Next Open Space Dialogue to discuss building an Irish Social Forum : Thurs Evening 17th April

national | public consultation / irish social forum | news report Tuesday April 15, 2003 12:44 by Barry Finnegan (Interm ISF Convenor) john.finnegan3 at mail dot dcu dot ie 01-8741223

at Cultivate - Sustainable Living Centre in Dublin from 7.30p.m. to 9.30p.m.

Hello all, this is a reminder that the next open space dialogue and planning meeting for Irish civil society to discuss building an Irish Social Forum (ISF) will take place this Thursday 17th April 2003 at Cultivate - Sustainable Living Centre in Dublin from 7.30p.m. to 9.30p.m. (details below).

Attached two-page document says:
Irish Social Forum - Invitation To Join The Open Space Process - Would You
Like To Get Involved In The Process Of Building An Irish Social Forum? Read
On... Another World Is Possible!

Attached to this email is a two-page RTF document inviting you to become
involved with the ISF process and giving details of the ideas and purpose
behind it. [If you cannot open it please reply; alternatively, text version
reprinted below.] [The website www.IrishSocialForum.org WIL NOT be up and
running until Friday 18th April].

Below you will find weblinks to minutes of previous open space dialogue
meetings for the ISF; you will also find weblinks to the World Social Forum
and the European Social Forum and more information about what the ideas
of Social Forums are.

If this is the first email you have received from the interim convenor for
the process it is because:
1. You have forwarded your email or placed your email details on an ISF
info list, or,
2. A member of, or sympathiser with your group, feels that your group should
get involved with building the Irish Social Forum.

Thanks for your time,
all the best,
in solidarity,
Barry Finnegan
- interim convenor of the open space dialogue meetings for Irish civil society
to build an Irish Social Forum. Email: [email protected] Phone:
01-8741223
=================

HOW TO GET TO CULTIVATE¡K.

The next meeting (the 7th so far) will be from 7.30 to 9.30pm on Thursday
the 17th of April 2003 at the Cultivate: Sustainable Living Centre, (the
former ¡§Viking Adventure Centre¡¨), 15-19 Essex St. West, Old City, Temple
Bar, Dublin 8. [ After crossing the Capel Street bridge from north to south,
Essex St. West is the first right off Parliament St., walk along there and
its on your right hand side, with big plate glass windows opposite a bakery
and the shop Does Not Compute.

If you are unable to attend the ISF open space dialogue meeting this Thursday
and would like to contribute please reply by email and your questions,
suggestions
etc will be raised on your behalf.
====================

THE PROCESS IN IRELAND SO FAR¡K

- minutes of the last one, the 6th, will be available by Thursday¡K

minutes of the 5th Open Space dialogue meeting for Irish civil society to
build an Irish Social Forum which took place on the 21st March 2003
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=40059
==========================
February 2003. The minutes of the 3rd Open Space dialogue meeting for Irish
Civil Society to build an Irish Social Forum on the Indymedia newswire at:
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=30211
==========================
February 2003. The Minutes of 2nd Open Space Meeting to establish Irish
Social Forum are
on the Indymedia newswire at:
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=28604
===========================
December 2002. The Minutes of 1st Open Space dialogue meeting for Irish
civil society to discuss the idea of an Irish Social Forum are on the Indymedia
newswire at:
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=30212
===========================
December 2002. The text of the Call to the Open Space get-together for civil
society groups on the island of Ireland to discuss a proposal to create
an Irish Social Forum is on the Indymedia newswire at:
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=30214
===========================

WEBLINKS TO THE WORLD AND EUROPEAN SOCIAL FORUMS¡K..

WHAT IS THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM (WSF) (see this link):
http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/main.asp?id_menu=19&cd_language=2

WHAT IS THE WSF CHARTER OF PRINCIPLES? (see this link):
http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/main.asp?id_menu=4&cd_language=2

ORIGINS AND AIMS OF THE WSF (see this link):
http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/main.asp?id_menu=2_1&cd_language=2

WHO ORGANIZES THE WSF (see this link):
http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/main.asp?id_menu=3&cd_language=2

PROGRAMME OF THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM 23RD - 28TH FEB. 2003 (see this link):
http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/main.asp?id_menu=7&cd_language=2

ALL DOCUMENTS, PROPOSALS, SYNTHESIS AND FINAL DECLARATIONS OF THE 2003 WSF
WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON (see this link):
http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/noticias_01.asp?cd_news=471

WHAT ARE THE REGIONAL AND THEMATIC SOCIAL FORUMS (see this link):
http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/main.asp?id_menu=11&cd_language=2

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FORUM, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN FLORENCE,
ITALY FROM 6TH -10TH NOVEMBER 2002 (see this link):
http://www.fse-esf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=1
======================================

Irish Social Forum
Invitation to join the open space process

Would you like to get involved in the process of building an Irish Social
Forum? Read on...

