Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and MAB held the third class training in energy

Began February 19th the third class of the course “Energy and Society in Contemporary Capitalism”, a partnership between the Institute of Research and Urban and Regional Planning, of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ-IPPUR) and the Movement of People Affected by Dams ( MAB).

80 militants of social movements in Brazil and Latin America and unions linked to the energy sector are attending. “Changing the elitist character of the university is a windmill to be faced. The universal and fair access to university education and democratisation of access and kmowledge are important steps toward a changing society. The presence of movements in the university is a source of pride for the UFRJ” said Pablo Benetti, dean of Extension at UFRJ. 

The course comprises a continuum of two years of training in an alternating system in which students are challenged to think about the themes of the course during the period they are out of the university (the so-called “community time”). “This is an important political space, fundamental to the construction of knowledge, especially now that the issue of power is central to the situation,” said Rogério Hohn, the national coordination of MAB.

Students from Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, El Salvador and Mexico are also attending the course. “The separation made by borders does not mean that we are different. Problems with education, food sovereignty and natural resources are common in our country” said Jose Roberto Perez, of Funprocoop (Cooperative Promotion Foundation) of El Salvador, one of the students.

John Moraes, president of the Federation of Oil Workers (FUP), was also present at the opening session to highlight the importance of the alliance between the workers and the citizens in the discussion and formulation of a new project for energy. “We need unity, mobilisation and struggle.” Workers of the various energy-related unions participate in the course, in order to strengthen the Workers’ and Peasants Platform for Energy.

“Who has knowledge has power. Today a small group has a monopoly of knowledge, which deepens the exploitation of the oppressed. The university has a role in changing the monopoly of knowledge” said Carlos Vainer, professor of IPPUR and course coordinator.