take of atone Lely Lag Frome Grrnndaoe a fb Sew mere debinitions , Global bakqyrnd what's aC stale? . Coe. Mrdy-LAOS -.--- > Getting togetler vs. getting ad Case “strdy- USA... 2 Whee gat we goi what alent tw mens? Dyainstorm eee Saygeshen fr seeviving the NPIC.... Wal your aun Dine Vision an dp val. Mort quations - pease Ak ansert ham friends - (orclusion = ve Resemie .- BF Pac H 12 25 3) 32 3% st i 48 34 Ho 4 FoR moke INF oem AT ION Read — Paulo Friere's Pedagogy ofthe Oppressed, Autre Lorde’s Sister Outsider, bell hooks, INCITE!'s Color of Violence, Robin D.G. Kelley's Freedom Dreams, COINTELPRO Papers Ruthie Wilson Gilmore's Golden Gulag, siving-slas-onlegeandmony, Creal Resistance’ Abolition Now, ‘Outaws of America by Daa Berge, Peegy Melatoas, NON-PROFIT INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX: A Love sory and Other Poems by Thorgton Kimes Look (artists) ~check out the Just Seeds Collective, Dignidad Rebelde, ‘Trust Your Struggle, Eastside Ars Alliance, www poommagazine com, $9 ccteerse gg — Liste — download podcasts from the Freedom Archives sw Story Telling and Orgaaizing Project rtrd hyp tre rare Watch ~ The Spook Who Sat By The Door, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Bastards of the Party, Dovid Gilbert: A lifetime of Sugg, I Won't Drown on tht Levee and You Ain't Gonna’ Break my Back A Place Called (Chiapas, Cultures of Resistance, The Fourth World War géninginlaos. maedpceon Hon, were sine al oo os Coe eee 4 00 2 Tdeas? More resources? Please email Sptine 2g com, a @2 CONCLUSION. ‘There are many ways to organze, many models and solutions, and of couse nothing is cut and dry. “Perhaps the real problem is thet we don't Spend enough time Imagining what we wont and then doing the work to sustain that vision” ~Adjoa Florencia Jones de Almeida 187. From a fiend: ‘What are the ways ppl resist not Inthe context of being art of an organization. Cultura resistance and more. When someone ‘peaks in any language/vernacular that isn't “standard” English, When 3 sex worker fights back against acop of john, When two que high, Schoolers sneak into the locker room to fuck, Allthe Iving and dreaming, ‘and scheming and loving that happens not just to survive (which we have {o) but that makes our world have room for more of us. Ppl figure out how to take care of each other, and organizations help. But there are lots of other contests too.” ‘This is azine about the non-profit industrial complex, as well as azine about bow we live ou ives. We all have agency to direct our lives (some with a wider context with ‘whieh to move in). Every choice we make ~ though some things may not seem ikea choice — affects someone else From the product made ina factory in China (metals from mines in Aftca, plastics ftom olin Burma, seat to your hands by boat or plane, sold by a Fetal worker) to what you do with the bours of your life, you ae affecting ‘yourself andthe world around you. It's not just for non-profivnen- governmental organization workers this i a ine for anyone wondering ‘hy the world is messed up and what to do about it ‘This zine is full f questions. When we ask these questions, it's not an exercise in guilt or hated, This is called love. Not Valentine's day cards siyle of love (romantic, cheesy, awieward) - loving enough to do work fully ‘and with your whole heart, to work together with people who are diferent fom you, and to be critical and opea. So often in the nonprofit wold it can be about everworking yourself to show you ae the most commited, the best person, the martyr. This zine isn't about you, it's about al of us! ‘atin tnd ond wher pope se ee sr ov lives have coough witou banaag ber -ina wort wt Gtermined by, ity, bt abudance (one plas bag bt sed) A word wee Cole decisions ere made, tod peopl ae scout a ech other ‘Rod belive is rds posta thieving igo eal wor 9 esbiy is aegy fring aod doing. And ahemale bodied and Tlented, mide clay, fom the US. eftraed ber as Dad lot sain No Surender vav in reson fom aro mho waned o ihe ppresed (mae fom mee ne) ta eon wh led ha ppressed people the ones at Bcone he arbuers of) thrown det), Ao meng tt whom te ako»government grant, This goes against my politics, and Ihave to reconcue Who this zine s accountable to, and what i it part of, with that fact. 11 was ectng a a fee, unfunded individual, maybe things