A Picture of the African Social Forum Process

NIGD News and Notes November 2005

In this issue:
I. A picture of the African Social Forum process
II. Otro Sistema Financeiro
III. Movement of Movements
IV. Emerging Elements around the Discussions of Global Political Parties
V. Global Democracy: Civil Society Visions and Strategies (G05) Conference
VI. Global Civil Society 2005/6: The Saga continues
VII. NIGD events

I. A picture of the African Social Forum process
by Ruby van der Wekken
Whilst the WSF process in Africa has had several continental, regional and national social forum events, attention in the WSF process now puts a sharp focus on the African continent, in the run up to the WSF polycentric forum in Bamako and the WSF 2007 in Nairobi. Ruby van der Wekken wrote a study for the Finnish Seed Tree environmental and human rights foundation, read the section on the African Social Forum process.

2. WSF Bamako
by Antonio Martins
Antonio Martins (Attac Brasil and WSF Secretariat) wrote a report to the newly established Africa Commission of the WSF in Finland (ACWSF), after his attendance to a preparatory meeting of the polycentric WSF 2006 in Bamako, Mali (30 September – 3 October).

ACWSF
Read more from the Africa Commission of the World Social Forum in Finland.

3. WSF info via the Public Libraries
by Mikael Böök
The NIGD "Democratization of Information with a Focus on Libraries" project is planning a workshop at the WSF in Bamako. Read the idea paper on the theme WSF info via the Public Libraries, which discusses proposals linking up librarians and the WSF.

II. Otro Sistema Financeiro
by Matti Kohonen
In the run up to the polycentric WSF 2006, Matti Kohonen drafts a new start off document for collaboration between financial issue organisations and movements under the umbrella title of "Otro Sistema Financeiro", which at WSF 2005 succesfully gathered various organisations in joint activities throughout the WSF. All interested are warmly invited to join the platform!

2. Introducing democracy into solving the debt problem
by Katarina Sehm Patomäki
Democracy and the debt problem - should these two be linked?

III. Movement of Movements.
by Francine Mestrum
The Amsab institute of Social History organised an international conference in Gent on the anti-globalist movement. Francine Mestrum wrote a brief overview of the conference and presents some of the main current questions on the "Movement of Movements"

2. International social movements and hegemony under a globalised network capitalism: the role of research, documentation, communication
by Peter Waterman
In preparation and in conclusion to the Gent conference on the anti-globalist movment, Peter Waterman further discusses international social movements and the contribution to the crucial triangular relationship between the trade unions, the global justice and solidarity movement (GJ&SM) and the academy.

IV. Emerging Elements around the Discussions of Global Political Parties
A first set of contributions to the discussions around global political parties have been posted on the designated webpage. Comments on these contributions and other ideas on the issue of global political parties are welcome! For more information and contact details, please visit www.nigd.org/globalparties.

V. Global Democracy: Civil Society Visions and Strategies (G05) Conference (Montréal, Canada May 29-June 1, 2005)
The Montréal International Forum (FIM) hosted an international conference in which civil society practitionners together with representatives from governments, private entities, and intergovernmental organizations tackled questions regarding the democratic deficit plaguing global governance and came up with innovative proposals to counter this situation. For more information, please visit the G05 web site where you can also view a complete report on this conference.

Setting a challenge for the Forum International de Montreal (FIM)
by Matti Kohonen
Matti Kohonen analyses differing points of departure amongst civil society organisations and movements attendig the GO5 conference in Montreal in May and calls for developing deeper understanding of global issues.

VI. Global Civil Society 2005/6: The Saga continues
by Peter Waterman
An initial reaction by Peter Waterman on the fifth edition of the Global Civil Society yearbook 2005/2006.