[fse-esf] IMPORTANT Invitation Paris, 10th - 11th January 2009,
NEW VERSION
Franco Russo
fs.russo at tiscali.it
Tue Dec 2 08:33:18 CET 2008
Dear friends,
I appreciate all the initiatives that allow us to confront the issue of the financial and economic crisis and to organize campaigns against the governmental policies which tend to save the capitalist system. I think that the 'altermondialist' alternatives are the only ones able to save the planet and build a new world of justice and equality. I was very surprised by your proposal, of which nobody knew nor was discussed in detail in the last EPA in Istanbul. Is not the European Social Forum the venue in which to discuss and propose this kind of initiatives, or are we coming back to the sectarian 'group policy' of the ' 70?
We, as Charter of principles of another Europe (which is a network inside the ESF), are interested in organizing a meeting in Brussel in March and to take part in the other meetings and demonstrations planned in the ESF and the EPA, but this method to create another 'political space' is - in my opinion -. not the best way to proceed.
As Charter, we discussed in Malmoe and proposed in Istanbul to meet in Paris ( on December 5) in order to plan the engagements in Europe, now we have a different proposal with no link with the ESF and the other networks. It is very confusing, and all that is not helpful after the differencies which have arised between the social movements and some unions about the Brussels meeting in March.
Please, help me unterstand the situation
regards
franco russo
----- Original Message -----
From: Pierre Khalfa
To: Alexandra Strickner
Cc: Attac Europa ; fse-esf at lists.fse-esf.org ; athens-sp at ras.eu.org ; Labour&GlobalizationESF
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 7:09 PM
Subject: [fse-esf] IMPORTANT Invitation Paris, 10th - 11th January 2009,NEW VERSION
Une signature manque. Voici l'invitation complétée
Invitation
European cross network civil society meeting
for a common response to the global crises
Paris, 10th - 11th January 2009
Dear Friends,
The present financial crash is historically exceptional in depth and range. And the worst is still to come. The spill over to the real economy is fully under way and recession with all its consequences such as rising unemployment, pressure on social security etc. will come to a climax in 2009. We are at the beginning of a dramatic economic crisis. All sectors of social life will be affected, not only in the industrialised countries, but in the whole world. Together with the environmental crisis (climate, energy, biodiversity etc.), increasing food prices, hunger and poverty the world is confronting a dramatic challenge.
Civil society was not prepared for the financial crash. We are still not yet in the position to meet the challenges of such a dramatic convergence and to seize the unique opportunity for change, which is offered by such turmoil. An exceptional crisis requires an exceptional response.
Therefore, the undersigning networks want to invite you to an open consultation on how to build capacity for civil society, to organise and mobilise on a European level. In particular, we have to develop the capacity to influence the European position in the process of reforming the financial system, which has started with the G20 meeting on November 15th.
Date and venue of the meeting
The meeting, which we propose, will take place January 10th 11:00 a.m.
to 11th 13:00 h in Paris. The venue is at CICP (Centre International de Culture Populaire), 21ter rue Voltaire. Metro station: Nation.
Our meeting will take place two days after a conference convened by French President Sarkozy and ex British Prime Minister Blair, which is entitled: New World: Values, Developments and Regulation. It will be attended among others by progressive economists such as the Nobel prize winners Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz.
Open for all organisations which are interested
Given the heterogeneity of civil society, we know that starting such an initiative has always to live with some limitations, in particular with a certain lack of participation and transparency. We have handled questions such as: who is inviting and who is invited according our limited perspective. But it is not our intention to play a role which would go beyond facilitating the start of a process of self-organisation.
Therefore, we would ask everybody to pass on this invitation to any organisation, network, citizens initiative or trade union, from which you think that they might be interested.
Opportunities for networking and political intervention
Apart from developing our own capacities and alternatives, 2009 offers several important opportunities for political intervention, which should be seized, such as the elections for the European Parliament. Further landmarks in the process are:
- World Social Forum in Belem (Brazil), 27th January – 1st April 2009
- Alternative European encounter at the end of March in Brussels
- the Alternative ECOFIN in Prague (1.-3. April)
- the G20 (for the first time with Obama) in London, April 2nd
- G8 in Italy end of June beginning July
- UN-conference on climate change, Copenhagen, December 2009
Draft agenda
The outcome of the meeting is open and will depend on the discussions in Paris.
Nevertheless, we could imagine an agenda as follows:
1.. Analysis of the crises, including reports about ongoing dynamics within different European countries
2.. Consequences for a civil society strategy and our alternatives
3.. Opportunities for intervention in 2009
4.. Practical consequences on capacity building and networking
5.. Any other business
Perhaps, we also could have some working groups, which deal with sectoral issues such as the impact of the crisis on labour, environment and development. Of course, we are open to any further proposal. Please let us know, whether we can count on you.
