Transformative Alternatives on Learning and emancipatory education

Dear readers,

It is our pleasure to share Global TapestryThe weaving of networks of Alternatives of Alternative's seventh periodical with you. With this issue we announce the renaming of our traditional newsletter, now called “WEAVING ALTERNATIVES: A periodical of the Global Tapestry of AlternativesAre activities and initiatives, concepts, worldviews, or action proposals by collectives, groups, organizations, communities, or social movements challenging and replacing the dominant system that perpetuates inequality, exploitation, and unsustainabiity. In the GTA we focus primarily on what we call "radical or transformative alternatives", which we define as initiatives that are attempting to break with the dominant system and take paths towards direct and radical forms of political and economic democracy, localised self-reliance, social justice and equity, cultural and knowledge diversity, and ecological resilience. Their locus is neither the State nor the capitalist economy. They are advancing in the process of dismantling most forms of hierarchies, assuming the principles of sufficiency, autonomy, non-violence, justice and equality, solidarity, and the caring of life and the Earth. They do this in an integral way, not limited to a single aspect of life. Although such initiatives may have some kind of link with capitalist markets and the State, they prioritize their autonomy to avoid significant dependency on them and tend to reduce, as much as possible, any relationship with them.“.

The Global Tapestry of Alternatives seeks to build bridges between networks of Alternatives around the globe and promote the creation of new processes of confluence. You can know more about the project, in our introductory note.

We, across the world are facing immense uncertainties that pose very serious challenges and have social, economic, political, cultural and ecological implications for most of us. The attempt is to bring to you the news, perspectives, thoughts, ideas, reflections, and dialogues on alternatives to the current dominant regimes. Importantly, what do they offer us as pathways towards just, equitable and ecologically wise futures. It is a humble attempt to bring together the collective envisioning of these pluriversal alternatives by creating a space for sharing and dialoguing.

We intend to share this periodical every two months sometimes thematic and sometimes general but broadly sharing perspectives, news on activities being seeded through GTAGlobal Tapestry of Alternatives, as well as perspectives/news/thoughts/questions from tapestry weavers and endorsing organisations and networks. We see this periodical part of a process of knowing each-others' work, engaging with ideas, facilitating collaborations and initiating co-writing and co-learning processes. Yes, the objectives are ambitious and that is why we need your support, your contributions and engagement. We invite you to this sharing, reflecting, dialoguing, healing, and envisioning space.

This periodical comes at the times when we at GTA have lost our elder and wisdom holder, Gustavo Esteva. We dedicate this periodical to him and it starts with an obit for Gustavo authored by Franco Augusto and Arturo Escobar. Additionally, the periodical features updates from our weavers in India (Vikalp Sangam) and Mexico and Colombia (Crianza Mutua), envisioning of a post-growth economy by Post-growth Institute, and perspective pieces from Lina Álvarez Villarreal, Xochitl Leyva Solano and Axel Köhler and Talking Wings.