www.eurotopiamag.com ISSN 1745-2783 October 2004 Pilot issue

EDITORIAL Fortress ın the sea WE HAVE COME TOGETHER TO A proposal for a ‘virtual EU maritime with bad records: Benin, Botswana, produce Eurotopia out of a shared sense border’ includes the immediate return of Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Ghana, , of urgency in the face of a crisis of anyone who tries to reach the Europe by Mauritius, and Uruguay. More countries can democracy. Across Europe a profound sea. BEN HAYES reports be added in future and individual member states may gulf is growing between the people, and have wider lists but, crucially, cannot take countries the institutions and ruling elites that THE EU IS CONSIDERING A PROPOSAL FOR off the EU list – even on human rights grounds. claim to represent them. Without police, military and naval operations against people The 25 EU member states were given US State creative initiatives by a radically trying to reach the EU by sea and is inventing the Department and Amnesty International reports democratic and egalitarian left, social concept of a ‘virtual EU maritime border’,extending to (where available) on the 10 supposedly safe countries - and economic divisions will deepen, the coastline of North Africa. It wants the immediate and less than three weeks to make a decision. Their feelings of powerlessness will intensify return of those who ‘voluntarily place themselves in a assessments, obtained by Statewatch, amount to a and the far right will be better able to state of distress and are picked up at sea’.The proposal catalogue of human rights concerns: ‘extensive mob spread racist and xenophobic poison. would rewrite the Law of the Sea to allow ‘punishment’ violence without proper enforcement of justice’ in We have been inspired to propose this of illegal immigration: ‘Cases must be brought and Benin, the outlawing of homosexuality and the use of new resource for transnational damages sought by States that are victims of illegal the death penalty in Botswana, the beatings in police communication by the European Social immigration against States whose civilian vessels use custody in Cape Verde, the ‘life threatening’ prison Forum (ESF). The ESF is a space their territorial sea for non-peaceful purposes.’ conditions in Ghana, the widespread female genital founded on a rejection of neo-liberal EU member states are also discussing a common mutilation in Mali, the forced child labour and economics and authoritarian, militarist list of ‘safe countries of origin’. Under the Directive, prostitution in Mauritius, and the Senegalese and racist politics; a space that nurtures all asylum applications from nationals and former government’s often brutal repression of the Movement self-organisation across national residents of states on the list will be declared des Forces Democratique in the region of Casamance. boundaries, and creates new ‘unfounded’ on the grounds that persecution severe Meanwhile, the Commission says the EU needs 30 international dialogue. enough to cause people to flee never happens. The million migrants by 2020 to meet projected shortfalls Something new is stirring on the left. policy will force member states to lower their in the labour force. It seems unlikely they will be

