16 Jan 2004

European Social Forum Programme Group,
c/o World Development Movement


Dear Friend,

We want to inform you of the chance for your organisation to be involved in
an extraordinary and far-reaching event later this year. The European Social
Forum (ESF) is an opportunity for trade unions, community groups, anti
racist organisations, women's groups, lesbian and gay groups, the anti-war
movement, campaigns around the environment, privatisation, health,
disability, asylum, housing - everyone trying to create another world - to
make vital connections with people organising on the same issues across
Europe and internationally.

This, the third ESF, will be held in London in November 2004. The previous
events in Florence in 2002 and Paris in 2003 brought together 60,000 social
movement, community and trade union activists from across Europe and the
world. These inspiring three day events included workshops, debates,
seminars, cultural events and rallies united by the theme: Another World is
Possible!

What makes the ESF special is that the themes for debate and the seminar and
workshop topics are decided by campaigning, cultural and political
organisations across Europe. We are writing to you on behalf of the UK group
co-ordinating the programme of the ESF and to encourage you to get involved
in this process. The Programme Group is one of several groups set up to plan
the ESF in London. See details overleaf of how you can find out more.

The European Social Forum is part of a global movement for change and social
justice. It was inspired by the World Social Forum (WSF) which came out of
the belief that protest by itself is not enough. Movements for social change
need the space and the international exchange of ideas and experiences to
develop alternatives to the free market madness which dominates mainstream
politics and our daily lives. Social Forums, global, regional and local, are
attempts to create opportunities to exchange information, learn, be
inspired, think aloud about future visions and strategies and plan joint
international action, all in an atmosphere respectful of diverse opinions
and experiences. A sign that this idea is one whose time has come is that as
we write, tens of thousands of people are gathering for the 4th WSF in
Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India.

In the WSF spirit, the organisation of the ESF in 2004 is intended to be
participative and egalitarian. The Programme Working Group is made up of
reps from around 30 trade union, campaigning, political and cultural
organisations. We come from many different parts of the left and labour and
social movements. But we are all united in wanting to organise an
international event which will be of real practical use to men and women on
the frontline of resistance and alternatives to environmental devastation,
privatisation and war. Public sector workers demanding better wages and
conditions for the vital work they do, asylum seekers fighting for the right
to work and against destitution, detention and deportation; black and
immigrant people fighting racist attacks, single mothers or part-time and
low paid workers refusing to be sidelined, women organising against
subordination, rape and other kinds of violence, people with disabilities
and older people defending day care, transport and pensions, lesbians and
gay people active in all these movements, sex workers fighting eviction and
harassment, workers in manufacturing resisting redundancy and insecurity,
people taking action on international issues of war and peace, unfair trade
and third world debt - the list is endless but all these groups and many
more have a common interest in working together across Europe and
internationally. We want the programme to be strongly influenced by the
needs and ideas of all these movements and struggles.

As outlined above, the programme will include large debates (kept to a
minimum) seminars to debate strategies and propose action for resistance,
and smaller workshops dealing with practical cooperation and movement
building. Our job is to encourage the widest possible participation of
organisations in workshops and seminars- and to help them in whatever way
they need.

We are not asking you to commit to anything at this point. This is just to
sound out your views and ideas. Later this year there will be a chance
formally to register interest in organising specific workshops or seminars.
We will let you know the timetable table. There will also be a financial
appeal for the ESF and organisations will be urged to affiliate.

Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any queries. See e-mails and
addresses below. If you would like a speaker about the ESF then please let
us know.

We look forward to hearing from you and possibly meeting you at the first UK
Assembly for the ESF in 2004 on the 24th January, from 1.30-5.00 pm, at the
GLA, City Hall, the Queens Walk, London SE1 or Assemblies in the future. The
purpose of the UK Assembly on the 24th is to discuss the structure for the
organisation of the UK ESF. Future assemblies will also discuss the
programme.


All the best,

(...)
European Social Forum Programme Group


========================================

How you can become involved in the ESF in 2004?

We hope you or a colleague will fill in the form enclosed, adding any
further comments.
Join the email list for information and discussion on the ESF. E-mail
 esf-uk-info@lists.mobilise.org.uk

We hope you will send a delegate to attend the next UK Assembly for the
European Social Forum on 24th January, from 1.30-5.00 pm, at the GLA, City
Hall, the Queens Walk, London SE1 to discuss the structure for organising
the UK ESF.

Send delegates to the next European Assembly, which will be held in London
on March 6th and 7th.

Yes, my organisation would like to make an input into the ESF programme


Form: Name of organisation:.........................................



Name and position of contact filling the form:



Main activity of organisation:



What issues would your organisation like to see on the ESF agenda?



Please give your three priorities.



Have you any suggestions about how we present these issues? What kind of
debates for example?



Would you be willing jointly to organise a workshop or seminar on any of
these issues?



Are you already part of a European or international network or does your
organisation have international connections?



What resources can you bring to the ESF ? Time? publicity? Help with
fund-raising? Access to rooms or accommodation - if you are based in London?

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If you are replying by e-mail, reply to  afgordon@dircon.co.uk,  findjonathan@hotmail.com, or  newpolitics@redpepper.org.uk