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ACORN at Long Last Wins battle at the Constitutional Court of Italy
This past Thursday the Corte Costituzionale – Supreme Court of the Italian Republic – wrapped up 6 years of enduring battle ruling in favor of our case against so called ‘black rents’.
Ever since ACORN International was founded in 2004 it had the goal of expanding his organizing operations throughout the globe, naturally dealing in each country within the frame of its particular issues and legislations. Its second chapter in the European Union after the Czech Republic was opened in Italy in 2011, and from the very beginning it started dealing with the widespread, longstanding plague of landlords renting out their properties without handing out regular contracts, but just blackmailing their tenants in a manner of “you either pay and ask for no right, nothing, or you’re out”.
The law protected such landlords simply because… there was no law, preventing them to do so, and so they got away with it. Until 2011.
Enter ACORN, and as we start our operations that very year a new national law comes into force that allows through a certain not-so-simple procedure the tenants to report their situation to a government agency and get, as reward and protection, a legal rent at a tenth of the monthly price and with all the righteous housing rights finally enforced. We as ACORN Italy provided all of the assistance to make that not-so-simple procedure simple and help the tenants – now our dues paying members – get the job done and the house secured.
Our success was unprecedented, we at the peak reached out and subscribed members nationwide, from the southernmost regione (state) of Sicily all the way up to the northernmost of Trentino Alto-Adige.
We caught the attention of the national press, the national government, both the House and the Senate and, of course, of angry tax-evading landlords who thanks to us could evade taxes no more, and bully (or much worse: the threats we received were numerous and of various kinds) our tenants-members.
Eventually we also caught the attenton of the Supreme Court of Italy which in march 2014 ruled against this law only because of a technicality while still calling it “revolutionary”, not the kind of word you’d normally expect from Supreme Court Justices.
That was true mayhem, meaning potentially and suddenly thousands of tenants homeless and having to pay back all the money ‘saved’ (skyhigh amounts at that point) and as ACORN Italy we managed in an unprecedented effort within two months only to have the President of Italy sign into law a safeguarding law that litterally saved all our members from going bankrupt and under bridges. Chaos didn’t end there, though: in july 2015 also the case for this law reached its Supreme Court hearing and this one was also struck down. Frustration and, quite frankly, despair came with it. We didn’t throw in the towel though, against all odds and advices, we stayed extroardinarily (desperately?!) Focused and at the very last minute of the last voting in the House, late december 2015, we managed to pass yet a new law that again reverted the situation in our and justice’s favour. At that point, everybody strongly doubted we could make it again and be heard, together with our members’ voices and the voice of equality, justice, fight against black rents and tax evasion.
Still, we managed, but as soon as early in 2016 yet again we were notified that our case had to be defended for a very final time at the Supreme Court. Where we certain to pull it off, after two straight losses? Hardly.
Did we get a verdict? Finally, yes, and finally a positive one… on an unforgettavble April 13th, 2017 the Supreme Court of the Italy gace it’s very final ruling and upheld our law, sealing positively a story that started with our foundation in Italy on September 12th, 2011.
We can safely say that ACORN Italy took the most relevant stand against the most relevant chunk of tax evasion as a whole in the history of the Italian Republic, and wether that’s ‘classical’ community organizing or just a slightly different form of it, we as an international community can well be extra proud of what we achieved, defended and now definitely won, and now can start thinking of our future, a new story to write, a next step in community organizing to take. Standing very well proud. Organizing people for power.
David Tozzo, Presidente nazionale ACORN Italy
Report from ACORN Kenya
ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FOR REFORMS NOW
Mobile Contact: 0722592466, 0721338978
P.O. Box 6253-00200 Nairobi, Kenya
Email:Kenya@acornkenya.org or acornkenyatrust@yahoo.com
Website: www.acorninternational.com
PROGRESSIVE REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 2016:
30th NOVEMBER, 2016
The country is fully in campaign mood 10 months before election with so many alignments and launching of different key positions by different politicians. The issues of corruption and misappropriation of funds being a key factor with blame game on both sides of opposition and the government.
On the other had the month of November, we held very health discussion with Eloise who has really been very useful in terms of helping us to be more focused on our organizing work.
