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  The TRANSNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ECOLOGY (TRISE) is glad to
announce its third annual conference, in PATRAS, GREECE, FROM 28TH TO
31ST OF AUGUST 2015 titled "The Power to Create, The Power to Destroy".

  With this general theme - taken from Murray Bookchin's manifesto-like
essay from 1970 - we want to address the double-sided nature of our
time, discussing both the destructive forces of global capitalism and
the creative response from social movements.

  TRISE is a transnational network of activists/researchers concerned
with both ecology and the development of today's cities. Our research
aims at considering, under the lens of social ecology, the current urban
public policy as well as of the experience of social movements in their
attempts to address the urban question, from a theoretical perspective,
offering practical solutions. We aim at working in partnership with
civil society, as a forum for the exchange of ideas and knowledge.

  Our annual conference provides a moment for reflecting together on the
current situation in Europe, in a fruitful conversation of theories and
practices. We are thus welcoming any intervention that aims at
addressing one of the following sub-themes, on which our conference will
be based:

  1. Social Ecology and the City
  Cities today are more and more at the forefront of the environmental
and social crisis. They represent both one of the major cause of the
aggravation of these crisis, but also a potential solution to them.
Social ecology has elaborated a robust body of theory on this topic that
can help us understand better how to ecologically transform the urban.
  In this session we welcome contributions that analyse the urban from a
social ecology perspective or that try to enhance social ecology theory
as a tool to change the city.

  2. Social Ecology in Practice
  Social movements worldwide today increasingly emphasize the connection
between social and ecological issues, and calls for direct democracy and
decentralisation. The Kurdish revolution in particular is awaking our
imaginary, demonstrating that building a revolutionary society that
resonates with the principles of social ecology is possible and
happening.
  In this session we welcome contributions that aim at understanding how
to put in practice a society based on horizontality, either narrating
and analysing existing experiences or envisioning new possibilities.

  3. Academia, Activism and Social Change
  The role of academia has always been controversial. On one side
Universities are more and more forced to align with the neoliberal
agenda; on the other side they are a space of radical thinking.
  In this session we aim at discussing the role of various actors in
building social change, focussing in particular on the possibilities and
limits of the exchange between activism and academia in support of the
current struggles.

  4. Europe in Crises and Revolts
  Europe is currently crossed by a series of economic and social crisis
that are showing us the limits of the current system, exacerbating the
living conditions of the poor. These crises, however, also represent a
possibility for a different rebirth, a space in which the necessity
allow alternative economies and practices to solidify and grow.
  In this session we would like to analyse the today crisis and possible
answers, looking at how grassroots movements are fighting for a
post-scarcity society.

We welcome abstracts from activists and scholars BY 15TH OF JUNE and we
welcome contribution in the form of paper presentations or workshop. If
you wish to take part, please submit a short abstract (max 300 words)
explaining the content of your talk or workshop, including a short CV
briefing (about 5 lines).

  Send your proposal to: [log in to unmask]

  _For the TRISE Programme Committee,_
_ Ersilia Verlinghieri and Svante Malmström_

  for more information visit: trise.org

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