Call for Autonomous Spaces During the ESF in London, 14-17th October 2004.
WA | 06.08.2004 15:20 | European Social Forum | Free Spaces
Call for Autonomous Spaces During the ESF in London, 14-17th October 2004, from a loose collective of people with either one-foot in the ESF and one outside, and individuals who have both feet firmly outside the ESF process.
The collective have been meeting at the Grand Banks Social Centre and at European Creative Forum events so far, in London. This meeting has taken the form of a spokescouncil, since it is a meeting point for various peoples involved in the ESF in a variety of ways from the automist side (e.g. communications).
The collective have been meeting at the Grand Banks Social Centre and at European Creative Forum events so far, in London. This meeting has taken the form of a spokescouncil, since it is a meeting point for various peoples involved in the ESF in a variety of ways from the automist side (e.g. communications).
Call for Autonomous Spaces During the ESF in London, 14-17th October 2004.
We are a loose network of individuals, groups, organisations and grassroots communities and who act, think and struggle for another world beyond capitalism.
We write this call to those in the UK, the rest of Europe and those further afield to participate in building alternative autonomous spaces around the European Social Forum, which will be held in London during October (14-17th) 2004.
We want to create open spaces for networking, exchanges, celebration, thinking, and action. We believe our ways of organising and acting should reflect our political visions, and are united in standing for grassroots self-organisation, horizontality, for diversity and inclusion, for direct democracy, collective decision making based upon consensus, and against the false consensus in which power is used to silence others.
We do not have, nor represent, one single unified position on the ESF.
We are however, all united in the knowledge of the ESF UK organising process as un-transparent, non-participatory, and exclusionary. The UK ESF organising process has essentially been controlled by the hierarchical and authoritarian Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Action, and through the central involvement of Mayor Ken Livingstone's Greater London Authority.
Because the organising process and methodology both in the UK and at the European level has not reflected the values and charters which the ESF aspires to, the ESF process is politically bankrupt.
However we wish to state clearly that we recognise, value and support the energy, diversity, and experiences of those attending the ESF.
It is also important to say that some of us have tried to work inside the ESF process, fighting to "democritise" the ESF, and as such, much of our criticism is borne from experience and cannot be dismissed. Some of us believe that it is possible to rebuild the ESF to make it closer to the ideals it claims, and to build a truly participative process, others - after their experiences - believe this is simply not possible. Some of us wish to go further and say that the entire basis of the ESF is fundamentally illegitimate, that it only represents a space for the co-option of struggles, and that as such, it should be opposed. While others are aware of the problems within the ESF process but don't wish to be defined by them and are simply interested in working with organisational processes that are more authentic under the statement "another world is
possible". We all however are united in our diversity and in our desire to act together in ways that respect these differences.
- we invite you to join us...
Following an international autonomous spaces meeting in Berlin in June, where 70 individuals from 45 groups and networks came together, discussions and planning has continued in London. There are now several self organised and autonomous spaces under construction - they range from legally hired venues to squatted social centres.
An alternative programme of events will cover areas such as precarious work(ers), asylum and migrant issues, community organising, anti-war campaigns, environment, gender issues, alternative media, and technologies of control - from copyright to biometric ID cards, the the G8 - which comes to the UK next year in 2005, and more... There will be film screenings, alternative media centres, street theatre, parties, creative actions and
protests...
We invite you to participate in the autonomous spaces, to help shape them, to organise workshops, discussions, creative interventions, and practical alternatives.
To get involved contact:
autospace@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.altspaces.net
See you in London!
We are a loose network of individuals, groups, organisations and grassroots communities and who act, think and struggle for another world beyond capitalism.
We write this call to those in the UK, the rest of Europe and those further afield to participate in building alternative autonomous spaces around the European Social Forum, which will be held in London during October (14-17th) 2004.
We want to create open spaces for networking, exchanges, celebration, thinking, and action. We believe our ways of organising and acting should reflect our political visions, and are united in standing for grassroots self-organisation, horizontality, for diversity and inclusion, for direct democracy, collective decision making based upon consensus, and against the false consensus in which power is used to silence others.
We do not have, nor represent, one single unified position on the ESF.
We are however, all united in the knowledge of the ESF UK organising process as un-transparent, non-participatory, and exclusionary. The UK ESF organising process has essentially been controlled by the hierarchical and authoritarian Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Action, and through the central involvement of Mayor Ken Livingstone's Greater London Authority.
Because the organising process and methodology both in the UK and at the European level has not reflected the values and charters which the ESF aspires to, the ESF process is politically bankrupt.
However we wish to state clearly that we recognise, value and support the energy, diversity, and experiences of those attending the ESF.
It is also important to say that some of us have tried to work inside the ESF process, fighting to "democritise" the ESF, and as such, much of our criticism is borne from experience and cannot be dismissed. Some of us believe that it is possible to rebuild the ESF to make it closer to the ideals it claims, and to build a truly participative process, others - after their experiences - believe this is simply not possible. Some of us wish to go further and say that the entire basis of the ESF is fundamentally illegitimate, that it only represents a space for the co-option of struggles, and that as such, it should be opposed. While others are aware of the problems within the ESF process but don't wish to be defined by them and are simply interested in working with organisational processes that are more authentic under the statement "another world is
possible". We all however are united in our diversity and in our desire to act together in ways that respect these differences.
