-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 11:24 AM
To: Ram Kumar; shweta -- narayan; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Sudha Ramalingam; Sumithra; Henri; Rajangam
Subject: WSF Chennai Meet

INVITATION TO A SEMINAR AND MEETING OF THE INDIA GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE WSF INDIA
 
Dates: October 6 to the 8th 2005
Venue: Chennai, India
 
Dear Friend,
 
The WSF process has become an important part of the global mobilisation against neo-liberal globalisation and war.  In India too the two year process before the WSF 2004 in Mumbai has been a massive alliance building exercise and the participation in the Mumbai event exceeded all expectations. The event itself was inspiring, not only for participants from India but also for those from the rest of the world.
 
Since the event in 2004 there has been a slowing down of the process and many organisations which are part of the General Council and the WSF process have not been engaging regularly with the subsequent developments and debates of the WSF. Since everyone has their movements, their own sectoral concerns and activities, this is natural. But it is crucial for everyone to be engaged and informed about what has been happening and to keep the alliance building process alive. This is particularly important in state processes, which is the heart of the WSF process in India.
 
Meanwhile in the rest of Asia, and the world, there have been many developments. The African process is moving forward, and there will be a WSF 2006 polycentric Forum in Bomako, Mali, in January, 2006. The WSF 2007 is scheduled to be held in Kenya in 2007. In Asia, Karachi will be the venue of a Polycentric Forum in January 2006. Then in Colombo, there was a meeting of organisations from various parts of Asia, held on June 4-5th, to discuss the Asian process. Delegates from East and South East Asia began to explore the possibilities of holding a South East Asian Polycentric Forum. This was further developed in a meeting in Bangkok on 16th August where organisations from Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, Korea met to discuss the venue, the time, etc for polycentric WSF in the region. The participants in this meeting decided that there would be a wider consultation within these countries in the coming months, and another meeting to be held in October.
 This will be on October 2nd in Bangkok.
 
All those associated with the WSF in India have been feeling the need to deepen the process within the country, also to engage actively in the build up towards the Polycentric Forum in Karachi as well as other events, and to expand participation in the debates and discussions that are taking place in the International Council. It is also important that all the organisations that have been part of the process before the Mumbai event are involved in these discussions and decisions.
 
We felt that it is time to: 1)  deepen the process, 2) revive the discourse on globalisation and alternatives to neo-liberalism, capitalism and war; 3) to involve a large diversity of organisations with the debates and discussions that are going on in the WSF movement globally.
 
It is with this rationale that a seminar is being planned in Chennai just before the WSF India IGC meeting. The seminar as well as the meeting will be from October 6 to the 8th. We are expecting speakers/participants from other South Asian and South East Asian countries. The focus of the seminar: is: "Challenges of Globalisation and Politics and Vision of the WSF"
 
The dates of the seminar are: October 6th-7th and that of the India General Council are: Oct 7th-8th. 
 
We would like to invite participants from other parts of the world to also attend the seminar and contribute to the debate. Unfortunately we are not in a position to provide travel support, but would be happy to take care of accommodation and other costs in Chennai.
 
We look forward to receiving your confirmation. Please do confirm your participation at the earliest by writing to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a copy to [EMAIL PROTECTED]. Looking forward to seeing you in Chennai.
 
In solidarity
 
for WSF India
PH %1664734


 
 

 

DRAFT PROGRAMME
Seminar on
Challenges of Globalisation and Politics and Vision of the WSF
                                                                            
Venue: Inter Church Service Agency (ICSA)- Jeevan Jothi
Opposite State Art Gallery
104, Pantheon Road, Egmore
Chennai,
 
 6th October, 2005

 
 
Session I: Another World is Possible:
 
 
Another World is Possible: The World Social Forum as a response to the challenge of Globalisation
1 presentation (30 mins.) + discussion (30 ins.)                                 60 minutes
 

Globalisation and its Tentacles
1 presentation (30 mins.) + Discussion (30 mins.)                                  60 minutes
 


Globalisation and its impact on Post Tsunami Rehabilitation and the Politics of Aid
2 presentations (20 mins. each) + Discussion (20 mins.)                     60 minutes
 
Session II: The WSF and its Politics


WSF as an Open Space – Confronting globalisation or dissipating dissent
2 presentations (20 minutes each) + Discussion (20 minutes)           60 minutes
 
Presentation by movements and organisations
15 presentations (5-10 minutes each)                                                 120 minutes
 
Movements from outside India (4-5 from the countries outside India depending on participation)

Movements  from India (10)


Response from a panel
(3 panelists respond in 20 minutes each) + Discussion (30 mins.)       90 minutes
 
 
7th October
 
Session III: Globalisation, Resistance, Alternatives
 

Ideological Alternatives to Globalisation
4 presentations (20 mins. each) + Discussion (40 mins.)                           120 minutes
 
Building Resistance to Globalisation – the Path Forward
3 presentations (15 minutes each) + discussion (15 minutes)                     60 minutes
 
Voices of Resistance:
4 presentations (15 minutes each) + Discussion (30 mins.)                       90 minutes
 

Suggested time schedule
 
6th October
 
9 am – 10.30 am                                                                       Registration
10.30 am to 1.30 pm                                                                  Session I
1.30 pm to 2.30 pm                                                                    Lunch Break
2.30 pm to 4.30 pm                                                                    Session I
4.30 pm to 5.00 pm                                                                    Tea Break
5.00 pm to 7.30 pm                                                                    Session II
 
7th October
 
9.00 am to 11.00 am                                                                  Session III
11.00 pm to 11.30 am                                                                Tea Break
11.30 am to 2.00 pm                                                                  Session III
2.00 pm to 3.00 pm                                                                    Lunch Break
 
3.00 pm onwards                                                                       WSF-India Consultation
 
8th October
 
Whole Day                                                                               WSF-India Consultation
 
 

 




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"If we fight, we may not always win, but if we don't fight, we will surely lose."
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SAVAD RAHMAN
subeditor,MADHYAMAM daily,
pooppalam, perinthalmanna,kerala,
india
cell:(91)-9846085873

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