Having done with the awareness campaign on the issues of children and drug abuse in all the villages, a select committee is set to meet next week to strategize on our major campaign scheduled to take place by the month of March next year 2017.
Meetings with those undergoing transformation processes took place on 3rd and 17th November respectively. Majority of those undergoing transformation processes availed themselves and their progress is quite encouraging.
On the other hand organizing has been going on well.
Membership Recruitment
VILLAGE
RECRUITED NEW MEMBERS
Korogocho Villages
7
Other areas of Karibangi
4
Total
11
Meetings
1. Membership meetings
VILLAGE
DATE
VENUE
ATTENDANCE
AGENDA
High ridge and neighboring villages
29th Nov, 2016 at 3.00pm -4.00 pm
Word of Hope Church Kariobangi
57
- Update on campaigns
- membership recruitment
- dues collection
Kisumu Ndogo and neighboring villages
25th Nov, 2016 at 3.00 pm. -4.00 pm
Word of Hope Church, Kariobangi
52
- Update on campaigns
- membership recruitment
- dues collection
Dues collection
VILLAGE
NO. OF MEMBERS
TOTAL IN KSHS
Highridge and neighboring villages
47 X Kshs. 50
13 X Kshs. 20
Kshs. 2,350
Kshs. 260
Kisumu Ndogo and neighboring villages
42 X Kshs. 50
12 X Kshs. 20
Kshs. 2,100
Kshs. 240
TOTAL
114
Kshs. 4,950
Dues collected will be used for the office rent.
Report by Sammy and David
ACORN Kenya Community Organizers
Report from ACORN Peru
Informe Noviembre 2016
Por el presente hago llegar el informe de actividades
Realizados durante el mes de Noviembre 2016.
ACORN PERÚ, considerando el apoyo por las
Causa justa del pueblo; continuamos en la Campaña en Contra del
TPP y el TISA y no privatización del Agua,
Por los Derechos de las personas y el desarrollo de sus Pueblos.
Continúamos contribuyendo con nuestra participación en la educación
Y por Valores en colegios con los más pequeños.
Preparándonos para compartir fuera de Lima con los niños de nuestros Andes del
Perú.
En esta oportunidad estuvimos con miembros de FETRAMUNP
En la Movilización en Lima el 24 de Noviembre del 2016, que movilizó
A muchas personas de los diferentes departamentos del país, en respaldo a los Alcaldes y
Regidores solicitando el aumento de Presupuesto Del FONCOMUN.Presupuesto que fue programado en mayo del presente
Año de 1468 millones de soles y gracias a esta movilización se ha conseguido que sea de 1609 millones de soles.
Este 29 de Noviembre del 2016 el Ministro de Economía y Finanzas (MEF).
Preciso que se asignarán:
318 millones para Infraestructura Social y Productiva.
563 millones de soles para Proyectos de Saneamiento y Urbanismo,
412 millones de soles en el marco de incentivos de la Gestión municipal
316 millones de soles por concepto de otras transferencias.
“POR LO QUE SIEMPRE DIREMOS Y RECORDAREMOS SIN LUCHAS, NO HAY
VICTORIAS”
“EL PUEBLO UNIDO JAMÁS SERÁ VENCIDO”
Libéria: Action des Riverains de la plantation de LAC, le 5 et 7 Octobre 2016
Marielle Roux Benchehboune
Au Libéria, pas d’école buissonnière, les riverains demandent des classes pour leurs enfants en chantant!
Plus de 450 riverains de la plantation agro-industrielle LAC, au Liberia, se sont mobilisés le 5 et 7 octobre dernier pour l’accès à l’école de l’entreprise, qui est la seule proche de chez eux.
Depuis la rentrée, près de 300 élèves venant des villages voisins de la plantation d’hévéas ont été refusés au sein des écoles de l’entreprise, alors qu’ils pouvaient jusqu’ici y suivre les cours. En effet, dans les accords signés avec les populations locales l’entreprise s’est engagée à compenser les pertes de terres subies par les villageois, notamment en donnant accès aux enfants des villageois aux écoles appartenant à l’entreprise. La direction de la LAC aurait donné l’ordre dans ses écoles de ne pas admettre les enfants des populations riveraines, prétextant cette année une soudaine ‘surpopulation’.
