CLASS

CONSTITUTION of the Centre for Latin America Solidarity & Studies (CLASS)

Mission & Vision

CLASS recognises and aims to challenge the systemic inequalities and injustices imposed on the people of Latin America by both its domestic elites and foreign governments and corporations.

CLASS also aknowledges and supports the valiant resistance that Latin America’s indigenous people and working classes have developed over five centuries of economic, social, cultural and political oppression and exploitation.

CLASS aims to build links of solidarity, culture and education between Latin America’s movements of resistance and those of Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

CLASS supports the vision of Latin America’s communities for direct democracy and economic and environmental justice. We acknowledge the example of the Cuban revolution and support the new Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela and the anti-neoliberal rebellions unfolding in Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and throughout the region.

CLASS aims to work with all those movements and organisations in Australia and our region who share this vision of justice, self-determination and grassroots democracy.

Background

CLASS has been founded by a range of solidarity activists involved in three decades of solidarity work with Chile, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico and the struggles of Latin America’s people as a whole. CLASS founders include the Bolivarian Circle Melbourne and activists from a range of social movements, trade unions and organisations in Australia.

CLASS is an initiative for solidarity, education and cultural action, linking Australia and Latin America.

CLASS aims to be a centre that can help resource initiatives by any and all organisations working to develop these links and to educate communities about shared experiences, struggles and proposed alternatives.

Solidarity

The primary purpose of CLASS is to build solidarity between communities in struggle in Latin America and Australia. This means developing:

* informational campaigns and projects aimed at raising awareness of shared struggles

* mobilising support from and between social movements and labour in Australia and Latin America

* building ongoing links between movements and organisations in both regions

Education

As a central element of solidarity, CLASS will work to develop educational programs aimed at exposing activists in Australia to the struggles and histories of Latin America’s people.

These will include:

* Classes, seminars, book clubs and conferences

* Exposure brigades to Latin America

* Spanish language classes for activists - framed as cultural and political exposure

CLASS will also compile research on community struggles in Latin America and produce educational publications for English speaking communities and organisations.

Cultural action

Considering the importance of cultural resistance and the musical, theatrical and literary innovations of Latin America’s communities of struggle, CLASS aims to develop cultural links between our regions and help bring together cultural activists to learn from each other’s experiences and creativity.

This will include:

* Projects to link alternative media

* Tours of cultural activists and performers

* Book clubs and literary events

Membership & sponsors

Any one who supports our mission and vision may become a member of CLASS upon payment of an annual membership fee, as established by the AGM.

Any organisation who supports the general work of CLASS may become a sponsoring organisation. Financial contributions are welcome but not a precondition for sponsorhsip.

Management committee, working groups & coordinator

All members of CLASS are eligible to nominate for the management committee.

The management committee will oversee the work of CLASS, meet at least once a month and table regular reports for the whole membership.

The management committee will be elected at the AGM but may co-opt additional members to coordinate new campaigns or projects or replace any members who retire or resign from the management committee.

Management committee and membership meetings may establish working groups to coordinate specific projects or campaigns.

The management committee will be convened by a coordinator, elected from and by the committee, which can be a shared position and can be changed in accordance with the committee’s work.

Meetings and AGM

Meetings of all interested members will be organised regularly by the management committee to discuss campaign and project proposals.

An Annual General Meeting will be convened in the second half of the year to hear reports on the work of CLASS and elect the management committee.