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WSFReports
Reports from Social Forums
2006
Midwest Social Forum
By Marc Becker, NIGD News and Notes April 2006
Committed to making a better and more just world, activists from the
Midwestern United States are planning to hold the annual Midwest Social
Forum. Marc Becker introduces the evolving MWSF as it finalises its
preparations for its annual forum 7-9 July, 2006 in Milwaukee. The MWSF
is poised for a significant leap forward into a more diverse, dynamic,
and inclusive gathering working towards strengthening the social
justice movement.
A Critical Utopia moves to Africa
by Mika Rönkkö, NIGD News and Notes Double Issue February-March 2006
As the WSF made its move towards the African continent with the forum
in Bamako, Mika Rönkkö congratulates the organizers of the Mali forum,
yet addresses the challenges in the WSF process towards Nairobi. The
author ends with the conclusion, “if the WSF in Africa does not create
powerful campaigns and proposals for concrete programs to end the
neoliberal hegemony that maintains the global mechanism that suck up
the African wealth, it has failed,” which, for the author, must come
from the building up of radically democratic processes of agglutination
within the forum process.
by Marc Becker, NIGD News and Notes Double Issue February-March 2006
Marc Becker provides us with an overall view on the WSF Caracas edition in which according to the author, “Chavez was present everywhere, and nowhere at the same time.” Marc also addresses also the sometimes nightmarish logistical conditions of the forum, coming to the conclusion that, “after having a good five-year run that significantly advanced the agendas of social movements around the world, perhaps the WSF has served its purpose,” whilst “no matter what shape it takes in the future, the WSF has been a historic experience with a lasting impact on social movements around the world.”
2005
World Social Forum 2005
by Marc Becker
The World Social Forum gathered at the end of January in Porto Alegre, Brazil for its fifth annual meeting. Activists debated a wide range of issues and proposals, including how to challenge neoliberal economic policies and whether it is possible to change the world without taking power.
Radfest Social Forum 2005
by Marc Becker
Now in its 22 year, what started as an annual gathering of radical scholars in the midwestern United States and more recently has been called RadFest is transforming itself into a social forum.
2004
Local Social Forum Sweden 2004
by Azril Bacal, Tim Sandgren (Uppsala Social Forum) and Katarina Sehm Patom�ki
Instead of hosting a national Swedish Social Forum, the organisers have joined forces with various social forums in Sweden and co-ordinated the events to be held during one weekend simultaneously in four different cities. Could this experience serve as a model for global mobilisation for the World Social Forum process?
European Social Forum 2004 and the New York City Social Forum 2004
by Petri Minkkinen
Petri Minkkinen reports from a personal point of view on his experiences from the recent European and New York social forums.
Norway Social Forum 2004
by Thomas Ponniah
The essence of the achievement of this years' Norwegian Social Forum was that it expressed a politics that combined short-term electoral tactics with long-term social movement strategies. The NSF outlined the direction that forthcoming local, regional and national forums should take.
Midwest Social Forum 2004
by Marc Becker and Thomas Ponniah
Hundreds of activists from the midwestern United States gathered at Williams Bay, Wisconsin from June 4-6, 2004 for RadFest 2004: Midwest Social Forum.
Americas Social Forum 2004
by Marc Becker
The Social Forum of the Americas was held in Quito, Euador at the end of July and Marc Becker and Teivo Teivainen attended the forum. NIGD organized an event titled "How to deepen democracy in the World Social Forum" and co-organized a panel entitled "Democracy without end so that capitalism comes to an end".
2003
Hyancayo Social Forum 2003
by Teivo Teivainen and Roxana Crisologo
A report from the Hyancayo social forum in the Andes of Peru, 2-3 July 2003.
