Many thanks to the more than 600 of you who signed the petition to the AAG in light of the Executive Order banning citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the United States (Statement to the AAG Executive). Copied below is the response that we have received from the AAG.
Our group at the University of Toronto is planning to meet this coming Friday to discuss next steps. We know that there are many who have already decided to boycott the AAG and that there are alternative activities being planned, including here in Toronto. Others are working on collective actions to take place at the AAG. We encourage you to circulate information about these events, and welcome responses to the statement below.
Thanks,
Emily
Emily Gilbert, Associate Professor
Canadian Studies Program and Department of Geography & Planning
University of Toronto
Associate Editor, Security Dialogue
http://individual.utoronto.ca/emilygilbert/
Thank you for your email of February 17 and the attached letter and petition to the AAG Executive Committee. More importantly, I thank you and your colleagues for your desire to confront the challenges that current political conditions are creating for geographers and many others, both here in the United States, and around the world. The AAG Executive Committee has carefully read, analyzed and discussed the points raised in your petition and we have also communicated with the entire Council in responding. I apologize if this has seemed to take a long time, but the AAG is a democratic institution that values consultation and consensus amongst our elected body and membership. Such consultation often requires time.
As you will see below, we respond to each of the points and in some cases have made specific policy decisions in light of the suggestions. An example is revision of our meeting refund policy. In analyzing your points we found that in a number of cases the AAG had already taken actions, and indeed in some instances has a long history in addressing these issues. As I mentioned above the AAG values consultation with members as well as elected officials. In this vein I would have appreciated it if you had contacted me or any member of the Executive Committee with your concerns so we could have informed you about actions completed and in the works that bear direct relationships to the points you make in your petition. We fear that in some cases you have inadvertently conveyed an incomplete picture of the AAG and its activities to the readers and supporters of your petition. We accept that this also means the AAG has to be even more proactive and effective in our communications with members – particularly in view of fast breaking events such as we now face. This has prompted us to develop and launch a Policy Action page at the AAG website that provides members rapid updates.
Again, I thank you for the time you have taken to communicate with colleagues and contribute to the betterment of the AAG. As you will see we have taken direct decisions and actions on points you make. In some cases, such actions have already been in place. In all cases, your petition led us to carefully review our activities – which is always a good thing. In looking over the concerns you have expressed and the impressive signatories I cannot be but a little sad that many of you have chosen not to join us in Boston. There the AAG will attempt to develop national and international strategies to address the challenges we face. We must, as geographers concerned not just with our discipline, but with the health and well-being of people and planet, work together across national and international lines. The commitment, energy and ideas of those who will not be at Boston, due either to immigration rules I personally find indefensible and deplorable, or due to their personal choice, will be very sorely missed. However, the AAG will continue to fight the battles of equality, inclusiveness, diversity, free speech, free-enquiry and fact-based decision making. I and all my colleagues invite you to continue to join with us in these initiatives – you may even want to run for office to more directly contribute to such efforts.
Sincerely yours,
Glen M. MacDonald
President, AAG
Responses
1. Explicitly condemn the Executive Order on Immigration and demand its immediate repeal. We further call on the AAG to be vigilant against government actions that undermine human dignity, perpetuate violence and discrimination, and interfere with scholarly inquiry.
The AAG has issued a statement on concern over the recently attempted immigration ban prior to your letter (http://www.aag.org/galleries/default-file/AAG_Statement_on_Executive_Order.pdf). The AAG has also joined with other organizations undertaking statements and actions against that ban (http://www.aag.org/galleries/default-file/Multisociety_Letter_on_Immigration_1312017.pdf).
We will remain vigilant and will respond accordingly to any similar action should such or a similar order be reinstated. Importantly, the AAG has remained engaged in a broad effort of vigilance and action – individually, leading partnerships and joining partnerships. Two recent examples are that AAG has created a coalition of learned societies and other organizations to battle the recently drafted Senate and House Bills that would restrict federal geospatial data on racial disparities (http://www.aag.org/galleries/default-file/AAG_Organizational_Signon_Letter_re__Geospatial_Data_Restrictions_and_Racial_Disparities.pdf) and the AAG is an official Partner in the April 22nd March for Science in Washington, DC.