- we invite you to join us...
Following an international autonomous spaces meeting in Berlin in June, where 70 individuals from 45 groups and networks came together, discussions and planning has continued in London. There are now several self organised and autonomous spaces under construction - they range from legally hired venues to squatted social centres.
An alternative programme of events will cover areas such as precarious work(ers), asylum and migrant issues, community organising, anti-war campaigns, environment, gender issues, alternative media, and technologies of control - from copyright to biometric ID cards, the the G8 - which comes to the UK next year in 2005, and more... There will be film screenings, alternative media centres, street theatre, parties, creative actions and
protests...
We invite you to participate in the autonomous spaces, to help shape them, to organise workshops, discussions, creative interventions, and practical alternatives.
To get involved contact:
autospace@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.altspaces.net
See you in London!
WA
Comments
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rampART invitation to autonomous ESF crash space
06.08.2004 17:27
Anyone attending the ESF, both visiting internationals and UK nationals from outside London, are welcome but the invitation is aimed particularly at those on a tight budget. Crash space is limited and so people should let us know in advance if they wish to stay here.
The rampART space will also be available for meetings, prop making, banner painting etc. It will also act as an indymedia access point for people to post their reports or prepare photos or videos. Please pass this information on to any groups that might need the facilities, we'd like to hear from interested groups so we can prepare efficiently.
Events are being organised between 13th -17th October. The official ESF venues include Alexandra Palace in north London, and the Bloomsbury area south of Kings Cross. Other significant venues include Conway Hall (
Please feel free to pass this invitation to your friends who may be looking for free accomodation during the ESF period.
contact us via rampart(at)mutualaid.org
other relevent links:
part ram
e-mail:
rampart(at)mutualaid.org
Homepage:
http://www.rampart.co.nr
Portuguese translation
14.08.2004 02:04
Somos uma rede informal de indivíduos, grupos, organizações e comunidades de base, que age, pensa e luta por um outro mundo para além do capitalismo.
Escrevemos este apelo para aqueles que, no Reino Unido e no resto da Europa, queiram construir espaços autónomos e alternativos à volta do Fórum Social Europeu, que decorrerá em Londres durante Outubro (14 a 17) de 2004.
Queremos criar espaços abertos para trabalho em rede, trocas, celebração, pensamento e acção. Acreditamos que as formas de nos organizarmos e agirmos devem reflectir as nossas visões políticas e estamos unidos na luta pela auto-organização de base, horizontalidade, pela diversidade e a inclusão, pela democracia directa, decisões colectivas baseadas no consenso e contra o falso consenso no qual o poder é utilizado para silenciar outros.
Não temos, nem representamos, uma posição unificada sobre o FSE.
Estamos, no entanto, unidos no conhecimento do processo organizativo do FSE como não transparente, não participativo e exclusor. . O processo de organização do FSE tem sido controlado pelo hierárquico e autoritário Socialist Workers Party, pela Socialist Action e pelo envolvimento central da Great London Authority do Mayor Ken Livingston.
Porque o processo organizativo e a metodologia, tanto no Reino Unido como a nível europeu, não tem reflectido os valores a que o FSE aspira. O processo do FSE está politicamente na bancarrota.
No entanto, queremos deixar claro que reconhecemos, valorizamos e apoiamos a energia, a diversidade e a experiência dos que vão ao FSE.
Também é importante dizer que alguns de nós tentaram trabalhar dentro do processo do FSE, lutando para o democratizar,e, assim, muitas das nossas críticas nascem da experiência e não podem ser ignoradas. Alguns de nós acreditam que é possível reconstruir o FSE de forma a trazê-lo para mais perto dos ideais que reclama e construir um processo verdadeiramente participativo. Outros, depois da sua experiência, acham que tal não é possível. Alguns de nós querem ir mais longe e dizem que toda a base do FSE é ilegítima, que só representa um espaço para a cooptação de lutas e que, como tal, deverá sofrer oposição. Enquanto outros vêem os problemas dentro do processo do FSE, mas não pretendem ficar limitados por eles e estão simplesmente interessados em em trabalhar com processos organizacionais mais autêntico sob o lema 'outro mundo é possível'. Estamos todos unidos na nossa diversidade e na nossa intensão de agir conjuntamente de maneiras que respeitem estas diferenças.
Convidamos-te a juntares-te a nós...
No seguimento dum encontro internacional em Berlim, em Junho, onde 70 pessoas de 45 grupos e redes se juntaram, as discussões e o planeamento tem prosseguido em Londres. Há, neste momento, vários espaços autónomos organizados e outros em construção. Passam por espaços alugados legalmente a centros sociais ocupados.
Um programa alternativos de eventos cobrirá áreas como trabalhadores precários, questões de imigração e asilo, organização comunitária, campanhas contra a guerra, ambiente, assuntos de género, média alternativa e tecnologias de controlo (do copyright aos Bis biométricos), o G8 (que vem ao Reino Unido em 2005) e mais... Haverá sessões de vídeo, centros de média alternativos, teatro de rua, festas, acções criativas e protestos...
Convidamos-te a participar nos espaços autónomos para que ajudes a dar-lhes forma, para organizar workshops, discussões, intervenções criativas e alternativas práticas.
Contacta:
Website: www.altspaces.net
Toni
e-mail:
toni@azine.org
Homepage:
http://portugal.indymedia.org