---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 13:35:39 +0000
From: Charlotte Utting <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [WASAN] FW: ADNA UPDATE: African Social Forum - Another Africa is
Possible
----------
From: "Nunu Kidane" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 11:18:55 -0800
To: "ADNA E-mail List" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: ADNA UPDATE: African Social Forum - Another Africa is Possible
ADNA UPDATE: 021210
Message from: United Methodist Board of Church and Society
For contact information see also:
http://www.africaaction.org/adna
Dear friends of ADNA:
The following document on the upcoming African Social Forum is
sent by Demba Dembela Musa, founder and director of Forum for
African Alternative in Dakar Senegal. The original document is
formatted in Word and contained a colored chart which is not
possible to send in text format. To receive the document in its
original form, send me an e-mail at [log in to unmask] For
additional information on the upcoming African Social Forum in
Addis Ababa or the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre Brazil, go
to: www.worldsocialforum.org.br.
Nunu
ANOTHER AFRICA IS POSSIBLE
African Social Forum
Second edition
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
5-9 January 2003
Introduction
The African Social Forum surfaced in January 2002, and started
fulfilling the objectives that it was entrusted with: laying the
foundations of a space of convergence, democratic debates and
mutual guidance, on the one hand, and promoting African
participation in the world social movement, on the other.
Following the Bamako Forum, a process of democratic
consultations was launched in order to better share future choices
and decisions: setting up an organisation committee representing
the various sub-regions and the major themes. National and sub-
regional members of the forum autonomously undertook various
structuring processes as is the case of Morocco, Mali, Benin,
Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, …. while some of these initiatives
are already afoot, others are scheduled for the weeks ahead.
Consultations within the Committee (see annexed list) made it
possible to draw the lessons of the first Bamako Forum and define
a strategy aimed at perpetuating this space, in compliance with the
mandate received from members (see report of the organisation
committee meeting).
The July meeting in South Africa defined the approach to be
adopted for the organisation of the next Forum and its thematic
content.
Why a second edition of the African Social Forum?
1- The need to perpetuate the African Social Forum was strongly
expressed in Bamako. The main reason for this lies in the fact that
such a space, based on the diversity of opinions and approach,
mutual recognition and guidance, does not exist on the continent.
Even though the organisations and thematic networks fulfil their
role appropriately and are progressively being consolidated, they do
not have an open space which enables them to periodically put
their thoughts, actions and know-how together.
2- This need is all the more significant since Africa launched its
union during the past year and there is need to set up global
spaces of convergence to influence the unification process and
enable African societies to express their viewpoints concerning the
initiatives taken on behalf of the continent.
As a space for mutual information and guidance, the forum should
respond to the need to promote the exchange of ideas and
democracy, exchange thoughts on the internal and external
development of the continent, give an impetus to African social
movements and show heightened awareness in relation to policies
conceived for the continent.
The Social Forum laid the foundations for such a space, and there
is need for it to continue to promote values for which it was set up.
3- The forum constituted a factor of mobilisation for African
movements to take part in the world social forum. Within a year,
the number of participants increased from 30 to over 200. Apart
from the increase in the number of participants, it involves ensuring
that the continent fully participates in a forum representing all the
planet’s social forces fighting against neo-liberal drifts, and laying
together the premises of real democratic changes for the planet. In
as much as African governments need to strengthen their
capacities within international institutions in order to defend their
interests more efficiently, the African social movement also needs
to mark the alternative world movements with its contributions. In
both cases, it is to the advantage of the functioning of world
democracy.
4- The progress observed in several sectors of interest to the entire
continent, considerably justifies the need for a fresh in-depth
consultation between thematic and sub-regional components and
actors at continental level. The important factors to be taken into
account include the adoption, in Doha, of the principle of a new
cycle of trade talks, the holding of the Summit on Development
Financing and the adoption of the Monterrey Consensus, the
launching of the African Union in July 2002, the action plan for
Africa adopted by the G8 Summit in Canada, NEPAD’s kick-off,
the launching of trade talks between the European Union and ACP
countries to define free trade zones, the evolution of the situation of
certain conflicts within the continent and the emergence of new
conflicts, launching the UNDP campaign for the implementation of
the millennium objective, the holding of the Environment and
Development Summit…
The debates held during these events clearly show an up thrust
and a dangerous deep- rootedness of neo-liberal discourse and
practices, at both international and regional levels.
They illustrate the enhanced difficulties which the African peoples
encounter to defend their economic and social rights, tone down
and face up to an order that very often reduces them to subjects of
international charity.
The tragic events of September 11 made the continent’s situation
even more problematic. Just as the events that followed the said
tragedy : the Afghanistan war, the unacceptable injustice against
Palestinians, the state of permanent war which the United States
and Great Britain have imposed on the entire planet and which is a
permanent danger to world stability and security, unilateralism and
marginalisation of the multilateral system.