The AAG has a long history of vigilance and action in instances where the rights and freedoms of geographers and free scholarly inquiry are threatened and will continue to make this a priority. The AAG’s efforts in this regard extend both to the Unites States and internationally.
Your letter helped us further recognize that members may not be aware of all the issues tackled by the AAG and the actions taken in this regard, and we have accordingly established a Policy Action web page (http://www.aag.org/aag_policy_action) to serve as a central source of information on these issues.
2. Work to redress the negative impacts of the immigration ban, and immigration restrictions more broadly, by creating a fund to support geographic research by scholars most impacted, starting with scholars from the seven targeted countries.
Prior to your letter the AAG had put into place actions to assist scholars from the seven targeted countries and will continue to refine and implement such remedies. You can find that policy posted here http://news.aag.org/2017/02/aag-to-support-geographers-from-countries-affected-by-trump-travel-ban/.
The AAG has also been working and setting aside funds to assist geographers in the impacted countries and more broadly in the developing world. In 2008 the AAG established a Developing Regions Program to assist geographers from nations such as the seven impacted countries and many other nations (http://www.aag.org/cs/programs/international/developingregions). The AAG allocates special funding to assist such geographers from such regions participate in the AAG and our Annual Meetings. We will assess this program and determine how it can be more effective given the current political climate in the United States as well as in other regions where challenges for geographers and geography have arisen. I have called for a special committee to do so.
3. Reimburse conference registration fees not only to those who are unable but also to those who are unwilling to enter the United States under present conditions, and provide legal support to impacted members and conference attendees.
We already released a policy on refunds for participants from the seven affected countries prior to your letter (http://news.aag.org/2017/02/aag-to-support-geographers-from-countries-affected-by-trump-travel-ban/). As stated in our response to members from the seven affected countries, the AAG will reimburse the registration fees for citizens from those countries who are unable to attend the annual meeting. We have also put in place other remedies to allow their scholarly voices to be heard including keeping their abstracts in the program, allowing others to present for them and putting in place the capacity for electronic presentations by them.
Any member registered for the Boston Meeting who is disallowed entry to the United States, or who reasonably fears being denied entry on the basis of nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation, will have their registration fees reimbursed.
Members who have already registered and are boycotting the meeting voluntarily can of course apply for a partial reimbursement of their registration fees through normal processes.
In light of your letter and request regarding sympathetic boycotters –
1. AAG will extend the 40% cancellation fee deadline beyond February 17, 2017 until March 7th if we are informed by those seeking a refund that they are doing so in sympathy with members from the seven affected countries.
2. AAG will offer registrants who inform us by March 7th that they are boycotting the meeting in sympathy with members from the seven impacted countries the choice to either - A. have the non-refundable portion of the registration fees allocated directly to the Developing Regions Program and to help pay for costs of video conferencing for travel ban impacted members or B. have the funds reimbursed to themselves. We hope that boycotting members of the AAG will want to support your Point 2, and this provides you, your signatories and other AAG members the direct opportunity of doing so.
4. Support robust scholarly exchange among members who are unable or unwilling to travel to the conference by providing resources for virtual connection or alternative meetings held outside the United States.
If you read our statement on the travel ban and affected geographers, you will see the mechanisms we have put into place in this regard. As you see from Point 3 above, we are also putting in a place a mechanism where by you and other signatories can directly assist with this effort.
5. Work with organizations inside and outside the United States to provide sanctuary and asylum for scholars with precarious status, to take a vocal stand against immigration restrictions, and to dedicate resources to these initiatives.