would ave been ‘iferem (which illustrates a pice of the ability of funding to cromple energy and movement) Politics ar the things in your head, bear, and body that help you understand how to ive and move inthe word. It's in your head and in your ‘scons. You live your politic, and that is what makes you human you te Living your politics without even knowing it~ but knowing belps you live and do beter. From voting to jokes, from TV to sex, it's ll politics Capitalism - not the rot of all evil, but close. The rel problem is interlocking systems of domination (ead bell hooks ~ that's an author! in its different forms (sexism, beteonormativity, racism, whive supremacy, tblerism, etc), which many capitalist staes produce/are a product of ‘Capitalism say those that deserve it access what they ned (and then some), ‘and those that don't have acess don't deserve i. It operates ona scaity ‘model, must always be expanding, and poverty and environmental ‘degradation are inherent within I. Everyooe cannot have enough (food, Shelter, water, space, meaningful work, bealth, education) within capitalism yecause then who would be the cheap labor, provide rw materials, et? ‘And if there is sbundance - and enough — how could that ever be profitable? “The sate - the resource and manpower amassing st of powerfl interests, policies, laws, and instiutons that order people's lives and perpetuates Feett trough oppression of dissent and along lines of race, class, gender, “my ideal world is one where the fear that produces exploitation and viene mee under the bet of hoe, revi, eed comm ny ey strategy isto srt from within and prctce peace and critical thinking and to futher my understanding of what is going on, and to share what i Know with oer. to move agains the default of consumption and conformity to insist on big love.” “by are univers implicated in thisparndigm, when you think of foundations and imported regimes tat uneret people's movements inneratonly, one of theft kings think aout isthe complementary scademi istitions that produce ou policians,ststicians and more Suing ining wrk tan cow of een nig ot ste ideology bt he very ters of engageaent, tod he aca "Spciists'7 UN uations tha ain, [NPIC my personal sick agaist universes sd, reading the INCITE. ‘pnmr made me srangelyunconsforable. I imae me tink ofthe seivs organize (wo diferent categories actualy as walking some sal] ttatteasres bow "len" they ae “I would like’ live in a world where we have balance. We need to have a ‘mutual respect ad the law to protect ll of us where money i nt the ‘power. [don't know bow to get there but we can build small community ‘here people are willing to live togeter on this dea. Ido not mean the ‘communist system lite the commune. what are polities? No hope forthe time being”NW SAN a4 any 4S WNOK mS TVA SNO! {SAND WS WHAT DOES YOUR LIBERATION LOOK UE? Who supervises your work? ‘Which direction does your accountability le? Are you Involved in a greater movement besides a one or fewisue struggle? Are you sharing access to power and resources with those on the frontines of the struggle? ‘00 you help people come together? What are you modeling? ‘Are you objecifying your constituents — or are they truly atthe heart of the organing? What difference does their difference make (race, ability, gender, sexuality, ete)? Do you believe there is fundamental diference between yourself and those you are organiing/representing? ‘What do you think radical change? Whats the nature of oppression? How can you integiate your political partclpatio into your dally fe? ‘Are you separating the form and the content of your struggle/work? What if your job was a passion, not your job? ‘Where are you/your organization 2s a people's sodal justice movement a ‘your country today? @ An the onprstindsial complex (MPIC. A test ree oi thi ie tts ot te fo ter boats The Reolaon Wil No Be Funded Soond te Non-Profit ida Congested Inte! Women of Cer enn Vice (C2007, So Eero SBN 978-09908- See) beat Rett sation «wey Rie ve eae te! rom INCITE!s website: (p/w incite-national orgfindex php?s=100) 1 non-profit industrial complex (or the NPIC) is a system of relationships lbetween the State (or local and federal governments) the owning classes, {foundations and non-proft/NGO socal service & socal justice [organizations that results in the