There is a proposition to hold the next European Social Forum in London in 2004. But who's behind this?
On the ESF-list a proposal was posted by: Globalise Resistance Office to hold the next ESF in London. They claim the "project is gaining broad support in the movement in England". What movement is he/she talking about? And is this Globalise Resistance as horrible as their local affiliate Internationale Socialisten here in Holland? Because that would mean the end of the ESF. It would turn it into some kind of a Bulgarian first of may parade (in the seventies i mean) only now with Che Guevarra flags....
(original posting message:)
The Project for a London European Social Forum in 2004
The project to hold the European Social Forum in London is gaining broad
support in the movement in England. The project has the backing of the
London Mayor.
The vote to support the project at the executive of the South East
Region of
the Trade Union Congress means that the whole spectrum of the trade union
movement in the South of England supports the bid.
This backing was underlined two days ago when the London Executive of the
RMT railworkers' union confirmed its support.
Nationally the Communication Workers' Union and the National Union of
Journalists have backed the proposal. A formal meeting for all the national
trade unions is being organised.
The support of the NGO's is growing. So far War on Want, Friends of the
Earth and Greenpeace have backed the project. A wider group of NGO's is
meeting soon.
The anti war organisations that called the massive demonstrations on
Febuary
15 and since, CND and Stop the War Coalition, are both backing the
project. The Muslim Association of
Britain and Globalise Resistance are also supporting.
The supporting organisations are all committed to broadening backing and
involvement in the process. We hope that among many other groups the London
Social Forum will agree to support and participate in the project.
We urge all interested organisations in England to seek a decision in Paris
on 10 November to confirm that the ESF will come to London in 2004. Should
this decision be taken then the next step will be to establish the
necessary English organizing bodies. This must be done on an
open, democratic, accountable, and inclusive basis, and subject to the
overall direction of the ESF process by the European assembly.
Kate Hudson Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Mick Connolly South east region TUC
Chris Nineham Globalise Resistance
Redmond O'Neill London Mayor's office
Dave Anderson National President, Unison (Personal capacity)
Claire Williams Chair, Northern Region Unison (personal capacity)
(original posting message:)
The Project for a London European Social Forum in 2004
The project to hold the European Social Forum in London is gaining broad
support in the movement in England. The project has the backing of the
London Mayor.
The vote to support the project at the executive of the South East
Region of
the Trade Union Congress means that the whole spectrum of the trade union
movement in the South of England supports the bid.
This backing was underlined two days ago when the London Executive of the
RMT railworkers' union confirmed its support.
Nationally the Communication Workers' Union and the National Union of
Journalists have backed the proposal. A formal meeting for all the national
trade unions is being organised.
The support of the NGO's is growing. So far War on Want, Friends of the
Earth and Greenpeace have backed the project. A wider group of NGO's is
meeting soon.
The anti war organisations that called the massive demonstrations on
Febuary
15 and since, CND and Stop the War Coalition, are both backing the
project. The Muslim Association of
Britain and Globalise Resistance are also supporting.
The supporting organisations are all committed to broadening backing and
involvement in the process. We hope that among many other groups the London
Social Forum will agree to support and participate in the project.
We urge all interested organisations in England to seek a decision in Paris
on 10 November to confirm that the ESF will come to London in 2004. Should
this decision be taken then the next step will be to establish the
necessary English organizing bodies. This must be done on an
open, democratic, accountable, and inclusive basis, and subject to the
overall direction of the ESF process by the European assembly.
Kate Hudson Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Mick Connolly South east region TUC
Chris Nineham Globalise Resistance
Redmond O'Neill London Mayor's office
Dave Anderson National President, Unison (Personal capacity)
Claire Williams Chair, Northern Region Unison (personal capacity)
Comments
Hide the following 6 comments
Just one look at the sponsers should answer you paranoia
20.10.2003 15:27
Mick Connolly South east region TUC
Chris Nineham Globalise Resistance
Redmond O'Neill London Mayor's office
Dave Anderson National President, Unison (Personal capacity)
Claire Williams Chair, Northern Region Unison (personal capacity
Is that Broad enough for you?
Also anyone who has been to the last ESF knows there are plenty of opportunities for autonomists to do their thing (ie the Hub Project at Florence)
Sonic
A non-aligned person speaks
20.10.2003 15:44
Usually middle class (and salaried) Professional Marxist Authoritarian speakers/writers who capitalize on the anti capitalist movements to further their careers. Next name speaker to the podium please!!! Trade Union leaders with knighthoods! Please!
Power centralisation, hierarchies, transparency, and neo liberal marxist collabarateurs.
NGOs that exist solely to reproduce their power base and hence their existance rather than to aid genuine social change. This may be in the form of speding more time on marketing, tshirts, meetings with big business, fund raising, selling memberships, and selling papers that nobody reads.
I suggest having a look at this link
In the UK local social forums ( like the Manchester and London )may be a better step forward in the exchange of ideas as the average person on the street is sick of politicians and that includes the SWP - the don't talk for us so they should shut up!
Also see.
Remember The Liverpool Dockers?
Other analysis
20.10.2003 15:51
Hidden Agenda
How Broad?
20.10.2003 18:14
Seems to me the ESF is related only in name to local Socal Forums. There similarity ends.
steve
SWP
20.10.2003 19:19
Chris Nineham is an SWP organiser, hard core and of many years standing in the inner circle.
How can a ESF not be hijacked by them here - spread the info about them in Paris?
wren
*sigh* pt 97
20.10.2003 22:20
It would be great to have the ESF in London.
Surely then the point is how do we mobilse together to ensure it happens and to ensure it's a success.
In any mass mobilisation you have to work with people you disagree with, get over it. If you really give a sh*t about building the largest possible anti-capitalist mobilisations that is the precondition.
It's easy enough to sit behind the screen pointing out that x is part of orginisation y (although it's hardly a secret) but do not on any account mistake it for anything useful.
Sonic