Report: The Struggle of Laz Language

The outcome of The Struggle of Laz Language - Laz Derneği

The Laz language is among southern Caucasian languages, written with a Latin-originated alphabet of 35 letters. The struggle of the Laz language came into public agenda with the emergence of the music band Zuğaşi Berepe in 1993. Also in 1993, one of the major steps in this struggle is the publication of Ogni magazine. The main axis of the struggle is with the foundation of the Laz Culture Association in 2008.

Report: Political Situation in Turkey

The outcome of Political Situation in Turkey - Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi (Freedom and Solidarity Party)

When the nature of AKP's government is analyzed, it would be seen that it is a continuation of the military intervention in 1980. It applied the neoliberal policies with its social-ideological hegemony. Meanwhile, it had done away all power relations and established the 2.Republic regime. The citizens of this new republic are designed to be submissive, religious and hateful. The regime highlights limitless market mechanisms and cooperation with the US in the Middle East. Its reflections to Turkish people are human rights violations, poverty, and ecological degradation. Also the active cooperation policies in the Middle East threaten the peace opportunities.

Report: Shale gas / Schiste gas

The outcome of Shale Gas - Les Alternatifs, Alliance for Green Socialism

The world is running out of oil & gas. Capitalism has a huge investment in oil/gas infrastructure and use, so tries sources that are more difficult and more expensive, such as schiste gas. Traditional oil and gas is in large continuous fields, easy to drill into.  Schiste gas distributed in millions of tiny separate pockets. It is extracted by drilling down, then along horizontally, breaking up the rock formations, pumping in water & chemicals, and pumping out the gas.

Bad effects include:
- poisoning the ground and the water supply with chemicals (they will not disclose what chemicals they use)
- releasing methane, a very powerful greenhouse gas causing global warming
- changing the geological structure, causing earthquakes
- impact of thousands of surface well-heads

An underlying problem is that, if it were successful, schiste gas would lock us in to using fossil fuels, generating greenhouse gases, for a long time.

In France there is a powerful (but unevenly distributed) mobilisation against schiste gas, strongest in the south east (a demonstration of 20,000 in a village), based on citizens and local collectives, and acknowledged by political parties. Fifty municipalities have declared against schiste gas.Over 60 exploration licences have been granted. A law of July 2011 prohibits fracking – but the government has revoked nonky only three licences so far..

There is schiste gas, and interest in extracting it, in much of the rest of Europe, from Sweden to Hungary to Spain. Most governments favour schist gas at least in principle. Poland has large amounts and would like less dependence on Russia. Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria would like more energy independence.

In Bulgaria exploration started in 2009 but has now been halted by protests. In Romania exploration has been stopped. Germany has paused exploration for further study by a commission. In Britain, exploration has been paused for further study of the seismic impact, after earthquakes caused by fracking.

In the USA there are over a million production wells.

Since the international water alternative summit in March 2012, a European network against fracking has been set up, with another meeting in, Sep 2012. The people’s summit in rio in June 2012 issued a resolution signed by dozens of people with the support of a score of organisations.

In France, a defensive struggle – the fight against schiste gas – poses the question of transition to different forms of energy. The defensive fight moves into a constructive phase..

Report: Coup d'Etat

Outcome of Coup d'Etat - Platform of 12 September & COMPA

The representer of the platform of 12 September, İlke Acar told about the process of cart and its evolution. Also background of military coup and the importance of court were mentioned by her.

The parliamentary Coup D'etat which occurred in Paraguay on the 22nd of June is essentially declined to comfort the power of the oligarchy and (yo) empower the Agra-business corporations. After the several attempts in Ecuador and Bolivia, and particularly three years after the coup d'etat in Honduras, it forecasts a new cycle of destabilization toward changing oriented processes in Latin America in order to protect leading classes interests and gain control over natural resources.

TURKEY

A law suit has been brought against the military officers who made the military coup in 12 Sep 1980. It is backed by actions including demonstrations, vigils and legal support. Much support from the families of those killed. The question is who should try them: AKP court v revolutionary court

LATIN AMERICA

The USA traditionally controlled Latin America by military coups (eg ‘64 Brazil, ‘73 Chile)

characterised by neo-liberalism and state violence. From the ‘90s there were more democratic governments and left governments. In ’08 in Honduras there was a military/constitutional coup. In ’12 in Paraguay there was a constitutional coup against a popular president with little congressional support. The USA seeks control of a major water resource across Paraguay, Brazil & Argentina.

Report: Alternative Energy Supply

The outcome of Social Banking and Alternative Energy Supply - Les Alternatifs

This cooperative has 10000 members. As in France in 2004 energy supply was declared as free, renewable energy could be sold through the public network. Local organizations look for new producers. The benefits of the year are invested in new projects for clean energy but the state brakes: at the beginning of “the free market” you could not abandon the new supplier which you had chosen. Now you may and the state prefers to give money to individuals who buy a technical pump than to finance projects for clean energy.