survellance, contol, derailment, and everyday management of political movements. The state uses non-profits 0 ‘Monitor and contco social justice movements; vert public monies into private hands through foundations; Manage and control dissent inorder to make the world safe for capltalsm; Redirect activist energies into career- ‘based modes of organizing instead of mass-based organizing capable of ‘actualy transforming society; Alow corporations to mask their exploitative ‘and colonial work practices through “philanthropic” work; Encourage soca movements to model themselves ater capitalist structures rather than to challenge them. ‘What I otto say about it: expands capitalism and keeps a group of elites in powerlmoney while appearing humanitarian, diffusing and channeling dissent ~ a complex interaction of practices, models, institutions, and bureaucracies. Itis a way for people who understand thatthe world i unfair, but ere still avestng in ther prvilegetbe system they know, 10 carerize socal justice (that used o be me). thas replaced grassroots, smace-based movements that truly challenge the systems of oppression with ssressed-ou,professionalized, and vision less groups. wowwwVISION oF ANd} Fz aC SS ERCISE J DPD @ OOl°SRD] Draw your vision ofan ideal word bere: Don’t doubt yourself. Go as far and deep as you can. Give some general and specific ideas. Collage, draw, write~it's OK!rvs r i +90 * x ” < Be 4 Annet what you se hldagin or hinds 2 dosyoursel book, You enftheve to were about pearing contig wht yu wee, foucancoy them wn copy machine snd eer ches, people can copy the for you when they et them. can Be tof rang or whatever you plese Some ess on matng 22ne For his ne st wrote the et, dew tetera then pated and glued the plctures and tert ppt nto the pages. Then made ‘photocopies ofthe evil lato vent ot the tent tobe ede by ‘ends ad organi (ther eas: youcan ike them smal and fol them clever (8 usa) Make ae ofa peopl exchange Make comic nel Tate pcturs/alge an put speech bubbles on them! Woe some ideas ere ay \\ Petit ete fount andeasormaing ses af} is “ALT tua Wy g S wets, = eg ‘Transformative justice (from a workshop by Young Women's Empowerment Project in Chicago) ~ acknowledges that systems/tates, cause harm, It transforms the experience of violence or harm and. scknowledges the different ways people may act or what they do. It values building community fom the ground up and transforms cycles of violence, building collective suuctures, meeting people where they are. developing © safety strategy (focusing on increasing the ability of folks tobe in contol ot their choices) Oppression ~ racism as en defined 8 wit cuss a cary death ack of cess to healar, higher expo plloon ow, pores ce ppresion works tesa, bt chose frat ines aces wich determine he means ands der thant, because oppression ur he Sppresor to tough ack of geay toma change ins sick ord rough gut rough nvrnnenal problems et, More moa oes jorking while may cause serious sovenent (change, solution) impairnnentDene MOK CIaM «80% of the worid population own les than T% ofthe global asets. 1 "The richest I percent of people i the world receive as much as the bottom 57 percent, or in other words, less than 50 million richest people fas much as 2.7 billion poor.” (Milaoovie 2002, p. 50) vie THE U.GA.: oxy He eee que trina BSE por poerore 3085 og fantintni meee woke atl ath ' al GABLE ee a Its Net VisiPle \ { Qn fvuth = @ SUGCESTLONS cunvivinc **Use the photocopier forall your activist needs, and let all the radcal collectives in town know you have access. **Use your time there to research projects that can become: ‘drec-action and to find scandalous Information about your ‘own non-proft, Did the ED fy to Rio last week for an “Oakland community meeting”? Callin sc, often. “strategize wth coworkers about how to stage a takeover of your non-profit. ‘collect home addresses, phone numbers and the tkes of important cty officials and socialites. Your non-profits phonebook may make a good read, ‘Raid the office supply coset for paint, staplers, pens, tape and anything else that may be much more useful @wrerhanle Mavs fe E2LW spcots af WIT ood Ree nes tna Trees hee to dt oe f ow essay gman ahs nseneg dremel comers igs Tot A eo" i i yi @ M MW WA == UN dean For whist ty dos weallig at tnevghenough. a ou me Whar’S At StAKeAnd what does this war