[fse-esf] NOC mobilisation tour to CEE countries 16-21.2

[Tord Bj ö rk]

Dear all in Central Europe interested in the 5th European Social Forum!

- NOC mobilisation tour to Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia,
Hungary, Poland, and Germany.


I am writing to all of you on behalf of the Nordic Organizing Committee
(NOC) for the 5th European Social Forum to be held in Malmö in the South of
Sweden 17 - 21st of September this year. We see the need in getting more
information on the needs and interests for ESF-5 in CEE-countries to
encourage mobilisation as early as possible. The European Prepatory Assembly
for ESF-5 will take place together with meetings of different social
movements in Berlin 21-23rd of February. NOC have also recently recieved 47
000 Euro for the Solidarity fund for CEE participation at ESF-5 which now
makes it possible to start practical planning and support. It is of great
use to exchange ideas on mobilisation and issues of importance before this
date.

This is why we would like to visit CEE countries 16-21.2.

The aim of the tour is:

- Getting in contact with a broad range of groups and movements interested
in ESF-5
- Discussing what kind of issues are important for interested participants
from countries visited on the tour and east-west exchange of experience.
- Informing practically about ESF participation both concerning how to
influence the program, webb-pages and the Solidarity fund.
- Discussing how to strengthen the role of CEE in ESF and if possible also
in WSF and similar cooperation.
- Informing the media.

The proposed itinery is the following:
 
Czech Republic/Praha afternoon and evening 16.2, early morning train for
Slovakia/Bratislava for afternoon and evening 17.2, night train for
Slovenia/Ljubljana 18.2, early morning train for Croatia/Zagreb, afternoon
and evening 19.2, early moring train for Hungary/Budapest afternoon and
evening, night train for Poland/Warszawa afternoon and evening 21.2 and
night train for ending at the European Prepatory Assembly in Berlin.

It has not been possible to ask organisations in advance if they want to be
hosts for a visit during this tour. We apologize for this and hope you will
regard this as an invitation to become hosts. The organisations we will try
first are Mirek prokes/Friends of the Nature International, Praha, Green
Action Zagreb, Matyas Bendyik and Simo Endre, Hungarian Social Forum,
Budapest, Katarzyna Winiarska, Teremiski, Warszawa. If an answer does not
come soon we will try with others. We do not know whom to ask in Slovenia
and Slovakia and ask you all for help. If it is not possible to arrange a
visit in a country this will make it possible to stay one day more somewhere
else. Email addresses for the contacts in each country are; Mirek Prokes:
mirek.prokes at nfi.at, Matyas Benyik: mbenyik at freemail.hu, Simó Endre:
drsimoendre at freemail.hu, Green Action: zelena-akcija at zg.htnet.hr, Katarzyna
Winiarska: katarzyna.winiarska at teremiski.edu.pl

On behalf of the Nordic Organizing Committee and the Contact group for
Europé and the World


Tord Björk

Coordinator, 
Contact group for Europe and the World, Nordic Organizing Committee ESF 2008

Finlandsgatan 2
291 31 Kristianstad
Sverige/Suede/Sweden
Tel: +46 (0)44 12 32 94 (evenings, sometimes am Monday-Tuesday)
Mobile: +46 (0)738 44 68 50 (occasionally)
E-mail: tord.bjork at mjv.se (best way for contacts)

Nordic Organizing Committee: esf2008 at gmail.com, www.esf2008.org