Organisations whose horizons have been standards, notably to those found in the UK, inventor coming from black Africa. See www.eurotopiamag.org limited to the nation or the locality have and champion of the policy. The list includes states www.statewatch.org ★for the full version of this feature found themselves connecting with groups engaged in similar struggles across national borders: trade unions Debatıng the ESF resisting privatisation and the global offensive against workers, immigrants In the run-up to the European shopkeepers displaying posters declaring ‘Florence, an fighting for democratic rights, precarious in London, Eurotopia interviews activists open city’.A lot of young people attended, and a workers building up their power, workers about their views of the European Social million attended the demonstration after the Forum. in culture and education, women, human Forum, past and present: ALESANDRA The Forum was confirmed as the space of a big rights activists, local communities and MECOZZI, trade union federation FIOM- movement, very peaceful, very lively and the only force small farmers, and many more, are CGIL, Italy, ELISABETH GAUTHIER, Espace willing and able to talk about alternatives and to finding international networks a Marx, France, PANAYOTIS YULIS, Greek demonstrate that it is possible to build such alternatives necessity. This political imperative is Social Forum, OSCAR REYES, ESF UK from below. Florence built on our Genoa experience reinforced by personal desire, as people organising committee, and KATE HUDSON, where we learned not to be sectarian, to work together, cast off restrictive identities and create CND, UK. to reach compromises. new international patterns of friendship Elisabeth Gauthier, France (EG): The impact of the and entertainment. What impact has hosting the forum had on ESF in France has made it possible to create a space We make no assumptions about the the movements in Italy and France? Was it for joint work among forces that until recently had future form this new politics will take. worth it? been distant, ignorant of each other or had We have different points of view about Alesandra Mecozzi, Italy (AM): The ESF was launched difficulties co-operating. Certain new alliances and the role of the ESF, the forms of political in 2002. It took place in Florence following the more complex results in the European elections are agency we need, the relation between mobilisation against the G8 meeting in Genoa the year also outcomes of this dynamic. In France, about 150 social movements and political parties, before, which had been marked by physical violence. A local forums have been established. the strategies to challenge the EU as it is, campaign of verbal violence was unleashed against the Are there any lessons you can draw from and the kind of Europe we should ESF in Florence. Despite this, people were not afraid. your experiences that are relevant for the promote. These will be among the issues 60,000 people came to the forum, welcomed by many rest of Europe? continued on back page continued on page 2 In bed with Everything Rip it up and Building Europe Anti-war A leap business must go start again behind our backs mobilisations of faith page 4 page 6 page 8 page 10 page 13 page 14 2 Eurotopia October 2004 October 2004 Eurotopia 3 The future of the ESF Debatıng the Forum continued from front page

AM: We learnt to compromise, to put aside in Greece in 2006 will help us boost the social from people elsewhere in Europe have helped to working on this ESF preparation was more called non-global movement represented a new that another world is possible are not necessarily assertions of our individual political identities in movement element and help to build a united calm the situation and put some of the domestic difficult than the others. The impression is of generation pushing to take part in politics in a formally organised into networks and favour of a common identity that we could unite movement. It could mark a new era of politics in quarrels in perspective. The next large a difficult process concentrated on internal new way, on the basis of personally assuming organisations. We need to think differently about under. It is by no means completed, and it is not Greece. mobilisation in the UK will be the G8 in Scotland conflicts. We had these problems at the responsibility – not always something at the how knowledge is transmitted. We need to find always easy. There is no guarantee we move Oscar, what about the impact of the ESF next year. The ESF in the UK could be an beginning, but we made it our priority to centre of large organisations. This new ways by which delegates participate in an forward – we may move backwards too. in Britain? opportunity to forge new alliances for that overcome them. generation recognises that unions have valuable ongoing process. EG: It’s necessary to speak of a process of social Oscar Reyes, UK (OR): We have yet to learn the moment, too. KH: Going through the painful process is part of historical experience of battles and conquests. We EG: If we want to push neo-liberal hegemony forums, which take place in diverse forms, but lessons of the UK process. The idea of the ESF as Kate Hudson, UK (KH): Since the process for the doing it differently. For me, it was quite a major need to keep them close. This is only achievable if into retreat, we do need to broaden our social with some coherence based on the an open space for different movements and as a London ESF started we have had to challenge the culture shock to be confronted with different we don’t retreat into our own identity. Exchange base. The that is developing is not Charter. In France, we prefer the conception of process rather than an event was not grasped traditional ways in which we engage with each types of organisations we didn’t normally work is a necessity and so is contamination when only to do with the traditional capital-labour the ESF as a common working space, and not a fully in the UK. We have not been successful in other in Britain, although in many ways it has with and it was a great shock for me to realise acknowledging each other. antagonism, but also to do with the general common platform. In addition, we have not negotiating differences, reaching compromises been very painful and time-consuming. When that there were people who seemed to think that PY: Perhaps we should aim to make the ESF into offensive to marketise all human activities. This created a permanent ‘superstructure’ that would and putting aside entrenched identities. If there the Forum comes to London in October, we will mass democratic organisations were not very a meeting of networks, not of national means that the forces involved in this permit the emergence of hegemonic forces within has been one lesson, however, it is that it is be forced to engage with a whole range of positive, that taking votes was alien and not very organisations. We need to make the ESF more confrontation are very broad and thus that our the ESF. Many political activists are involved in impossible for any one group to control the space European issues that haven’t been at the forefront progressive. But one has to respect different focussed on specific issues. We have lost contact movement could become very broad. The labour the process, but not parties as such, either of the Forum. of British politics, like the constitution and points of view and the only way to move forward with big parts of society, due to the lack of is weakened, but a new potential for because their political positions contradict the We have not resolved the relationship between citizenship. It will open up the dialogue from is for everyone to listen to each other. depth. Big demonstrations don’t produce alliances around issues related to work and strongest demands of the movement, or because the forum and the Greater London Authority, both sides. AM: For us in the unions, the experience of anything for the movement. We must find ways civilisation are appearing. From that emerges one they are still seen as a threat to the autonomy of which has used its funding to exert an AM: While I hope she is right, the picture Kate Genoa – and then the organisation of the Forum to have a political discussion. of the biggest challenges: encouraging the unions the movement. unprecedented level of control. Interventions gives is very optimistic. The experience of of Florence – made us understand that the so- OR: A lot of people who support the message to associate with the ESF; and to develop, inside

