Crossnetworking
Towards Alternatives and Strategies for Change!
A substantial number of global and regional civil society networks and social movements are inviting during the World Social Forum in Belem/Brazil to two Cross Networking spaces to discuss Alternatives and joint strategies for change. These two spaces are working spaces that are open to interested networks and social movements and are considered a starting point to explore themes and strategies across networks that help to build synergies to face the global crises.
Please find below a brief description of these two spaces, its co-organisers and the proposed methodology of these spaces.
Global Crises: Cross Network Space to Discuss Alternatives 30 of January 2009,
A cross network space to develop to share and develop joint alternatives and demands of social movements as a response to the global crises: food, climate, finance, labor/social, water, etc.
Global Crises: Cross Network Space to Discuss Joint Strategies 30 of January 2009,
A cross network space to share strategies of mobilization towards change. Networks will share their proposals developed in their own networks, including moments of actions for 2009 – 2010. Based on these reports we will explore synergies and ideas on how to continue to work together across various networks.
Co-organisers of the Cross Networking Spaces
Our World Is Not For Sale (OWINFS), TUCA - Trade Union Confederation of the Americas, Seattle to Brussels network, European Attac Network, Bi-regional Network Europe-Latin America and the Caribbean/ Enlazando Alternativas, European Network for Public Services, Social Watch, CADTM, Jubilee South, Hemispheric Social Alliance, Labor and Globalization Network, Action Aid International, International Gender and Trade Network (IGTN), Friends of the Earth International, Transform! Europe Network, LATINDAD, World Council of Churches, Transnational Institute, EURODAD, Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign – PPEHRC, REBRIP, Brazil Network on Multilateral Financial Institutions, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Focus on the Global South, SdL Intercategoriale, War on Want, Global Economic Alternatives Network
Methodology for the two spaces
The two spaces are thought to be working spaces to build synergies among a broad range of global and regional networks and movements. We invite networks, movements and groups who work in convergence spaces on key dimensions of the crises (financial system, food, energy, climate, labor/social, water etc.) to report from their own discussions. In order to allow for the building of convergences, we propose that networks and movements try to present – if possible
- The main demands/proposals/alternatives they consider key to face the global crisis (for the cross-networking space on alternatives) and
- The main strategies to advance alternatives and to build a strategy of change (for the cross-networking space on strategies). Those proposals should not only include proposals for days of action and demonstrations, but also strategies to build a long term movement for change.
Acknowledging the diversity of networks and movements, some of which are more recent than others, those who consider it to early in their process to be able to present focused proposals shall briefly report about the main conclusions as regards alternatives and strategies in this space.
In order to make the space a working space, it is planned to first have brief presentations of different networks and movements which work on key dimensions of the crises (finance, food, climate/environment, energy, labor, water etc.). In a second step discussions based on the presented proposals in smaller groups should take place with a final sharing of results in plenary.
The results of the discussions shall be put together in a brief document to be used by movements and networks in their further work, post Belem.
Proposal for a brief Statement to give visibility to this process
Those networks and movements which have engaged in the preparation of these two spaces propose that a very short statement should be prepared during the two spaces, to give visibility to this effort of building collaboration and cooperation among different global and regional networks and movements towards building alternatives and strategies for change and possible next steps. This short statement shall be worked out in a working space, by a small number of persons willing to prepare it, during the meeting, and if there will be consensu on it, it will be presented to the assemblies on the final day of the WSF.
For further information
Karen Lang, OWINFS – Tel.
Alexandra Strickner, IATP/OWINFS – astrickner@iatp.org