“The Partisan” Political Event – Friday June 22 & Saturday June 23 in Montreal

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This Friday and Saturday in Montreal (reposted from The Red Flag):

For the past year, the Partisan has consistently defended the interests of the working class. Across the board, both nationally and internationally, Partisan condemns the dominant ideology and takes a solid stand in favor of socialism and revolution. It supports acts of resistance from the proletariat and oppressed peoples and popularizes revolutionary actions that attack the very heart of the exploitative capitalist system.

The Partisan Political Event is therefore intended to celebrate the first anniversary of this bilingual newspaper, published every two weeks by the Political Information Bureau (PIB) of the Revolutionary Communist Party and distributed free of charge, both in Québec and English Canada. In the months and years to come, we plan to expand and multiply the number of correspondents, supporters and contributors to this newspaper, in order to make it a truly pan-Canadian newspaper. From June to September, the PIB is carrying out a major fundraising campaign to help broaden its distribution and increase its circulation. The Partisan Political Event will officially launch this campaign in which all activists who want to fight against capitalism and for a new society are invited to join. For two days, we will discuss the current major challenges, not like the bourgeois media does, but by encouraging discussion, debate, sharing experiences and a fighting spirit. Welcome to all!

Location: CEDA, 2515, rue Delisle, Lionel-Groulx metro station, Montréal.
Voluntary Contribution: $5 each day.
Additional contributions are welcome!


PROGRAMME (updated on June 17, 2012)
(Most of the presentations will be in French – Whisper translation will be provided)


FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 7-9:30pm – OPENING PANEL
Defending the right to rebellion and the right to make revolution!
This spring, for the first time in years —since perhaps even the 1970s!— the student struggle in Québec has shone a spotlight on social struggles, collective resistance, the right to rebel, and the power of the street, as well as on repression by government forces. Reactionary violence on the one side (police, court orders, special legislation), popular resistance and even violence on the other side, as people have defended themselves and refused the dictates of the ruling class. Today more than ever, we must learn how to organize resistance, not only to face state repression, but also to wage the more long-term struggle to really transform the current system.



SATURDAY, JUNE 23
9:30 to 11am: WORKSHOPS

Workshop No. 1: Communist propaganda in 2012

At a time where social networks are spreading and talk of “democratization of information” is common, what about the tradition of Communist propaganda? What are the differences between Communist and bourgeois propaganda? Between Communist propaganda and a mere disclosure of facts?

Workshop No. 2: Alain Badiou, or how to be Maoist without waging revolution?

Professor Alain Badiou is attracting many progressive and revolutionary people with his “semi-Maoist” discourse and his sharp criticism of the society in which we live. But where does his thinking lead in a context where we must build struggle?

11:15am to 12:30pm: WORKSHOP

Workshop No. 3: Elections and bourgeois democracy: the grand illusion

While the watchdogs of the bourgeoisie are asking protesters to respect “law and democracy,” both the left and the right are trying to convince us that the solution can be found in elections... Is this really true?

1:30 to 3:00pm: WORKSHOP

Workshop No. 4: From student strike to social crisis: what the struggle learns us

Student activists past and present share and compare the achievements and lessons of student struggles... from yesterday to today.

3:30pm: EXPERIENCES OF REVOLUTIONARY ACTION (1)

Guests:
–> Bertrand Sassoye, former member of the “Cellules Communistes Combattantes” (Belgium)
–> Spokesperson from the Maoist Communist Party, France (to be confirmed)

7:00pm: BEER & SOLIDARITY

A time for participants to relax and share (location to be confirmed on site).