ESF Reportback + Future of ISF Discussion Meeting

national | public consultation / irish social forum | event notice Friday October 29, 2004 18:49 by Barry Finnegan - on behalf of ISF Outreach Working Group john.finnegan3 at mail dot dcu dot ie 085-1423 454

Co-Hosted By: ISF Outreach Working Group, DAPSE, AEIP & Comhlamh.

2pm to 5pm, Saturday 6th November, 2004. Teachers Club, Dublin 1.

Details:

ESF Feedback & ISF Future Visions Meeting: Details Below

------------------------------------------------------------ Background:

Prior to the Irish Social Forum (ISF) in early October and the European Social Forum (ESF) which was the following weekend, the ISF Working Groups weekly meeting discussed co-hosting a report-back meeting from the ESF in London. We intended to assist in bringing together different sectors and perspectives from the Global Justice Movement (or whatever you want to call it) to have an open discussion about how people got on over in London.

The second objective we outlined was to take the opportunity of the gathering to discuss peoples future visions for the ISF and to take action based on these discussions.

So if you want to learn more about the ESF and the ISF do come along, and/or if you want to share your views about the ESF and the ISF please come along.

Prior to the meeting, it may be helpful for you to read the World Social Forum Charter of Principles under the articles of which the ISF and the ESF takes place:

Charter

Solidarity, - Barry Finnegan
2.00 to 2.30pm:
The first 20 to 30 minutes will consist of seven report-backs of impressions and experiences of the European Social Forum (ESF) which took place in London on the weekend of 15th to the 17th of October this year which had over 20,000 in attendance. Where possible report-backs will be from ESF attendees rather than from those who spoke at ESF top-tables. The purpose of these report-backs is to stimulate the discussion and to get impressions from the different sectors/perspectives that travelled from Ireland to the ESF representing:
- trade unionism
- anti-war/ anti-imperialism
- development/ trade justice
- feminism
- republicanism
- community/ youth
- pro-democracy & anti-EU Constitution

2.30 to 3.15pm
Open Space Discussion Groups: Rather than having everyone listening to and talking about all possible topics and not being able to get into topics in depth, this way of dialogue works as follows:

(a) - people who want to, grab a marker and large sheet of paper and write down the topic they wish to discuss and stick it on the wall (e.g.: further personal accounts of the ESF, the ESF process, analysis and planning debate and action around the statement of the Assembly of Social Movements from London, etc etc)

(b) - people then go around, look at the discussion topics on the wall, and write their name down on the sheet they are most interested in. This is a good way to find out if people want to talk about the same things you do. Sometimes topics are similar so people join them together.

(c) - people then break up into discussion groups based on these topic. The person who suggested the idea acts as facilitator or else the group appoints someone else. You will need a time-keeper and a minute-taker as well as someone who will report back to the larger group as to what people said, how people felt, and if they wish to make suggestions for further debate and/or action. It is important that in these discussions as many people as possible get a chance to have their say. If the dialogue is to be meaningful it is important that people are straight-up with each other and say what groups they are active with and say what parties they are members of.

3.15 to 3.30
The Open Space discussion groups report back to the larger group as stated above.

3.30 to 3.40
Break.

3.40 to 5.00
Discussion on the future visions for the Irish Social Forum process(es)

(e.g.: the next ESF is not until Spring 2006 in Greece - do we want to wait until around then to have another ISF, do we want to build more local social forums - concentrate on the towns and cities we live in, do we want to have a series of say six one-day social forums on particular topics over the course of eight months, do we want to get rid of Plenaries all together, why is there not more involvement from outside Dublin in ISF process etc etc etc.)
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To get on the ISF Working Groups elist mail: john.finnegan3@mail.dcu or visit www.IrishSocialForum.org

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