Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt

 All info + registration here: https://forms.gle/eh6RKs1Tf5oeHuiq9

💬 THREE DAYS OF DISCUSSIONS, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, SHARED MEALS, AND INFORMAL MOMENTS to build connections, learn from each other, and strengthen our solidarities.

A weekend to take time to reconnect, train, question ourselves, and dream together of a world freed from the logics of debt, domination, and destruction.

The Debt Bomb is a weapon of destruction serving financial interests. It restricts our freedoms and our right to self-determination. It limits our access to a dignified and healthy way of life. It destroys our social gains. It crushes our mothers, sisters, and brothers. And it leaves behind a fertile ground for racist, sexist, and transphobic ideas. Tackling debt means imagining another world, free from financial interference, to FINALLY envision a future where every human being can flourish without hatred.

On the program:

Debt, migration, and extractivism
Antifascism and financial disobedience
Feminist struggles, green colonialism, and economic violence
Colonial memories and popular alternatives

🌍 From the DRC to Belgium, through Palestine and Bangladesh, we will cross local resistances and global struggles.
✊ A feminist, anti-racist, antifascist, and radically supportive space.
📅 This autumn, bring your curiosity, your anger, and your sleeping bag.
💡 Different participation options: the full weekend, one day, or just a meal - your choice!

👉 All info + registration here: https://forms.gle/eh6RKs1Tf5oeHuiq9

💣 Ready to defuse the Debt Bomb?
Event organized with the support of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.

 Provisional programme

 FRIDAY OCTOBER 10

6 pm: Welcome and collection of room keys.
7 pm: Dinner
9 pm: screening - in solidarity with Sudan

Since April 2023, a war has engulfed Sudan, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation. The aim of this evening is to make visible the outbreak of this conflict, shed light on its historical and political causes, and recall the Sudanese revolutionary momentum, which, in recent years, has brought hope for change and democracy. In collaboration with the Sudan Solidarity Network, we propose a time of exchange and discussion to better understand current issues and ongoing struggles. The collective directly supports local civil society organisations on the frontlines of relief efforts in the regions hardest hit by the violence of the militarised state. The collective also works to create gathering spaces for the Sudanese community in Belgium and beyond. Its commitment aims to strengthen solidarity and encourage collaboration around political education, advocacy, mutual aid, and building a common future.

 SATURDAY OCTOBER 11

Saturday 9 am - 10:30 am | The basics of debt:

Do you want to understand why debt functions as a tool of domination and a major means of capital accumulation? Debt permeates every stratum of our societies. States incur debt to finance public services, infrastructure, or social assistance; individuals take out loans for housing, education, or, in some countries, healthcare. However, debt transcends mere financial concern. It is also a political and strategic tool that allows the imposition of conditions and the shaping of collective choices. Debt is not just an obligation to repay; it comes with varying interest rates Interest rates When A lends money to B, B repays the amount lent by A (the capital) as well as a supplementary sum known as interest, so that A has an interest in agreeing to this financial operation. The interest is determined by the interest rate, which may be high or low. To take a very simple example: if A borrows 100 million dollars for 10 years at a fixed interest rate of 5%, the first year he will repay a tenth of the capital initially borrowed (10 million dollars) plus 5% of the capital owed, i.e. 5 million dollars, that is a total of 15 million dollars. In the second year, he will again repay 10% of the capital borrowed, but the 5% now only applies to the remaining 90 million dollars still due, i.e. 4.5 million dollars, or a total of 14.5 million dollars. And so on, until the tenth year when he will repay the last 10 million dollars, plus 5% of that remaining 10 million dollars, i.e. 0.5 million dollars, giving a total of 10.5 million dollars. Over 10 years, the total amount repaid will come to 127.5 million dollars. The repayment of the capital is not usually made in equal instalments. In the initial years, the repayment concerns mainly the interest, and the proportion of capital repaid increases over the years. In this case, if repayments are stopped, the capital still due is higher…

The nominal interest rate is the rate at which the loan is contracted. The real interest rate is the nominal rate reduced by the rate of inflation. and, more importantly, implicit or explicit stipulations regarding economic policy directions, social spending cuts, and the privatisation of essential public services. Furthermore, debt facilitates the appropriation of resources, granting the creditor’s companies the authority to exploit mineral deposits, capture raw materials, and gain privileged access to markets. In its most severe forms, it even legitimises direct interference with territorial sovereignty, transforming financial obligation into a means of geopolitical control. Consequently, debt acts as a mechanism of constraint, capable of disciplining both states and individuals while interfering in public policy and daily life, extending even to the regulation of bodies themselves. If you wish to further explore the logic of debt and comprehend its role in controlling people and lives, we invite you to participate in this introductory workshop.

