Neil Sledge, Wirral NEU ISO
The 2026 International Solidarity conference was inspiring because it focussed on global themes, specific struggles and action members and officers can take.
The theme was Books Not Bombs: Educators for Peace and Justice. 20% (one in five) children across the world live within 50km (34 miles) of armed conflict.
- Keynote speech
Ed Harlow, NEU President, welcomed us and introduced Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University Paul Rogers. He spoke about global patterns and stages across the last 40-50 years of international relations, peace, war, foreign and imperial policy, and the significance of the pandemic and the rise of AI, nano weapons and nuclear and biological warfare. He said the next 5 years will be very significant as we are at a very dangerous stage in world history. We survived the Cuban Missile Crisis, Nixon in 1972, the threat of Russia in the 1980s and the 9/11 wars, but the 3 main issues to watch and campaign on are:
- Neoliberalism and economic issues – runaway wealth (multi-billionaires); the ‘revolution of rising expectations’ has been replaced by the ‘revolution of frustrated expectations’ – comes from neoliberalism: competition, marketisation leading to wealth and power for the few and elitism: the model is not working. It’s an unfair world but there are successful alternatives such as cooperatives etc.
- Security – the new NEU document The Security We Choose https://neu.org.uk/latest/library/security-we-choose was launched at the conference and Paul highlighted its research base and excellent recommendations. Defence spending globally is rising rapidly, is very profitable and war readiness is increasing. All the wars of the last 25 years have failed (eg Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya). The defence lobby is very powerful. It’s a closed shop of revolving doors with people moving between politics, armed services and arms factories. To disagree with this push towards inevitable war is seen as ‘unpatriotic and defeatist’. BUT if we look at Gandhi, Martin Luther King and the Solidarity movement in E. Europe in the late 80s, Unions have power, we can make a difference and non-violent protest can work. Quaker saying: “if war is the answer, it’s a stupid question.”
- Climate breakdown – known about for 40 years or more and has the biggest single impact on the world. We know we can decarbonise an economy really quickly because of the science and technology available – it can be done, we can change, it will be cheaper and we can make positive change: stick with it!
Paul concluded by insisting that the world needs to move from ‘lidism’ (keeping a lid on problems) to a ‘prophesy of hope’ – there are answers to all these problems, although it won’t be easy, but education will have a crucial role in the next 10 years.
- Fringe meetings
A range of options over 3 sessions, with some meetings repeated so you could be sure to get to what you wanted.
FRINGE 1: Defence or security?
A speaker from the Campaign Against the Arms Trade asked what security truly means? Who is profiting from these increases in spending? Who is suffering as a result? Many Generals, civil servants and politicians retire and join arms manufacturing businesses as ‘special advisors’, CEOs etc. Export controls are not working, egos are driving policy changes in the UK and nuclear defence spending is up as well.
Peace Direct have been Peacebuilding in 15 countries for many years, publishing research and reports. The US have closed many of the programmes around the world under Trump whilst there has a been an increase in conflicts and an ideological shift towards militarism. The current world order maintains global inequality, as do wars. Cuts in International Aid from the Global North has had a huge impact on education as countries have had to prioritise emergency aid instead. This could be an opportunity for countries to develop their own programmes however – the aim is to move from charity to solidarity and create a more sustainable and just system of international cooperation, joint security through debt relief, trade and cooperation.
Safer World insisted that a holistic view was needed as a lack of shared humanity and solidarity, increases in defence spending, the rise of the far right and aid budget cuts are all impacting people across the world.
[NS notes that recent election results in Serbia, Brazil, Israel and the US, and mass protests across Europe in France, Spain and Albania etc) are showing that people have had enough and are driving change]
FRINGE 2: Who really pays for war?
Chaired by Sarah Kilpatrick, Deputy General Secretary.
Global Justice Now explained how this is the most dangerous period of history since World War Two. The UK has the 6th highest defence budget in the world – ‘when the rich wage war, the poor die’ (Satre). The US controls high-tech weaponry. We must have hope: we can take a different path, our campaigns do work (eg Israeli boycotts etc), the new Books Not Bombs initiative; we need to declare our independence from the USA!