All these events have prolonged a situation of economic and
political crisis in the world, which is not likely to provide Africa with
the possibility to embark on an autonomous development
focussed on the priorities and aspirations of the populations of the
continent.
The second African Social Forum, as well as the third Porto Alegre
Social Forum will be held in an uncertain world situation, fraught
with risks that impose on the peoples, an absence of readability of
the future and a retreat into oneself which is harmful to human
relations.
Objectives of the second edition of the African Social Forum
During this new phase in Addis Ababa, participants will appreciate
the impact of certain major trends of the neo-liberal order on the
African populations, formulate the alternatives together, while
strengthening the African social movement and consolidating,
through our contributions, the world social movement.
The African Social Forum is an emanation of the World Social
Forum and arises from a dual approach of strengthening
organisations of the social movement in Africa and consolidating
the world social movement. As such, the Addis Ababa Forum will
pursue the following objectives :
- Provide a space to exchange ideas, information, experiences and
for mutual guidance among the various components of the African
social movement
- Examine the main developments in the African and world
contexts and appreciate their consequences on the African
populations and social movement
- Strengthen the capacities of organisations of the African social
movement to analyse, propose and mobilise so as to fully play
their role in Africa and within the world social movement
- Develop common positions and strategies among the main
components of the African social movement, on the most
distinctive internal and external elements of this development
- Present, evaluate and strengthen various efforts to structure the
social movement on the continent
- Consolidate the relationship between the African social
movement and the world social movement, particularly the World
Social Forum. Information on the WSF.
Methodology
To achieve the fixed objectives, the Forum deliberations will be
organised according to the thematic plan. Each theme will be
discussed in plenary and in workshops.
* Denouncing the inequitable international trade rules (WTO/
Cotonou / AGOA….) and the policies of international financial
institutions, the insignificant progress made on the debt front, and
reviewing structural adjustment policies and poverty alleviation
strategies.
* Study and evaluation of the African integration process and
initiatives taken on behalf of the continent (NEPAD)
* Impacts of the privatisation of social services on the African
populations in the context of globalisation
* Farmer issue and food sovereignty in the globalisation context,
* Exploring the Millennium Declaration, evaluating and influencing
the campaign focussed on the implementation of the millennium
objectives
* The changing African social movement : towards what
convergences?
1. Strengths and weaknesses in the face of liberal up thrust in the
world, within the context of the last declarations, action plans and
international consensus
2. The African social movement’s strategies for mobilisation and
action
3. Africa’s participation in the World Social Forum:
* Re-examining the role and functioning of the African Social
Forum. Adopting the African Social Forum Charter
Other topics could be discussed but under the responsibility of
participants who propose them.
At the same time, a session will be devoted to information on
certain international networks in which Africa plays an important
role. It is the case of the network Social Watch.
If there is enough time, another session will be devoted to the
theme «New information technologies, socio-economic progress
and democracy in Africa: miracle solutions or new constraints?»
A working session will be devoted to relations of partnership
between African civil society organisations and organisations of the
North present in Addis.
The deliberations will be organised in such a way as to devote
most of the time to workshops on the themes retained. Each of
them will be the object of short presentations. The plenary that will
follow will serve as platforms for the pooling, the formulation of
global alternatives and the identification of common strategies and
positions.
Venue and duration of the African Social Forum
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
Local organisation : InterAfrica Group
Four days : From 5-9 january 2003
Participation and criteria for participationin the Addis Ababa Forum:
Participation
- The ASF organising committee expects the participation of 200
representatives of all the components of the African social
movement. However, this number will be adjusted in mid-November,
based on the resources mobilised. In any case, 150 participants
will be necessary to achieve the critical mass required for a
sufficient representation of the African social movement.
- The same number of African participants should take part in the
World Social Forum. However, last year’s experience made us
believe that the objective of 100 representatives is realistic.
- In addition to African civil society organisations, the African and
international media will also be invited.
- Members of the international committee of the World Social
Forum as well as organisations of the north and south active in the
social movement will be invited to Addis Ababa.
Criteria for participation:
Participants will be part of a wide range of organisations, fields of
work, and will come from the various African sub-regions:
- Farmer organisations
- Labour organisations
- Women’s organisations
- Youth organisations
- Human rights organisations
- Environment and development organisations
- Community organisations
- Consumer organisations
- National NGO forums
- Sub-regional and regional thematic networks
- Researchers and research institutions
- Religious organisations
- The Media
Participants will be identified by members of the Organising
Committee of the African Social Forum, in close collaboration with
organisations and networks of the social movement in the sub-
regions, and in accordance with the requirement for the strong
participation of movements other than non-governmental
associations and organisations. A strong representation of labour
organisations and peasant movements will be sought.
