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 A year of commitments

– Our field of responsibility concerns above all a certain number of Asian countries where we collaborate with networks and movements that have become our regular partners in the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

• Because of the military putsch in Myanmar (Burma) and the exceptional situation it created (both in terms of the scale of the repression and the popular resistance), we immediately engaged in a solidarity campaign, which has become permanent. Our support initially went to the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), a unifying framework. The situation has changed a lot since then, with the generalization of a war situation, and we rely on our partners in the region to ensure the maintenance of an effective financial aid.

Our association has actively contributed to initiate solidarity with Myanmar in France. Unfortunately, there were too few of us to do so. On this occasion, we initiated a fruitful collaboration with the International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggle, which has expanded to other sectors. Since its creation, we have collaborated with La Communauté Birmane de France. (the Burmese Community of France).

• We have also given particular importance to the resistance of the Hong Kong people to the Xi Jinping regime, popularizing solidarity campaigns and providing continuous and comprehensive information.

• For the second year in a row, a significant portion of our financial support was used to address the Covid-19 outbreaks. The pandemic has raised many questions for us in all countries. We wanted our website to be a useful tool to try to answer them, or at least to reflect on them. Many sections have been created for this purpose - they deal with scientific data as well as health policies, at the international or national level.

We have participated in the launching of campaigns for the lifting of patents on vaccines against Covid and for the implementation of a health policy that allows the countries of the South to produce and use them in the best possible conditions: within the framework of “Stop Patents on Vaccines, Requisition!” and with the CADTM [1]. We have joined initiatives initiated in Asia, whose calls have notably been disseminated within the framework of the Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF) in which we participate.

• We have, in general, mobilized in defense of the rights of individuals, the rights of peoples, social and political rights, as well as in response to disasters, whatever their origin (typhoons, militarization, health...). In this regard, we refer to the article we published on January 9 [2].

• Our partners have to face the violence of established powers which can take several forms depending on the time, region and country: dictatorial regimes, landowners, extremist fundamentalist movements..., violence which can go as far as an all-out war (Burma). We must sometimes take this into account so as not to put them in even greater danger.

• As our association is based in France, we have been solicited by movements on both sides of the Mediterranean for calls in defense of the vital rights of migrants, prisoners of conscience and democratic movements in North Africa. We obviously responded, even if this took us out of our own field of competence in Asia. We were able to appreciate the usefulness of the Cedetim in the dissemination of these appeals and the quality of the information provided by the blog "Entre les lignes entre les mots” (Between the lines between the words).

• It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of two friends with whom we collaborated a lot: “Boboy” in the Philippines and Shahnaz Iqbal in Pakistan. Boboy, as part of the Mihands network we support, had put all his energy into helping victims of humanitarian disasters, being himself a survivor of a deadly flood - the Covid-19 pandemic did not spare him. Despite his cancer, Shahnaz continued her activities at the Labour Education Foundation, a partner of ESSF, for as long as his strength allowed herf [3].

 Introduction to the financial report

A scissor crisis overcome

In 2021 we faced a “scissors crisis”.

We started the year with a permanent Solidarity Fund of a similar amount as in January 2020, but we had to respond to multiple emergencies (Mynamar putsch, Covid, increased militarization in some countries...). We therefore spent much more than in a “standard” year, so that in September we had only €2,000 left in our account - which meant paralysis.

This crisis was overcome in two steps.

• A very good response to the appeal we launched in September, with donations coming from a wide range of countries including Japan, the USA, Canada, more European countries...

• A good response to the annual appeal launched in November to finance the 2022 Permanent Solidarity Fund.

In round figures, we had €16,000 in cash on January 5, 2022, compared to €21,000 on January 5, 2021, i.e. €5,000 less, but after having transferred a total of €56,370 in 2021 (compared to €30,500 in 2020, not far from double).

We thus have the possibility to re-establish a reserve of € 7.000 (to be able to react to emergencies, while waiting for the results of a call for donations) while supporting significantly the activity of our partners at the beginning of 2022.

It is clear that the needs in 2022 will be no less pressing than last year. The challenge we face is to maintain at least the same level of support, which will require a mobilization effort.

