[DEBATE] : The WSF and Political Agency; NIGD News and Notes Issue 08/06

[Ruby van der Wekken]

NIGD News and Notes  Issue 08/06: The WSF and Political Agency

In this issue:
I. Report on Durban meeting about WSF Nairobi
by Immanuel Wallerstein
II. The Intercontinental Youth Camp 2001-2005: Linking Open Space Activism,
the World Social Forum, and Imaginaries for Alternative Worlds
by Dan Morrison
III. Librarian Workshop in Nairobi: Training of the Trainers
by Mikael Böök
IV. World Public Finances
V. Rendezvous with NIGD
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I. Report on Durban meeting about WSF Nairobi
by Immanuel Wallerstein
Durban, South Africa hosted a two-day meeting, 22-23 July 2006, originally
conceived to discuss the strains of thinking within the WSF, as well as
possibilities for Nairobi, but morphed into a discussion of how to increase
African participation in the WSF. Immanuel Wallerstein reports back from the
meeting, highlighting the sentiments of African activists towards local
struggles and there link to the WSF. Is the WSF moving in the wrong
direction or is the level of debate and positive activism a sign of
considerable health?
http://www.nigd.org/docs/DurbanWSFSeminarJuly2006ImmanuelWallerstein

2. Debate on the WSF and Political Agency: Strategies, Movements and Actions
compiled by Ruby van der Wekken
An exchange of ideas took place under the context of preparations for the
WSF-related meetings in Durban, South Africa, and in reaction to the article
by Roberto Savio (IPS), "World Social forum: the cradle of global civil
society". Authors of the used debate fragments are: Susan George (TNI),
Matti Kohonen (TJN & NIGD), Antonio Martins (Liberdade Brasil & NIGD),
Heikki Patomäki (NIGD) and Peter Waterman (NIGD).
http://www.nigd.org/docs/WSFDebateJuly2006

3. Report Content and Methodology commission WSF International Council
by Francine Mestrum
The consultation process on the WSF 2007 was launched in June in order to
have more and better contacts within social movements, to have debate on the
content, and to have a democratic way to define the thematic axes. Francine
Mestrum reports back from the Methodology and Content Commission meeting
held in Rome, 6-7 July 2006 providing an overview of the preparation process
for WSF 2007, the consultation process, and the organization of Nairobi.
This new dimension will help define issues and strategies, “the ‘memory’ of
the forum has to be used to prepare the future and to define what direction
to take.”
http://www.nigd.org/wsf/1153336182/index_html


II.The Intercontinental Youth Camp 2001-2005: Linking Open Space Activism,
the World Social Forum, and Imaginaries for Alternative Worlds
by Dan Morrison
The Intercontinental Youth Camp is a creative effort to turn a space for
temporary living into a social world of alternative practices challenging
daily life under neoliberal globalisation; it is an expression of
experimental social activism, the politics of collective self-management,
and the celebration of spontaneous cultural expression. Dan Morrison
previews his central thesis argumentation which ends on a critical note that
the IYC process has not lived up to its imaginaries. In two parts:
http://www.nigd.org/docs/DanMorrisonYouthCamp2006I
http://www.nigd.org/docs/DanMorrisonYouthCamp2006II

2.The Social Forum Movement: History and Future Directions
by Marc Becker
Marc Becker reports from a roundtable discussion held at the Midwest Social
Forum, in July 2006, about the history and future directions of social
forums on a local, national, and global level. Maintaining social relations
is essential for building a social movement and this discussion touches key
elements, such as, taking advantage of a teachable and buildable moment,
linking local and global issues, and overcoming the individualized nature of
society.
http://www.nigd.org/docs/MidwestSocialForum2006HistoryFutureMarcBecker

3. Midwest Social Forum 2006
by Marc Becker
 Milwaukee, Wisconsin hosted the 2006 Midwest Social Forum (MWSF) in July
bringing together activists from the Midwest for three days to discuss a
range of topics including, immigration and racial justice. Acknowledging the
growing numbers of detractors from within the movement, Marc Becker reflects
on the persistent problems that haunt social forums and the misconceptions
they foster. Can the MWSF bring about a willingness to recognize, engage,
and address problems with the forum as well as in broader society?
http://www.nigd.org/docs/MidwestSocialForum2006MarcBecker


III. Librarian Workshop in Nairobi: Training of the Trainers
by Mikael Böök
NIGD assisted in the planning and realisation of a 3-day workshop in Nairobi
on 3-5 July, 2006. 30 East African librarians prepared themselves to be both
active citizens and information professionals during their participation at
the Nairobi WSF 2007. The workshop was conceived as "training of the
trainers", and follow-up workshops are planned in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
ahead of the WSF. The documentation project aims at extending the WSF
process through the preservation and dissemination of information about the
WSF in public libraries. The July workshop was arranged under the auspices
of the Kenya Library Association with financial support from the Finnish
Embassy in Nairobi. A day-by-day- report by Kenyan librarians Jane Sange and
Fred Kachero, workshop papers by Shiraz Durrani (PALIAct, UK),  Mikael Böök
(NIGD, Finland), Esther Obachi (KLA, Kenya) and Mary Wanjohi (PALIAct,
Kenya), and photos are available.
http://www.nigd.org/libraries/bamako-nairobi/tot-workshop.


IV. World Public Finances
The WPF initiative is a platform created by various NGOs through the WSF
process, and it uses the WSF methodology to create proposals to regulate the
global financial market for the purpose of welfare for all citizens of the
world. A new concept paper has now been drafted which includes a proposal
for the WPF activities at the WSF Nairobi 2007. Join the initiative!
http://www.nigd.org/docs/WPF


V. Rendezvous with NIGD
See our Rendezvous page
http://www.nigd.org/rendezvous
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Dear NIGD Members and Friends,

This is our NIGD News & Notes August 2006 issue. We will be glad to receive
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Robyn Milburn, and Ruby van der Wekken, with the support of Katarina Sehm
Patomäki.
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