look like? Land ~ without strong resistance, all land will be owed ~ nd not by you, not by the people who have been there fr a Tong time, not by those that work itt wil be owned by corporate and state greed. And tha land wil lt be allowed oust be land, or smal farms ~ that land will need to be Used for aloft immediate value with no regard for its future tale (eg minerals are extracted by any means necessary or monoculture cash cope raised on limits of biological processes) often resulting in long-lasting destruction, destroying the possiblities of autonomy and freedom. That is the vision of capitalism, and there are lots of strategies in place to get there! Species extinction rate» For the frst time since the dinosaurs disappeared, ‘humans ae driving animals and plants to extinction faster than new species can evolve. The rte of extinction had reached 100-1,000 times that suggested by the fossil records before humans, Biodiversity is what makes the earth work, yo! Language extinction rate - The Endangered Language lnititive (ELI) lists 70 languages that have become extinct or are on the brink of extinction. OF the estimated 7,000 languages spoken today, one vanishes every 14 days ‘when its last speaker dies. This is a direct result of colonialism and global ‘eoliberal capitalism ~ andthe deat of «language is part of the death ofa culture and the death of culture the death of a tool for selfdetermination, the loss of indigenous solutions, and the slaughter of diversity (aot suatinics coftace, but the multitude that aliows us to come together from different Perspectives to imagine a world where all of us can live). Why else would boarding schools and otber colonia projects be 30 strict about banning Indigenous languages? War that keeps killing ~ in Laos, the 270 milion bombs dropped by the US. during useeret war (1964-1973) had a 30% failure rae, leading to 80 nillioe unexploded ordinance, of which only 1% have been cleared and ‘continue to raim and kill people (a huge percentage of which are children) everyday about 300 people per year. And the new nature of war? Before ‘bombs dropped in Iraq, the cleanup contract was signed, showing the ‘embedded need for war to generate profit as opposed to peace. {Imprisonment rates — the US. prison system (including policing, surveillance, militarized borders, tc) is a skyrocketing and unprecedented Punishment complex tha eages over 2.3 milion peoole (1 i | have intemaized the Idea that power -the ability to create change — [equals money” Adjoa Florencia Jones de Almeida 187 ‘Guilloud and Wiliam Cordery ague tat “fundraising is nota dirty word: that grassroots fundraising is organizing. “Fundamentally, economies are about the give and take of resources. In a community-based economy, resources low from and return to that same community.” 109 ater (One idea is membership fees. Getting people to pay into what they are ‘working on/believe can be education, can be capacity building, can be buy- infowmership~ and it doesn’t have to be much. If your work can't be cffective because you have to constantly pander to your funders, manage reports invest in Branding, and other non-work work, why not ry to divest? “The purpose of work sto gain iberation, not to guarantee the ‘organization’ s longevity” ~ Angela Oavis, $1 ‘There sre organizations that are able 1 walk the fine line between funding ‘rom statefoundations and being real in thei work ~ but it's tough! “The work snot just about what we do, but how we doit; the process is just as important as the outcome." Amara Perez 97 ‘And your job? Well, we have to work at building alternatives to feed ‘ourselves, tke care of our children, and house ourselves so we don't need ‘asmuch money (collectives for day cares, gardens, bousing, and figure out ‘balance. Café work? Self-defense teaching? Think of something! OMeBlack Mes Resisaace: Fr ov thy yrs now, be communis at Big Musa Bc “Mes fave cari ou unc eae othe fos of he US Covermens nod Peabody (Coal Company wh cote o Geass hi comsmy tug ac ad ‘evecomently desetie cul mining operas Ox bal afi people hei maced {cesl bone ln nd fre grein, ese communes hae contest ey be ‘eter goveranen’s cli efit iow tem off ean Thesecourgros exis serene very lhe col ng! oticmeasoe, La fone | ont ww about bow acy reece, sal, branded sang [Toupee of pope wre threo in he mek og wer ok open sad tegaber rela «bene visa?