| The first three
parts :
- Evaluation and Vision of the Future
- Proposals and Projects :
- Report on the Participatory Process Used
for the Evaluation and Future of the Alliance
- The second
stage of the Alliance |
|
Part Two: Proposals
and Projects
By Martí
Olivella
Barcelona, April 20, 2003
4. ON ALLIANCE SUPPORT FOR THE 2004 WORLD SOCIAL
FORUM
The proposals presented attempt to reinforce two
processes aimed at obtaining a global vision: on the one hand, the
necessary process of summarizing Alliance proposals and, on the
other, the contribution to the World Social Forum (and the Regional
Forums) to promote the launching of the second stage of the Alliance.
One challenge previous to the 2004 World Social
Forum in India, is for active Allies to achieve ownership of the
Alliance’s collective heritage in the course of 2003, so they
may become vehicles providing information not only on their own
thematic, geocultural, or socioprofessional work, but also on the
others' work.
We must obtain forums at the 2004 WSF to publish
and discuss the Proposal Papers of proposals. The theme /workshop
coordinators are responsible for proposing activities for the 2004
WSF to the Alliance, so that they are not only individual proposals
but related to the broad process that the Alliance represents.
EVALUATION OF THE 2003 WSF
This phenomenal world event is based on a very "human"
form of organization and represents a fantastic breathing space.
On the other hand, the positive growth of the WSF does not justify
the lack of organization involved in workshop scheduling or the
low graphic quality of the program, which was difficult to read
and complicated. Spatial dispersion was a negative element, increasing
pressure on urban traffic (the Pontífica Universidade Católica,
where many of the activities took place, was located at a great
distance from everything else). Diversity was well represented,
young people were more present, and the hope related to Lula’s
presence increased the Forum’s overall impact. Brazil represents
a great hope for the planet. It is urgent to develop systems to
facilitate meetings among peers and more participatory methods in
the workshops, because classroom-type activities are still too common:
just a few talking and a large number listening.
EVALUATION OF THE ALLIANCE’S PRESENCE AT THE 2003 WSF
An intense, but unarticulated and not very visible presence. Different
Allies performed impact activities, but it was not easy to find
friends of the Alliance. There was no common visible sign to link
the many workshops that we organized. There was no general view
of our presence. We also have to organize a discussion on the aims
of the Alliance’s presence at the WSF. At events of this size
we wish to be present as a group. We should travel a few days ahead
of the opening to have enough time to prepare. This would cost just
a little more but we would gain a great deal.
The Alliance should make an important contribution
to the World Social Forum. The Alliance has proposals and methods
and the Forum has a lot of mobilization and media capacity. At the
same time, the Indian Committee requires both methodological and
content support to organize the 2004 WSF.
The Alliance, therefore, could provide support
projects to the 2004 World Social Forum so that it becomes a more
efficient place of sharing and not just a set of isolated events,
but a permanent process.
The Alliance has to seek sources of financing to
develop these projects, in addition to the support provided by the
FPH. Collaboration with the WSF could be a good way of obtaining
other means of financing for Alliance projects. These projects have
to be presented to the foundations and agencies that provide funds
to the WSF and wish to approach groups giving priority to articulation,
promoting communication before, during and after the WSF.
If the WSF Organizing Committee is going to meet
with international foundations, it would be a good idea to send
representatives who can share information about the Alliance’s
activities and initiatives, discussing how these activities can
enrich and support the WSF and how the two should be funded, both
in the form of joint and independent presentations.
The Alliance could perform a key function in the
activities and communication processes before, during and after
the WSF. In particular, it could promote a more general and cooperative
agreement relating to the programs, policies and processes that
are urgently needed to replace the existing structures and the economic
globalization process.
Subsequent World Social Forums could continue to
be important for the Alliance too, but also Regional and Local Forums.
The fact is that the Alliance has already done
a lot of work—mapping, methodology, etc.—that could
be used to prepare the 2004 WSF. How can we ensure our presence
with a message that can be owned by all of humankind without overriding
other alternatives that are close to our own or making them appear
as "folkloric"?
We have to organize a general consultation among
all the Allies taking an active part in the WSF, as part of a strategy
based on joining forces to change the world.
Some ideas on projects to be presented to the
2004 WSF Indian Committee and the foundations and agencies supporting
the WSF :
- Project for training in systematic mapping methods
to be applied to the content of the Regional Social Forums and
the World Social Forum (based on the experience of a team of
25 persons linked to the FPH and IBASE, who already performed
this function for the 2003 WSF. IBASE—through Cándido,
from the WSF International Committee—with support from
the Banco do Brasil, is preparing a seminar in April in Rio
de Janeiro to give continuity to this work).
- Networking Project to favor articulation, cooperation,
and sharing among actors and networks. Internet contact
among delegates before the WSF—with e-mail and personal
data—and for the preparation of meetings. During the WSF,
sessions specifically aimed at meetings and sharing among networks
and actors according to issues of common interest; interrelation
among workshops, panels, offices (articulation, pooling similar
issues, etc.); different-colored cards for the delegates according
to the subject matter (for quick identification of a possible
contact), etc.
- Office Visualization Project. Improve the
information on the preparation, development, results, and continuation
of the Offices. This is where the diversity of ideas, attitudes,
and proposals would be expressed. We need to improve working
conditions: prior programs, material means, publication of results.
Up to now, priority was given to conferences given by certain
“key figures.” The Alliance can help to improve
the “visibility” of the workshops (before, during
and after the Forum), thus reinforcing the participatory process
of the event so that more emphasis is placed on exploring and
sharing initiatives and practical experiences (so that the Forum’s
slogan can be “we are building another world” and
“another world is possible”), and for this to be
seen in stronger regional and sub-regional participatory activities
preparing for the global event.
- Project for cooperation with the 2004 WSF artistic
programme. Enable the Forum's impact on local civil
society thanks to cultural activities (Hamilton Faria, Isis
de Palma, etc. are preparing a proposal: Conversas de rua, Crescente
Fértil, Water, Drums for Peace, Palestine, South Cone,
etc.).
- Project to integrate and facilitate the participation
of Asian and African Allies in the 2004 WSF. Increase
representativeness in the preparation of global events. Help
the African Social Forum become more oriented toward practical
aspects and attract social movements that are representative
and based on subjects and campaigns. With this aim, the possibility
of a specific consultation e-forum for Africa, followed by a
medium-scale meeting of the key members of the Alliance, to
be set up soon. Invite the Asians and Africans who took part
in the Lille Assembly to play an active role in the 2004 WSF.
Ensure as representative a presence as possible of Latin American
Allies.
- Project to support the network of volunteer translators
and interpreters who have offered their services to
the Porto Alegre WSF. See, in Appendix 4, the Netword Solidarity
Project proposed by Eliane Carmanim.
- Project for suggesting basic themes for the 2004
WSF: a) environment and sustainability (there are a
lot of activities related to this subject); b) democratization
of a global monitoring system; c) the culture, tradition, religiousness
and role of women (these subjects are dear to the Asian world
and often considered by Western networks and organizations as
an obstacle to the application of minimum Human Rights).
- Sustainable Forum Project. Provide environment-friendly
elements in the daily organization of the WSF. Production of
less waste, transportation by bicycle, and participation of
the local population and organizations in logistic planning.
Ultimately, practice the change that we wish to affect the entire
world.
- e-forum21 Project. Establishment, via the
Internet, of an effective network for communication and deliberation
among the different Alliance groups committed to the WSF/India
and the Alliance representatives and the International Committee
to establish that the Alliance is present on the International
Committee, playing a politically important role in the correlation
of forces.
- Alliance visibility Project: Organize the
Alliance’s presence on the stands, offices, Conversas
de Rua, Drums for Peace, the publication of the Charter of Human
Responsibilities and proposals, summaries, and transformation
projects.
- Alliance coordination Project for the 2004 WSF.
In the course of 2003, set up a coordination team for these
2004 WSF Projects with a person responsible for each Project,
content mapping, networking—favoring contacts and the
establishment of networks - , proposal summarization, office
visualization, art, translators, sustainable forum, e-forum
21, Alliance visibility...
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