Panayotis, can you say something about Han Soete the ESF, more connecting debates and more the impact in Greece the forum is Below, from left to right: Panayotis Yulis, Alesandra Mecozzi, The ESF in Florence global themes. having? Oscar Reyes and Kate Hudson KH: What I would like to see is more discussion Panayotis Yulis, Greece (PY): After Florence, we on how we can add that action component to the were convinced that this was the way to do new ways of relating to each other, then I think it politics, that Genoa had not just been a big can be a very dynamic process. moment but the beginning of an important new EG: One of the major difficulties is the question process. We had the EU Summit in Thessalonika of power. We have the responsibility to transform in 2003 and started building local Social Forums the powers that exist in the EU in favour of the across Greece in preparation for the counter- European people, but also as a contribution to a summit and demonstrations in June. We were change in the ‘logic’ of the world system. Trying very successful though our local forums are no to gain autonomous spaces is not sufficient. It is longer working as well as they were. The main also necessary to confront the issue of power, to division now is between the people who work pose the question of the political parties required inside or around the Greek Social Forum and the for such a transformation process. The Latin Communist Party of Greece, which feels very American experiences are stimulating, but not a hostile to the ESF. Politics in Greece, unlike Italy sufficient foundation for our action as and France, tends to be dominated by the parties. Europeans. It is necessary to ceaselessly confront