‘ pj! No, really! Thm amacng ptf (worker re 50s) Berble ings gg om, bt Prob an tno eel ‘umber of pooping of people eng he brass hears Yori sd spre o en em ‘Alscross Lata US, Afar aod Ast people are ang mass bse bret Sesion ‘aking under hing 1 bard io belive re posible (Check ot tbe MST Agena “Lanes Run Unemployed Werer Mover) Jere OZONE = KOK O Whak ape seme Se tents WRiTEe HERE: inequality. And this style of policing/deat sa global product the US. import technical assistance from Israel, for example (the wall onthe US- ‘Mexican border was built by an Israeli company ~ the same one that built 9 wall her). fovement sinking - “Movement sinking ideologies from the state, non softs, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) s handed out slongsidebllons of dollars in funding” ~ Ana Carissa Roja Duraz0 324 biggest losis the loss of our spins and hearts. Without our creativity, and love pooled int ideas, ction, and revolution, we ae al losing. As Angela Davis asserts, organizing can produce communities [communities of stupa! ®Oppression ~ Oppression is multi-layered, muli-bodied. And for many NGO workers, who come with privilege (race, las), it seems like the ‘oppression we work to fight (ie poverty, racism, enviroamenta racism, Iaod-stcaling, te) doesn't really apply to us. We do not have to “save” ‘people from their oppression, but We sek todo 30 out ofthe goodness of ‘our hearts anda rghlcous ques for justice. However, Ihave been taught by ‘elders and youth and organizers about oppression: that it applies to me in inytied ways 1 am oppressed when oppression exits, itestranges me fom community, fom love, from accountability, from a world where I can talk to people and they can talk to me (criminals poor people, ras people, ee) and perpetunies harmful systems (violence, war, environmental ‘degradation that will affect me.I was recently asked how the prison industrial complex affects my life. While I don't have any relatvesclose fiends in prison, | grew up in Marin County, tbe wealthy home of San, ‘Quentin Prison. I therefore havea visual reminder of how my over- privilege (excellent public schools funded by the ax dolars/otber dollars of Fich white folks who beneSt fom poor working conditions of obers, housing that is segregated from the populations that are disenfranchised, freedom from pollution while aross the Bay low-income communities live ret to Chevroo refinery, ec) s connected to the imprisoned under- ‘Privilege (poor schooling lack of opportunites for employment, lack of ‘alt care, colonialism, displacement, racism et) ofthe prisoners inside. My community had money to invest in the things tht make people healthy, for, and have some semblance of ownership over ther fates (as long ‘5 they played by the rule), because ther sctivties for survival were lesiitel(as opposed to sex work, panbandlin, etc). This money comes fom proftviavestmente/s capitalist sysiem tha has 1o pay low wages and ‘cut costs in order to make a profit and has a poot/workng class structured into. And thse are disproportonately the folks who end up in prison. ‘And when I can start o fight that prison system, build with people inside and outside, my own community and communities that are traditionally not “mine”, se how fear and sate violence have kept me away from working towards sustnable, loving, ad collective solutions tothe problems that affect everyone ~ environment, bodily safety, soul and heat safety, food security housing, health. Fighting agaist oppression ofall peoples isnot merely a choice (career or otherwise), but rather the only path o my ovm liberation and tat ofall those who inhabit this planet ‘making: ana, sbove aio bil soci rund in juice ad peace fo a” — Pula 5X Roj 19. The Zapata do' ut py to GmaelSey se power nd replace ‘rth ante form = they wok to bul for he power hat pope aed tve. Pablo ‘Goals Casanova stys-The poet Sa ave mconde when he gai fot ‘Scenomy hve eve ints setwors of ccross peoples ev object to cree = ‘i by td forthe commie ogi zors of resimace hat re cee conrad ‘Sordid, an el govering [Atte sue ine, afar as pow, e communes {adie peoples sbould med patito rat he eave ie hat they sec, a (rd anvexpeience They shoul! ot wut they hve more pow ois ™ ‘ow ters van" They've conte ei epi hel care, aga, ad ‘shea ye aed gg