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We Are Making a Difference! |
By Marty Luster and Ashley Smith
ATLANTA, GA - What happens when some 15,000 activists from every state and 64 other countries get together?
The first US Social Forum was held in Atlanta from June 27 through July 1. The result of this historic in-gathering of grass roots activists is new energy, new ideas, renewed commitment and a sense that, yes, indeed, 'we are making a difference'.
They were young and old, multiracial, men and women, gay and straight, immigrant and native, and overwhelmingly working class. They came with community groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), unions and political formations. They were led by people of color and representatives of grassroots organizations The US Social Forum was the outgrowth of a series of World Social Forums conducted over the past several years in Brazil and elsewhere where ideas and projects focused on social change, eco nomic justice and sustainable ways of life.
The activists filled the Atlanta Civic Center, hotels, local churches and other meeting places for discussions about politics and immigrant rights, U.S. foreign policy, reconstruction of the Gulf Coast after Katrina, indigenous struggles, women's rights, and workers' empowerment.
More than 900 workshops addressed the sundry ways that cur rent U.S. economic and social policies have negatively impacted the lives of many Americans and others around the world. But this was not an academic conference; organizers shared practical ideas and strategies for building movements for social change.
More than 900 workshops addressed the sundry ways that cur rent U.S. economic and social policies have negatively impacted the lives of many Americans and others around the world. But this was not an academic conference; organizers shared practical ideas and strategies for building movements for social change.
Activists said they came in search of radical ideas to explain and change U.S. society. They flocked to literature tables, and hundreds sought out meetings that discussed challenging conser vative NGOs or debated the building of revolutionary parties.
Melanie Serrou, a student at Ithaca College, representing the Tompkins County Workers Center said that the Forum brought to life many of the ideas and concepts of social justice she has been studying. Movements like labor activism that, until the Forum, had simply been words on a page, became living projects ready for hands-on action. " I got new hope, "she said. "Change is possible."
Representing the U.S. Partnership from Ithaca, NY was Dan Roth, who focused on the issue of sustainable development. "I now understand that sustainable development is becoming the common ground of a whole range of social, economic and envi ronmental issues."
Theresa Alt of Democratic Socialists of America and Wayles Browne of Amnesty International agreed that it was encouraging to see young people take a leading role on many of the issues discussed. "We were glad to see large numbers of groups who are doing similar things talking to each other," added Wayles.
In one plenary on militarism, Faleh Abood Umara, of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Workers, received thunderous applause when he declared that his union would fight against the "neocolonial oil law" pushed by Washington, and for workers' rights and an end to the occupation.
Numerous workshops, including two held by the Campus Antiwar Network (CAN), took up the issues related to the occupation. "The forum was a great opportunity for organizing students who are looking to build antiwar coalitions and in particular build student soli darity with Iraq Veteran Against the War," said CAN activist Chris Dols.
In the spirit of the Forum motto 'Another world is possible, another US is necessary,' the next US Social Forum is planned for 2010. Meanwhile, a Social Forum of the Americas will be held in Guatemala in October 2008.
Contact:
US Social Forum
www.ussf2007.org
Portions of this article orignally appeared in "Socialist Worker Online"
www.socialistworker.org
