Civic Dialogue on Nonviolent Action on the War on Ukraine
This afternoon an open debate took place in the Civic Square of the UAB regarding civil society in relation to the war in Ukraine. The event was attended by Ana Villellas, researcher at the School of Culture of Peace and Felip Daza, representative of Novact. The rector of the UAB, Javier Lafuente, and the vice-rector for International Relations, Màrius Martínez, also took part.
16/03/2022
The Autonomous Solidarity Foundation, with the collaboration of the School of Culture of Pau of the UAB, has organized today the debate "War in Ukraine: resistance and non-violent action".
The event was opened by Javier Lafuente, rector of the UAB, who thanked the organization of the event and stressed the importance of the university response being coordinated. In addition, he has asked the university community for proposals and ideas to support people affected by the war.
Then, with the moderation of Marina Caireta, researcher at the Escola de Cultura de Pau, the table that dealt with "reflections, dilemmas and proposals of civil society" to respond to the current crisis from the culture of anti-war and non-violence began. Ana Villellas, researcher at the Escola de Cultura de Pau and Felip Daza, representative of Novact also linked to Ukraine, took part. In their speeches, they highlighted the need to work for negative peace (silencing the guns) as well as for positive peace (changing the system and policies in the long term). There has also been talk of the other ways of responding to war from non-violence such as the diplomatic channel; the attack on the pillars of power (economic, media, discourse, and weapons); protection of civil society; and solidarity. Another of the actions that are being carried out is to provide support by offering mentoring and training for non-violent action to pacifist groups and movements in the countries involved in the conflict.
Then, a dialogue was initiated in which several of the attendees participated and which revolved around some of the questions launched by the moderator "What dilemmas do we have in relation to defensive military intervention?"; or "How do we support local resistance and civil defensive initiatives?"
The Vice-Rector for International Relations of the UAB, Màrius Martínez, closed the event by explaining the actions that the university has carried out since the beginning of the war and how the coordination of these is being carried out and recalled that the university community has at its disposal the mail fas.cooperacio@uab.cat to receive proposals, ideas or needs linked to the war.
ACT’S RAPPORTEUR (catalan)