oin the No Border Network!
In the first weekend of june 2012 there has been a meeting in the Utrecht
area to found the No Border Network.
On friday night there was information for the interested activists on
initiatives against Frontex. The EU member states have set up a
semi-militaristic organisation (Frontex) to guard the borders of Europe.
The result of this joint surveillance is among others that a lot of
migrants literally drown in the Mediterranean sea during the sea voyage.
The group Boats 4 People will go to the Mediterranean sea at july 5th 2012
with several boats to make public the existence of Frontex and the
consequenses of the border control and the European migration policy. For
further information on Frontex, check these websites
http://www.allincluded.nl en http://www.boats4people.org.
The rest of the weekend was all about discussions on subjects such as the
meaning and necessity of a No Border Network. What would such a network
practically look like? And what exactly do we want to achieve by
establishing a No Border Network?
Preceding these talks we have tried to look at how the resistance against
the migration policy has taken place. What examples can we use in the
future and from which experiences can we learn? In general a lot of people
find decentralized actions very effective. The positive impulse of the
tent camps at Ter Apel has made the discussions about the network very
practical. We all find: if there is going to be another tent camp, we have
to be able to respond to that quickly.
The goal of the No Border Network is fairly simple. Ideally the network
should make it possible to exchange information faster, simpler and more
efficient. By using the network it has to become easier to inform and
mobilize people if actions are being organized.
A lot of activists find it important that for example during tent camps
there will also be support actions with a political aim. The goal of a
tent camp is in general quite clear (regularization) as support actions
can state a wider objective (freedom of movement for all).
The intent is absolutely not that the network will be a new group with all
its usual meetings and action ideas. It would be great if the network is
going to function as a sort of umbrella organization with a mostly
facilitating function that all kinds of action- and pressure groups, self-
and help organizations can use to mutually share information. The website
is already available: http://www.no-border.nl, and a mailing list and
forum have been set up.
The outlines of the No Border Network will be shaped by the principles
that have been established in the international No Border Manifest. The
manifest (still in concept) shows the political direction No Border
activists want to act on. The network presumes among others freedom of
movement (“no borders, no nations”) and a anti capitalist movement and
wants to bring about change in a extra parliamentary manner. Everybody who
wants to be active in a grass root kind of way against the migration
policy can use the possibilities of the network.
The ideas of how to use the network are numerous. The functioning of the
network will have to prove itself in the next months. First we will refine
the facilitating possibilities. So keep a close eye on the website
http://www.no-border.nl.
Apart from the network there are of course several initiatives that people
can join and that can be supported, such as the upcoming No Border Camp in
Sweden (june 17 – 24), Boats4People (july 5 – 15), and the No Border Camp
in Cologne (july 14 – 22).
Plans and ideas for the (near) future:
July 7: a day of decentralized action to support Boats 4 People
October 27 (7 years after the Schiphol fire): a day of decentralized
action: demonstrations at several detention- and deportation centers, and
so called freedom limiting and family locations.
Do you want to keep informed about all kinds of initiatives and
developments, check de no border website and sign up for the mailing list
(aanmelding@no-border.nl) and the forum (http://forum.no-border.nl/ –
click on ‘registreren’) . More info: noborder-nl@riseup.net
No Border Network