2013 Rey Ty International Situation, Tasks Ahead, and People's Response

© 2012 Rey Ty

International Situation & People’s Response

© 2013 Rey Ty

Northern Illinois University

© 2012 Rey Ty

International Situation

Inte

rnat

ion

al

Sit

uat

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•Domination•Colonialism•Oppression•Exploitation•Resistance

History

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International Economic Crisis

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Chomsky (2012)•Plutonomy (the very few rich) vs. Precariat (the majority living precariously)

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Glocal Problem

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The 99% locally in the U.S.A. is still part of the 1% globally!

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Which Side Are You On?1. Soft on Wall

Street?

2. Jail Occupiers?

3. Support government?

4. Subsidize oil companies?

1. Soft on Main Street?

2. Jail bankers?

3. Government supports the people?

4. Subsidize green energy?

© 2012 Rey Ty

Which Side Are You On?

1. Support the 1%?

1. Support the 99%, 98%, 47% (students, seniors, working poor, etc.)?

© 2012 Rey Ty

“Confronting Governments: Human Rights”

•Foucault: “1. There exists an international citizenship that has its rights & its duties, and that obliges one to speak out…” Michel Foucault. (2006). The Chomsky-Foucault Debate on Human Nature. New York: The New Press, p. 211.

© 2012 Rey Ty


• Foucault: “…against every abuse of power, whoever its author, whoever its victims. After all, we are all members of the community of the governed, and thereby obliged to show mutual solidarity.” Michel Foucault. (2006). The Chomsky-Foucault Debate on Human Nature. New York: The New Press, p. 212.

© 2012 Rey Ty


• Foucault: “2… It is a duty of this international citizenship to always bring the testimony of people’s suffering to the eyes & ears of governments, sufferings for which it’s untrue that they are not responsible. The suffering of men must never be a silent residue of policy. It grounds an absolute right to stand up & speak to those who hold power.” Michel Foucault. (2006). The Chomsky-Foucault Debate on Human Nature. New York: The New Press, p. 212.

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• Foucault: “3… Amnesty International, Terre des Hommes, and Médicins du Monde are initiatives that have created this new right—that of private individuals to effectively intervene in the sphere of international policy and strategy. The will of individuals must make a place for itself...” Michel Foucault. (2006). The Chomsky-Foucault Debate on Human Nature. New York: The New Press, p. 212.

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• Foucault: “… in a reality of which governments have attempted to reserve a monopoly for themselves, that monopoly which we need to wrest from them little by little and day by day.” Michel Foucault. (2006). The Chomsky-Foucault Debate on Human Nature. New York: The New Press, p. 213.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Humanitarian Intervention!•Alain Badiou: “I published my first Manifesto for Philosophy in 1989. It wasn’t a happy time, believe me! The burial of the post-May 1968 ‘red years’ by interminable years of Mitterrand, the haughtiness of the ‘new philosophers’ & their humanitarian paratroopers, human rights combined with the right of intervention as the sole means of assistance, the full-bellied Western fortress giving moral lessons to those starving the world over, the collapse without glory of the USSR and…” Alain Badiou. (2011). Second Manifesto for Philosophy. Cambridge, UK: Polity, p. 3.

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Financial Oligarchy•Alain Badiou: “…the consequent abeyance of the Communist hypothesis, the Chinese reversion to commercial genius, ‘democracy’ ubiquitously identified with the morose dictatorship of a narrow oligarchy of financiers, professional politicians & TV presenters, the cult of national, racial, sexual, religious & cultural identities seeking to undo the rights of the universal…” Alain Badiou. (2011). Second Manifesto for Philosophy. Cambridge, UK: Polity, p. 4.

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Justice

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Sokal HoaxBack to Basics

Science, not postmodernism, will help the Third World struggles.

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Human Rights & Foreign Policy•“…there was a very close correlation. The better the climate for business operations, the more American aid—the more we support the foreign government. That gives you a plausible theory. U.S. foreign policy is in fact based on the principle that human rights are irrelevant, but that improving the climate for foreign business operations is highly relevant. In fact, that flows from the central geopolitical conception.” Noam Chomsky. (1987). The Chomsky Reader. Ed. by James Peck. New York: Pantheon Books, p. 331.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Democracy & Foreign Policy

•“ Democracy is okay, but only as long as we can control it and be sure that it comes out the way we want...” Noam Chomsky. (1987). The Chomsky Reader. Ed. by James Peck. New York: Pantheon Books, p. 332.

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Democracy & Foreign Policy•“The archbishop, Archbishop Oscar Romero, pleaded with Carter not to send military aid. The reasons were the following: he said that military aid would ‘sharpen the repression that has been unleashed against the people’s organizations fighting to defend their most fundamental human rights.’ Therefore, he asked Carter not to send military aid.” Noam Chomsky. (1987). The Chomsky Reader. Ed. by James Peck. New York: Pantheon Books, p. 334.

