It’s going to be an exciting summer this year in Moenchengladbach: After the last European Summer University of Social Movements – in Paris (2014) and Toulouse (2017) – we will meet this year in Germany! More than a thousand attendees are expected this August, including activists and friends of Attac and from social movements in Europe and other parts of the world. At the Hochschule Niederrhein we will share experiences and knowledge and discuss explosive and future oriented ideas for a better world! The campus’s modern premises and spacious open-air grounds are the ideal location for our diverse events with participants from all over Europe.
After many months of massive COVID-19 restrictions, the 2022 European Summer University will make lively encounters and embraces possible again! ESU22 will offer participants a forum to understand crises, develop alternatives, develop solidarity and plan demonstrations. We want to gather the diverse and colourful range of social movements on this continent together. We see ESU as a place of discussion and action in the midst of climate destruction and active resistance in the Rhenish lignite mining area. The activists of this movement will be joining us.
ESU22 will be about the future of Europe, which for us is more than just the EU. We will draw lessons from the deficits that the pandemic has so brutally shown us in many aspects of life. The social and environmental dimensions of this crisis demand our response. And we want to build bridges instead of fortifying borders – migrants are welcome. The vision of another Europe emerges from the critique of the existing one. Environment and climate demand system change. What role does Europe play in the face of global power shifts?
This year’s ESU will be participatory. ESU lives from the diverse, collaborative contributions of the participants! We are looking forward to exciting encounters, space for experiments and actions, and days of intensive learning and exchange at eye level.
The summer university is unthinkable without an exciting cultural program. Together we will also enrich the cultural life of the city with our creative contributions.
Program of the ESU
We are already working on an interesting and diverse programme. There will be different, very creative formats, over 100 workshops, larger and smaller forums, open space as well as areas to socialize. There will also be a extensive accompanying programme with music, theatre, possibly readings, exhibitions, films and excursions. Also, you will get numerous opportunities to network, hang out and have fun, e.g. at evening parties.
The core events will cover five different thematic areas:
► Capitalism, health and social crisis (A)
► Ecology and climate justice (B)
► Feminism and gender issues (C)
► Racism / migration (D)
► Civil liberties, democracy (E)
The major plenary sessions will be professionally translated simultaneously into German, English and French, and there will be simpler translations within the workshops.
In ► 11 forums we will be able to highlight and discuss a variety of different topics:
Health, housing, transport, climate, democracy, right-wing extremism, trade, the world of work and discrimination
On our website – www.esu22.eu – you will find current information about the organisation and our program.
Registration: