An Invitation from
The International VICTOR SERGE FoundationDear Friends and Comrades,
It is my pleasure to invite you to a socio-ecological conference to be held in the Crimea (Ukraine) at an ecological camp on the Black Sea shore (bring bathing suits) sponsored by Praxis, the Research, and Education Center of the Victor Serge Library in Moscow. The dates are 18-20 July. We apologize for the lateness of this announcement. Unfortunately, independent Left events are exquisitely difficult to organize in the ex-Soviet space, particularly under today's increasingly restrictive atmosphere.
The topic of our International Research and Practical Conference is 'Socio-ecological models of the future: Theoretical conceptions and practical programs.' The Conference is co-sponsored by two Left ecological groups (one Ukrainian and the other Russian): the XXI Century Center for Ecological Education and the International Socio-Ecological Union. The conference will be devoted to 1) analysing the present economic-ecological crisis of world capitalism, 2) discussing conceptions of possible future social systems, such as those advanced by ecological/left socio-political thinkers and social movements; 3) looking at possibilities and practical ways of realization of such socio-ecological models. Please see Call for Papers (below) for outline of themes and sessions. The working languages of the conference will be Ukrainian, Russian, English and French.
The Conference fee (for organizational expenses) is a nominal 40 Euros, and every effort is being made to accommodate international participants. Rooms have already been booked in a private hotel in Peschanoe Village near the Conference site. A room with 3 beds, individual toilet and wash-stand costs 25 euros a day -- for the whole room. Tent space and three meals a day are available at the Peschanoe ecological camp for 13 Euros a day per person.
Peschanoe is accessible from Sebastopol and from Simferopol Airport. Tours have been organized for the days before and after the Conference: 17 July - Bakhchisaray, ancient capital of Crimean Khanute and Chufut-Kale ("Jewish Fortress"); 21 July - tour of Sebastopol. For reservations, contact any of the organizing committees: Praxis, in Russia; another group in Russia; or in Ukraine.
Praxis is also co-sponsoring (with Memorial Society and the Plekhanov Foundation) an historical conference in Moscow on July 12-13 on the topic: 'Historical Experience of Socialist Resistance Against Totalitarianism.' For more information about our Moscow conference click links in English or in French. (MAC users please contact me directly). As many of you know, the Victor Serge Public Library in Moscow (with over 6,000 socialist, anarchist, feminist, labor and ecological books in several languages) and Praxis, its Research and Education Center, opened its doors in 1997. Please visit our multilingual site.
Hoping to see you in Crimea next month! Even if you can't come, please be so kind as to circulate this invitation via your website or email list.
Cordially,
Richard Greeman, Secretary
International Victor Serge Foundation
Montpellier, France