The AAG takes the well-being of the geography community very seriously. In addition to responses to the US travel ban, the AAG has been involved recently in efforts to remedy the difficult situation being experienced by Turkish geographers and academics (http://news.aag.org/2016/08/letter-on-academic-freedom-turkey/). We will continue such efforts in accordance with the practices of scholarly associations to be diligent, inform members of the public and policy makers and put pressure on officials through public statements and private communications. We do not, however, have resources to ourselves provide physical sanctuary and asylum. If you, or organizations you work with, are providing such physical assistance to affected geographers, we ask you to bring it to our attention so we can communicate this to the AAG membership and try to support as best we can.
We also would note that the top leadership in some other countries, including those of some of the signatories of your letter, have remained mute in terms of expressing direct criticisms of the US travel ban. We assume that geographers in those and other countries are bringing these concerns to the attention of their national leaderships and hope that the public statements of the AAG and other US organizations against the travel ban in this instance will prove useful in those efforts.
6. Publicly affirm a commitment to racial justice and Indigenous sovereignty as a basis for any meaningful geographic inquiry. We further call on the Association to commit resources and work more actively to promote these values in policy and practice, with a process led by scholars from the most impacted communities.
The AAG has made many affirmations of the dedication of the AAG to diversity, inclusiveness and fairness. I would note that a number of organizations such as the NAACP, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association and the Poverty and Race Research Action Council have joined the AAG led effort to stop Federal restrictions on geospatial data on racial disparities. Please read also for example our diversity taskforce report (www.aag.org/galleries/default-file/diversityreport.pdf ) or the recent President’s Column on diversity (http://news.aag.org/2017/01/strengths-and-challenges-of-diversity/). As the Column states – we have an unwavering commitment to this, but also recognize the need to do more.
We will be assessing our Developing Regions Programs in regards to increasing scope, effectiveness and funding. As noted above, I have call for a committee to work on this. As noted in Point 3, you may also directly contribute to funding this through allocation of boycott refunds. Specific actions and scholarly initiatives for goals such as outlined above are often most effectively formulated, communicated and in some cases implemented by our members and our Specialty Groups with the assistance of the AAG. We would ask you to work with other members on developing suggestions.
7. Make its 2016 commitments to ethical investment meaningful by using its investment capacity to support Indigenous sovereignty and social, racial, and environmental justice. As a first step, we call on the AAG to divest from and end relationships with financial institutions invested in the Dakota Access Pipeline, in solidarity with widespread calls from Indigenous water protectors.
In calling on the AAG leadership to fulfill these demands, we also commit to undertake similar work in our own institutions and communities.
The AAG is already in the process of assessing our overall investment portfolio to make it consistent with our commitments to social and environmental justice and ethics. This process requires investigation of portfolio components. The initial policy recommendation formulation and financial analysis has been in process since last Spring, and we hope to have a full report and strategy developed at our April Council Meeting.
In terms of specific concerns such as the above mentioned Dakota Access Pipeline, the AAG Council has put into effect a policy review mechanism by which such issues can be analyzed in terms of the AAG’s constitutional guidelines and commitments and recommendations made to Council on appropriate responses.
We welcome and encourage all our members to act within their own countries and jurisdictions to address concerns that effect geographers and geography – and the well-being of the planet and all the people that inhabit it. We have noted for example the need for stronger international response to the proposed US travel ban. We might envision international efforts by AAG members on analysis and action concerning the implications of North American pipeline projects in general including the Keystone XL, which is supported by both the current US and Canadian Federal Governments. Through our AAG community such issues can be communicated and the efforts of our members in different countries shared. We believe that working together as a geographical community on such issues is important.
We close by thanking you for your efforts on behalf of the well-being of all geographers. We thank you for allowing us to share more fulling what the AAG is doing in this regard and for the suggestions and insights which have helped the AAG sharpen its focus and refine its initiatives. At times like this it is crucial that we work together and hope you will continue to do so with the AAG. Many of us will be gathered together in Boston to formulate such actions. We greatly welcome those who can join us there in these efforts and deeply miss those who can or will not.