The GTA is an initiative seeking to create solidarity networks and strategic alliances amongst movements and networks of alternatives on local, regional and global levels. It operates through varied and light structures, defined in each space, that are horizontal, democratic, inclusive and non-centralized, using diverse local languages and other ways of communicating.
The initiative has no central structure or control mechanisms; currently to put it on a sustained footing, there is an informal core team (without any centralized power), and there is a proposal to create an Assembly of the various endorsing organisations and individuals. It hopes to spread step by step as an expanding, complex set of tapestries, woven together by existing and newly emerging collective webs (what we call Weavers), building on radical, systemic alternatives to dominant regimes. It promotes or joins regional, national and global encounters, when the conditions allow for them, as well as close and synergistic linkages with existing organizations, like the World Social Forum. It hopes to stimulate global solidarity with initiatives that are threatened or otherwise in need of support
How do we do it[edit | edit source]
The Global Tapestry of Alternatives develops around 6 specific lines of action:
- Document: Foster platforms and spaces of exchange, mutual learning, documentation, mapping and visibility of alternative initiatives.
- Disseminate: Make widely visible these alternatives for shared learning, and propagate the process of the GTA among different media
- Connect: Create a space for already existing networks & confluences (Weavers) to connect and engage cross-sectorally for co-creation of alternatives; sustain a platform for various global change processes to dialogue and act together.
- Stimulate: Stimulating new networking and confluencing, and their weaving with existing processes, especially in countries or regions that do not have them, by providing key lessons from current GTA Weavers and faciitating exchange between established and developing networks.
- Support: Develop strategies and actions of solidarity and support with allied initiatives and networks.
- Advocate: Where necessary, join other global processes to advocate or campaign on urgent matters relevant to Alternatives.
Endorsers[edit | edit source]
The organization is endorsed by many other international partners (list until July 2023):
- Academy of Democratic Modernity
- Africa Earth Jurisprudence Collective
- African Biodiversity Network
- Africans Rising
- Afrika Youth Movement
- Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa
- AltDev, Program on Alternative Development of UP CIDS
- Alternatives to Capitalism - SASE
- Civil Diplomacy Center - North and East Syria
- Coalition against Land Grabbing (CALG)
- Community Economies Institute
- Deep Transformation Network
- Defend the Sacred
- ECOLISE
- Earthlife Africa Jhb
- Ecoversities Alliance
- European Commons Assembly
- Faircoop
- Fifth Empire
- Focus on the Global South
- Forest Peoples Programme
- Foundations Earth
- Gaia Foundation
- Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature
- Global Diversity Foundation
- Greenpeace International
- Global Ecovillage Network
- Global Extractivisms and Alternatives Initiative (EXALT)
- Global Forest Coalition
- Global University for Sustainability
- Global Working Group Beyond Development
- Global Youth Biodiversity Network
- Grassroots to Global
- Great Transition Initiative
- Health of Mother Earth Foundation
- ICCA Consortium
- Indigenous Environment Network
- International Network of Mountain Indigenous Peoples
- International Tribunal on Rights of Nature
- It Takes Roots!
- Jineoloji Academy
- Katalizo
- Leadership for the Ecozoic
- Local Futures
- Los Angeles for All
- May First Movement Technology
- mέta
- MINGAnet
- Natural Justice
- Newalliance.earth
- North-South Initiative
- NOW NET
- People’s Health Movement
- Post-Growth Institute
- Reap Goodness
- Red Universidad y Compromiso Social de Sevilla, Spain
- REEVO, Alternative Education Network
- Research and Degrowth
- Rising Earth News
- Sangat
- Socialist Workers and Youth League
- Society for Alternative Learning and Transformation (SALT)
- Solidarity Research Centre
- Symbiosis Revolution
- Systems Change Alliance
- Soil Not Oil Coalition
- The Alternatives Project
- The Convivialists
- The Emergence Network
- The Leap
- Transition Network
- Transnational Institute
- Wellbeing Economy Alliance
- Women4Biodiversity / CBD Women's Caucus
- WoMin
- Yes to Life No to Mining Network