We, representatives from Nordic Attac groups, have discussed the possibility of having a Nordic Social Forum (NSF) as part of the Polycentric Social Forum in January 2006, during a European Attac meeting in Hvaler, Norway. The idea of a Nordic Social Forum as such received a positive response - we are open to contributing to its realisation at the appropriate moment. However, there are also a number of reservations on our behalf, especially regarding early 2006. Here are some arguments we consider relevant for the discussion:

1. Time as a resource We think that January 2006 is far too soon for us to be able to build a good process and a good event. Although contributing to the Polycentric Social Forum would be in our interest, we see it as rather difficult to mobilise with this time frame, especially bearing in mind that both the process and the event must have enough quality to be representative of the WSF if we are part of the polycentric forum. Otherwise, we might actually do both the WSF and ourselves a disfavour, by presenting the process as less than it is/should be.

2. Nordic networks are still in development
The Nordic civil society network and social movements do not seem strong enough to create a proper preparatory process. It must be admitted that an NSF would significantly contribute to the construction work of Nordic networks, but the current state of Nordic networks might also pose problems for the process. This issues has admittedly two sides to it. Still, we feel it is probably more effective at this stage to develop our networks through other means than an NSF.

3. Too many social forums? As activists we sometimes feel that we already spend too much time working on social forums. The existing forums on different levels take a lot of time to prepare. One possible solution proposed is to skip the national or (in Sweden) local forums next year if an NSF takes place. Our concern is that this would be likely to undermine the commitment and work of people who have invested their time, effort and energy in the national/local forums. It seems clear from the consultation process so far that in Norway and Sweden the existing forums are well underway, and that the people and organisations involved are not particularly tempted by the idea of changing time and place for their events. This must of course be respected. In addition, our participation to the European Social Forum process - where the Nordics are sorely underrepresented - would probably also suffer from us organising an NSF.

4. NSF at the service of widening the SF-process constituency
One of the key challenges of national/local social forums is to widen their own constituencies. As the networks at the Nordic level don't seem all that strong, it is difficult to see how an NSF would serve to do this.

5. An IC or a Nordic initiative?
An NSF was brought onto our agenda this time since the idea was discussed within the International Council of the World Social Forum. An NSF has also been discussed in recent years among Nordic activists, and although the idea has received reserved support, it has never been perceived as good enough to be given priority under current circumstances. This has mainly been due to reasons 2-4 above. We do not in any way question the good intentions of the IC, but we feel an NSF can only be possible when the Nordics themselves see that they need it.

6. Finally, what about funding?
The biggest practical question that emerges is funding. From our perspective, the interested parties do not seem to be in a position to mobilise sufficient financial resources within this time frame.

Our conclusion, as might be obvious by now, is that we do not think that organising an NSF for 2006 is a good idea. But as there definitely might be something to the idea of having an NSF, we suggest the idea to be kept in mind for the years to come. Time is not ripe for an NSF, but one must never say never. Our proposal would be to maybe look back into this in time for 2008.

Respectively in our personal capacities

Karen Landmark, Attac Norway
Anders Lund, Attac Denmark
Mikko Sauli, Attac Finland
Helena Tagesson, Attac Sweden