Solidarizine

ECON 243: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF GENDER, RACE, AND CLASS

JUNE 2018

SOLI DARI ZINE all about the solidarity economy and you

History Links Tips Polls Puzzles & More

TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Editors Page 2

A Brief History of Zines Page 3

About Solidarity Page 4 to 10

Wellesley's Awareness Page 11 to 12

Why We Need Solidarity Page 13 to 19

How To Get Involved Page 20 to 23

Solidarity on Campus Page 24

SolidariGames Page 25

Solidarity Songs Page 26

read on!

Who are we?

Letter from the Editors

Our names are Marissa Bennett, Sunny Chiang, Soobean Jo, and Gillian McGuire. We're members of the Class of 2019 at Wellesley College. We represent a range of majors/minors, including Economics, Cinema and Media Studies, Art History, and Peace & Justice Studies, but we're all currently enrolled in ECON 243 here at Wellesley.

What is this?

This is the very first issue of SOLIDARIZINE, a publication that's all about the solidarity economy (from its history, to its significance, to how YOU can get involved).

Why are we doing this?

It's our final project for our ECON 243 course! If you don't know about it, the full name of the course is Political Economy of Gender, Race and Class. It's taught by Professor Julie Matthaei. We've been learning all about political economics, radical economics as an alternative to neoclassical economics, and solidarity economy systems (which are essentially sustainable, socially conscious, value-based economic practices).

RIGHT! SO BASICALLY...

With SOLIDARIZINE, we're hoping to make the whole notion of a *solidarity economy* less abstract and more approachable (and feasible!). In this issue, we've tried to provide a brief overview of what the solidarity economy is, share why we find it so exciting, and outline specific ways that individuals (especially those in the Boston area) can participate.

We want SOLIDARIZINE to be fun, engaging, accessible, and inclusive.

Not only do we have print issues, this zine is also fully digital and free to access.

Past and present ECON 243 students have created some amazing projects that spread solidarity in some form or another: you can find a great collection of these at

wellesleysolidarityeconomy.com

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READ ON!

A BRIEF HISTORY OF tion a l u -circ l l a sm self-publishe d

ZINES

pronounced ZEEN

Marginalized groups & movements that aren't represented in traditional media have published their own content for centuries

1930s: The Comet, first amateur "fanzine" (eventually shortened to zine) published for science fiction enthusiasts to connect with one another

1950s:

CLICK TO LEARN MORE

Beat Generation writers self-publish and circulate experimental poetry in zines

1970s: With more efficient printing methods & greater political unrest, zines gradually become a platform for political commentary, artistic & literary experimentation, & cultural critique

1990s: Punk rock subculture and feminist movements utilize zines; Factsheet Five, a quarterly guide to zines, is established; riot grrrl movement coins the term "girlzine": a zine by and for young women

CLICK FOR MORE ON RIOT GRRRL

Present:

Zines have been adopted by various groups & remain popular especially among students, artists, and social activists, many now published on the internet

CLICK TO SEE SOME CONTEMPORARY ZINES 3

WHAT IS THE SOLIDARITY ECONOMY? The solidarity economy is an alternative to the traditional capitalist model. It prioritizes community-run economies, working to bolster local market systems by creating a network of community organized savings and businesses frequented by members of that community so the locality can meet its own needs on its own terms.

(Liberally adapted from Ujima Project website)

ROOTS IN THE UNITED STATES The solidarity economy came about in the U.S. during the Antebellum period. It arose out of necessity amongst communities of enslaved people. After the Civil War, formerly enslaved people created worker co-ops as a means of engaging with the economy when whites excluded them from formal markets.

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WHAT IS A SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT? Solidarity has a loose framework; if it encompasses the values of compassion and equity, above, it can be a solidarity movement

SOLIDARITY ABROAD Solidarity is global, but is especially strong in Latin America.

The solidarity economy began in Latin America as a means of eschewing colonial and neoliberal capitalism forced upon them by the West. Countries such as Ecuador and Bolivia specifically speak out against colonialism and capitalism in their constitutions, and focus on means of bettering their countries with solidaristic values.

SOLIDARITY IN THE UNITED STATES Solidarity!

The #BlackLivesMatter movement, and before that, the Civil Rights Movement The Dakota Access Pipeline protests, or #noDAPL Worker cooperatives, like Equal Exchange, the Vida Verde Women’s Co-op, and the Red Sun Press in Boston Local credit unions Community gardens

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“There is no blueprint. We’ve had two blueprint disasters in the past 50 years: centralized socialism and corporate capitalism. We need something different.”

—Filipino sociologist Walden Bello, speaking at the 2002 World Social Forum in Brazil

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SOLIDARITY PROCESSES Moving towards solidarity requires unworking implicit biases ingrained in us from being raised in an oppressive system. Here is how to start: Questioning/Envisioning: Why does a given system or dynamic function this way? For instance, why are women enculturated to be in a subordinate position to men?

Equal Opportunity: Coming to understand that all people deserve the same rights, privileges, and opportunities, no matter their identity or where they come from Valuing the devalued: Understanding that people from a marginalized group have important things to offer and that they should be recognized and revalued Integrating: Bringing the valued and the devalued together Discernment: Critical reexamination of what reinforces inequalities within a system, such as whiteness/white privilege or materialism Combining: Intersectional activism Globalizing/Localizing: Building global solidarity by connecting to groups with similar missions around the world

(Solidarity processes taken and adapted from Julie Matthaei's 2018 manuscript Becoming a Butterfly: The Paradigm Shift from Inequality to Solidarity)

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Solidaristic Efforts Around the World

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SOLIDARISTIC IDEAS IN THE U.S Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a model for providing all citizens of a country or other geographic area with a given sum of money, regardless of their income, resources or employment status. The purpose of the UBI is to prevent or reduce poverty and increase equality among citizens.

