Changes between Version 4 and Version 5 of ussf_npc_position_paper

Timestamp:

Nov 25, 2011, 7:28:05 PM (12 years ago)

Author:

alfredo

Comment:

--

ussf_npc_position_paper

@@ -41 +41 @@
 vehicle to support social movement work?
 
-The NPC should set the dates for the Social Forums, make the arrangements and make sure everything is secure and efficient. That has been its traditional role and should be moving into the proximate future. We believe the PMA is a highly dynamic and significant contribution US
+The NPC should set the dates for the Social Forums, make the arrangements and make sure everything is secure and efficient. That has been its traditional role and should be moving into the proximate future. We believe the PMA is a highly dynamic and significant contribution USSF has made to the movement and that these PMA gatherings are continuing to develop. At this point, the relationship between NPC and the PMA is as it should be -- the former assists, encourages and supports the latter and that is an excellent path to continue to walk.
+
+It is vitally important for the NPC to continue to do only what it's been doing. The structuring and facilitating work NPC does for the Social Forum *is* in fact politically driven and informed. Political discussion around the work we do -- putting on the Social Forum -- is valuable and should be encouraged and enhanced. But no more. The Social Forum in and of itself must be allowed to make the organic and natural contribution it can make by bringing people in struggle together. NPC can't add to that and if it tries to it may mar the productive interactions and environment.
                                                                                                                 
 F) Lastly, the big one...is it time to start a discussion about a 3rd USSF, which would include talks about what
 should be changed and why? What form might a 3rd USSF take (regional, national), and why? What criteria
 might we discuss and list to help guide any discussions about if, when, and where?
-F
+
+We believe the next Social Forum should be made up of about four or five regional Social Forums taking place simultaneously. This is the idea put forward by our Co-Director Alfredo Lopez at the last NPC meeting. Three developments encourage us in this direction:
+
+1 -- The political situation in this country is acquiring a much more "regional" and "struggle specific" nature. The alignment and cohesion of forces is taking place much more around these magnets than as a national force. There is even a regional nature to the Occupy movement which is one of the most "national" movements around. Additionally, many developments are taking place that challenge the idea of borders and the very idea of a United States. So, is the Southwest a region of the US or part of a regional that reaches across the border and include portions of Mexico?
+
+2 -- We don't have the money to put on a national Social Forum. Even if we can raise that million dollars (or probably more now), which appears doubtful, is it worth that effort? To project a national Social Forum and then fail because we can't raise the money would be devastating. OTOH, the announcement of innovative regionally-based events around the country can attract some national funding that can be shared, regional funding (or funding from funders who concentrate on local activity) and individual and organizational fund-raising.
+
+In any case, a localized event is cheaper to do that a national one. Always.
+
+3 -- We have the technology to do a national convergence of local or regional events. Each region could, for instance, do a full day of local events and then converge, through steaming, for a national event in the evening (or a combination national and regional event). All kinds of combinations are possible including International participation, cross-border participation from South and North, participation by people who can't physically attend any of the Forums. All of this is now possible. Why not use it?
+