[Apologies for cross-posting]
Earlier today a number of staff (both academics and administrators) as well
as students met at the University of East london to discuss how best to
respond to the current war. The majority of those at the meeting opposed
the war, but there were an number of people present who support the NATO
assault because they can, at present, see no alternative.
Although many of us will be and have been taking part in anti-war
demonstrations, we were particularly alarmed at the lack of debate and
critical engagement with the issues surrounding the present conflict, and
feel that in the context of a university setting we should be doing whatever
we can to stimulate such debate and enquiry (if for no other reason than to
use this as an arena through which to mobilise for and better educate the
anti-war movement).
As resuult, we shall be organising a high profile debate in the next couple
of weeks and hope to organise a more wide-ranging dayschool or teach-in in
the weeks following that.
We are particularly concerned that these events should not simply turn intro
demogogic anti-war rallies, but that they should stimulate a more thorough
engagement with the issues at stake. What is more, in contrast to the
arrogance of the NATO allies who would have us believe that they alone know
all the answers, we are keen not to replicate such arrogance from a left
perspective and hope to involve activists and academics from the Balkan
region in these debates.
We are interested to hear of and link up with any similar initiatives
elsewhere, and would also like to hear from anyone who feels they could
contribute to the events we have planned.
Yours in the struggle,
Gavin Brown
UEL Anti-war group
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