ery al pat of wha ry ‘Sia Sia Collective sae asa gusto New Yor orpalztion nd wanstooed ‘uss ooo ad ace back ou pa All tj econ we ae by comes ll ‘all menber receive sane py dcr speci Wek wes. S15 bls Fredo Sebo, cets Violence ee pecs, Dlck parti, protesa e. Fr mre information cbeck oot? bap. saint ry) Movement fr he Survival of Opes People - Stl Oi hs ben detoying Ope (en indigenous goup athe Wie Dea) hd rcefly taking it Foe ling Ope leader ad people, ad suppressing pret ough learn Nigerian vate wos ‘Accrkngo Nierin autor and MSOF lene, Kea Sare-Wivn, The Ou people ave tow decided io make «Ms ich selma he overmctad apist Shel al ave "oped he of fo the ast 35 years* The On seeking zoom severe Proecon, contol of far ahre fhe revenues fon bee roar, od al ‘Cope th eeeion of te ender, Sat of tay ane earn by ovement th danrbace fl pedo ara rine, (br more information Spe rhe os.) oor Magazin From he web: POOR Magazine te publication ar nd ean reject was sued 1996 by a dgeous, nds moter nd ager wae args ‘eh exreme powers, icarortn snd ermine US. POOR Magazine, be ‘pslznion, «pot pope esaigens peop ed now pe aon rpmizaion dedeatd to providing revouiar eda nce ar, eaten so ‘Sleors fom youth AOS wd ele over srossPachuma “A! POOR, we ‘ehoe otk outcomes ey poor pope you ead in 200, bow much did ‘ey le bt nny jobs id ey get bw fog di hy sy nthe ots. a a a (ee Nat enya ht despa, bu wae of eat of eer at of fling wey, ode tf peoples work at cou be pect o al solitons. AT POOR, \revot wha ne 6 sprmuiy tad love ance wos. Is wtih i's ‘Docrsading tat veryoe comes wih ferent easeahps teeth ad cu ies ‘our egy tor gato ls, and he igs ndersanding hat weal realy nested thee ofeach the” ~ Tanya Lisa Gry Gain cofocde (wih er {Re ana Des). For more, check ou bis. pocmmanaio 8) LT dont Sank dace ongs- #2 det EE te my 4 aes“What's wrong isnot simply the economic dependencies fostered by this particular set of relationships and interests. [.] whats wrongs that the ‘work people set out to accomplish Is vulnerable to becoming mission ‘possible under the sternly specific funding rubies and structural ‘rohibrvons that stuate grassroots groups both inthe third sector's ‘entanglements and in the shadow ofthe shadow stat.” Angela Davis, 47 ‘Who wants tobe a part of mission impossible? ‘So bow to shake that off All across the world, what is trly making change are the mass-based, grassroots movements that connec heir struggles to larger ones. There are so many models, practices, and solutions out there “orgatizatons are onty as good asthe united fronts they bring into being” Angela Dats, 51, and “Social change ls only radical fit promotes struggle ‘and growth at every level ~ forthe society at large, in our intimate and ‘everyday relationships, and internally within ourselves” Adjoa Florencia Jones de Almeida 192 Here ar afew examples of organizations doing work that is accountable to their members, other earth, and toa greater movement for justice and sstainability. ‘Young Woren's Enpowermen Project 4 Chicagesedharm-redco tnd Thastemnve see onpauacon tat werk 0 Buds movement ames a, [Seeing wasgender pi and young women, cuding was women, wb tae 0 6 Iteney, re waficked or papel und who we ete of former ive inte set ‘Sanyo he Gris Do What They Have To Do To Survive mining Meads ‘Sedly Gis nthe Sex Trade and Sret Boon o Fgh Back and Hel parry ‘etc search iy). They are orcodery erin tat we ot of 2 Jie somes tous cre, by Sang with justice Eaewor ad ing people fe igh io selcesrmiston and empower people o make cores fed he heath ln we betg to break orn prec in sal pcs (coeds te sce! ltr of tare, povery ad vane) Exanpes of ei work cle fe pce, 8 Kot for beth ue aed oe he pariiptry ston research wn tach ne, bad [oars ine (poring crnuatry eperiacs) you pci eamp. et. (KE, ecko [EZLN Cpa Nats! Liberason Amy) ~bepn an amed prising by dino pesos in Chaps, Mexico on be athe Neth American re Trade ADEN Tipe. Thee ovement ad ben the wor fr ng tine, orig slong Pevcps of wleneny sd orzocalim “vcore daly ind te crear of eed connate pola! wok: mapper ceive neabienrhicldecsion- SN ss" forgivenesss’ relationship to the NPIC i a perfect example of the NPIC's structural underlying purpose: to expand captalism/oppresioa and Keep a group of, elites in power/money while appearing humanitarian and channeling dissent. Laos history as a