A quick diary from the ESF.

Getting there on Wednesday. Travelling with Mobilise/Globalise Resistance/SWP makes it easy ;-) In comparison with reports of problems with accomodation etc. that individuals and other organisations are having. Thankfully less in your face than you average coach it was quite low key, at least in my carriage. There was only the usual SW paper seller and the list of Globilise Resistance events at the ESF. At the end of the trip accreditaion sorted, and almost everyone was hearded of to accomodation in a gymasium on the outskirts of town.

Thursday morning. The ESF is just plain huge. The site at la villette has the grande halle brim full of stalls. Reminded me of a Students' Union freshers fair only only overblown to proportions you can't imagine. Haven't been to one of the massive plenary meetings yet... shall have to try just for the experience I suppose.

Independent Radio Italy. Thanks to some very hasty, ad hoc, translation - cheers - this was very interesting. There has been a culture of independent radio in Italy for years. The different regions and cities very much having their own style. Since Genoa, and the reporting of a police related death, these stations have been coming together to organise, in a horizontal system, without taking from their own local political differences and language. The Italian police recently also started attacking stations, destroying equipment, and taking data. The power of data streaming on the internet has helped them keep the stations going, and expand them, but it is seen as hand in hand with free to airwaves radio.  http://www.radiogap.net/

World Summit on Infomation Society meeting this evening. In preperation for a larger meeting tommorow was interesting. Preparations, are still some way off for stuff for  http://www.geneva03.net/ - some exciting ideas though for conference, highnoon and the polymedia lab. I think a full report tommorow evening.