Les riverains et parents, organisés au sein de l’association LACDISTFAC, demandent l’accès immédiat aux classes pour les enfants de leurs villages. Pour faire entendre leur demande, ils ont organisé plusieurs actions la semaine dernière notamment des sit-ins, chants et concerts face aux écoles. La première a eu lieu le 5 octobre, à Nain Camp School. Très vite, la police est intervenue, confisquant l’appareil photo du seul journaliste présent et ordonnant ensuite à la foule de se disperser. Leur demande est renforcée par l’arrivée des gardes de sécurité de l’entreprise qui demandent aux porte-paroles d’arrêter leur action et leur promettent un rendez-vous avec la direction le lendemain.
Le jeudi 6 octobre, les représentants des riverains mobilisés sont donc allés rencontrer de bonne foi la direction pour faire valoir leur demande. Mais, la rencontre entre les représentants et la direction, a été loin d’être une négociation pour résoudre les problèmes; plutôt, la direction n’a fait que ‘proposer’ une suite de menaces – arrestations, emprisonnement … – pour convaincre les leaders d’arreter leur mobilisation.
Le jour suivant, le vendredi 7 octobre, les riverains de l’autre division de la plantation se sont joint aux premiers mobilisés, pour une nouvelle action devant la même école, suivant le même mode opératoire et avec une volonté renforcée suite à toutes ces menaces.
Suite à cela, la direction de l’entreprise s’est engagée, du bout des lèvres, à reprendre les élèves à partir du 2e semestre de l’année. Mais les parents demandent que leurs enfants puissent être ré-admis en classe immédiatement pour qu’ils ne prennent pas davantage de retard. La mobilisation continue donc, et de plus belle.
PS: On aurait bien aimé mettre plus de photos, mais comme indiqué au dessus, les caméras ont été confisquées et/ou le journaliste empêché de filmer!
Consumers’ mental health nonprofit begins membership drive in Juneau
Copy of Article from KTOO Public Media
Consumers’ mental health nonprofit begins membership drive in Juneau
By Jeremy Hsieh, KTOO October 29, 2016
Wade Rathke poses for a photo outside KTOO, Oct. 11, 2016. Rathke is an activist who founded ACORN and is president of the board of the Juneau-based Mental Health Consumer Action Network. (Photo by Jeremy Hsieh/KTOO)
A fledgling Juneau nonprofit formed to advocate for mental health consumers began a membership drive and door-knocking campaign this weekend.
Mental Health Consumer Action Network founder Greg Fitch said this follows the organization’s first official board meeting earlier this month, and getting MCAN’s charitable tax status and other organizational business in order.
MCAN’s new board president Wade Rathke has decades of experience with the once-infamous organization ACORN International, which he founded in 1970. The progressive group has had its scandals, some real, some bogus, but that’s old news now. Rathke still works with many nonprofits and lives in New Orleans — he’d worked with Fitch at ACORN there in the ’90s — but was recently in Juneau for the first board meeting and discussed his role and aspirations for the new organization.
Rathke said he hasn’t had mental health issues himself, but, “I think it’s important that people build an organization to give them voice and to allow them to empower themselves around their own grievances and issues to be able (to) act. Mental health consumers over the last, you know, 50 years … are people who’ve been marginalized without a voice in many cases.”
He said organizing the marginalized is exactly what he’s spent his life doing.
“Part of what’s so true about mental health issues, people see it as personal, their own private concern,” he said. “And don’t realize there are other people who are struggling in some cases with the same thing who they could unite with and not only find support but collective cause.”
For a long time, he said society has treated people with mental health issues like a “crazy aunt in the closet.”
“And that’s not appropriate,” he said. “And to have people increasingly willing to talk about issues they’ve faced, how they’ve met those challenges, and how they could have met those challenges in a better way both for themselves and our whole society is a radical new thing, and that’s why I think it’s so exciting to see what MCAN is going to be.”
Rathke said he expects challenges recruiting potential members, who may perceive risk in outing themselves as mental health consumers. But, he’s optimistic.
In a year’s time, Rathke said he’d like to see MCAN with a stable membership in Juneau and possibly start expanding to Fairbanks and Anchorage.
Organizers Forum to Cameroon
Check out this Video from Nick Taylor and ACORN International from the Organizers Forum to Cameroon this September.
English