History of the Group
SOAS Social Forum
About the Group
Why I joined Stop the war
Open Letter - On the establishment of a Social Forum in and around SOAS and University of London
|
|
|
Teach-In Get Involved! |
 |
| SOAS Stop the war Teach-in |
| Saturday /
12th October 2002 A day of lectures, discussion, debate and film covering all aspects of Bush and Blair's "war on terror". All welcome |
Dear Friends,
At a recent meeting of the SOAS stop the war group we had a discussion on the issue of forming a Social Forum. We realised that of course we could not ourselves be a social forum but that we could attempt to initiate such a body.
Contact:
In brief a social Forum is an open 'space' where activists can come together and share their experiences, campaigns and resources. It is a meeting point and an ongoing community. It includes peace campaigners, trade unionists, environmentalists, community activists, anti-capitalists, students, anti-racists etc…..
The principle is to develop a network of varied, yet we believe inter-linked, campaigns and activists.In Italy Social Forums exists throughout the country, they take many forms, but have become central to the fight against the policies of the right wing Berlusconi government.
Why do we need a Social Forum?
A Social Forum would be a focal point and a way of bringing together the
variety of campaigns that exist. The War on terrorism, the privatisation
of Public services, low pay, ecological destruction, racist asylum laws
all have one thing in common they are driven by the interests of Globalisation.
In one way or another we are all fighting the effects of Globalisation
as it effects us locally, whilst we are campaigning on many fronts it
is becalming increasing clear that we are struggling against the same
opponent. The edges of our campaigns are becoming blurred, one issue so
easily connects to another.
Activists in the SOAS Stop the War group have found themselves having to discuss issues as wide as the Invasion of Afghanistan and the attack on civil liberties at home, Palestine, privatisation, the war in Kashmir and the rise of the far right in Europe and to a lesser extent in the UK. All of these issues we believe are connected to the 'war on terror' which in turn is connected to Globalisation and the polices of the WTO and the Multinational Corporations.
A social forum is a way of bringing local activists together in a way
that respects the integrity and independence of each campaign but that
also helps to build the support and effectiveness of each group. It can
also serve to help to overcome the compartmentalisation of issues, which
have allowed Government to isolate and/or ignore the voice of the people.
A Local Social Forum would be an immediate and effective expression of
the 'Movement of many Yes's and one big No.'
The Next Step?
We would like all local trade unions, environmentalists, anti-racists,
women's groups students etc. to discuss the idea of a social forum at
their local meetings.
Contact the SOAS Stop the War Group at if your group
supports the setting up of such a body. We will also circulate details
of groups that contact us to each other if you wish. When there are enough
groups and individuals networking with each other we will call a meeting
to discuss launching the local Social Forum.
We are also organising to attend the European Social Forum in Florence
Italy November 6th-10th for information contact () and consider attending
or sending a delegate.