[fse-esf] minutes from the ASF-prep. meeting concerning a possible esf in vienna

[franz schaefer]

> ----- Forwarded message from franz schaefer <schaefer> -----

Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2007 11:36:57 +0100
From: franz schaefer <schaefer>
Subject: minutes from the ASF-prep. meeting concerning a possible esf in vienna

dear friends and comrades,

  since vienna is discussed by some as a possible place for a ESF i send you
a translaton of the short minutes form the asf (austrian social forum -
http://socialforum.at) meeting where this was discussed.

  (the discussions about a possible ESF start with point 2 so you have to
scroll down - but i send you the translation of point 1 which is about a
possible next ASF as well since it helps to understand why some of us are
sceptical about an ESF in vienna. at the end of point 2 you find a common
resolution which defines some criterions that have to be met befor we could
even discuss about a possible ESF in vienna)

-----------------------------------------------------------

               translation of the keyword-minutes of the 
           ASF (Austrian Social Forum) - preparatory assembly
                 from 18. november 2006 in vienna



participating: Heidi, Ante, Johann, Erich, Hermann, Eva, Frederico,
               Walter, Flo, Mari, Ronni, Ulli (minutes)

1.) discussion and reflexion about the ASF 2006 (at Graz)

first: many thanks to the organizing people
what, besides the already discussed points, do we see as the reasons for the 
low number of partiticpating people? some arguments:

    - small financial base. (with this smal funding base we can not make an
      other ASF)

    - with this background we have to discuss, if and how we could
      participate at the ESF/WSF process

    - ASF-process in austria is not a broad movment, the number of
      participating persons and points of view has diminish. it seems the
      ASF is a projection of some particular interests and this has the 
      effect of excluding people; there is not much discourse, the
      discussion is not productive.

    - some people with the ASF-movment see the ASF more as a permanent
      platform for action and less as a networking-structure.

    - the ASF-movement is not a real movment at the moment, eventuelly
      it would be necessary to "reload" the ASF. we have to get people
      back.
  
    - in the last 5-6 years the space for criticising the neoliberal
      globalisation has narrowed. the mainline of discussion now is the
      question of fight against terrorism; what is the position of the
      SF-movment here?

    - zivil society in austria is loosing ground to political parties and
      parliamentarism. how do we deal with that? regression? active?

    - from where comes the stimulus - from the ESF/WSF or from below?
      the "atmosphre of taking off" has vanished - thus the WSF04 in nairobi 
      gets a central roll: which demands can we formulate? the process is
      not clear yet.

    - the precarisation has reached the movement. a lot of people can not
      participate in the movement anymore. we should think about a social
      cousnel; here we could reach a larger netoworking...

2.) report from the ESF-prep.assembly in franfurt on 4.11.06 by hermann -
    discussions about the ESF 2007/2008

  about 200 participating people  (much from greece, germany, less italy,
  france, almost noone from scandinavia) where at the franfurt meeting.
  participating from austria: hermann and leo.

  how come vienna was discussed? bruxles, germany, neatherlands, naples
  are not considered. scandinavia (denmark, sweden) is not such a good
  alternative.
  according to hermann, vienna is at the intersection beween eat and west
  and thus would be a good place and the ASF has a good reputation.
  hermann had some prperatory talks with haeupl (mayor of vienna),
  ans dome people form trade unions: katzian (GPA), brandstetter,
  telfs, hebenstreit (railway trade unions)

  a lot of questions about this report and a heated debate which was not 
  recorded in the minutes.

  the following consensual resolution is adopded:

resolution:

   1.) there is, at the moment, no realistic basis to carry out an ESF in
       vienna.

   2.) there exist some driving forces how want to elaborate an concept.

   3.) there are criterions, which are the basis for the national decession
       about the ESF which we commonly agreed upon (as a basis for the meeting on
       17. march 2007):

       - there exists a cost projection for the ESF (income, expenses)

       - an evaluation of our organisatorical capacities exists

       - there exists written commitments/decessions about participation from:
         city of vienna, ÖGB-national-board (austrian central trade union),
         section-trade-unions, AK (federal chambers of labour), 
     
       - written declarations of intent of a politically broad
         sponsorship/participation

       - clearfication of the question of accommodation

       - a contact with the ETUC (EGB) has been established

    important: only if this criterions are met then we can even think about
    futher steps at the meeting on 15. march 2007, 10-16h, where we would
    discuss this on a broad basis

    ap preperatory group for the meeting will meet on 6. jan..2007, 11:00
    at vienna, suedwind-office.

    at april 2007 there  is the next ESF-EPA at lisbon, where a decision
    has to be made.






----- End forwarded message -----


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