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Problems1. Capitalist Neoliberal Globalization

& International Economic & Financial Crisis

2. Widening rich-poor gap3. Fear: Anti-terrorism, security,

drones, peace movements4. Xenophobia: undocumented,

people of color 5. Islamophobia6. Plutocracy: Financial oligarchy

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Neo-Liberalism• The “neoliberal theoretical

orientation… has been challenged … (by) Greenpeace & environmental-related NGOs (Goldstein, 2004, p. 417).

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Civil Society in the Philippines

• Gerard Clarke argues “that Philippine civil society is a captive of organised elite interests and anti-developmental in its impacts, helping elites to oppose the initiatives of reform-minded governments and to protect their interests.”

Gerard Clarke. (2012). Civil Society in the Philippines: Theoretical, Methodological and Policy Debates. London: Routledge. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415572729/?utm_campaign=JE_AT1_Sept_Asian+Politics&utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email

Caution with Civil Society!

© 2012 Rey Ty

Problems•“The New Military Humanism reveals instead a world where victims of human rights violations are either worthy or unworthy. In the case of Turkey, its Kurdish victims of ethnic cleansing are so unworthy that we sell arms to our paying ally to help it accomplish the task. Meanwhile, Serbia, a disorderly miscreant impeding the institution of the U.S.-dominated global system, is the target of impassioned arguments—and bombs—that the UN Declaration on Human Rights must be enforced.” Back Cover of: Noam Chomsky. (1999). The new military humanism. Monroe, ME: Common Courage Press. Back Cover.

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People’s Response

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Solidarity•Uruguay: ““La solidaridad no se agradece, se retribuye.”

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Solidarity1.With whom?

2.Corporations?

3.Generic consumers?

4.Workers? = most consumers?

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People in Struggle1. Working people

& peasants

2. Democratic forces

3. Forces for Progress

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1. Civil liberties, human rights & electoral democracy

2. Peace

3. Rights & full equality of other abled people, women, & LGBT

4. Job creation, living wages, education, health care, day care, housing, social security, retirement benefits, nature, family farms & businesses, youth, cultural programs, progressive tax, reduced military spending

5. Curb the power of transnationals

Struggles

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People in StruggleMulti-ethnic, multi-color

unity, including immigrants &

indigenous peoples for full equality &

against racism

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Social Movements

1. Peace

2. Progress

3. Progressive & democratic religious movements

4. International solidarity

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• Expose!

• Oppose!

• Propose!

Unity against the Ultra-Right

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Types of WorkBe careful with charity!

1. Patronizing2. Dependency

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Make Your ChoiceHoward Zinn: “If patriotism in the best sense (not in the monarchical sense) is loyalty to the principles of democracy, then who was the true patriot, Theodore Roosevelt, who applauded a massacre by American soldiers of 600 Filipino men, women, and children on a remote Philippine island, or Mark Twain, who denounced it?” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 113.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Use alternative pop culture including hip hop to convey message of social progress & change.

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Hip Hop

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Leonard Bernstein•“This will be our response to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.”

© 2012 Rey Ty

Use Social Media1. Remember Philippine

ouster of corrupt president?

2. Texting

3. Blogs, tweets, etc.

4. Internet democracy vs. alienation

© 2012 Rey Ty

Act!Howard Zinn: “You never know what spark is going to really result in a conflagration… You have to do things…; you have to light that match,… not knowing how often it’s going to sputter & go out & at what point it’s going to take hold. That’s what happened in the civil-rights movement, & that’s what happens in other movements. Things take a long time. It requires patience, but not a passive patience—the patiences of activism.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 11.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Capitalist ReformHoward Zinn: “…capitalism is an old idea, & one which caused so much misery… We have an educational job to do. We must point out that the only reason capitalism was able to survive in the Western world is that its victims organized—in trade-union movements, in farmers’ movements, in tenants’ movements, in women’s movements, in civil-rights movements—and brought about just enough reforms (the eight-hour day, old-age pensions, higher pay, unemployment insurance, civil-rights laws, women’s suffrage) to stave off revolution & leave capitalism alive, with a surface of great prosperity & a core of economic & cultural sickness.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 34.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Starvation & WarsHoward Zinn: “And we must point out that in the era of capitalism, whatever ‘progress’ was made for new middle classes, starvation remained for most of the world, & national rivalries brought the most murderous wars in history.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 34.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Organize Glocally!Howard Zinn: “So our job today is to organize, to create a vast movement in our country that can link up with popular movements in other countries of the world.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 35.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Democratic RevolutionHoward Zinn: “The irresistible popular movements for change in Czechoslovakia, Poland, East Germany, & elsewhere in Eastern Europe, the great populist surges that toppled the Shah in Iran, Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, dictatorships in Latin America; the black movement in South Africa, the Palestinian upsurge in the Occupied Territories—all this is evidence of the potential for democratic revolutions everywhere.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 35.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Democratic RevolutionHoward Zinn: “It should not be impossible to persuade Americans that such a democratic revolution is needed, when wealth is more & more concentrated at the top, when the economy is unhealthy, when we are ridden by homelessness, by frightening violence in our cities, by pervasive drug addiction, by alcoholism, by a deteriorating, poisonous environment —in short, when we show all the signs of a rich but sick society.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 35.

