“Dear All,

Following the results achieved by the far-right during the European elections on 9th June and the announcement of a snap election, several formal and informal actions and exchanges have been initiated at our Institute. You have thus been able to share your feelings and concerns regarding the rise of the French far-right and its potential impact on international students and staff, as well as on the Learning Planet Institute, its mission and the implementation of its activities, both present and future.

Like you, we chose the Learning Planet Institute for its values of humanism and universalism, and for the necessary and urgent response to Transitions, particularly SDG 4.7, dedicated to education for sustainable development, global citizenship, peace and living together, for which we collectively strive. These values and this mission are what convinced us and brought us here, and we will continue to defend them, together, whatever the outcome of the upcoming election. In the face of the global emergence of political movements with antagonistic ideas and objectives, we hope that these values will further convince those who already make up and will continue to make up our unique community of planetary citizens (#planetizens) aspiring to a better world: learning, sustainable and inclusive.

Like you, we are concerned about the political future of France, Europe and the world. As we work together to build a planetary university, we more than ever assert the right to diversity and inclusion, openness and borderless collaboration , free movement, debate and  free thought, teaching, learning and researching independently of any pressure.

The right to vote is a fundamental right and a civic duty. It currently constitutes the only democratic lever we have in the face of uncertainty. We strongly encourage French nationals to exercise this right during the general election on 30th June and 7th July, or to establish a proxy,  to block ideas that are not compatible with our values.

International students and staff: rest assured that we will continue to welcome multiculturalism and diversity, promote inclusion, and defend your full, complete and equal participation in the mission and activities of our Institute.

We remain at your disposal. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

The Executive Committee & The Management Committee“