Notes from the 3rd and 4th days of the meeting of the International Council (IC) of the World Social Forum in Nairobi from the 19th to 22nd March
by Mikael Böök

The reports of three commissions (Communications, Resources, Methodology) were discussed and decided upon. The fourth Commission (Strategy) did not report, but its agenda for the planning for the WSFs after Nairobi 2007, was discussed.

INTERPRETATION DURING THE WSF

In the discussion on Communications, not much was added to what had been said during the two previous days about mass-media relations and strategy, and there was even less about the libraries. The debate about the problems of providing the WSF events with linguistic interpretation and interpreters, and decent technical equipment for this purpose was the main part of the discussion. This is also, of course, a main point in the discussion of the Resources. Panos from the BABELS group said that they expect an average of 80 % of the interpreters to be African (and mainly from East Africa?), and 20 % from other parts. All in all, at least 500 interpreters would be needed. He mentioned the figure 300.000 USD as an estimated total cost. BABELS is building 150 interpretation booths for the ESF in Athens in April, and these should be reused in Nairobi. He asked the IC to participate in the raising of the necessary funds.

Several IC members said that the FM radio equipment used by BABELS does not meet the needs. The quality of the radios has been bad, said Celita Eccher from ICAE, referring to the experience of the WSF in Porto Alegre 2005. At the IC meeting itself, we have also experienced some technical problems with the radios.

It was decided, firstly, that the question of interpreters and interpretation on the one hand, and about the technical equipment on the other hand must be separated and handled by two different working committees.

Secondly, it was decided that both working committees shall be convened by the East African organising committee, and that both committees should include representatives of BABELS.

DECISIONS ON THE FURTHER EXPANSION AND THE NEW IC MEMBERS

After lunch on the 3rd day, the IC returned to the recommendations for the Expansion Commission. After a first round of discussion, the following decisions were taken:

a) a working group (WG) inside the commission is to make further proposals on the expansion in Africa

b) a letter will be sent to 52 "non-participating IC-members", i.e., those who have attended 0-2 meetings, asking for an explanation for their absence and confirmation of their will to remain IC members

c) the IC will make it clear to all that IC-members who do not complete the questionnaire cannot participate in the next IC-meeting

d) a subcommittee on the restructuration of the work of the Expansion Commission, and the IC is to submit precise proposals at the next IC

e) a calendar of at least the 3 next IC meetings must be agreed upon in order raise the necessary Solidarity Fund for participants from the South

The IC then went on to decide on the new IC members. After a couple of hours, the discussion was interrupted without any clear decisions, in order keep the appointment with Kenyan social movements, singers, dancers, musicians and theatrical actors in the afternoon. At the reception of the Mayor of Nairobi later that day, veteran WSF-activist Chico Witaker said that the Kenyans saved us.

I will return to this discussion later, in separate notes. On the morning of the 4th day, Chico Witaker summarised all the discussions and put forward a proposal to reach unity. He stressed that in the WSF, if one cannot agree, one has to continue to discuss because splits and divides cannot be allowed. Then he proposed that we accept all the recommended new IC members, including the World Progressive Forum, with the exception of Askapena Herriak Aske. In this last case, discussions would continue. I had asked him to state explicitly, that NIGD is not opposed to the acceptance of the WPF, which he also did. Chicos proposal was then unanimously supported, and so the matter was finally decided. In addition, a WG was set up with the supporters and opponents of Askapena Herriak Aske, to continue the discussions about that case.

DEBATE ON THE WSF POST 2007

Several different proposals were aired:

- to arrange the WSF 2008 in Porto Alegre; this was put forward by delegates from the trade union organisations

- to arrange the WSF 2008 on the border between USA and Mexico

- to arrange in 2008 only a forum on the forums plus, for instance, "a global day of action for Human Dignity" (Raffaella Bollini).

- to arrange the WSFs hereafter only every second year.

The Strategy Commission will (have to) come forth with a proposal before the WSF in Nairobi 2007.

CALENDAR OF THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL

A calendar of the 3 next IC meetings was successfully agreed upon:

- 6-9 October, 2006 in India (probably Delhi or Mumbai). All commissions to meet during the two first days, and an IC-seminar during the last two days.

- 26-27 January, 2007 in Nairobi IC-meeting without commission meetings.

- April 2007 in Italy, on the same premises as the IC-meeting in Passignano.

An open working group is to prepare the October meeting in India. Nandita Gandhi took on the task of organising fundraising in India for the solidarity fund of the IC.

OTHER POINTS
Further open WGs are to work on:

- methodology and mapping of the themes and actions (Amit, Joel, Demba, Chico, Philip, Moema , Raffaella, Hassan, Tawfik Joki, Vinod, Brian and others)
- the relation with parliamentarians and politicians
- the integration of the world forum of local authorities with the WSF.
Vanessa Marx presented the plans of FAL. Vanessa Marx (FAL), Chico and Gus Massiah and the conference "Afrique inter cités" in Nairobi on 23-25 Sept, 2006 will further explore this issue.

Contributions to the solidarity fund were made during this IC meeting by, among others: ICFTU, Caritas, EU Commission, FPH, Ubuntu and Transform.