans ask themselves on the planet. Technet’s RESET project seeks to develop the potential for cooperation between SSE and local and regional governments. SAW-B works on habitat, Urgenci offers webinars to strengthen the troops of food sovereignty development. The REAS co-organises the School of Feminist and Solidarity Economy. So many projects in which the act of transmitting is central.
The November newsletter will be devoted to the climate emergency and transition. We would like to thank Matthieu Calame for having anticipated the call, in a way, by sharing with us the course he teaches at the University of Paris Dauphine, entitled “The ecological challenges of the 21st century“. We are waiting for your contributions, knowing that our intention is to publish the newsletter at the beginning of November during the Cop26 in Glasgow.
So “transmit to last and last to transmit”, a good mantra for all our organisations to resist the barbarism that is threatening us.
