2022 SAT congress affected by Ukraine War

Congress at Moscow venue cancelled

Compared to the disastrous consequences of the war for those directly affected, the problem that SAT faced was not all that serious. At the end of February SAT suddenly had to come up with an alternative plan for its congress, which had been planned for Moscow. Too bad, because such a historical metropolis would have been an unusually interesting meeting place. The most feasible solution to the problem was to organise a virtual (internet-based) congress for the third time in a row. It was entitled: “For peace through Esperanto”.

The change in plans explained

SAT’s Executive Committee and the Organising Committee for the congress issued a joint statement on March 3, a few days after the beginning of the war, in which they explained that “due to the moral and practical impossibility of holding a SAT congress in a country that is waging war, this year’s congress cannot take place physically”, and went on to assess the war itself as follows: “We condemn the terrible aggression of the present government in Russia against the Ukrainian people. We support the anti-war movement in Russia, and Esperantists, workers, students and peoples in the world that are helping civilians in the Ukraine. Diplomacy throughout the world must act to end the war and not to aggravate conflicts. No to war. Yes to peace!” It was announced that the congress would be held in an alternative mode.

This declaration was approved by many, but not all. A few thought that it lacked balance, citing events prior to the conflict and the role NATO had in them. Nothing very surprising, because the opinions of the Esperanto-speaking public, including SAT, differ only gradually from those that prevail in society at large, where opinions on the war are often very contradictory and have given rise to notable political antagonism.

Considering that the debate in internet forums of SAT had been somewhat heated, a confrontation of unreconcilable viewpoints at the working meeting on the last day of the congress seemed a possibility. On that day the Declaration is debated. Unavoidably, the war was its main topic. Yet it turned out that something close to consensus existed among those present. The resolution did however stress a variety of aspects of the war and the state of the world that arises from it. Some of its points were: condemnation of the Russian war of aggression in the Ukraine, but also of other wars in the world, dissolution of military alliances and their replacement by new collective security systems, disarmament, opposition to the growth of military and economic blocks.

Working meetings predominate …

Working meetings manifest the direct democracy that traditionally is a big part of the congress. The participants patiently wade through reports and choose officeholders. The committee of country and language-group associations that have relations with SAT discussed the possibility that more such groups might be set up. Dissatisfaction was voiced over the delay in the publication of SAT’s bimonthly Sennaciulo, which is now several months behind schedule due to a necessary switch to a new printer. It is hoped that the delay will be made up for.

One work meeting dealt with SAT’s website and its use of social media. Opinions vary as to which web platforms (Discord, Telegram, Jitsi) are most suitable. It was decided that a “technology commission” be set up to “assess SAT’s website and other means of internet communication, as well as possibilities for improving them”, and also to “try out electronic tools, including referendums, that would enable SAT members to stay in touch with one another and exchange opinions about controversial topics”. Opinions differed as to the utility of web-based referendums as a means to elaborate the viewpoint of SAT when world events suddenly take a turn, as they did this year, or simply to find out what, if any, opinion predominates in SAT on a particular issue.

Another subject was “how to organise congresses and more effective inter-member relations in the future”, and here, once again, internet platforms were discussed.

Meetings of the platforms (traditionally called “factions”) at a web-based congress are not exclusive, but owing to the circumstances are common events under the guidance of the platforms. One hour each was allotted to meetings, in some cases very informal, of the Vegetarian Section, the Anationalist, Communist, Libertarian (i.e. anarchist), Freethought and Ecological Platforms. The Vegetarian Section is pondering the possibility of holding another Vegan Meetup in Grésillon in 2023, after the successful get-together there in 2018.

… but there is room for cultural and political items

Fortunately, two cultural items were from the originally foreseen host country, and didn’t suffer too much under the Zoom format, along with two other contributions:

• Mikhail Bronstein elaborated upon his historical novel Mi stelojn jungis al revado and its historical background, which the reader should know something about, the post-revolutionary Soviet Esperanto movement and its tragic extinction in the 1930’s;
• Xana Paz spoke about the colonial or liberation war and the subsequent agreements between Portugal, Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau – a time in which revolutionary change brought about the end of long-running wars;
• Mikhail Povorin, whose songs in a tranquil musical style allowed participants a needed break between work sessions;
• a general discussion on the Ukraine war, which, although it could hardly exhaust the subject, at least allowed topics like nationalism, campism, refugees, the truthfulness (or lack of it) of the war information that circulates to be touched upon briefly.

The Congress Declaration debated

Debate and decision on the Declaration and the Guidance Resolution moved forward with unusual efficiency, considering the rushed preparation and the number of items that had to be handled in the available three hours. Of 12 points in the Declaration, only three were unrelated to the current war or wars in general. Not surprising in a year, in which war is being waged in a country close to those where most SAT members live. But also an indication of how the geographic distribution of SAT membership influences in perception of, or inattention to world events. SAT’s desire to be present “worldwide”, as its name suggests, is signalled by the Declaration in the statement that the congress “likewise sharply condemns all other wars and aggressive occupations taking place in the world simultaneously, among other places in Syria, Yemen, DR Congo, Palestine and West Sahara”.

Next year in Grésillon

In the absence of other proposals, the choice was easy: SAT will assemble next year in Grésillon – for the first time physically since 2019. Grésillon is a rural setting, a quiet, natural place for a congress dominated by work. It makes sense to take advantage of this venue in the countryside of western France, owned by Esperanto groups.

Mixed feelings about web-based congresses

Work sessions held through Zoom are functional and do not present overwhelming challenges to participants. Presentations of a cultural nature are satisfactory. But human interaction is not at all what it is at a physical meeting. It is poor by comparison, limited at least at this event to breaks between meetings, in which some chat among the whole group takes place, but individual spontaneous contacts such as occur at congresses of the traditional type are absent.

On the other hand, expense for travel and accommodations are not an insignificant burden for many. For some, the web-based congress is the only accessible congress. Moreover, ecological considerations are likely to influence decisions about the form of congresses. A “world” association – in name – cannot be, or remain, as eurocentric as SAT and the Esperanto milieu are at present. If a congress has participants from several continents, quite a few arrive by plane. Not to the liking of those who look at their personal climate footprint and know what aviation does to make it go over the top. Increasing technical sophistication of web platforms, along with rising skills among users, will no doubt make web meetings more pleasant and productive. Whether that will ever fully make up for the deficiencies felt at present, remains an open question. The future will show what share the two types of meetings – virtual and presence – meets the needs of members of SAT.

Declaration of the 95th Congress of SAT – 2022