LAUNCH Leeds Social Forum

Leeds Social Forum | 01.03.2004 17:45 | Analysis | Social Struggles

On 19th Frbruary 2004, Leeds Social Forum had its first meeting at Leeds Civic Hall. Below are some of the aims of Leeds Social Forum and minutes from the meetig.

WHAT IS A SOCIAL FORUM?

People in Leeds need an organisation based where we live, work or study, where we can organise to campaign on issues that effect us. To answer this need social forums are springing up across Britain, as part of a growing international movement against a "free-market", profit-driven world. Social forums are open meetings that bring together many different campaigning groups and ordinary people to discuss ideas and organise action. The Leeds Social Forum has just started up and so far involves trade unionists, student campaigners and anti-war activists from several countries who want to build this movement in Leeds.

If you are against:

- The lack of affordable, decent housing and social care
- Poverty and privatisation
- Rising taxes and falling pensions and services
- Racism and war

...Then the Leeds Social Forum is the place for you! Whether you are in a community organisation, Trade Union, NGO, anti-racist campaign, or just someone who wants to make a difference, get involved. Leeds social forum is what you make it!

The Aims of the Leeds Social Forum

Our aim is to build a Leeds Social Forum (LSF) and a social forum movement in Britain. The LSF will provide a space to discuss ideas and issues, exchange experiences, and organise protests and direct action.

The Leeds Social Forum is open to all progressive organisations, bringing together the trade union movement, community organisations, NGO’s, faith groups, political groups, and the many campaigns against war, racism, poverty, and environmental destruction. Its aim is to connect all these issues together, allowing organisations to exchange ideas and combine their efforts so that they have a bigger impact. The LSF will also be a place where the thousands who have protested can become regularly active, along with the tens of thousands more in our neighbourhoods, schools, universities and workplaces who are frustrated with the current system and want radical change.

As opposed to the lack of democracy in mainstream politics, the Leeds Social Forum will be a model of democracy, a movement owned by all its members. While acting locally and regionally, the LSF is part of the European and World Social Forums (ESF and WSF), an international movement opposing the negative effects of globalisation and creating alternatives to it.

The Leeds Social Forum will

a) encourage the creation of local groups.
b) encourage community groups and unions etc to send delegates.
c) send delegations to the ESF and WSF
d) affiliate to the UK organising committee and send delegates to organising meetings if possible.
e) organise regular meetings to discuss issues and organise action, distribute info and exchange experiences
f) build for the ESF in London.

The Leeds Social Forum will campaign on local and global issues around:

Anti-racism
• Asylum-seekers are welcome here
• Stop the BNP

Internationalism
• End the occupation - Troops out of Iraq
• Freedom for Palestine

Anti-capitalism
• Stop privatisation and poverty: for real public services, housing, education and healthcare
• End corporate power, third world debt and sweatshop labour

Democracy
• For Working class and community control
• Defend civil liberties
• Equality for all, no to discrimination

Minutes from the last Leeds Social Forum Meeting
Civic Hall Thursday 19th February
Leeds Social Forum public meeting

Eyewitness from the World Social Forum in Mumbai, India

The WSF was held in Mumbai India last month. Nearly 100,000 activists from all over the world attended to discuss global issues that affect all of us, housing, poverty, privatisation, war.

Gay Bennett spoke about her time at the WSF in Mumbai. She outlined a brief history of the social forum movement and drew out the highlights of the recent Forum.
She talked about the involvement (or not) of the lowest classes (castes) in India and how local influences impacted on the character and focus of the forum. Women's rights in particular were brought to the fore.

After a period of questions and further discussion about Mumbai, the meeting moved on to prospects for a Social Forum here in Leeds.
Camapign groups and NGOs that could be invited to get involved were discussed.
In addition possible events/dates were suggested that LSF could get involved with:
No Sweat action Disney store 6th March
International Workers' Memorial day
STW event (conference?) 28th March
Social Forums UK meeting 29th March both London
Royal Park campaign: fighting the proposed school closure
Trade unions' involvement was discussed and the possibility of involving Leeds people in the ETUC day of action in April was mentioned.

The was discussion around the anticipated focus for LSF.
It was agreed that LSF would be key to building for the London ESF, although some expressed reservations.
It was highlighted that there are two basic approaches to social forums:
1. Get interested groups together and see what happens
2. Set out clear agenda and those who wish to be involved do so

The meeting agreed that whilst the way forward at this stage was not clear, interested individuals/groups would continue to build for the LSF, with an emphasis on tangible action.

Next meeting.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH 7.30-9.30 pm.

GLOBALISATION AND EDUCATION
School closures….rising class sizes…..tuition fees….and top up fees….corporate sponsorship of education…..privatisation of education…..lecturer strikes and student walk outs…..
Speaker:
Leicester College NATFHE striker
Invited:
Campaigner against Royal Park School closure

ALL HALLOWS CHURCH, JUST OFF REGENT TERRACE,
HYDE PARK