Minutes From Launch of South East Social Forum

Minutes From Launch of South East Social Forum

Minutes From Launch of South-East Social Forum
ATGWU Union Hall, Keyser Street, Tuesday 15th July 2003
Minutes taken by Roy Hassey: 086-3274015 royhassey@eircom.net

In Attendance:

Seamus Cashman Roy Hassey: Socialist Workers Party
Declan Doyle Ben Nutty: Green Party
Caroline Blaney Brian Quinlan: SIPTU
Una Ryan John Cloono: ATGWU
Breda Fell: ATGWU Aidan O’Halloran: Socialist Workers Party
Ciara Doyle St. John O Donnabhain
John Kiely: Community Workers Co-op/Sinn Fein Dick Roche: Waterford Council of Trade Unions
Dan Kelly: Globalise Resistance Jim D’Arcy: TUI
Samantha Richardson Joan Quirke: ATGWU
Paul Flynn Yvette Flynn: Globalise Resistance


Introduction

Yvette Flynn of Globalise Resistance convened the forum and spoke about where the concept of Social Forums emerged, from the World Social Forum in Porto Allegre to the European Social Forum in Florence and the Irish Social Forum in Dublin. She spoke about the growth of the international anti-capitalist movement and how that had led to the success of the anti-war movement and February 15th.

Paul Flynn gave a report back from the European Social Forum in Florence last November where he took part in a million strong anti-war march and many meetings and seminars at the forum. He also encouraged everyone to come to Dublin in October for the World Economic Forum events.

Aidan O’Halloran, a Ballybeg Community Worker and member of the SWP reported back from the second all-island Irish Social Forum get-together on July 6th. He spoke about how the ISF is an attempt to bring together civil society and the wider left to challenge the negative effect neo-liberal economic policies are having on democracy, community, human rights, workers rights, the environment and public services. He also pointed out that Ireland is the most globalised economy in the world and as a result has the second highest level of poverty in the western world.

Roy Hassey of the Socialist Workers Party spoke about the World Economic Forum and the plans around their summit in Dublin in October. He outlined the four events in October: The alternative summit on co-operation, the carnival for global justice, the protest against the WEF on O20 and the blockade of Dublin Castle also on O20. He explained the composition of the WEF and some of the policies they perpetuate such as privatisation of public services, unlimited free trade and corporate control of the economy. He spoke about how the Irish government is one of the WEF’s best pupils in the implementation of neo-liberalism and encouraged everyone to the October organising meeting in Dublin the following Sunday. He said the decisions emanating from the WEF will adversely affect every person in the country and therefore we had a duty to oppose it.

Discussion

Una asked for how long the ISF had been meeting and who was involved. Roy read out a list of the organisations that were present at the launch of the ISF on July 6th.

John Kiely spoke about the importance of getting people from outside Waterford involved and contacting groups in Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow and encouraged everyone to contact as many people as they could and invite them to the next meeting. Dick agreed with making the SESF as broad and diverse as possible.
Paul asked how we intend to advertise O20 and the SESF and talked about how October was an opportunity for people to re-enfranchise themselves. He also said the experience of the ESF in Florence proved that there were millions of people out there who were against the neo-liberal agenda.

John Cloono spoke about how October was an opportunity to bring the spirit of anti-capitalism to Ireland and bring together the many groups and people who oppose neo-liberalism.

Una raised the question of violence on O20. Aidan responded that the best way to avoid violence was to maximise the numbers on the protests. Roy pointed out that the protest and blockade would be strongly stewarded, hopefully by trade unions.

Breda spoke about the importance of having trade union involvement in the ISF and O20 and that she would be working through the ATGWU to encourage people to get involved.

Dick agreed with Breda on trade union involvement and also spoke about the importance of relating the policies of the WEF with people on the ground.

Seamus asked about the international mobilisation for O20. Roy pointed out that with all the major anti-capitalist protests across the world, 95% of the people involved were local. Yvette stressed the importance of our role in getting people in the south-east involved in the ISF and O20. Seamus pointed out that in order for O20 to be successful it must be seen as an Irish mobilisation rather then an international one.

Syngan spoke about using Indymedia as an alternative to the mainstream media to publicise the forum and the need to connect with rural campaigns and groups as well as urban ones.

Decisions

It was decided that the structure of the South East Social Forum should mirror that of the Irish Social Forum, so four working groups were established to organise for O20 and beyond. Volunteers were asked for each group.

Communication Working Group
Paul Flynn 086-8581915
Dick Roche 087-7523464 dick_roche@hotmail.com
Yvette Flynn 087-9473556
Seamus Cashman 087-8123562 seamus.cashman@landregistry.ie
Declan Doyle 087-9656692 declan.doyle@landregistry.ie

October Working Group
Roy Hassey 086-3274015 royhassey@eircom.net
John Kiely 087-7910991 kielyjohn@oceanfree.net
Ciara Doyle 087-1274899 ciaradoyle@yahoo.com
Joan Quirke 086-1071647

Outreach Working Group
Aidan O’Halloran 051-374081 aidan_oh@hotmail.com
David Cullinane 086-3725152 sfwaterford@eircom.net (nominated by John Kiely)
St. John O Donnabhain 087-7548783 freeflowing@wildmail.com
Brian Quinlan 087-9170666
(Una and Breda committed to contacting people in a personal capacity)

Finance Working Group
Deferred until next meeting

It was agreed that a leaflet be produced for distribution around the Spraoi festival. It was also agreed that the three groups would meet next week and report to the second meeting of the SESF which will be on Tuesday 29th July.
The Communications Working Group will meet on Monday 21st July in the ATGWU Union Hall Keyser Street @ 8.00pm
The October Working Group will meet on Monday 21st July in the ATGWU Union Hall Keyser Street @ 7.00pm
The Outreach Working Group: date and venue TBA

Everyone is invited to attend any of the meetings other than the people nominated above.


Upcoming Events

Co-ordinating meetings for working groups organising activities around the World Economic Forum Summit in October 2003

WEF O20
Working Groups first round of meetings
Sunday July 20th, Teachers Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, First Floor
12.00am to 3.00pm

12.00am – 1.00pm: The Co-Operation Counter Summit Working Group
12.00am – 1.00pm: The O20 Blockade Alliance
12.00am – 2.00pm: The Carnival for Global Economic and Social Justice Working Group
1.00pm – 2.00pm: The March Against the WEF Working Group

2.00pm – 3.00pm: Joint meeting between groups


Next Meeting of South East Social Forum:

Tuesday 29th July, 8.00pm, ATGWU Union Hall, Keyser Street, Waterford.


Contact Yvette Flynn for more information:
087-9473556
grwaterford@hotmail.com