Student activism around global issues is rapidly expanding but the broader movement for increased global responsibility has frequently remained fragmented. This has often left campaigns with a focus on global issues competing for limited funding and government attention in spite of very similar goals and ambitions. Even where this has not been the case, advocacy around global issues has largely failed to generate a broad-based unity which would allow a much larger movement of students to amplify their collective voices. The FAIR Network hopes to promote the idea that the broader student movement supersedes specific ownership by an organization or set of organizations.
Since the founding Summit, the FAIR Network has been engaged in collaboration through joint campaigns, capacity building, and the development of a shared vision. These efforts have generated the following achievements:
Joint Campaigning:
- Global Justice, Oxfam America, United Students Against Sweatshops, United Students for Fair Trade, and Student Sierra Club Coalition have campaigned jointly in opposition to regional free trade agreements, including the FTAA and CAFTA, sponsoring a joint national conference and four regional trainings.
- Ten organizations collaborated to produce a student and youth foreign policy voter guide, outlining general principles for US foreign policy, the importance of student voting, and information about specific issue areas of concern in the election season. 10000 copies have been produced and are being distributed for voter education and mobilization nationwide.
Capacity Building and Resource Sharing Outcomes:
- Joint participation in a range of regional and national conferences through attendance and presentations.
- Sharing relevant materials and research related to trainings and other initiatives
Building a shared vision for U.S. leadership:
- A working document of principles for US global engagement has been developed
- Very open, lasting and trusting relationships between the representatives from each of the participating organizations have been built
- A meaningful dialogue was initiated regarding core organizing principles such as democratic process, anti-oppression organizing and young people leadership.
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