Weekly Dublin Social Forum Meetings on Mondays To Build 2nd ISF (Oct '04) + Minutes.

national | public consultation / irish social forum | event notice Friday July 23, 2004 14:44 by Barry Finnegan - Dublin Social Forum Working Group/ Irish Social Forum Communications Working Group. john.finnegan3 at mail dot dcu dot ie 085-1423454/ 01-8309649

Minutes of Dublin Social Forum Working Group Meeting, Wednesday, July 14th 2004.

Mondays were agreed (with input from those who couldn’t make it) as the best day to hold future meetings. Next meeting is to take place on Monday, 26th July 2004, 7pm, same venue [Comhlamh offices, 19 Camden Street, Dublin.]

Minutes of Dublin Social Forum Working Group Meeting, Wednesday, July 14th 2004.
Future Meetings: same venue, Mondays, 7pm to 8.30pm.
Comhlamh offices, 19 Camden Street, Dublin.

Agenda:
1. European Social Forum
2. 2nd Irish Social Forum / Dublin Social Forum
3. Buildings
4. Plenaries
5. Website
6. A.O.B.

Attendance:
Róisín Dwyer; Jane Carrigan; Duncan Crowley (Indymedia); Siobhán Clancey; Paul Kinsella (CPSU); María Arce; Robbie Sinnott (NEAR FM); Barry Finnegan (ATTAC); Miren-Maialen Samper; Ciaran Moore.

Apologies:
Niamh Keating; Clare Lee; Deirdre deBurca (Green Party Cllr. Wicklow); Christian Volkman; Michael O’Connell; Jean Somers (Debt and Development); Mark Greehan (Sinn Fein); Donnacha O’Broin (ATTAC); Mary Kinane (Comhlamh Trade Group); Ian McDonald (Comhlamh Trade Group); Mark O’Connor; Brendan Young (DAPSE); Paul Butler, Rory Ahern (Another Europe Is Possible/ SWP).

Minutes: Ciaran Moore
Chair: Barry Finnegan

1.
Ciaran Moore gave a brief summary of the planning to date on the European Social Forum (ESF) in London scheduled for the 14 - 17th October. He outlined the various groups who have been involved in this and some of the history of the organising, including the Alexander Palace plans and some of the events planned for Bloomsbury including the Indymedia UK plans and the Communication Rights Forum. The plenary and workshop planning process was discussed and the ESF website www.fse-esf.org was mentioned.

Duncan Crowley asked whether the World Social Forum Charter of Principles were generally agreed on. This was confirmed.

It was proposed that the Irish Social Forum Working Groups should examine these plans and look to engage with the process. Agreed. It was noted that Sheffield and Manchester also had Social Forums. The Irish experience of campaigning against EU treaties was mentioned as an area which should be brought to London.

2.
Barry Finnegan raised the issue of whether the proposed event in Dublin should be an Irish Social Forum or Dublin Social Forum. After some discussion it was agreed that it should be an Irish Social Forum subject to contact with the regional social fora - in South East, Cork and North East in
particular.

The weekend of 1st October and weekend of 8th October were both discussed, the 1st being preferred and to be explored further.

3.
In discussion of buildings, three venues were mentioned.

Contact had been made with the UCD students centre which could be available, subject to the holding of an Irish Education Forum which could be taking place at the same time. Barry Finnegan to confirm with Mark Grehan.

The ATGWU had been contacted and the hall in Middle Abbey street was provisionally made available.

Duncan Crowley mentioned the possibility of Bolton Street being available.

The decision was made that it would be preferable for the event to take place in the city centre but the ATGWU hall would not be suitable for the full day programme on the weekend. Provisionally agreed to hold the Friday night in the ATGWU and then look at Bolton street or UCD for the Saturday.

Decision to confirm venue and date by 1st August.

4.
Plenaries

Barry gave the background to the postponed plans for a Social Forum in May/June which had been initially going to focus on the proposed EU Constitution. While this work should not be ignored it was felt that the Forum should be widened out to include other issues.

It was proposed that the Friday evening should focus on the Social Forum process, in particular the upcoming European event in London.

Migration was discussed as a Plenary Theme for the 2nd ISF - both experience of migrants coming to Ireland and of Irish migrants. Other ideas suggested were: Fair trade, Irish Heritage Destruction; Anti-War; Democratisation of The Media; Tactics For The Global Justice Movement: Political Parties/ Everyday Practical/ Non-violent Direct Actions?;

It was agreed that model of the ESF where workshops could be proposed online and all proposals were visible on the website should be investigated.

5.
Website

Ciaran Moore took on to deliver a sample interactive website which would allow non-technical people to edit / add content. There was discussion on what the relationship to Indymedia should be - need to avoid duplicating debate and discussion.

It was agreed to buy a dedicated hosting plan for the website to enable mailing lists etc. instead of the shared space currently used.

6.
A.O.B.

The concept of a youth forum was raised - this was opposed, especially by Robbie Sinnott who felt this could be exclusionary.

Outreach to individuals and groups around the island was discussed and linked both to expanding beyond the NGO area from the previous social forum, and also, to link into mobilisations for the 3rd ESF in London.

Mondays were agreed (with input from those who couldn’t make it) as the best day to hold future meetings. Next meeting is to take place on Monday, 26th July, same venue.
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More info see: http://www.irishsocialforum.org/ for info on 1st ISF.

All the best,
Barry Finnegan
- on behalf of the DSF Working Group and, the ISF Communications Working Group.
Email: john.finnegan3@mail.dcu.ie
Phone: 085-1423454/ 01-8309649
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