Activist Academia Forum – Sussex University, 12 – 13 September

A two day event bringing international activists and academics together to reflect on academic pursuit and forms of knowledge production, and establish working links between those working against the impacts of neoliberalism, the extractive industries, including damage to communities, ecology, democracy and governance.

Hosted by the Centre for World Environmental History (CWEH) University of Sussex.

Contact: actacdforum@sussex.ac.uk  or BOOK HERE

Places are limited. Please book as soon as you can. Last booking date is 1 September 2014.

The aim of this event is to reunite academics and activists around concerns that threaten both local communities worldwide and the next generation of academics. Issues of particular concern include: the incursions of the extractive industries on our environment, including hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) and the neo-liberal attack on our universities including outsourcing of services, support, and even teaching positions, alongside huge budget cuts.

The two-day event will aim not only to provoke discussion, but also to generate meaningful partnerships for research and campaigning around environmental justice, commons charters, and indigenous peoples’ land rights. Case studies to be presented will include the Yasuni agreement (2008-2013) and lessons from Ecuador to improve international campaigns to ‘keep the oil under the ground’ in the future. In the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to form working links for future cooperation on research and campaigns and develop of toolkits, or methodologies. The aim is to make the work useful for people beyond academic circles.

Venue: Arts building A108, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton

Campus map: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/aboutus/findus/campusmaps;

How to get to the university: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/aboutus/findus/uktravel