Young Socialist Alliance and Resistance activists and their collaborators will be heading to Brisbane over December 13-15 for the education conference “How to make a Revolution”. 鶹ý Weekly spoke to some of those that plan to attend about what they hope to get out of the conference.
One of the conference organisers and Brisbane Socialist Alliance member, Angus McAllen, is excited about the chance to meet other activists and make plans for the struggle ahead. “I think the conference will be a great opportunity to meet up with youth activists from around the country and discuss how we are going in the fight against neoliberalism. As well as this, it is always good to meet lots of young people from around Brisbane who are interested in social change.”
The conference will have four streams, each with multiple workshops. A feminism stream will focus on debates and discussions in the women’s rights movements in Australia. Student politics streams will provide political education to help campus activists make the most out of their efforts.
Zaynab Youssef from University of Western Sydney Bankstown campus joined the campus Resistance club this semester. Since then she’s been involved in education campaigning with other Resistance members. “I think this conference will be beneficial for someone who is motivated to change the whole politics of their campus,” she said. “We are all learning new things and taking on information from different people from different places will be great. Plus having greater connections with activists in other cities will be useful in the future.”
A revolutionary strategy stream will look at historical and contemporary lessons for revolutionary practice. All sessions will be open and accessible for everyone, regardless of their experience, but there will also be a series of introductory sessions for new members or anyone interested in joining.
Maeve Noonan is a new member of the Socialist Alliance in Geelong. This will be her first socialist conference. She said: “I’m looking forward to meeting other young people who share the same worldview and who are also committed to social justice. It can get pretty isolating being progressive in today’s neoliberal world; it’ll be good to meet like-minded people.”
Resistance national convener Liam Flenady said there would be something to interest all progressive people. He has strongly encouraged everyone interested to attend.
He said: “The conference is a space for young people around Australia to discuss the issues of politics in Australia and internationally today.
“As mainstream politics in Australia becomes more and more disengaging for young people and ordinary Australians, it becomes imperative that we make opportunities to get together to discuss, debate, and develop our understanding of the system we live in and strategies for how to change it.
“As young people we need to be activists, out there at the coal-face of the struggle for a better world, but we have to be thinking activists. We have to understand reality in order to change it, and that's what this conference is about.
“So if you want to change the world, or are curious about different ways to understand it: come along to the conference. If inaction on climate change gets you angry, or the treatment of refugees in Australia gets you infuriated: come along.
"I look forward to joining in the discussions with everyone at the conference.”
[For more information, phone Liam Flenady on 0432 619 844 or email resistancenationaloffice@gmail.com.]