How to articulate a global common action for 2011-2012

Forum Social Mondial 2011 – Dakar (Sénégal)

Du 6 au 11 Février

 

Asamblea de Convergencia para la Acción

11 Février

 

Location: Fac Medicine Amphi 3

Organized by: Nova - Social Innovation Center, Alliance for Freedom and Dignity, The Human Rights Institute of Catalonia, F. Alfons Comín (Catalonia, Spain), Gandhi International, Initiatives Pour un Autre Monde (France), Nonviolent Peaceforce (International), Free Gaza (Palestine), People's Health Movement (UK), Un Ponte Per... (Italy), African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (Senegal), ALOP (Mexico). 

One of the key missions of the WSF is to facilitate articulations and convergences between the different social movements’ struggles and assemblies. The more than 30 assemblies held in Belem and Dakar are a very important initial way to facilitate these convergences. We would like to try out other complementary paths to seek convergences to have the maximum impact, respecting the diversity and autonomy of different struggles.

We consider it would be positive to propose and decide on a joint transforming global action annually - as the day against the war in Iraq in 2003, proposed in the Assembly of Social Movements of the European Social Forum. We believe that such process should be carried forward, and therefore we commit to organizing a Consultation on a Joint Transforming Global Action for 2011-2012.

This consultation seeks to promote the coordination of a global action that can cause a change in the balance of power during 2011-2012, designed to achieve a specific objective and to strengthen the perception that we can progress towards an inhabitable world for all. All organizations and meetings of the WSF are invited to submit suggestions for global campaigns and encourage others to do so.

We invite all organizations who wish to participate to analyse what is the most pressing and important global problem at this historical moment, and what would be the most forceful and comprehensive action, with an achievable goal, that can change a particular balance of power for make this world an inhabitable place for all.

The proposals received by June 24th will be published on the Internet, and all organizations to register (before and after June 24th) may indicate which of the proposed campaigns they would stick with. The objective is to obtain a common action to be carried out during 2011 -2012.

Bases of the consultation

1.    Ask within your group, organization or network which proposal for a worldwide common action should be considered a priority and could be the most transformative in 2011, so that changes that may affect either those responsible for the global crisis or the major unsustainable or unjust relationships of our societies. Define an action and submit the main features of the proposed common action before June 24th (see "Description" below)

2.    In July 2011, the list of common actions received will be published online. All organizations who wish to participate may indicate the 3 actions they would be willing to support/carry forward.

3.    In late September, the action that has received the most support will be announced, and its execution will planned globally, in a coordinated and comprehensive fashion. The organizations that have proposed the selected action will have an initial support of € 10,000 to prepare it.

Description of the action (send to info@barcelonaconsensus.org )

  • Action Name
  • Transforming objective (and why it is considered key in this historical moment)
  • Purpose and specific objective to be achieved with this action (a realistic objective, that is achievable)
  • Description of the action (NOTE: The premise is that the action should result in the possibility of real transformation. Proposals that only seek awareness will not be taken into account.)
  • Indicate what action is proposed

o    Non-cooperation (not buying, working, voting, saving, investing, etc.).

o    Civil disobedience (not following unjust laws, accepting economic or political leaders, etc.).

o    Build alternatives (changing habits, requiring new legislation, filing juridical claims, etc.).

o    Other - explain the process of transformation that occurs.

  • How could other organizations get involved? What would be asked of them? What could they do to participate?
  • How could citizens participate? What would they be asked to do?
  • Why do you consider this action is very important to achieve a good result in 2011-2012?
  • When should this action be publicly launched, and when should it take place?
  • What organizations would probably be willing to organize it, and how?

At the Assembly, and the workshop previously celebrated, several possible actions have been pointed out: march of 100,000 landless farmers in India (Jan Janadesh 2012), Campaigning against Tax Havens, Palestinian BDS, Marathon in Baghdad, Water for all, Child Soldiers, ... 

For more information and to submit proposals 

http://consensus.nova.cat/act-action-common-transformation-2011-2012

 

For more information on how to participate

visit www.barcelonaconsensus.org

or write to info@barcelonaconsensus.org