Making the Road Whilst Walking

NIGD News and Notes May 2005

In this issue:
I. Making the Road Whilst Walking
II. Toward a Nordic Social Forum?
III. Dialogue forum between civil societies and government institutions of Mexico and the European Union
IV. Global Political Parties
V. CTT discussed in Rome amidst a political crises
VI. NIGD May events

I. Making The Road Whilst Walking

1. Making the Road Whilst Walking.
Peter Waterman
This paper was provoked by attendance at a meeting of the World Social Forum's International Council and in particular its Communications Committee, which took place from March 28th until April 2nd in the Netherlands . Part description, part experience, part commentary and part conceptualisation, it attempts to understand the WSF in terms of cultural politics (or a global emancipatory culture). It is extended by links, bibliography, resource listings and appendices

2. Discussions within the International Council of the World Social Forum (WSF IC)
Ruby van der Wekken
In this report on the WSF IC (Commissions) meetings held in the Netherlands, the official decisions regarding several of the main issues covered during the week long meetings are presented aswell as reports on the debate and commentary behind the issues.

3. Does the WSF advance our struggles for another world?
Ruby van der Wekken
Update May on some of the current discussions on the WSF IC list in the preparatory fase for the meetings in June, Barcelona.

II. Toward a Nordic Social Forum?

4. Toward a Nordic Social Forum?
Katarina Sehm Patomaki
Since 2002, several local, municipal and national social forums have taken place in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Have civil society organisations in the Nordic countries sown seeds for organising a Nordic Social Forum?

5. Contribution from Nordic ATTAC groups
Representatives from Nordic Attac groups discuss the possibility of having a Nordic Social Forum (NSF) as part of the Polycentric Social Forum in January 2006.

III. Dialogue forum between civil societies and government institutions of Mexico and the European Union
Petri Minkkinen
Read the report on the second fase of the Dialogue forum held in Mexico city, from February 28 - March 1.

IV. Global Political Parties
Katarina Sehm Patomaki and Marko Ulvila
While governments, corporations and social movements have phenomenally increased global interaction the political parties have reminded to a large extend limited to national spheres or regional settings such as the European Union. Recently there has been increasing interest in international interaction of political parties and debates about establishing a new global party or parties.

V. CTT discussed in Rome amidst a political crises
Mika Böök, Heikki Patomäki and Ruby van der Wekken
Read the CTT May update