In a growing capitalistic world where human persons are reduced to producers and products, what could be the ideal solutions for just economy and healthy development? Journalists from all continents who participated in the Summer University 2005, well-known on-going formation programme, shared time and concerns with peoples of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in order to understand all the aspects of their life especially their great interest to return to old solutions like people-oriented co-operatives on all domains. This report takes a quick glance at the exposure and learning programme, which is more and more solicited in various parts of the world.

1. Introduction

Participants and organisers of Summer University 2005 had the privilege and incomparable opportunity of understanding and learning about the realities of Latin America in general and Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in particular, during this three-week international exposure and on-going learning programme held in these three Latin American countries. For journalists who came from other continents, it gave exceptional on-the-spot contact with local realities as well as the precious opportunity of living together with the inhabitants of these countries.

Peoples in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru have two major choices. One is to embrace the capitalistic trend. The other is go “left” as several Latin American countries have already expressed their desire through ballot boxes. Peoples have really no choice, so they choose “left” or “right” on a rotational basis.  

After getting tired of these “democratic choices”, now people are exploring a third way which is more known as “people’s way” or “people’s choice”: the solution of co-operatives for all on all levels especially economic. Thus people tend to return to their origins.  

2. Exposures throughout the host countries  

In order to make sure that the participants and the organisers get a thorough and comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the realities in these three countries, the exposure took them to various cities, towns and villages.  

They visited governmental, non-governmental, media, agricultural, economic institutions as well as farms, mines, and natural resource centres in the host countries. They encountered with authorities, labour unions, artists, activists, and so on during the three-week intensive formation programme.  

Thus they travelled through Bogotá, San Gil, Socorro, Valle de San José, Barichara, Coohilados, Curití as well as other towns and regions in Colombia. In Ecuador, the event took them to Quito, Otavalo, Ibarra, Baños, Riobamba, Guayco, Salinas de Guaranda, Guayaquil, Machala and Huaquillas. The Peruvian week of Summer University 2005 brought journalists to Tumbes, Piura, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, Pacora, Sipan, Chaparri, and Lima.  

3. Realities of the host countries  

Keynote addresses on all major issues, visits to native communities, development projects, governmental and non-governmental initiatives for peace, social advancements, and encounters with personalities gave the participants first-hand information on the realities of these Latin American Countries.  

During this two-way learning and exposure, both the host and guest journalists and other media professionals involved in the programme found that fundamental freedoms of people for expression, enterprise and cultures must be respected during all initiatives bringing about change.  

They observed that the taking over of land, forced integration, and development projects which do not take into consideration local peoples and their cultures have never helped to advance, but destroy, dislocate and thus eliminate them forever. The question of free trade is probably the most preoccupying issue even in Colombia where violence and drug-trafficking get bigger attention.  

The biggest advantage of free trade is that it offers enormous possibilities and does help advance an economy. But it seldom respects the rules of societies and nature, which safeguard a healthy environment at all levels. The participants, keynote speakers and organisers found that co-operatives at various levels are the ideal solution for a healthy economy and sustainable development.  

Americas is above all the continent of violent incomers who eliminated most of the local civilizations, cultures and peoples and impounded whatever they wanted to take away. The Summer University exposure showed the participants the extent of the damage done by these incomers and the damage they continue to inflict on remaining local populations, on nature and on traditional and healthy ways of life.  

4. Co-operatives are the ideal solution?!  

In a time where capitalistic and socialistic solutions do not work and both the systems produce more and more poor and marginalized, people turn to themselves and go for co-operative initiatives.  

Politics are simply reduced to “right” or “left”. Both sides bring convincing arguments at elections and afterwards they seldom fulfil their promises or help improve the situation of peoples. Therefore, politics or politicians do not really help the destiny of the nation.  

Co-operatives function based on seven fundamental principles or founding stones: (1) Open and voluntary adhesion; (2) Democratic management by members; (3) Economic participation of members; (4) Autonomy together with independence; (5) Education, skill-training, and information; (6) Co-operation among co-operatives; and (7) Engagement with community.  

The co-operatives are born from people’s culture of solidarity, have existed worldwide for thousands of years, and they offer a true alternative for change from capitalism and socialism.  

Co-operatives support all cultures, express solidarity on all levels through concrete actions, while capitalism creates cultures of competence and domination. Co-operatives thus develop a more just, human and friendly world.  

Capitalism and socialism simply remain on the level of action and reaction. Capitalism brought socialism and armed struggles. Co-operatives bring solidarity and respect to each person.  

