Press Release and program

Libertarian Social Forum : an event in the anticapitalist landscape.

From 11th to 16th of November, the Libertarian Social Forum will take place in Paris and Saint-Ouen (93), in parallel to the European Social Forum. This forum is an initiative of libertarian, revolutionary organisations from France and French speaking areas, which aims to build on the campaign against the G8 after Evian. In France, it will probably be the political event of the autumn.

Mounted simultaneously with the official European Social Forum in Florence, November 2002, there was an alternative Forum, known as “the Hub.” This space involved many radical movements, often with libertarian aspirations. These groups created a very alive and autonomous space, in the belief that the didactic nature of the ESF didn’t represent the radicalism and dynamism of the anti-globalisation movement/ anti-capitalist struggle.

The Libertarian Forum of Paris and Saint-Ouen is inspired by the Hub´s spirit, but it will be different in the sense that it will be a specificaly anti-capitalist and libertarian event. This forum will break with the current system, three will be no financial support and it will refuse any electoral logic.

On the one hand the LSF wants to lead a critique of the institutionnalisation and attempts at ‘intellectual’ appropiation of the anti-globalisation movement. We denounce here the verbal attacks from the presidents of ATTAC, Mr Nikonof and Cassen, against “leftist” activists.

On the other hand, the LSF will be a great opportunity to exchange thoughts and to share experiences of struggles, and practical initatves that we have set up to seek a very radical change in society. It is up to us to give existence to our analysis, our practices and our initiatives, in order to prove that libertarians represent an undeniable force in today´s political context.

For more information contact,
(English, spanish or French) : Zoé:  contact@fsl-sla.eu.org

Libertarian Alternative, Solidarity Collective of Chiapas, CNT, Anarchists Coordination, Anarchist Federation, No Pasaran Network, Social and Libertarian Offensive, Libertarian Communist Organisation, Libertarian Socialist Organisation (Switzerland).




Program of FSL of Paris - Saint-Ouen
11th - 16th november 2003


Tuesday 11th

"Land and Liberty", day support to struggle of people from Mexico, Kabylia, Palestine. Debate/exhibition/information organised by the solidarity collective of Chiapas. Different locations around Paris.


Wenesday 12th

Antisexist and antipatriarchist demonstration, organised by the Coordination of women, affiliated to the ESF. In the evening, a debate is scheduled : 92 rue d'Aubervilliers, Paris 19th.

Thursday 13th

8pm : Debate on spring-summer 2003 struggles, outcome and perspectives, which place for syndicalism of class struggle and anarcho-syndicalism ? Place : 33, rue des Vignoles, Paris 20th.


Friday 14th

2 pm : Doors open
3-5 pm : two simultaneous debates :
* Criminalisation of misery, social apartheid ;
* Media, alternating experiences (with Telebocal, Zaléa TV, Samizdat, Indymedia, Radio libertaire, PrimiTV...)

5 pm : Break
6 - 8.30 pm : Three simultaneous debates :
* Against Sexism, antipatriarchism, genders'construction ;
* Libertarian Public Services : Equality, gratuitousness without State ?
* Propaganda in times of war

10 - 11 pm : Central meeting and party in red and black


Saturday 15th

9 am : Doors open, opening of anarchist books exhibition
9.30 - 12.30 am : Three simultaneous debates
* Environment, productivism ;
* Anti-G8 in Annemasse, Vaaag, come back on successful mobilisations ;
* Social experiences and struggles in Mexico (with activists from solidarity collective of Chiapas and the SIL network)
1 pm : Break
2 -7 pm
Demonstration of Libertarian Social Forum, from Place des Fêtes, Paris 19th, at Noon, to place de la République, then integration in the parade-demonstration of the Europeen Social Forum.

8 pm : Three simoultaneous debates
* Libertarian Education : Set up international mutual aid in practice ;
* Place of work in the society ;
* Culture merchandising

Sunday 16th

9 am : Doors open
9.30 - 12.30 : three simultaneous debates :
* Social struggles and libertarian practices. From actions' days to the general self-organised strike.
* Extreme right.
* Laicity, religions...

12.30 am : Break
2 -5 pm : Three simultaneous debates :
* Citizenship or class struggle, altermondialisation or anticapitalism ?
* Struggles against poverty?
* Mobility, liberty of circulation.
5 pm : Closure of the FSL, concert organised to support the FSL : in CICP, 21 ter rue Voltaire, Paris 11th.


Video space
From friday 3 pm till sunday 4 pm, short-movies, movies, video reports, interviews.

Exhibitions (will be presented in Saint-Ouen) :
Women's image in advertising
Anarchists posters of the spanish revolution (1936-1939)
The "Commune " of Paris
Demonstrations and strikes of the spring 2003

Bookfair
From the 10th till the 16th of november, Radio Libertaire mobilizes all of its shows around the social forum and the books exhibition. A studio will be broadcasting live debates.

The Space where the FSL will be held is self organised, is free to partake and has a creche.


The FSL and the books exhibition don't get any financial support, but the access will be free. We ask all vistors to be responsible for the space and to support the FSL initiative. Following the self organised village (Vaaag) of the anti-G8 summit in Annemasse or in Larzac, the Space will be self organised, with free prices and vegetarian. A day nursary will take place in Saint-Ouen : To get information or propose help, contact Christine :  christine.rebatel@wanadoo.fr


For more information contact,
(English, spanish or French) : Zoé:  contact@fsl-sla.eu.org