Time to be confirmed | Why is economic disobedience necessary?

At a time when the challenges posed by social and ecological crises necessitate radically ambitious policies, the neoliberal framework dictated by financial markets and institutions constrains us severely. It is crucial to contemplate financial disobedience to establish a genuine balance Balance End of year statement of a company’s assets (what the company possesses) and liabilities (what it owes). In other words, the assets provide information about how the funds collected by the company have been used; and the liabilities, about the origins of those funds. of power.

With

• Eric Toussaint: PhD in political science from the universities of Liège and Paris VIII, spokesman for CADTM International and member of the Scientific Council of ATTAC France.

• Jane-Léonie Bellay: Member of the national board of ATTAC France Secteur International.

Time to be confirmed | What does the state owe us? Mothers, police violence and state violence

This round-table discussion examines debt as both a tangible economic reality and an immaterial debt - one that pertains to what is owed to us. What does the state owe us as women, mothers, and citizens? How can we seek justice? More specifically, this discussion aims to scrutinise state violence, particularly the lethal consequences of police violence. The expansion of the police apparatus - an expression of the state’s monopoly on force - has led to dramatic consequences over the years. Whether it concerns the deaths of children like Fabian or Nahel in France, young individuals like Adama or Rayana, or mothers like Sourour, police violence equates to murder. By taking the lives of children, young people, and mothers, the police incur a profound debt that surpasses any conventional accounting. The objective here is to interrogate the justice of a state apparatus that strips away fundamental rights and fails to provide the means to nurture and safeguard future generations in safety. The term ’security’ should be understood not as a pretext to justify the implementation of excessively repressive police measures, but in its fundamental sense: the capacity to live with dignity and peace in a society where the state ensures the well-being of all communities - rather than selectively protecting some at the expense of others.

With

• More speakers will be announced.

Time to be confirmed | Discussion of antifascist struggles:

This workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss ways of fighting the extreme right in Belgium and France. It’s still under construction, so we’ll tell you more in the coming weeks.

With:

• Other collectives to be announced

Time to be confirmed | Less for reception, more for ultra-control: the criminalisation of the right to asylum in Belgium and Europe

From the roundup organised by the Ministry of the Interior in France to the offensive launched by the Arizona Coalition against the right to seek asylum in Belgium, criminalising migration is gaining momentum throughout Europe. Substantial investments in ultra-repressive policies - such as surveillance cameras, the construction of closed centres, increased controls, and arrests - are justified by hate speech directed at those seeking refuge. The European Union is bolstering its anti-migration stance by allocating significant funds to border countries to detain individuals attempting to reach the European continent, all in defiance of human rights. Under the pretext of cost-saving, these ultra-control measures prove to be highly expensive—both economically and, more importantly, in human terms. Simultaneously, European nations continue to exploit the resources and wealth of countries in the Global South, driven by forced departures. Yet, within Europe, barriers are being erected, accompanied by claims that public finances are insufficient to facilitate a dignified welcome. This workshop aims to critique the rhetoric surrounding extreme control and security, analyse its impacts, and criticise the pervasive narratives that criminalise the right to seek asylum.

With : Speakers to be announced in the coming weeks.

Saturday 2 pm - 3:30 pm | Extractivism as a strategy of conquest

In this workshop, we will analyse extractivism as a powerful tool for colonial and capitalist conquests. We’ll look at Israel’s greenwashing policy. We will also explore Latin America, a region where activists opposing the spread of extractivist capitalism face repression and death threats. We will also examine potential alternatives and aim to present our findings at COP 30 in Belem.

With:
• Hamza Hamouchene: (Researcher-activist | Program coordinator for the Arab region at the Transnational Institute (TNI))

• Peace Brigade International: PBI protects and supports individuals, communities, movements and organisations defending human rights through protective physical accompaniment, international observation, advocacy, awareness-raising and capacity-building.

Saturday 4 pm - 6 pm | Plenary in solidarity with the Democratic Republic of Congo

This plenary will explore the repercussions of Western imperialism in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A panel will highlight the methods, strategies, and narratives that sustain this imperialism, along with its tangible impacts on local communities. The current spotlight on genocide in Palestine - propelled by international mobilisations, alternative media, and activist networks - presents an opportunity to illuminate other forms of systemic violence, particularly those affecting populations in the DRC. Despite the gravity of this violence, it often goes unnoticed or unacknowledged, even though it stems from a lifestyle prevalent at the centres of capitalism. This plenary aims to break the silence surrounding imperialist violence in the DRC, foster connections between diverse struggles, and cultivate international solidarity grounded in justice, memory, and resistance.

