The Universitat Progressista d’Estiu de Catalunya (UPEC) celebrates its 22nd edition starting this Wednesday, at the Sala Brigades Internacionals of the UGT de Catalunya headquarters on rambla Santa Mònica. Under the motto The optimism of reason, the event will offer talks and debates until Friday midday, with morning and afternoon sessions on Wednesday and Thursday.
For two and a half intense days, there will be reflection on the transformative power of critical thinking and collective action as tools to face current challenges, in a context marked by the rise of extremism and political and social uncertainty. The program includes debates focused on the economy, inequality, culture, politics, and social resistances.
The interventions can be followed live through UPEC's own streaming broadcast. On Friday, the closing day will feature a traditional debate with representatives of progressive political forces with parliamentary representation.
“"A turbulent world: where do we come from and where are we heading?"
The inaugural conference, on Wednesday at 10:00 AM, will be led by journalist Rosa Maria Calaf, interviewed by Quico Sallés (El Món). Subsequently, at 12:00 PM, there will be a debate on taxes with Pere Aragonès, associate professor of Economic History and former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and Franc Cortada, director of Oxfam Intermón, moderated by Laura Aznar (Crític).
In the afternoon, at 4:00 PM, the debate will focus on inequality and resentment with Marta Ribera (Observatori DESCA), Cecilia Vergnano (University of Barcelona), and Moussa Bourekba (CIDOB), moderated by Sandra Vicente (elDiario.es). At 6:30 PM, there will be a discussion on culture for radical hope with Layla Martínez and Leo Espluga, moderated by Víctor Yustres.
Thursday will begin at 9:30 AM with the debate 'Doing politics from diversity', featuring Carlos Durán Ruiz (PSC), Omar Noumri (ERC), and Jessica González (Comuns), moderated by Alaaddine Azzouzi. At 12:00 PM, the construction of peace will be discussed with Jordi Armadans, Ada Colau, and Luca Gervasoni, moderated by Cristina Mas (Ara).
In the afternoon, at 4:00 PM, the Proyecto UNA collective, Marta G. Franco, and Arnau Monterde (Ajuntament de Barcelona) will debate 'Let's expropriate the Internet', moderated by Sara Borrella (Colectic). At 6:30 PM, '¡No pasarán!: practices of resistance' will feature Enrique Javier Díez Gutiérrez, Oriol Eurasquin, and Bittah, moderated by Anaïs Borràs (La Directa).
On Friday, the day will start at 9:30 AM with the debate 'The reasons of the left', featuring Ferran Pedret (PSC), Elisenda Alamany (ERC), Gerardo Pisarello (Comuns), and Laure Vega (CUP), moderated by Sara González (El Periódico).
The closing conference, at 12:00 PM, is titled 'How we won New York' and will be delivered by Grace Mausser, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in New York City. UPEC will conclude the edition at 2:00 PM with the presentation of awards to two collectives: Regularització Ja and Ca la Dona.
