[A-List] Re: realistic revolutionary alternative - was GFA.

["brendan holland" <brendan.holland@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> James Daly writes -- "I would like to hear discussion of the realistic
> revolutionary alternative."
> http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/marxism/2003w24/msg00140.htm
> http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/a-list/2003w24/msg00084.htm
>  The anti-neoliberal, anti-imperialist discussion/action phase has already
> started......."a
> movement of movements".....
> >>
>
>
> 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:
>
> Neo-liberal economics: increased globalisation of capitalism,
privatisation
> and commodification of services, "externalisation" of environmental and
> social costs
>
> 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"
>
> 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:
>
> 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
>
> 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"
>
> 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
>
> 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"
>
> 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"
>
> 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:
>
> 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
>
> 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
>
> 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!
>
> 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!
>
> 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
>
> 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?
>
> 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
>
> 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
>
> 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?
>
> Environmental, sustainable development, and ecological groups and
activists
>
> Development and global justice organisations
>
> Community development and community arts workers and networks
>
> Political parties and anti-globalisation groups
>
> Trade unions
>
> Alternative and independent media
>
> Supportive academics
>
> 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:
>
> The Forum development process as outlined above
>
> Organising events around the World Economic Forum and the Irish EU
> Presidency
>
> The aim of maximising inclusivity and diversity across sectors
>
> Willingness to listen to and work with each other, even when we don't
agree!
>
> 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:
>
> it is not restricted to a single sector, but aims to make links across
> sectors, issues and movements
>
> 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"
>
> 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
>
> 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.
> http://www.bluegreenearth.com/site/appeals_campaigns/campaign1.html
>
>
>
>
> The above is more or less an announcement. For more extensive and current
> coverage go to the Dublin site.....
> http://www.irishsocialforum.org/
>
> A North East Ireland forum has just opened in Belfast this week.
>
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=52767&search_text=irish%20soci
> al%20forum
> Otherwise go to http://www.indymedia.ie/index.php  type in irish social
> forum on search and the Belfast report will come up.
>
> Also, back in Dublin there is a Grassroots Gathering this weekend.
> http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=52836
>
> with discussion on that page.......
>
> by Libertarian Friday, Jun 27 2003, 1:55pm
> Don't touch that farce called the "Irish Social Forum" (ISF). Its full of
> middle class refomist shitheads like Deirdre De Burca, Barry Finnegan,
Cian
> O'Callaghan, other Labour Party and Green Party shitheads and NGOs all of
> whom have a problem with people even fucking marching in Dublin on the
20TH
> October, never mind a mass blockade of the WEF summit or any other direct
> action. So my advice to the rest of the Grassroots Gathering is avoid the
> ISF like the plague (That they are) and don't touch them with a barge
pole.
> Avoid! Avoid! Avoid! Avoid!
>
>
> Methinks libertarian may be an SWP muppet
> by Badman Friday, Jun 27 2003, 3:20pm
> Since the SWP is currently trying to take the ISF over, it would be very
> convenient if the libertarians were to ignore it.
>
> And I'd a hundred times rather work with Cian O C. or Barry F. than with
the
> r-r-r-revolutionaries and their little lenin leaders. They're honest and
> have a bit of bottle, won't cave in at the merest hint of confrontation
and
> they're not touts.
>
> I can't wait to see the SWP 'blockade' - it'll probably be a 5 minute sit
> down in a suburban cul de sac.
>
> ................whatever.
>
>
> The South African situation mirrors ours a lot in for example the way the
> anti-imperialist struggle has been rewritten as one of equality following
an
> early 90's peace process
> For the South African experience of  "a network of movements" in
opposition
> to the neoliberalism of the Congress Alliance.
> http://aidc.org.za/web/readon.php?ID=3
> On this site there is an enlightening  polemic for the Irish experience
> between Cronin of the SACP and Saul, a supporter of the "revival of
> resistance already under way." In other words - How can you be against
> neoliberalism when you administer it?
> http://www.aidc.org.za/web/units.php?id=4
> The exchange is partly centred on a public apology Cronin gave to the ANC
> leadership following his criticism of their  neoliberalism given in an
> interview with Helena Sheehan.
> http://www.comms.dcu.ie/sheehanh/za/cronin02.htm
> That debate continues this month.
> http://www.monthlyreview.org/
>
>
>
>
> James also writes..... " I think the antipartitionist element in
> Irish anti-imperialist politics is dead".
> http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/marxism/2003w24/msg00008.htm
>
> In answer to to this here is a discussion from one of the earliest of the
> ISF meetings (feb'03) and possibly the Belfast meeting above was the fruit
> of it........
>
>  Chuck [from Cork] Monday, Feb 24 2003, 9:48am
> "It was agreed more effort should be made to involve rural and Northern
> groups"
> You might have some chance of achieving these aims if you held meetings in
> rural and northern areas!
>
>
> response to 'Thoughts by Chuck'
> by Barry Finnegan Monday, Feb 24 2003, 4:39pm
> Chuck,
> Thank you, it is always to great to get some feed back. Your comments are
> noted and will be raised at the next meeting. Might I suggest that you
read
> the minutes of the meetings and have a look at who attended. Then you
could
> contact whatever group, network, circle of friends etc that you identify
> with and perhaps send a representative to the next meeting.
>
> Then in relation to your comment "You might have some chance of achieving
> these aims if you held meetings in rural and northern areas!" I suggest
you
> print out the minutes and attendees of the meetings so far, read up on the
> World and European Social Fora, come along to the next meeting yourself
and
> /or you could call a meeting in your town or city or rural or northern
area
> and discuss the Social Forum idea with groups and individuals from various
> sectors of civil society in your part of the country.
> http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?id=30211
>
>
> >>>
> It seems to me whichever way you swing Irish Left politics that its like a
> magnet and always ends, by nature, pointing North.
>
>
>
>
>
>