The Radical Activist Network was formed at the beginning of 2004 by a group of activists largely drawn from the movements against war, racism and corporate globalisation. It aims to provide a space for activists to discuss common strategic and political issues, to encourage pluralist practices and structures in the movement, and to co-operate with others to support and initiate campaigns.
We agreed on the following principles:
- An opposition to all forms of oppression, exploitation and domination in society, which dehumanise people, destroy our natural environment and reduce life to a system of economic values.
- A rejection of top-down, hierarchical and authoritarian models of political organisation.
- A belief that radical and sustainable social change can only be achieved through collective, grassroots organisation, based on solidarity, equality, democracy, openness and respect for others.
During 2004 we were involved with other anti-war activists in setting up Iraq Occupation Focus in response to what we felt were some of the gaps in the anti-war movement at the time. IOF has since organised several day conferences, undertaken solidarity work with the Iraqi Oilworkers Union and other civil society groups and organised anti-war strategy meetings. Its most recent work has included helping to set up the Hands Off Iraqi Oil coalition.
RAN members were involved in organising the European Social Forum in London, in initiating the Stop Arming Israel campaign in 2006, and helped the family of Jean Charles de Menezes to set up a campaign for justice after he was brutally shot by the police in 2005.
We've also put on various events. In 2006 we organised a conference called 'Latin America: Social Movements Fight Back'. The keynote speaker was Oscar Olivera from the campaign against water privatisation in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and we organised a short speaker tour around the country for him too. We've also hosted one-off public meetings with Amy Goodman, Michael Albert, Tariq Ali and others. Details of some of our past events can be found on the news and events page.
You can join our mailing list to be kept up to date with what we do.
Contact us via email: 