Adjustments will be made to ensure balance between the various
sub-regions, the different themes and various types of actors.
Special weight will be given to the participation of women and we
will try to ensure equal distribution between men and women.
Financing:
During the meeting of the organising committee in South Africa, a
comprehensive presentation was made by the social Forum
Secretariat on the state of the search for funds.
It was decided that members of the Committee will be made more
accountable in the mobilisation of the resources necessary for the
participation of sectors of which they are responsible, but that the
secretariat will continue to meet its responsibilities in this regard.
From Addis Ababa to Porto Alegre
The World Social Forum will serve as an opportunity to prepare
Africa’s active and efficient participation in the World Social Forum
of Porto Alegre. But the preparations (hotel reservations,
discussions with our Afro-Brazilian partners to organise the
logistics, preliminary discussions on the organisation of upcoming
African cultural events in Brazil…) have already started.
Several workshops will be organised in Porto Alegre by the African
networks on:
- international trade
- gender
- debt and reparations
- NEPAD
- the implementation of the Cotonou Agreement,
- the farmer issue and food sovereignty
- the impact of privatisations
Arrangements will continue up to January to ensure that a
maximum of African activities are organised in Porto Alegre.
Partnership with the Afro-Brazilian Diaspora
The Porto Alegre Social Forum will serve as an opportunity to
strengthen relations between the continent and Afro-Brazilian and
Afro-American Communities. Joint activities will be organised, in
addition to the mutual support that the two groups will provide each
other.
PROGRAM OF THE AFRICAN SOCIAL FORUM
5-9 january 2003, Addis Ababa
(Preliminary)
January 5, 2003
8h30-9h: Registration
9h-10h30: Opening ceremony and welcoming addresses
10h30-10h45: Break
10h45-11h: Presentation of the Forum’s objectives and of
the methodology
11-13h: Presentation of the Forum’s themes:
International trade, privatization and African development
Debt and poverty: current situation and alternatives
African Union: a hope not to be dashed
Peace and conflicts:
13h-15h Lunch
15h-16h30 Presentation of themes continues:
Agriculture and globalization: the challenge of food sovereignty
The Millennium objectives:opportunity for Africa or continuity of
structural adjustment?
16h30-16h45 Break
16h45-17h45 Presentation of themes continues:
The New Information Technologies : miracle solutions or new
constraints?
African cultures: a buffer against neo-liberalism and a tool for
reinventing the future
Contribution of the African social movement to the struggle against
neo-liberal globalization
17h45-18h Overview of the workshops
January 6, 2003
9h-11h Workshops
11h-11h15 Break
11h15-13h Workshops
13h-15h Lunch
15h16h30 Workshops
16h-16h15 Break
16 h15-18h Workshops
January 7, 2003
9h-10h Plenary
10h-10h15 Break
10h15h-13h Workshops
13h-15h Lunch
15h16h30 Workshops
16h-16h15 Break
16h15-18h Workshops
January 8, 2003
9h-10h Plenary
10h-10h15 Break
10h15-13h African Union: a project for the African people?
13h-15h Lunch
15h-16h30 Discussions and adoption of the Addis Ababa
Declaration
16h30-16h45 Break
16h45-19h Discussions and adoption the African Social Forum’s
Charter
Relationship between the ASF and the World Social Forum
Closing ceremony
January 9, 2003
9h-11h: Briefing session on the Social Watch network
11h-11h15: Break
11h15-13h30 Session on the cooperation between African and
Northern social movements
---------------------------
This message from the United Methodist Board of Church and
Society is distributed through the Advocacy Network for Africa
(ADNA) via IDEX
Nunu Kidane
Advocacy Network for Africa (ADNA)
Communications Facilitator for IDEX
International Development Exchange - IDEX
827 Valencia Street, Suite 101
San Francisco, CA 94110
Tel: (415) 824 8384
www.idex.org
To unsubscribe your e-mail address from this group,
send an email to: [log in to unmask]
To ensure that the ADNA database is updated correctly,
please also send a copy of your request, or any other
request for changes in your membership information,
to [log in to unmask] For additional assistance
with the adnalist, write to [log in to unmask]
Next WASAN meeting is Wednesday, in 2003. Location: TBA
7:00 pm Business meeting
7:30 pm Program:
Everyone is welcome).
We usually meet the fourth Wednesday of the month. For a calendar of local Africa events see http://www.ibike.org/africamatters/calendar.htm . To post a message: [log in to unmask] To subscribe send a message to [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe send a message to [log in to unmask] . All past postings are archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wa-afr-network
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