 Summary by country

To recap: in 2021, ESSF has focused its financial support on five countries:

Bangladesh, with the farmers’ associations BKF-BKS-BAS as partners and the movements with which they are allied - in particular, concerning the trade union movement, BSF.

Burma, in support of the resistance.

Indonesia, with the association Free Women as partner.

Pakistan, with the Crofter Foundation (CF) and the Labour Education Foundation (LEF) as partners.

The Philippines, partnering with the Mihands Coalition and its member organizations.

There were no interventions with one-time partners in 2021.

Reminder: the donations we receive can be dedicated to a country or an organization, or paid into the Permanent Solidarity Fund, which allows us to send aid immediately after a disaster (the solidarity campaign allows us to replenish this fund later); to insure the balance of specific solidarity campaigns in case it is not; to follow up on prolonged aid; to provide aid when the conditions of a specific solidarity campaign are not met.

BANGLADESH

Contributions were sent through the BKF (farmers), BKS (women farmers), BAS (indigenous) and BSF (trade union federation) movements.

The funds sent were mainly used to cope with the health and social consequences of the pandemic and the confinements, with the associated loss of income. The main beneficiaries have been landless farmers. Distributions of warm clothes and blankets (as well as food aid) were carried out during the winter period. A contribution of € 800 was used to cover part of the medical expenses of a leader of the peasant association BKS (operated in emergency). Funds received were also used to support the activities of trade union organizations.

Total for the year: € 9.050

Total for Bangladesh (2011-2021): € 57.329

INDONESIA

The association Free Women works in an industrial area of Jakarta, in particular with women textile workers, so that they are able to defend their rights (in particular with regard to maternity, as employers often dismiss them when they are pregnant). It participates in coalitions to act in case of natural disasters. In 2021, our donations were used to inform and support women workers in their industrial zone in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Total for the year: € 3,800

Total Free Women (2016-2021): € 22,300

Total Indonesia (2006-2021): € 25,800

MYANMAR (BURMA)

We had no links in Burma at the time of the military putsch of February 1, 2021 - and very limited knowledge of this particularly complex country. We made a financial commitment at the request of our regional partners, aware of the seriousness of the situation and the importance of the issues at stake. Our support went first to the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and now to the multi-faceted Resistance. Aid is distributed at the borders, through our contacts on the ground. In a very fluid war situation, involving many actors, they are the only ones who know what can be done at any given time. Many regional and international solidarity movements are active on the border and our contacts cooperate with them. They exchange their know-how (for example to secure mobile communications). We are able to continue our action in 2022.

Total for the year: € 6.420

First year of support.

PAKISTAN

In 2021, we signed two agreements with the Labor Education Foundation (LEF), a long-time partner of ESSF, and the recently formed Crofter Foundation (CF). LEF develops a wide range of programs on children’s rights, training for trade unionists, counseling and assistance in organizing sectors such as home-based workers, response to humanitarian crises. The Crofter Foundation focuses on supporting small-scale farmers. Both have adapted their activities to the health and social crisis caused by Covid-19 and fueled by government policies, operating in several regions of a very large country and using our donations for this purpose.

Total 2021: € 15,600

Total Pakistan (2005-2021): € 90,905

PHILIPPINES

Our partner in the Philippines is the Mihands coalition, which brings together a network of some fifty associations with a variety of areas of expertise - they respond together to humanitarian emergencies, combining their skills as closely as possible to the needs. Last year, this network was underfunded; this year we have made a special effort to support it. As for Burma, we were able to mobilize many donations dedicated to them. Mihands operates in a large part of the island of Mindanao, in the south of the archipelago, but occasionally “projects” itself into the Visayas, in the center of the country, in case of disaster (typhoons...). Given the shortcomings of the administration, this network had to take charge itself, in the face of the pandemic, of what is in principle a public health policy. In their areas of activity, the members of Mihands are confronted with a real war situation that is getting worse and worse, as the Duterte regime is one of the bloodiest in the world and Mindanao is one of the most militarized territories of the archipelago. They must therefore assume their multiple responsibilities in a context of permanent insecurity.

Total for the year: € 21,500

Total for the Philippines (2007-2021) : 125.589,27

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All countries combined.