Neo-liberalism like capitalism has proved that it is a system of “legal robbery” and colonialism. It is modern imperialism and a form of exercising power on all domains on world level. It is valorising one and de-valorising the other. Therefore, it has to belong to a class of people who are extremely selfish and greedy.  

Capitalistic and neo-liberal policies and governments always moved global riches and resources to a few hands and they continue to widen the gap between the rich and the poor. Communism and socialism are some sort of reactions out of frustration and they still continue to guide especially the left-wing leaders.  

The concentration of resources, power and decision-making creates violent opposition, insecurity and hence formation of forces based on feelings of discontentment, anger and revenge.  

Latin America therefore has been moving to the “left” in the last elections held in various countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay, and so on.  

Deceptions, frustrations and disappointments have been growing throughout Latin American countries especially in the field of agriculture, mining, petrol, gas, and management of financial and natural resources.  

The main reasons for these disappointments are lack of solidarity among the various sectors and classes of the society. This lack derives from fast growing neo-liberal initiatives.  

One of such initiatives is FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas), an agreement advanced mainly by the USA. This agreement gives rich nations, enterprises and individuals unlimited freedom to acquire massive wealth and resources, deprive basic needs of millions of peoples across the continent, and make peoples and nations permanently dependant on the rich.  

In this sense, even co-operatives are concerted reaction, but with better roots in traditions, desires and will of the people.  

For majority of the poor in Latin America or in the world, the major concern and struggle today is to stop all the neo-liberal “robbers” from acquiring more wealth and bring greater injustice and disappointment worldwide.  

And there is a great need for all to gather together in order to initiate solutions for nations and peoples rather than finding solutions only for those on the “right” or those on the “left”.  Everyone needs to abandon capitalistic and socialistic rhetoric as well as unilateral policies and endeavours.  

5. Feedbacks  

The participants have been sending us their feedback on the programme.  Here are a few extracts from their comments:  

I really benefited from my travel to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru and I know, besides all the information we gathered, I made new contacts and friends. This is the wonderful thing about our organisation. So I hope very much this institution will survive given all the growing financial difficulties being confronted everywhere. Summer University 2005 was highly fruitful experience and it opened some new perspectives.  

It was great and eye-opening travel for me. As a journalist I gained great experience. I liked very much our Summer University in South America and now I am going to publish various articles. Thank you very much for Summer University – it’s Great Idea and Initiative. Now I have new expression, new experience, new knowledge, trustworthy colleagues and friends.  

I feel glad after the summer university. So I have a lot of happiness to share with many for a long time!! It was a wonderful experience for me: sharing with those nice journalists, my Summer University 2005 friends and the journalists that I knew in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.  

I had a great time at the Summer University. I really loved it - I learnt loads, met great people and have come back home with full of ideas for stories for my newspaper. Thanks so much for all your work in organising the summer university. It was a great success.  

Thank you so much for the opportunities you provided us in South America. It was a life-changing experience and has helped me to see our immigration issues and policies with new eyes. While I was always supportive of the migrant's plight, I now know firsthand the kind of poverty (mostly because of rich nations) people want to escape and the deep-rooted love for their families that fuels their desire for a better life elsewhere. So thank you and everyone involved for such a valuable experience!!  

Yes it was an enriching experience. And I do plan to write several articles based on the experience. The event covered a maximum variety of topics, had speakers from different areas, and the human touch of organisers made us feel very much at home.  

Summer University 2005 has clearly shown that today’s international information diffusion system is not sufficient and very often not reliable in order to understand peoples, events and policies worldwide.  

We have brought information material not only for publishing or broadcasting in the coming weeks and months but also for many years to come. We can be also trustworthy experts and referees for host nations in our own countries and continents.  

6. Academic Credit  

The event was organised under the auspices of the International Institute of Journalism and Communication and this helps give academic credit to participating journalists.  

7. Multiplication  

One of the main aims of the Summer University is to multiply and share the information and knowledge in all parts of the world through its participants. Participants have already engaged in doing these through their newspapers, broadcasting stations, associations, educational institutions and so on.  

8. Future plans  

Considering the growing demand to organise Summer Universities more frequently, some new steps are being envisaged for the future events. The next Summer University will be organised in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the second part of the year 2006. It will help more participants to acquire formation either or in both host countries. The event will also link with other regional programmes in order to give greater experience to the participants as well as organisers.