© 2012 Rey Ty

From Arms to PloughshareHoward Zinn: “That agenda is: using the immense wealth that goes each year into the military ($200 billion of the $300 billion, as an arbitrary starting point) & showing in detail how this $200 billion can give us: universal health care, guaranteed housing for everyone, useful work for everyone capable of working, child care for all working mothers, a cleanup of air & water all over the country, subsidies for the arts, a doubling of teachers’ salaries & more.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 36.

© 2012 Rey Ty

People, Not Politicians!Howard Zinn: “Our job is not to give (politicians) a blank check or simply be cheerleaders. It was good that we were cheerleaders while (politicians were) running for office, but it’s not good to be cheerleaders now. Because we want the country to go beyond where it has been in the past. We want to make a clean break from what it has been in the past.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 230.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Two Parties, Same ThreadHoward Zinn: “I had a teacher at Columbia U… name Richard Hofstadter, who wrote a book called The American Political Tradition… he found… that the difference between the liberals & the conservatives, & between Republicans & Democrats, was not a polar difference. There was a common thread that ran through all American history, and all of the presidents—Republican, Democrat, liberal, conservative—followed this thread. The thread consisted of two elements: one, nationalism; and two, capitalism. And Obama is not yet free of that powerful double heritage.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 230.

© 2012 Rey Ty

What We WantHoward Zinn: “People say, ‘What, are you a dreamer?” And the answer is, yes, we’re dreamers We want it all. We want a peaceful world. We want an egalitarian world. We don’t want war. We don’t want capitalism. We want a decent society.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 230.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Help the Banks or People?Howard Zinn: “The banks aren’t poverty-stricken. The CEOs aren’t poverty-stricken. But there are people who are out of work. There are people who can’t pay their mortgages. Let’s take $700 billion & give it directly to the people who need it. Let’s take $1 trillion, let’s take $2 trillion.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 231.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Money to the People!Howard Zinn: “Let’s take this money & give it directly to the people who need it. Give it to the people who have to pay their mortgages. Nobody should be evicted. Nobody should be left with their belongings out on the street.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 232.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Jobs to the People!Howard Zinn: “No—if people need jobs, you don’t give money to the corporations, hoping that maybe jobs will be created. You give people work immediately.” Howard Zinn, (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 232.

© 2012 Rey Ty

Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:15-17 NIV)

Biblico-Theological Reflection

© 2012 Rey Ty

“Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out… defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31: 8-9 NIV)


© 2012 Rey Ty

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me… Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25: 35 NIV; 25: 36,40 KJV)


© 2012 Rey Ty

“For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord. I will give them the security they long for.” (Psalm 12: 5 KJV & NIV)


© 2012 Rey Ty

“One who is gracious to the poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed.” (Proverbs 19:17 NIV)


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“All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” (Galatians 2:10 NIV)


© 2012 Rey Ty

Which Side Are You On?

1. Support the 1%?

1. Support the 99%, 98%, 47% (students, seniors, working poor, etc.)?

© 2012 Rey Ty

Human Rights Work1. Critique, educate & Raise

Consciousness: Expose & Oppose!

2. Organize & Mobilize! a. Winning lobbying is one thing.b. Campaigning by itself is

educational!c. Success is both strategic &

tactical.3. Policy: Propose!

© 2012 Rey Ty

Conscientização•According to Freire’s translator, "The term, conscientização, refers to learning to perceive social, political, and economic contradictions, and to take action against the oppressive elements of reality."

© 2012 Rey Ty

Go to the peopleLive among among themLearn from themPlan with themWork with themStart with what they knowBuild on what they haveTeach by showingLearn by doingNot a showcase but a patternNot odds and ends but a systemNot piecemeal but integrated approachNot to conform but to transformNOT RELIEF BUT RELEASE

Credo of

PRRM

© 2012 Rey Ty

Tasks Ahead1. Mass democratic

movements2. Struggle for

national liberation3. Working people4. Peace movement5. Struggle against

exploitation, & injustice

6. Work for peace, justice & equality

© 2012 Rey Ty

Solidarity•Martin Niemöller: “First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”

© 2012 Rey Ty

We the People…1. Listen to the voices of

the people.

2. Don’t let the top (government) dictate our agenda: put them to task.

© 2012 Rey Ty

References:1.Badiou, A. (2011). Second Manifesto for Philosophy.

Cambridge, UK: Polity.2.Chomsky, N. (2012). Occupy. Brooklyn, NY: Zucotti Park

Press. 3.Chomsky, N. & Foucault, M. (2006). The Chomsky-

Foucault Debate on Human Nature. New York: The New Press, p. 211.

4.Constantino, R. & Meszaros, I. (1978). Neocolonial identity and counter-consciousness: Essays in cultural decolonization. London: The Merlin Press Ltd.

5.Sokal, A. (2008). Beyond the hoax: Science, philosophy, & culture. New York: Oxford University. Press.

6.Zinn, H. (2010). A people’s history of the United States. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics.

7.Zinn, H. (2012). The historic unfulfilled promise. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books, p. 113.

2013 Rey Ty International Situation, Tasks Ahead, and People's Response

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