SOLIDARITY STATEMENT


The Translocal Social Movement Learning Network expresses its solidarity and support for the people of Ada, Ghana, in their fight with Ghana’s Government, the Ghana Police force and Electrochem, Ghana, Ltd. with regards to the Songor Lagoon. Specifically, the network decries,
  1. the failure of Ghana’s government to implement the 1991 Master Plan for Salt production in Ghana, with its focus on community access and involvement in salt production in the Songor, and
  2. the recent monopoly lease given to Electrochem, with no community consultation, which restricts community livelihood access, and
  3. Electrochem works – undertaken prior to EPA approval – leading to community flooding.


The network also decries the behaviour of Ghana’s police force, and the Ghana Armed Forces, for their involvement in violence against community members, their failure to investigate instances of violence against community members – such as the attack on Radio Ada on Jan 13th, 2022 – and their continued harassment of community members, such as Noah Dameh, Radio Ada’s Deputy Station coordinator.

As Ada residents and their allies take to the streets in Accra on May 4th, 2023, our Network wishes to make clear that as an international network of social movements, we are in support of their demonstration and their demands for change, and we are watching Ghana government’s response in rectifying the situation these community members and their allies are facing.

The Translocal Social Movement Learning Network is composed of social movements and their allies in Western and Southern Africa, Central America, and in North America.

For the Network,

Savannah Research and Advocacy Network (SRAN), Bolgatanga
Abahlali baseMjondolo (Shack dwellers movement), South Africa
Church Lands Programme, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
 

Canada Research Chair in Sustainability and Social Change Leadership

Confronting Contemporary Challenges in Sustainability Through Translocal Learning

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Canada Research Chair in Sustainability and Social Change Leadership

African Social Movement Learning

How social movements learn in struggle, produce knowledge, and provoke public paradigm shifts have become an important focus of critical adult education in our contemporary turbulent times. And yet, African social movements, and their learning are largely absent from this literature. This work, therefore, provides a rare and much needed African contribution to this field.
The book was officially launched on Feb 17th. To listen to the recorded event and learn more about the work and the authors, click here to visit our book launch page ....

Social Justice Radio

Listen to our current SJR show SJR_JAN23_LandBack using the player below.

We are exploring four central themes in our work:

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Creativity & Social Movement Activism

At the centre of social movement learning and a key point of connection for translocal learning is the creative generation of knowledge by movements building community resilience and tackling sustainability challenges.

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Sustainable Livelihoods & Resilient Communities

A key point of organizing for many movements is defending livelihoods. In terms of translocal learning, building connections through shared experiences of defending livelihoods that are local, sustainable, and are about living with the land, air and water have been found to be very enriching.

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Leadership in Social Movements for Change

In our experience, leadership in local movements taking on sustainability challenges is fluid and dynamic. Therefore the building of leadership needs to be understood as an always ongoing process of collective efforts, rather than the emergence of particular individuals.

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Social Movement Learning

Learning is central to how social movements remain vibrant and connected to the issues they engage with. Social movement learning is a dynamic lens for looking at this learning, as it happens within and between movements, but also in the ways in which movements connect with the broader public or those in positions of power to bring new perspectives to their attention.

"That's the way our people write. They put things in song for history" (Kofi Larweh, 2016)

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Translocal Learning

is an approach to solving complex global challenges, such as climate change or poverty. It is when groups at the local level learn from each other and share their knowledge with other like-minded groups.  Translocal learning can lead to change on a larger scale by allowing locally acting groups to maintain their unique culture and structure while nurturing global connections.

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Dr. Jonathan Langdon, Canada Research Chair in Sustainability and Social Change Leadership

is looking at how translocal learning spaces are effecting change. Translocal learning spaces contribute to sharing knowledge and building momentum for change. They can also offer local groups a way to connect with other movements facing similar challenges.

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Around the world, in cities and rural areas

people are working together to tackle the sustainability challenges that confront them. Yet their movements often seem isolated - especially when viewed in the context of the bigger threat of global climate change. As a dynamic and horizontal learning style, translocal learning contrasts starkly with the current lack of progress in climate change leadership at the global, multilateral level.

 
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About This Project
Learn more about the Project
This project is made possible in part thanks to the kind support of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

This project is made possible in part thanks to the kind support of The Canada Foundation for Innovation.
This project is made possible in part thanks to the kind support of The Canada Research Chairs Program.