monarchy, colonial state revolutionary tae, communist state (in rhetoriclags), and capitalist state (in penctce ll belie it positon in Southeast Asia a a crossroads for major powers ln 1986, ater a failed socialisvcommunist experiment of restructuring ‘agriculture and goverament (following a wart oust be French colonials anda 9 year sceret war with te United States where 260 milli bombs ‘were dropped from 1964-1973), the Lao state found itself strapped for cash snd suddenly open for business ~ and it would take whatever business it could get, while making sure to properly bureaueratize the proces 1 make sure they had power (and could put a line in their pockets. Foreign aid was welcomed, without any need for evaluting it efficacy of having much power in the aid’sconditionality. Post-French colonialism, the Freach funneled American funds (who were working 1 “contain communism” in Southeast Asia), and then the Americans effectively ran the goverament by seting up parallel departments to all government ministries and controling ‘sid (je soldier's salaries) to contol the country. For more information, read ‘History of Aid o Laos by Viliam Phraxayevong. coun wee oe hsp ome ithe pot A ‘ibontrichegped eon nt ong pane? Noses ‘kiran nme Re cout toon before often felt cal he sbou ontow nga deveopes. Auer ail EUs Apeny fr itratond Deeynce ancl in Wer arene obj of fcgn nine cf es orton x tng a 1 pace bein ope tn tame erasers oa wh be Und Su cas bes pe nows fous Geo aie {ben Vlas Pcayaiong 30%, pats eae cance early itn comttes"G3) colton tao beni condons Ge ecvng cous ry pate fom ‘vag cou, cel sant opm ree ee)that benefit the global market and gut the local ons, eit does't allow {goverents, which are supposed to represent people, to make the choices that will best benefit them. Today, there are many NGOs in Lao, doing the work the state is supposed 'o do, but the sie is too broke. Printing school books? Doing education ‘bout the unexploded ordnance left ove fom the seret war? Training farmers to use the technology tat donor countries happen to produce and ‘would be glad to sell? Don't worry, the donor counties got it~ and the solutions the NGOs propose fr the problems ae single-minded in their Prpose- “develop” Laos nto a market economy, grow jobs/grow Consumers, and keep tht capital invested inthe county moving. The “Mekong is open for damming, the mineral deposit open for mining, andthe ‘middle clas is buying ~ ad the foreigners can all get jobs ina topical ‘county (Of coure these NGOs are helping people eat and survive. But people should beable to survive on their owm terms, not on the tems of wealthy, ‘eocolonial imperialist countries who stole the resources and money in the first pace.ywever, once [started facing those fears - aid conttonting my fers as a te middle class woman of people of color, poor people a radical plies ‘found that tbe work [was doing was much more challenging, but alot, less fl of contradictions failures. It is part of imagining what we want the ‘world to look lite and then making it happen itis part of Living. Tis idea ‘came to me from Critical Resisane, an organization that works to abolish the prison industrial complex (PIC) ~ they believe thatthe PIC doesn't ‘make us safer, can’t be fixed or reformed or improved, and we need to abolish it and create alternatives togetber, laspirng! {ve learned that if eally wanted change, it's not just going to be me~ i's ‘going 1 be everyone, andthe noo-profi/NGO structure just does’t ‘kind of organizing needed wo get everyone invalved and working!Post-1960s US'- sccording to Diana Block, who went underground for ber politcal sctivties inthe seventies and re-emerged to find the NPIC in full ‘Swing in ber awesome memoir Arm the Spirit “ast wed around the ret of the son [get formerhy mary wertng ls latina nelpbortood nan Franco, CA, USA cul et te tent Drcence ol progres pose 3 beganto restate the popes nd [ves I semed that each on operated separately fom the ote, pure ret rao that soported bat hoa the reba Yon oF Wclogal entton {hatwae necessary to balda more fed pobical overeat. In fc the DuTERENG ta-prondusalcomples were In many was, 1 have ake ve th it and ‘modeling the corporate mental fr the webinteoned non prof sector. stent ‘reting ogee, ech Non prota ragmented Rs own Vo0 SY “ampetihey o procure grants an ert te youn puslonnte