[Marxism] Fwd: Report On Socialism 2005 Conference

[Alex Briscoe <obeynow20001@xxxxxxxxx>]

Alex Briscoe <obeynow20001@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 08:13:33 
-0700 (PDT)
From: Alex Briscoe <obeynow20001@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Report On Socialism 2005 Conference
To: Illinoisgreensfocus <illinoisgreensfocus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
GreenAllianceList2 <greenallianceus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
GreenAllianceCookCounty <greenalliancecookcounty@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Green All Views <green_all_views@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
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Report On Socialism 2005 Conference



There were approximately 1,000 people in attendance at the Socialism 2005 
Conference in Chicago on July 4th weekend.  Most people in attendance were 
members of the ISO from what I could tell: mostly young, white, upper middle 
class energetic committed activists with a smaller layer of Black, Latino, 
Asian and white working class activists.



At the Greens For Democracy and Independence forum, there were about 100 
people, mostly ISO or ISO/Green dual members.  Howie H, Peter C, Rebecca R 
presented on GDI, Green elected officials, and role of the Green Party in 
providing an opportunity to break from the two corporate parties and even build 
a Left Populist/Anti-capitalist political current with more more breadth in the 
U.S.



Other prominent Greens in attendance were: Forrest H, Rachel O, James L.  I 
also met Brandy B and her fiancé/fellow activist Myles H from the Charm City 
Green Alliance.  Also Mark L from Ohio.  I serendipitously ran into Josh Frank 
and girlfriend at the bar on Saturday night in a quite amusing encounter.



Forrest H was interested in how we could revitalize and recruit for the 
Illinois Green Party.  Mark Lause said that he would be very interested in 
forming a regional Midwest Greens network to coordinate activities and 
political campaigns.  I mentioned that I seemed to be the only coordinator in 
the Chicago area for member recruitment (although of course I do have support). 
 I mentioned Jen W in Champaign as the other IGP person actively involved in 
recruiting.  Unfortunately, I will probably be out of town for the next two 
months to a year and will only be able to call and email folks to try and 
mobilize them.  I worry about having a replacement that can show up at events, 
coordinate, etc.



GDI members also had a caucus Saturday night.  Among other things, it was 
suggested that we have a membership organization, focus the listserve more, 
support and coordinate campaigns for 2006 as a lead up for the 2008 Convention. 
 Also, GDIers talked about playing a role in revitalizing the Campus Greens 
organization, starting from California.  This could bring in more active Greens 
for movement and electoral campaign work.



Brandy mentioned that their group in Baltimore had been stymied by state level 
bureaucrats in forming a Green Alliance Local- the state bureaucrats wouldn?t 
recognize a GA affiliated Local.  To which I replied, declare yourself a club 
for now and keep organizing.  Brandy also mentioned her frustration with too 
much discussion on the GA-US list and not enough organizing.  To which I 
replied, that?s why the CC screens posts now, and why I encourage folks to post 
first on what sort of GA relevant organizing they?re doing locally.  At any 
rate, I think I got Brandy and Myles re-interested in the GA.



I have to mention that the GA table was off in a room that was originally 
unmarked, away from the main flow of traffic.  As far as I can tell, this has 
been done because: half of the groups there are competing, sectarian 
organizations; the ISO doesn?t want any competition from other groups or 
bookstores.  This is unfortunate; hopefully it is something that can be 
improved upon, at least for the non-sectarian organizations and bookstores.  
Anyway, only about 20 people showed up during the course of my Saturday 
afternoon tabling and only one person signed up for more information.



The Saturday night plenary on Resisting War and Empire was very spirited and 
energetic.  Camilo Mejia, Victor Paredes, Peter Camejo, Cindy Corrie and Ahmed 
Shawki spoke.  There were about 1,000 people in attendance.  I took photos 
which should be posted soon on the Green Alliance website.



One of the other forums I attended was on Revolutionary Europe 1918 to 1923.  
The center of the discussion was around the lack of a revolutionary party and 
why they were not built in Western Europe (lack of initiative in building a 
current inside the social democratic parties dominated by reformist 
bureaucrats) and what the consequences were (fascism, tens of millions dead).   
 People there (about 30) were concerned about the topic of what we do today; 
some people understood that we have to reach out to the broader population 
through vehicles like the Green Party, other comrades seemed to think that the 
broader population (or a very large layer of it) could be recruited directly 
into the ISO.



This was an important discussion and I wish that we had more time for 
discussion; what I?ll say is that it?s imperative that revolutionaries build 
the Green Party, recruit as many people of color and workers as possible, many 
of whom will think in a Left Populist framework for the time being.  Some will 
join the ISO, Solidarity, Green Alliance etc- that is, think and act as 
anti-capitalists.  However, the more people we can organize and educate through 
the Green Party, the larger an audience we will have for pro-working class and 
revolutionary ideas in the future.



We need to reach out in this way to the broadest layer of people possible in 
this way; time is growing short: economic indicators are showing that we could 
be facing a very bad world recession or depression and the ongoing world 
ecological crisis means that we may only have 20 to 60 years before humans 
start dying off in the billions.  The more responsibility we take now for being 
active, political and non-sectarian, the better chance we have for helping to 
create a world that is sane, just and democratic.



Alex Briscoe, member

Illinois Green Party

Green Alliance USA




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http://www.thegreenalliance.org
http://www.greens4democracy.net
http://www.democracyrising.us
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http://www.marxsite.com

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http://www.ilgp.org
http://www.thegreenalliance.org
http://www.greens4democracy.net
http://www.democracyrising.us
http://www.labornotes.org
http://www.solidarity-us.org
http://www.internationalviewpoint.org
http://www.marxsite.com
                
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