Kind regards
European Attac Network
EURODAD
Euromarches
European Coordination Via Campesina
Friends of the Earth Europe
European Network on Finance and Development
S2B-Network
European Network for Public Services
Further supporters:
Frank Bsirske, President Ver.di (Trade Union of Service Workers) Germany
Ulrich Thöne, President of GEW (Teachers and Scientists Union), Germany
Gérard Aschieri, Secrétaire général of FSU (Fédération syndicale unitaire), France
Christophe Delecourt, Secrétaire général of CGT Finances (Confédération générale du travail), France
Pierre Khalfa, Secrétaire national of Union syndicale Solidaires, France
Fabrizio Tomaselli, National Secretary of SdL Intercategoriale (Sindacato dei Lavoratori Intercategoriale), Italy
Bob Crow, Secretaire general RMT National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers, Great Britain
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Une signature manque. Voici l'invitation complétée
Invitation
European cross network civil society meeting
for a common response to the global crises
Paris, 10th - 11th January 2009
Dear Friends,
The present financial crash is historically exceptional in depth and
range. And the worst is still to come. The spill over to the real
economy is fully under way and recession with all its consequences
such as rising unemployment, pressure on social security etc. will
come to a climax in 2009. We are at the beginning of a dramatic
economic crisis. All sectors of social life will be affected, not only
in the industrialised countries, but in the whole world. Together with
the environmental crisis (climate, energy, biodiversity etc.),
increasing food prices, hunger and poverty the world is confronting a
dramatic challenge.
Civil society was not prepared for the financial crash. We are still
not yet in the position to meet the challenges of such a dramatic
convergence and to seize the unique opportunity for change, which is
offered by such turmoil. An exceptional crisis requires an exceptional
response.
Therefore, the undersigning networks want to invite you to an open
consultation on how to build capacity for civil society, to organise
and mobilise on a European level. In particular, we have to develop
the capacity to influence the European position in the process of
reforming the financial system, which has started with the G20 meeting
on November 15th.
Date and venue of the meeting
The meeting, which we propose, will take place January 10th 11:00 a.m.
to 11th 13:00 h in Paris. The venue is at CICP (Centre International
de Culture Populaire), 21ter rue Voltaire. Metro station: Nation.
Our meeting will take place two days after a conference convened by
French President Sarkozy and ex British Prime Minister Blair, which is
entitled: New World: Values, Developments and Regulation. It will be
attended among others by progressive economists such as the Nobel
prize winners Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz.
Open for all organisations which are interested
Given the heterogeneity of civil society, we know that starting such
an initiative has always to live with some limitations, in particular
with a certain lack of participation and transparency. We have handled
questions such as: who is inviting and who is invited according our
limited perspective. But it is not our intention to play a role which
would go beyond facilitating the start of a process of self-
organisation.
Therefore, we would ask everybody to pass on this invitation to any
organisation, network, citizens initiative or trade union, from which
you think that they might be interested.
Opportunities for networking and political intervention
Apart from developing our own capacities and alternatives, 2009 offers
several important opportunities for political intervention, which
should be seized, such as the elections for the European Parliament.
Further landmarks in the process are:
- World Social Forum in Belem (Brazil), 27th January – 1st April 2009
- Alternative European encounter at the end of March in Brussels
- the Alternative ECOFIN in Prague (1.-3. April)
- the G20 (for the first time with Obama) in London, April 2nd
- G8 in Italy end of June beginning July
- UN-conference on climate change, Copenhagen, December 2009
Draft agenda
The outcome of the meeting is open and will depend on the discussions
in Paris.
Nevertheless, we could imagine an agenda as follows:
Analysis of the crises, including reports about ongoing dynamics
within different European countries
Consequences for a civil society strategy and our alternatives
Opportunities for intervention in 2009
Practical consequences on capacity building and networking
Any other business
Perhaps, we also could have some working groups, which deal with
sectoral issues such as the impact of the crisis on labour,
environment and development. Of course, we are open to any further
proposal. Please let us know, whether we can count on you.
Kind regards
European Attac Network
EURODAD
Euromarches
European Coordination Via Campesina
Friends of the Earth Europe
European Network on Finance and Development
S2B-Network
European Network for Public Services
Further supporters:
Frank Bsirske, President Ver.di (Trade Union of Service Workers) Germany
Ulrich Thöne, President of GEW (Teachers and Scientists Union), Germany
Gérard Aschieri, Secrétaire général of FSU (Fédération syndicale
unitaire), France
Christophe Delecourt, Secrétaire général of CGT Finances
(Confédération générale du travail), France
Pierre Khalfa, Secrétaire national of Union syndicale Solidaires, France
Fabrizio Tomaselli, National Secretary of SdL Intercategoriale
(Sindacato dei Lavoratori Intercategoriale), Italy
Bob Crow, Secretaire general RMT National Union of Rail, Maritime &
Transport Workers, Great Britain
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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