adware. Peroonel vo woul entre Rs sana. leu prove but seemed ea SGelberate system panto co-opt and dora the let under the guse of worn for seal jstee™ “In the end, the management sills required to maintain the operation of, ‘non-profit organizations become mare important than the organizing sls needed to develop grassroots leaders, make institutional ch methods to ralse community consclousness, or build a mover Heres 98 ‘Why sell your work to funders (turing ino a product) instead of making something real? Packaging your organizing into year-long projects isnot ‘going to bring about long-term change. The nonprofit, $01(e)3 model ‘axdpolitical certification) should not replace grassroots movements. And these gresrooss movements ae bapening, We et veto dg ile ®“The focus on the individual achievements of afew can distract us from looking at why there snot enough affordable housing, educational ‘opportunities, and jobs for everyone.” 135, Paul Kivel ls about getting togeter vs. geting ahead. He means the ‘sttategies of helping a few ofthe disadvaniagedoppresed get ahead, versus building collective power within the larger group to organize for heir collective well-being. ‘This ha a lotto do with Laos and thinking sbout the whole development ‘hing, He differentiates between social service work "addresses the needs ‘of individuals reeling from the persona and devastating impact of institutional systems of exploitation and violence” and social change work Gio te rotcames ce aploasnand vee " Mini case study: For instance, Ahn points out tbe effets ofthe Rockefeller and Ford Foundations’ roles inthe Green Revolution in the global south by pushing Wester scientific agricultural techniques to increase crop yields ‘What it mosly ended up pushing was capitalist and polices tht, suppressed communis revolts (ein Mexico and India) by stabilizing fee ‘market governments. “Foundations (..] played «pivotal role in advancing technological solutions to problems that threatened elite conto: politica instability and population growth." 72 ‘You may sk — isn't st 8 good thing? [Notwhen consent is manufectured and disset is oppressed, When change is channeled ino ineffective and false bandais that eave the inter bleeding intact. =a fie eh making processesinception, foundations focused on research and dsemination of information designed ostensibly to ameliorate social issues ~in a sans however hat i ot challenge aptasm” ~ Andrea Smith _ History ofthe NPIC according to Angela Devis/who was paraphrasing Jennifer Wolch: from 1933-1973, there was a huge wave of expanded {government agencies and services, and thea the huge attempt to dismantle that safety net across the board that continues today (ie guaranteed ‘employment, health care ~ the reforms ae flimsy, maternity leave, ec) Foundations, or “reposttories of twice stolen wealth ~(a) profit sheltered from (b) taxes" ~ Angela Dai, 46, area huge part ofboth global and US PIC istues. ‘According to Christine Abn, the sate faces bigger and bigger deficits yet ‘seus passports to wealthier and wealthier citizen, who pay less and less taxes: reduced tax rte, and bigger gifts to charity. The money that should have been ging ino taxes goes into foundations ~ a tax shel for estates, which otheriise would have to pay $0% othe treasury treasury —a Toundation i only required to pay out $% of its assets annually asthe trustes see ft. Foundations largely benefit the wealthy, many of whom tsctually eam huge incomes from being trustees, and enjoy lavish fundraisers and galas, Because the social justice movement has become rofessionalized and reliant on grants to do their work, the wealthy contol {isseat and our imaginations for justice and chanel it into their interest ‘And the problees thatthe foundations are supposedly “fixing” ae of ‘caused by the corporations that donate to thera! “The NPIC set a a buffer zone between the wealthy andthe por/midle ‘Tass aking cae of people at the botom of the pyramid, Without a buffer done ot ome semblance of eae, people wou be dyngin ie sss als creates an illusion of progress, and has created more controling ‘Clements Itofien propels success stories nto the light (they've helped “li” those people up and get abead), but does nothing (or litle) to bring people closer together to make structural change. ee weiner conreanee ase s