Changes between Version 6 and Version 7 of ussf_npc_position_paper


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Timestamp:
Nov 25, 2011, 10:31:46 PM (14 years ago)
Author:
Jamie McClelland
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  • ussf_npc_position_paper

    v6 v7  
    1 = United States Social Forum: White Paper for January 2012 NPC meeting =
     1= United States Social Forum: Position Paper for January 2012 NPC meeting =
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    3 == A) What impact did the USSF process have on your organization or sector, or on organization's you affiliate with that develop and/or support social movement building? What relationships did you develop that support your work, sector or the building of our social movement? ==
     3'' A) What impact did the USSF process have on your organization or sector, or on organization's you affiliate with that develop and/or support social movement building? What relationships did you develop that support your work, sector or the building of our social movement? ''
    44
    55The impact was inestimable. We greatly enhanced our network, recruited at least a score of new members, and broadened the discussion of the political issues we consider important and our response to them. Our work at USSF drove our entry into World Social Forum work which links to our other International work and enormously raised our profile within progressive movements world-wide, especially here in the United States.
    … …  
    77Among the most important outcomes was the many relationships we developed on the NPC and its related work groups. This draws the map for a lot of the work we've been doing currently in MF/PL. Additionally, the experience allowed us to broaden and strengthen our own technologist working group (within MF/PL) which is fundamental to our organization's ongoing work.
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    9 == B) What is your organization's political assessment of this current historical moment, and do you see a role for the Social Forum process as a vehicle for supporting stronger social movement building, including grassroots organizing? Please include your assessment of the primary issues our social movement faces externally and internally as well as the most vibrant social movements of this moment (i.e., fronts of struggle). ==
     9'' B) What is your organization's political assessment of this current historical moment, and do you see a role for the Social Forum process as a vehicle for supporting stronger social movement building, including grassroots organizing? Please include your assessment of the primary issues our social movement faces externally and internally as well as the most vibrant social movements of this moment (i.e., fronts of struggle). ''
    1010
    1111We see the entire world in obvious forward motion and have always believed that the Internet is proof of this forward motion as a community or movement created by humanity. The economic crisis has bankrupted the social and political structures that run the world and gives humanity an ultimatum to either move forward or face greater crisis. War, blanketing much of the world, has proven completely incapable of improving humanity's life. All the traditional institutions of governance, communications and law have clearly defaulted and many are completely broken.
    … …  
    1515We are in a period when communication among movements is essential and that's why our organization is about.
    1616
    17 == C) The 2007 and 2010 USSF brought many attendees, some for the first time and others to a more in-depth understanding of what a Social Forum is. As the global economic and ecological crisis deepens, do you see a specific role that the Social Forum process can play (1) within US social movement building; and (2) in relationship to the World Social Forums or other national or international social movement building processes?  How do we then connect in meaningful ways to grassroots struggles inside and outside of the US? ==
     17'' C) The 2007 and 2010 USSF brought many attendees, some for the first time and others to a more in-depth understanding of what a Social Forum is. As the global economic and ecological crisis deepens, do you see a specific role that the Social Forum process can play (1) within US social movement building; and (2) in relationship to the World Social Forums or other national or international social movement building processes?  How do we then connect in meaningful ways to grassroots struggles inside and outside of the US? ''
    1818
    1919We think the USSF already connects with all kinds of grassroots struggles and we think it already plays the role of "gathering place" for these movements. That's its role: a place to come together periodically with a very strong agenda of interactions. The last USSF was so much more politically developed than the first one that it proves the importance of the Social Forum in this country.
    … …  
    2121Outside the US, the Social Forum should participate in the development of the "border challenge" Social Forum movement -- a movement that refuses to recognize the artificial borders that divide us.
    2222
    23 == D) As the nation approaches critical elections in 2012, how can the USSF separate itself from traditional bourgeois understandings of social change (i.e. demands for reform rather than transformation of the exploitative economic system)? How can the USSF process centralize working class struggles, including grassroots democracy, issues of survival, the needs of the many versus the needs of the few? Given all this, what should the Social Forum’s relationship be to the 2012 electoral process? ==
     23'' D) As the nation approaches critical elections in 2012, how can the USSF separate itself from traditional bourgeois understandings of social change (i.e. demands for reform rather than transformation of the exploitative economic system)? How can the USSF process centralize working class struggles, including grassroots democracy, issues of survival, the needs of the many versus the needs of the few? Given all this, what should the Social Forum’s relationship be to the 2012 electoral process? ''
    2424
    2525It should steer clear of all elections. Electoral work, while an acceptable tactic in the eyes of many, is not a unifying concept for the Social Forum movement and, when not place appropriately in the politics of an organization, it can drain resources, raise false expectations and allow the ruling class to define the parameters of the political discourse. That's one of the lessons we can draw from the Obama candidacy/Presidency. People should work around elections; the USSF let people use its lists, etc. But nothing more.
    2626
    27 == E) How has your understanding of the role of the National Planning Committee (NPC) changed over time?  What alterations should it undergo as a national planning body for the USSF? What is your understanding of the NPC's relationship to the PMA (Peoples Movement Assembly) process? How can the NPC be a better vehicle to support social movement work? ==
     27'' E) How has your understanding of the role of the National Planning Committee (NPC) changed over time?  What alterations should it undergo as a national planning body for the USSF? What is your understanding of the NPC's relationship to the PMA (Peoples Movement Assembly) process? How can the NPC be a better vehicle to support social movement work? ''
    2828
    2929The 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.
    3030
    3131It 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.
    32                                                                                                                
    33 = 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? ==
     32
     33'' 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? ''
    3434
    3535We 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:
    … …  
    4141 In any case, a localized event is cheaper to do that a national one. Always.
    4242
    43  * 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?
     43 * 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 streaming, 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?
    4444