A Federal Job Guarantee (FJG) is an economic policy proposal aimed at providing a sustainable solution to the dual problems of inflation and unemployment. Its aim is to create full employment and price stability, by having the state promise to hire unemployed workers as an employer of last resort.

White Dog Cafe was founded in University City, Philadelphia by Judy Wicks in 1983.

Over the years White Dog grew a national reputation for community engagement, environmental stewardship, and responsible business practices.

White Dog became a leader in the local food movement, purchasing sustainably grown produce from local family farmers, and only humanely and naturally raised meat, poultry and eggs, sustainably harvested fish, and fair trade coffee, tea, chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon.

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SPOTLIGHT: WHITE DOG CAFE

MOVEMENTS

TOWARDS A SOLIDARITY ECONOMY

Black Lives Matter Black Lives Matter (BLM) is an international activist movement, originating in the African-American community, that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people.

Occupy Wall Street A protest movement that began on September 17, 2011, in New York City's Wall Street financial district, receiving global attention and spawning a surge in the movement against economic inequality worldwide.

Women's March

#MeToo The Me Too movement is an international movement against sexual harassment and assault. #MeToo spread virally in October 2017 as a hashtag used on social media to help demonstrate the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and harassment.

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The Women's March was a worldwide protest to advocate legislation and policies regarding human rights and other issues, including women's rights immigration reform, healthcare reform, reproductive rights, the natural environment, LGBTQ rights, racial equality, freedom of religion, and workers' rights.

Wellesley's Awareness In May 2018, we polled students from the Classes of '18-'21 . . .

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Some students added additional thoughts . . .

What stood out most to us: + 85% of students are unaware of the solidarity economy + Students aren't totally satisfied with the status quo

Thanks for your input, Wellesley!

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Why do we need the solidarity economy anyways?

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(Critiques of mainstream economics adapted from Julie Matthaei's 2018 manuscript Becoming a Butterfly: The Paradigm Shift from Inequality to Solidarity)

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Comparisons Between Capitalism And The Solidarity Economy

Capitalism Focus is on the individual No compassion for "others" View economy as competitive, zero sum game Equal opportunity view of equality Seek to be THE best Easily divided, dominated and manipulated by super-rich

Solidarity Economy Socially responsible and cooperative selfinterest Seeks and feels unity amidst diversity View economy as collective project to provide for everyone's needs Seeks "deep equality" across all inequalities Seek to do your best Join together in movement of movements

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HOW TO GET INVOLVEDÂ

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Union Made Products and Services Link: goo.gl/Km79HJ

Boycott List from Union: Link: goo.gl/85Mnac

Responsible Shopping Link: goo.gl/bNHzpm

Good Businesses in Boston: Link: goo.gl/7MGEht

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What is a Co-op?

Link: http://nfca.coop/definition/

Study on Relationships & Happiness Link: goo.gl/Wh9tqB

Massachusetts Food Co-op Directory Link: http://nfca.coop/ma/ Cohousing Directory in America Link: goo.gl/97r7ee Boston Housing Co-op Directory Link: goo.gl/3tnoNd

Link: goo.gl/TqLdEz

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Advocates for North Korean Human Rights (ANKHR)

Girl Up

Ethos

Student Labor Action Project

Wellesley Asian Alliance (WAA)

Mezcla

She’s the First

EnAct Wellesley News Article on Co-ops Link: goo.gl/F4Szth

Wellesley College Girl Up Facebook Page Link: goo.gl/UvPr6R

Mezcla Facebook Page EnAct Facebook Page Link: goo.gl/UFeP7h Link: goo.gl/NfyS63

ANKHR Facebook Page Link: goo.gl/NiY3UE

Wellesley News Articles on She's the First Link: goo.gl/1F7RnX

WAA Facebook Page Link: goo.gl/3nSzAb

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Ethos Facebook Page Link: goo.gl/HhbSQp

SOLIDARI GAMES

pls color me

*All of the answers you need can be found throughout this issue of SOLIDARIZINE.

ACROSS 3. You can join a housing _______ or a food _______ , businesses that are owned and governed by their members.

4. Zines are an alternative to traditional _______.

6. A policy that seeks to reduce poverty and increase equality among citizens.

9. Something that creates unnecessary waste, depletes natural resources, and causes pollution.

10. Policy proposal that aims to create full employment and price stability.

12. A 2017/18 solidarity movement that exposed the prevalence of sexual violence/harassment in the U.S. 13. The solidarity process that critically examines the root causes of inequalities.

DOWN 1. _______ Political Economists are particularly concerned about the level inequality in the United States.

2. A very *natural* way for you to partake in the solidarity economy.

5. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 43.1 million Americans lived in _______ in 2016.

6. A signifier that a product was produced by unionized workers.

7. One way to respond to products made via exploitation of workers.

8. The school of economics that views capitalism as the only feasible system.

11. The Wellesley College professor that is currently writing a book about the solidarity economy.

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Solidarity Songs Where is the Love? - Black Eyed Peas Imagine - John Lennon

Solidarity - Billy Elliot What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

We are The World 25 for Haiti

Let It Be - The Beatles

We Shall Overcome - Pete Seeger

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