With:
• Rima Hassan: Franco-Palestinian jurist, MEP for the French delegation of France Insoumise within The Left group in the European Parliament. She is the founder of the NGO l’Observatoire des Camps de Réfugiés (OCR).

• Brenda Odimba: Engineer, decolonial activist, and co-founder of the FREE CONGO Collective, which supports the struggle for peace, justice, and sovereignty for the Congolese people.

Saturday evening | Soiree to be announced in the coming weeks

 SUNDAY OCTOBER 12

Sunday 9:30 am - 11 am | When private debt replaces the State: analysis of private debt in Morocco, Brazil and Belgium

When the state can no longer guarantee social assistance, protect its citizens, or provide free access to education and healthcare, individuals often resort to taking on debt. This workshop will discuss the various types of private debt and their impact on the working classes, in particular. We will examine the detrimental effects of microcredit in Morocco - a form of small loan frequently extended to individuals lacking access to traditional banking services due to insufficient financial guarantees Guarantees Acts that provide a creditor with security in complement to the debtor’s commitment. A distinction is made between real guarantees (lien, pledge, mortgage, prior charge) and personal guarantees (surety, aval, letter of intent, independent guarantee). . Additionally, we will investigate the types of debt that burden the working class in Brazil and the broader population in Belgium. We will also consider how these private debt mechanisms disproportionately affect women and racialised individuals, thereby reinforcing existing social and structural inequalities.

With:
• Timothée Narring: sociologist and ethnographer at Cessma. His research explores the links between debt and social reproduction in Brazil’s working classes.

• Caroline Jeanmart: Director, Observatoire du Crédit et de l’Endettement (Belgium)

Sunday, 9:30 am - 11 am | Debt basics (continued)

Do you want to understand how debt functions as an instrument of domination and serves as a powerful lever for capital accumulation? Debt permeates every stratum of our societies. States incur debt to fund public services, infrastructure, or social assistance, while individuals take out loans for housing, education, or, in some countries, healthcare. However, debt transcends mere financial considerations. It operates as a political and strategic tool that enables us to impose conditions and shape collective choices. Debt is not merely an obligation to repay; it is accompanied by varying interest Interest An amount paid in remuneration of an investment or received by a lender. Interest is calculated on the amount of the capital invested or borrowed, the duration of the operation and the rate that has been set. rates and, importantly, implicit or explicit conditions: directives on economic policy, cuts to social spending, and the privatisation of essential public services. Furthermore, debt facilitates the appropriation of resources, granting creditor companies the authority to exploit mineral deposits, capture raw materials, and gain preferential access to markets. In its most extreme manifestations, debt legitimises direct interference with territorial sovereignty, transforming financial obligations into instruments of geopolitical control. Consequently, debt acts as a mechanism of constraint, capable of disciplining both states and individuals, interfering in public policy and daily life, and even shaping bodies themselves. If you wish to delve deeply into the logic of debt and comprehend how it serves to control lives and individuals, we invite you to join this introductory workshop.

Sunday 11:30 am - 1 pm: What alternatives to Western imperialism?

This closing plenary of the Autumn Meetings will be an opportunity to discuss possible futures Futures A futures contract is a standardized advance commitment, negotiated on an organized futures market, to deliver a specified quantity of a precisely defined underlying asset at a specified time – the ‘delivery date’ – and place. Futures contracts are the most widely traded financial instruments in the world. and the alternatives we’re fighting for. We’ll be talking about the BRICS BRICS The term BRICS (an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) was first used in 2001 by Jim O’Neill, then an economist at Goldman Sachs. The strong economic growth of these countries, combined with their important geopolitical position (these 5 countries bring together almost half the world’s population on 4 continents and almost a quarter of the world’s GDP) make the BRICS major players in international economic and financial activities. . Are they an alternative to the domination of the United States and other Western powers? What lessons can we draw from the popular uprisings in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh? We’ll also be talking about COP 30, which will take place in Belem in November 2025. What can we expect from it? What are the initiatives outside the main event? We’ll also look back at previous COPs.

With:
• Eric Toussaint: PhD in political science from the universities of Liège and Paris VIII, spokesman for CADTM International and member of the Scientific Council of ATTAC France.

• Another speaker will be announced in the coming weeks.