12.02.2004

Essential ESF information

UK organising committee
Replacing the old ‘UK assembly’, it brings together representatives of all affiliated organisations. Open to observers, it will meet once a month.

UK coordinating committee
With only one representative from each affiliated organisation, this body is dealing with the day-to-day decisions of the ESF and is “accountable to the OC”. It meets at least once a week - currently every Wednesday afternoon at 2pm in the GLA’s City Hall. This is a working group and attendees are expected to be able to commit at least one day’s work per week to the ESF. Observers are allowed, with the right to exclude them when sensitive issues are being discussed.

Central email address: ukesfcommittee@gn.apc.org
This is currently being controlled by GLA employees, which means that for the time being requests and queries are being handled rather selectively. With a properly staffed office and accountable personnel, this could be transformed into a useful tool.

In order to sign up to the very lively and informative email discussion list go to http://lists.mobilise.org.uk/wws/info/esf-uk-info and follow the instructions.

Important dates

Monday February 16, 5.30pm, Unison HQ, Mabledon Place: First meeting of the newly established programme group.

Thursday February 26: Meeting of culture group. Details to be confirmed.

Sunday February 29, 12noon-5pm, City Hall: Meeting of UK organising committee, mainly to discuss if our bid is viable. Will also discuss organisation of European preparatory assembly.

Saturday and Sunday March 6-7, City Hall: European preparatory assembly. This body will take the final decision as to whether the ESF will be held in London and set the date. Saturday from 10am-5pm, Sunday from 10am-1pm.

Remaking internationalism

Eve of European assembly meeting: ‘Social forums and the politics of global solidarity’ - Friday March 5, 7pm, Hong Kong lecture theatre, London School of Economics, Houghton Street, WC2. Nearest tube: Holborn.

Speakers: Tariq Ali, Annick Coupe (SUD PTT union, France), Marco Berlinguer (Rifondazione Comunista, Italy), John Appollis (Anti-Privatisation Forum, South Africa), Annie Pourre (No Vox, France).

Organised by Radical Activist Network: info@radicalactivist.net