SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTION
AGAINST RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA
Viele kleine Leute, die in vielen
kleinen Orten viele kleine Dinge tun, können das
Gesicht der Welt verändern.
tr: Many small people, who do many small things in many
small places, can change the face of the world.
["Ausländerfeindlichkeit",
Bund der Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder, Asel/Ostfriesland,
December 1992]
And now to work. Against racism and xenophobia, everybody
always has something to do.
[Jean Montenat, seminar leader, "Open Frontiers -
Racism, Xenophobia - the Future?", European Coordination
Bureau, 1981]
One of the first thoughts about titles for this section
of ALIEN 93 was to call it "External and Internal
Methods Against Racism and Xenophobia". The essential
meaning of this would be to describe those things which
youth organisations do in the 'outside world' (campaigns,
meetings, publications) and those which take place within
the organisation (seminars, training, reflection). This
idea was abandoned because there is no strict dividing
line between youth organisations and the outside world
and because of the recognition that a combination of political,
social and educational responses are needed to racism
and xenophobia. A fair degree of tolerance and dialogue
would seem to be required between people and organisations
involved in this work: sometimes it is easier to criticise
those who have similar goals (but different strategies),
than to concentrate on striving for change. No-one would
pretend that youth organisations have all the answers,
but many of them, co-operating with each other and making
wider alliances, find new answers as they go.
There are many suggestions for action and consideration
in this section. If you find particular ones interesting,
it would be worthwhile to contact the relevant organisation
for more information.