Another world is possible!

"Business as usual" is hurting people and the planet
?h Neo-liberal economics: increased globalisation of capitalism, privatisation
and commodification of services, "externalisation" of environmental and
social costs;
?h War: one "coalition of the willing" after another to attack Afghanistan,
Iraq, North Korea, Iran, Yemen.... and the militarisation of policing opposition
in the "free world";
?h Racism: a two-tier world of citizens and migrants, ever more deaths at
the border of "Fortress Europe", discrimination and prejudice in everything
from housing to the media.

In Ireland:
?h A "social partnership" which offers less and less to the community and
voluntary sector, which many trade unions are now voting against ... but
keeps wages low and cuts CE schemes;
?h The World Economic Forum, an elite think-tank of economists, businessmen,
and politicians dedicated to neo-liberalism, is coming to Ireland in October.
The theme: "Competition";
?h From January to June 2004 Ireland will hold the Presidency of the European
Union. After the Government's behaviour over Shannon, what can we expect
from them?

The alternative: cooperation from below
?h Worldwide movements of ordinary people and long-standing activists against
the war in Iraq. After the protests of February 15th, the New York Times
called us "the other superpower";
?h The European Social Forum which called for the day of action on February
15th: 60,000 activists took part last year, under the theme "Another world
is possible";
?h The World Social Forum in Porto Alegre (Brazil) which brings together
social movements from round the world: environmentalists, community groups,
women's organisations...

In Ireland:
?h Irish participants at the European Social Forum called for the establishment
of an Irish Social Forum to encourage ordinary people's participation and
make connections across sectors;
?h This is part of a worldwide coming together of different social movements
struggling to build alternatives and reduce poverty towards a sustainable
and equitable world;
?h The underlying principle is to communicate and cooperate with each other,
not place all our faith in lobbying the state or in market mechanisms.

Join in!
?h The method so far is to create an open space for participation and dialogue
without predetermining the agenda. In this way groups from a wide range
of backgrounds are participating in, and being invited to be part of, the
network. This means you!
?h On May 24th, participants will be holding an open day at the Convergence
festival in Dublin to broaden the networking process further and express
what has been achieved so far. If you're interested in setting up your own
local forum, why not come along and find out how other people are doing
it? If you want to input to the day, get in touch! A programme will be available
by early May.
?h In June the Irish Social Forum will be formally constituted, on the basis
of the groups, movements and organisations who have become involved up to
that point.

The Irish Social Forum process
How is it working?
?h The Irish people who went to the European Social Forum last November
wanted an Irish Social Forum, but agreed that it had to be broadened beyond
the groups already involved;
?h There are currently fortnightly open meetings in Dublin, and other meetings
being organised around Ireland, for those interested in discussing what
an Irish Social Forum should be;
?h The Forum will be set up formally in June, drawing on all these discussions
and expressing the broadest possible base of Irish civil society, social
movements and voluntary groups.

Who's involved so far?
?h Environmental, sustainable development, and ecological groups and activists
?h Development and global justice organisations
?h Community development and community arts workers and networks
?h Political parties and anti-globalisation groups
?h Trade unions
?h Alternative and independent media
?h Supportive academics
?h Peace groups

We want to reach out further and include as many different sectors as possible:

e.g. the women's movement, disability activists, gay / lesbian / bisexual
/ trans organisations, spiritual and faith communities, Traveller and immigrant
groups...

So far there is general consensus around:
?h The Forum development process as outlined above
?h Organising events around the World Economic Forum and the Irish EU Presidency
?h The aim of maximising inclusivity and diversity across sectors
?h Willingness to listen to and work with each other, even when we don't
agree!
?h Our goal is to build a "movement of movements"

The Irish Social Forum is open to formal organisations and informal groups
from any part of Irish society. Its purpose is to articulate the needs felt
within Irish society as a powerful statement of the "other world" that is
not only possible but is already "under construction" in many areas - and
to oppose the relentless future that the World Economic Forum and the EU
- as well as the rich and the powerful here in Ireland - tell us we have
no choice but to accept.

We are a dedicated, non-party political forum that does not intend to duplicate
the work of existing networks:
?h it is not restricted to a single sector, but aims to make links across
sectors, issues and movements;
?h it is not focussed on influencing policy or seeking funding, but aims
to express our own views publicly and support the process we are already
engaged in of "building another world";
?h it is not a thinktank, but a forum for the democratic debate and public
expression of the views of groups working on the key issues felt and experienced
by ordinary Irish people;
?h it is not restricted e.g. to voluntary activity, particular professions
or centres of a particular kind, but aims to make links across our different
ways of organising and operating.

Would you like to get involved in the process of building an Irish Social
Forum?

Contact:
Barry Finnegan, interim ISF convenor. Tel: email:01-8741223
[email protected]

For more information: www.IrishSocialForum.org