GENERAL ESSF TOTAL FOR 2021 : € 56.370

General ESSF total (2005-2021) : € 381.693,04

 Excerpts from the minutes of the ESSF general meeting of February 20, 2021

The following items were noted:

A large part of the agenda was devoted to Myanmar (Burma).

1. We immediately initiated a solidarity campaign towards the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) after the military putsch on February 1. The resistance is impressive in its scope, its methods of mobilization (civic general strike), the place of youth, health care workers, civil servants, women workers in industrial areas. The MDC represents a unitary framework within which the resistances are expressed.

The stakes are immense for the whole region and beyond. The French state is directly concerned, in particular through Total. The initial reactions in France are far from being up to the task. We must :

• Collaborate with all associations, all unions or political parties, committees and individuals to broaden solidarity in France.

• Make further contacts in other countries to participate in international solidarity.

• To get to know Burma and to establish links on the ground.

• We have no partners in Burma, but our regional partners can help us understand the situation and see how to act.

• Use our website to foster solidarity, but also to provide quality information about the situation and the history of the country.

• Given the scale of the resistance, it is possible to abort the putsch, but this requires that the junta be effectively ostracized internationally. Time is probably running out and the time to act is now.

• Putting together the conditions for financial solidarity.

For the rest of the agenda, we extended and reaffirmed the decisions of the previous GA:

The following points were noted:

• The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus means that the need for solidarity with our partners is ever more urgent due to its direct effects (health crisis) and indirect effects (social crisis and increased authoritarian drift). Our partners will have to continue their actions under particularly difficult conditions. Our own activity may also be affected.

• We must give the highest visibility to this issue by addressing it on all levels: medical knowledge, protective measures, analyses of health policies, general background (link between the health crisis, the socio-ecological crisis, capitalist globalization), debates and alternatives. To do this, we must create “health” and “pandemic” sections on our site, following the example of what already exists for “women” or “ecology”, whereas at present “health” sections are rare and often only concern the struggles for the defense of health care systems.

• We have made progress on the redesign of the site, as decided last year, but it is a very long process. To be continued.

We reaffirm our commitments:

The functioning of the association is entirely based on voluntary work, the policy of minimal costs and the reduction of expenses so that the funds collected are effectively entirely devoted to solidarity. We will shoulder ourselves the operating costs that are not directly related to solidarity.

As a general rule, our action is long term. We do not “export” our own projects, but we support socially rooted movements to respond to these emergencies based on their involvement in the field and their own perceptions of priorities. We help our partners to ensure the development of their solidarity activities and to encourage the self-organization of the populations for whom our financial support is intended.

Our association operates without any form of remuneration, on an entirely militant basis. Thus, 100% of the donations received are transferred to their recipients. The operating costs consist mainly of bank charges (transfers and account management) and are reduced to a minimum (less than 5%).

Given the humanitarian situation in these countries, our limited resources and the quality of our relations with local associations and networks, we will continue to ensure regular solidarity in the Philippines, Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh. Any other solidarity initiatives will be, at least initially, more punctual.

We wish to work, in France and in Europe, with other associations for the development of a “Europe of solidarity”.

We would like to warmly thank all those who have contributed to this year of solidarity,

ESSF
Mark Johnson, Pierre Rousset

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 To send donations

Cheques
cheques to ESSF in euros only, payable in France, to be sent to:
ESSF
2, rue Richard-Lenoir
93100 Montreuil
France

Bank Account:
Crédit lyonnais
Agence de la Croix-de-Chavaux (00525)
10 boulevard Chanzy
93100 Montreuil
France
ESSF, account number 445757C

International bank account details :
IBAN : FR85 3000 2005 2500 0044 5757 C12
BIC / SWIFT : CRLYFRPP
Account holder : ESSF

Through PayPal
You can send money through Paypal: see the PayPal button on ESSF English home page: http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?page=sommaire&lang=en

Through HelloAsso
You can also send money through the association HelloAsso: see its button on ESSF English home page: http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?page=sommaire&lang=en
Or go directly to:
https://www.helloasso.com/associations/europe-solidaire-sans-frontieres/formulaires/1/widget

We keep you regularly informed via our website of the situation and use of the solidarity fund.

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