Report from the network meeting on 18.11.23

In the course of the network meeting on 18 November, 30 people from 16 locations took part. Most of the Care Revolution regional groups were represented, as well as some cooperation groups in the network: the Werkstatt für Klima, Arbeit und Zukunft (KAUZ), the ATTAC-FLINTA-Plenum, the Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie, the Arbeitslosenselbsthilfe Oldenburg, the Netzwerk Grundeinkommen, the magazine 'Wir Frauen' and 'Wirtschaft ist Care'. So we took some time at the beginning for the introductory round, which, in addition to introducing the participants, also focussed on what the individual groups in the network do. In addition to the regional and cooperation groups, there are also supra-regional working groups on reducing working hours and planning events.

We have retained the online format that we started in the coronavirus era, simply because people from many more different cities can participate. It also makes it easier for people who are restricted in their mobility or have care responsibilities that cannot be postponed to take part. Of course, organising the network meeting as an online event also has disadvantages. The many small encounters on the sidelines and the time that is not filled with a programme are missing. We want to see each other again sometime without the tiles! The network meetings are also always used for internal discussion. This time, we focussed on the fact that the framework conditions for our activities have changed a lot since the network was founded in 2014. The climate catastrophe, coronavirus, the handling of wars and displacement and the erosion of social relationships are threatening our present and future prospects; with the increasing importance of care in the debates, the strikes of the hospital movement, referendums on healthcare, the renaissance of 8 March and projects of caring cities in Spain and Latin America, there are also new impulses and successes. We considered together what needs to be done for us as a care movement and as the Care Revolution network. Of course, this resulted in a whole range of answers, but it was not arbitrary. One thing we can say, for example: If we can quickly agree that the visibility of the network should be increased, we have to answer the question of how we want to become visible. This means having intensive discussions with each other. And it also means, it was noted, not only putting our ideas on paper, but also taking them to the streets. In order for them to be attractive there, however, they must combine far-reaching transformation ideas that correspond to the scale of the challenges with answers to the things that make people despair day after day. With the Care Revolution strategy, we have gathered a lot of useful information here over the years. There have been repeated calls to make this even more visible, more understandable and more attractive for everyone - without, as some have emphasised, losing sight of the fundamental change in conditions. And we must also ask ourselves whether what we are doing is contributing to change.

After the lunch break, we discussed and agreed on a proposal that would enable the network to become visible more quickly and easily across the region. In future, the coordination group will also be able to make certain decisions, for example when it comes to publications, press releases or supporting appeals. The basic principle of consensus within the network and the autonomy of the regional groups will remain intact.

Finally, working groups took place in the afternoon. One working group served to brainstorm together: What would individuals really like to do at and with Care Revolution? While the individual participants took away something for their group work, the working group on care, climate and socialisation was about getting feedback - which was ultimately encouraging - for planning a conference next spring. In the working group on peace and care, the participants then tried to talk about the fundamental differences and uncertainties that arise in connection with the wars in Ukraine and Palestine: While some Care Revolution groups clearly see themselves as part of the peace movement and are active there, others in the network do not want to commit themselves. The discussion was perceived as difficult and painful but characterised by good interaction. A continuation will be offered.

We finally decided to meet online again in April 2024, before the big anniversary event "10 Years of Care Revolution" in Leipzig in October 2024. By then at the latest, we will all be in the same place!