The InterAgency for Education in Emergencies (IAEE) said that aid isn’t the answer; education funding in the Global South comes from domestic and personal household budgets not overseas aid. UNICEF has declared that education is no longer a priority, aid budgets are down and defence spending is up. It’s very hard to restart education, it needs to be kept going, somehow. Removing Trump is not the answer- the previous approach didn’t work either- we need a rethink, to remove debt, focus on justice and teacher agency.
Manal Hdaife, from Lebanon and Education International, said the talk about weapons, ruins and death should be replaced with talk about the child still in school despite all this. Despite, for example, a typical teacher’s salary in Lebanon dropping from $1500 a month in 2019 to $70/month during Covid, they were still working/teaching. In Lebanon schools are working in shifts so that more children can attend. Her message is: don’t lose hope, we can survive, we will be free: stand with us.
FRINGE 3: Ukraine
Save the Children said the reality is that children’s education is constantly disrupted, some are being killed, their schools are being destroyed and that 2.2 million children are in need of humanitarian support. Displacement, mental health & wellbeing, and fear and trauma are all huge concerns. They have had years of online learning – Covid, then war. Classes in shelters with very limited resources often cater for 150 children in one room and exams are even more stressful. We can rebuild schools but not childhood. Save the Children support on the ground is providing emergency support, with assistance from NEU fundraising https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/neufundraising
Ukraine Teaches Union Vice-President brough her daughter with her, who is still at school. Four years of war has seen 4500 educational buildings damaged. International Solidarity through the NEU and Educational Education is supporting educators, and this is about human and children’s rights not salaries and workers’ rights. We see you standing with us, we know we are not alone.
Her daughter said that no day or night is ‘normal’. They spend all day in the shelters and in fear at home – checking for risks, hard to concentrate fully, can’t see their teachers or classmates; some towns have no food. She showed us a photo of a classmate studying at home. He was killed last week. She is also worried about teachers’ mental health, and ‘can’t imagine the future’. This was a very moving account of the reality of war.
Mike Kearney from York NEU and the Ukraine Solidarity Network, a winner of this year’s Steve Sinnott Award, said that action is what is needed, not meetings about action. Members have Ukrainian children in the classes, and Ukraine schools need support. He helps organise delegations, delivery of practical classroom supplies, aid, awareness raising, donations etc. He says the schools are underground, the situation is worse than ever and that educational displacement will impact the country for decades. Ukraine is not in the news so much but must not be forgotten: the people are suffering enormously.
Mike said we can donate/pay for minibuses and interactive whiteboards, or donate in cash. He can do zoom talks for district meetings.
- Marketplace & regional meetings etc
The Wirral ISO managed a stall sharing resources and information about Remembering Srebrenica, which led directly to upcoming action in/with members in Bristol, Bolton and Leeds. It was also very useful to meet reps from other organisations and districts. We also held regional ISO meetings which were also useful. At lunchtime many delegates joined or watched the huge Palestine Solidarity march outside.
- PLENARY: teachers in emergencies, a call for peace
Panel of International education union officers, Chaired by Sarah Kilpatrick.
The challenges facing educators and children in conflict zones and war-torn areas:
- Disruption, restrictions & displacement
- Pressure, threat and fear: psychological impact
- Increased Union workload (and in Ukraine struggle with the Govt)
- Protecting workers’ rights, salaries and dignity
International support is so important. The solidarity networks are vital: we were told that they feel that….
“…we are not alone, you are standing with us, sisters and brothers together. Your voice and action matter. You give us hope, respect and respect. Your collectivism is in actions not words. All children have the same rights, wherever they are. Keep talking about us, build relationships between schools, colleagues and unions. We need you now, and in the future.”
One school pupil this week, in Lebanon, when seeing a drone out of the makeshift classroom window, stood up and held his book high in the air: we are still here, learning, despite everything you throw at us!
Sarah concluded by reminding us that:
- We are in every community
- We are part of every community
- We can influence our communities
And she reminded us to refuse BAE Systems assemblies in schools.
Photo credits: Neil Sledge & Kois Miah
Wirral NEU International Solidarity Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/2138638896443530