Request for translations - Beyond ESF
wombles | 27.09.2004 14:28 | European Social Forum | Free Spaces | London
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Beyond ESF: 5 Days & Nights of Anti-Authoritarian ideas and action
An autonomous space during the European Social Forum in London, October 13th - 17th
The 3rd European Social Forum takes place in London from 14-17 October 2004. Following on from the previous social forums in Florence and Paris, it will attract tens of thousands of activists from diverse backgrounds under the banner of "Another World is Possible". Though it may be seen as a positive step by some of what has been termed by the media as 'the anti-globalisation movement', in reality the ESF functions as a place where political parties and social democrats co-opt and dominate the new movement against capital for their own purposes.
During the past decades, struggles involving millions of people against the regime of capitalism and the state, have shown a rejection of the old leftist aspirations of seizing the state power, and continue to go beyond the limits of those struggles by questioning the very existence of the state and hierarchically organised power. WOMBLES, an anti-authoritarian social struggle initiative, was formed from the inspiration of this movement and continues, with projects like the Occupied Social Centre, to create similar movements here in the UK.
Therefore during the ESF, we will not participate in this act of co-option that has been sponsored by government institutions (the Mayor of London), and political parties. We do however, want to continue the radicalisation that we have seen during the recent mobilisations against the World Trade Organisation, G8, IMF and World Bank summits and call for participation in BEYOND ESF - a self-organised, anti-authoritarian event which will run through out the ESF days. We are also working with other initiatives as part of the 'Autonomous Spaces During the ESF' to create visibility of other autonomous events.
Beyond ESF
Beyond ESF will be part conference, part direct action, part celebration of cultures of resistance - an opportunity to create an alternative; a social movement with infinite imagination and creativity against the apathy of capitalist culture. We are for a new life, a new world, created from the decaying shell of the old.
All this will be happening in a self-organised space, a space where local residents, as well as thousands of people from around Europe will be able to interact, to learn and to experiment with new ways of exploring our future together. It will also be an opportunity to gather the forces of the movement, and create collective strategies,bigger than any organisation or structure. We invite all of those who work non-hierarchically to participate in these events, to propose workshops, strategy discussions and direct actions.
Themes for Discussion & Action
1. Repression & Social Control
Prisons, anti-terrorism laws, Anti-Social Behaviour orders, ID cards, CCTV & surveillance, state repression of political activists.
2. Autonomy & Struggle
Social centres & autonomous spaces, free appropriation, anti-privatisation struggles, anti-consumerism, reclaiming public transport.
3. Precarious Work
Flexible labour, casualisation, dole resistance, collective struggle in an age of isolation.
4. No Borders & Global Migration
Detention centres, living 'illegally', deportation,police brutality, racist control & persecution, EU overseas deportation camps, The VOICE Refugee Forum (Germany) - 10 years of active resistance.
5. Zapatismo: 10 years on from the rebellion
News from Chiapas, international solidarity & influence.
6. G8 Scotland 2005
What does the G8 do & why should we mobilise against it?
Timetable
Beyond ESF will open on the evening of Wednesday 13th October with a 'welcome assembly of autonomous spaces'. On the Thursday, Friday & Saturday there will be a mixture of workshops & presentations from ongoing struggles around Europe; and strategy discussions - aimed not just at a one-off conference but helping to build networks, initiatives, projects and actions in the future. There will also be a radio/alternative media space & cinema space.
Every evening there will be an anti-authoritarian assembly for reports of the day's discussions in the autonomous spaces. These assemblies will also be used to take discussion forward for the following days.
Every night there will be food, cinema & live music. All events will be free/donation and all food will be vegan & cheap/donation.
We will close on the morning of Sunday 17th with a final assembly/spokes-council of the autonomous spaces & have a closing party on Sunday evening.
For more information see http://www.wombles.org.uk/auto or email wombles@hushmail.com if you would like to propose a workshop.
Venue:
Middlesex University, White Hart Lane Campus, Tottenham. Opposite White Hart Lane train station.
Accommodation:
If you require accommodation please email autospaces@yahoo.co.uk and let us know how many people are coming. This is very important to help us plan for the right amount of space. We need help to organise accomodation: please let us know as soon as possible if you can come earlier to help make this self-managed project work.
Infopoints:
We have set up infopoints so that people arriving in London can go directly to these places to find out information about all of the autonomous spaces, accommodation, maps & travel.
The locations are:
1. London Action Resource Centre (LARC)
62 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, London E1
Nearest tube: Whitechapel or Aldgate East
Phone: 0207 377 9088
Open 24 hours from Wednesday 13 October - Sunday 17 October
2. RampART Creative Social Centre
15-17 Rampart Street, off Commercial Road and Canon Street Road, London E1
Nearest tube Shadwell or Whitechapel, bus routes 15, 100, 115
Phone: 07050 618 445
Open hours 9am-10pm Wednesday 13 October - Sunday 17 October
3. Camden Centre
Euston Road, Bloomsbury, London NW1
Opposite St Pancras Station & Kings Cross tube)
Open 10am - 6pm Thursday 13th - Saturday 16th October
For maps see http://www.streetmap.co.uk
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The original English text can also be found at http://www.wombles.org.uk/auto/
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. We would especially like to find translations in non-european languages.
in solidarity
wombles@hushmail.com
wombles
e-mail:
wombles@hushmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.wombles.org.uk/auto/