Hands off the CCS! | Google Groups

From the beginning of August 2008, friends of the world-renowned Centre for Civil Society (CCS) received shocking news that this beloved institution was under threat of closure from its host University of Kwazulu-Natal.

We say:

Hands off the CCS!

Freiheit ist immer die Freiheit des Andersdenkenden - Rosa Luxemburg

This site will contain a running archive of documents. Its list will be used to communicate with supporters of the CCS. Please join this list now by following the Google instructions, or by clicking here and using using the "promo box" to add your address.

Please also download the Petition form, and collect some names on it, and e-mail it to the group at handsofftheccs+owner@googlegroups.com

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15 August

To our friends and colleagues,

Many thanks for your interest in the Centre for Civil Society during this difficult time. We have overcome at least one major threat, namely the announcement on July 30 by our Dean and Deputy Vice Chancellor that we would be closed at the end of the year.

Upon review by our Faculty Board on Wednesday (following a welcome instruction by the Vice Chancellor), and a 33-1 vote, that decision appears to have been reversed.

We think that this is due to an extraordinary outpouring of support in the form of testimonials and petitions, from other academics and civil society groups, local to global. We are still very grateful for such testimonials, which next Tuesday we would like to package and present to the Faculty Board subcommittee that will take the process forward. If you are so inclined, please send a sentence or two to me by late Monday, at pbond@mail.ngo.za, and we will put them on our website as soon as we can: http://www.nu.ac.za/ccs/default.asp?2,68,3,1575#handsoff (and do also please send critical feedback, which is helpful as we plan our future).

We will keep you posted with respect to statements that CCS makes to the Faculty Board subcommittee in coming days. Our major plans are to continue with work on social justice, political economy and environment. As you see at http://www.ukzn.ac.za/ccs ("Events Index"), a few seminars are scheduled in coming days, as well as the monthly Wolpe Lecture panel: on August 28 we introduce Durban civil society to the lawsuit - and its community proponents - that recently defeated Johannesburg Water's prepayment meters, discriminatory services provision and inadequate lifeline water.

Depending upon progress through UKZN's next set of committees, we hope to hire a new Director, as has been our intention since early 2007. Following paternity leave in November, I may continue as director, or CCS may appoint an acting director, until our next phase firms up. We are certain, though, that the comradeship displayed the last week or so will be repaid, as our next period shapes up as one of intense work and more rapid social change.

Amandla!

Patrick

pbond@mail.ngo.za

phone: 27 83 425 1401

skype: patricksouthafrica

http://www.ukzn.ac.za/ccs