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.