Natural disasters are becoming more and more a central issue of politics in the Third World, which is situated in the crossroad of socio-economical exploitation, and capitalist climate change. The answer to these catastrophes has often been taken on by independent NGO's and international agencies, both in the countries affected and in the First World countries where the funds are gathered. However, the way in which the aid is organised, and the actors who take it in charge, is not politically neutral.

13th - 15th January 2012

Daniel Bensaïd was a leading member of the Fourth International in France(in the Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire) and internationally. He died at the age of 63 in January 2010. He was also a philosopher and prolific author of political and philosophical works. It is difficult to separate out these multiple dimensions of Daniel but this seminar will especially approach his contribution as one of the central leaders of the 4th International and the international revolutionary movement.

The editorial staff of the magazine Kritiek organises an important public meeting in Amsterdam. The well known theoretician and activist Detlef Hartmann will talk about the economic crisis, the reorganization of capitalism and the possibilities of resistance.

17 november, 8pm - IIRE Conference Center 

* Lessons from Argentina by Claudio Katz, economist, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

* The crisis in Europe and the struggle for the abolition of the debt  by Eric Toussaint, President of the CADTM (Committee for the Abolition of the Third World Debt) 

* Presentation of the Brochure "Europa en de Crisis. Het verhaal van een aangekondigde ramp" by Ander Europa and the IIRE

On Monday, 24 October, IIRE hosted a closed roundtable discussion for 25 local LGBT activists with Mariela Castro Espín, director of Cuba’s national centre for sexual education (Cenesex) and daughter of the late revolutionary feminist Vilma Espín Guillois, and Camilo García, International Relations Officer of Cenesex and member of the Cuban Communist Party. The intimate encounter provided a moment of reflection and learning, exchange of experiences and a space to discuss current strategies of LGBT emancipation in both Cuba and The Netherlands.