We hope that the process Sabbadini Andrea all aspects of the construction of Europe. East meets West WSF 2005 The UK Social Forum will see the adapted to pluralism or flexibility. There is a times’ and propose modern democratic left What do you think is the main problem for the that offers principles of equality, social justice The Fifth World Social Forum will be in Porto continuing growth of involvement of desire to identify everything as ‘ours’ or ‘theirs’ alternatives. left in modern Eastern Europe? To create a and social responsibility, humanism, Alegre in January 2005. In response to a desire for the Russian and East European that dichotomises ways of thinking. Why is it necessary to promote East-West coalition of modern democratic forces. The internationalism and popular government. innovation in the WSF process, the International movements. Eurotopia spoke to Eastern Why is it necessary to promote East-West dialogue of the left forces? The crisis of the left main difficulty is intolerance of thinking, What do you think is the main problem of Council is inventing ways to make decisions about activists about how East and West can dialogue of the left forces? We need the support in Europe is our common problem and we can’t inherited from previous times. evolution of the left in Russia? We need to take the content fully participatory. Nearly 2,000 work together of Western European left, but they also need us. resolve the situation without each other. But it’s Why is it necessary to promote East-West away the principle of social justice from organisations took part in a consultation to If the left in the East can’t modernize, important that the West understands the dialogue of the left forces? We have experience Stalinists and the principle of sanctity of human choose the themes of the Forum. From this, the How Miroslav Prokes (Czech Social Forum) nationalists will occupy this political space. complexity of our situation, the effectiveness of of the mistakes, victories and defeats of rights from neoliberals and put these two commission decided on 11 themes. A facilitating What are your expectations of the ESF? I see it mutual efforts, and that there should be no . The West has given us experience of principles together. group was created for each theme to stimulate as an educational platform, an arena for Peter Damo (Romanian Social Forum) more divisions or new borders in Europe. social movements and resistance to neo-liberal How can interaction with the western left and networks and organisations to get engaged in the discussion about alternative global paradigms of What are your expectations of the ESF? To . The two experiences must meet. social movements help? We aim to create a process of bringing together and publicising the the 21st century. For Eastern Europe, it’s a move from discussions and suggestions to real Endre Simo (Hungarian Social Forum) single platform against neoliberal violence different events. The physical organization of the strong incentive for developing social actions. This fits the demands of our societies, What are your expectations of the ESF? That Alla Glinchikova (Institute for Research towards Europe, to renew left ideology, to find Forum will also be based on far more radical movements that didn’t exist or were eliminated which would like to be integrated more actively not only EU members, but also representatives of Global Problems, Moscow) effective mechanisms of social control, to principles of architecture and economic by authoritarian methods. to the European political process. of the left in other countries of Eastern Europe What are your expectations from the ESF? We propose a new economic strategy and new organisation than before. The experience of What do you think is the main problem for the What do you think is the main problem for the are represented in the work of the Forum. The would like to show the real Russia to Europe – forms of resistance to international conflicts. has been an inspiration. left in modern Eastern Europe? A black or left in modern Eastern Europe? It is necessary Left democratic space of Europe is larger than those who underpin this country, the working See Boris Kagarlitsky on the new divisions of www.forumsocialmundial.org.br white perception of the world. People are not to overcome the nostalgia over ‘communist the EU borders. people. And we want Russia to see the Europe Europe on the website Alessandra Ceregatti

See www.eurotopiamag.org ★for the full version of this feature 16Eurotopia October 2004

The project is supported, with thanks, by Avgi (Greece), Corporate Europe Observatory Actıon round-up (NL), DeriveApprodi (Italy), El Vejo Topo (Spain), Fundaciones des investigaciones Networking at the ESF Forums Memory Working Group (memoria@ marxistas (Spain), Glocal centre (Catalonia – Several NGOs are planning a Global Week of Action mapeadores.net) have been set up for organising and Spain), Green Pepper (NL), Klassekampen Against Free Trade next April (www.april2005.org) archiving information and communication generated (Norway), Nicos Poulantzas Society (Greece), using the structure of the World and European Social by the ESF. The Guide for Social Transformation in Notizie internazionali (Italy), Rassegna Forums. Some networks will launch campaigns at the Europe ([email protected]) is collating a database of sindacale (Italia), Rosa Luxemburg ESF, such as Stop EPA (www.stopepa.org), which is the groups that have mobilised around the ESF. Foundation (Germany), UNISON (Northern contesting the EU’s neo-liberal Economic Partnership Mayo Fuster i Morell Region, UK), Unity Bank, World Agreements. Others are keen to organise informal, Development Movement (UK) participatory networking activities, such as the Act now on the EU constitution EDITORIAL to Brussels Network (www.s2bnetwork.org). European heads of government sign the new EU continued from front page The trade union movement is also starting to use Constitution in Rome on 29 October. On 30th, Italian on which Eurotopia will promote a the ESF for grassroots networking. Union federations movements have called a European Day of Action. The unique transnational debate. from the UK, France and are collaborating on an constitutional process is not finite, but instead At this stage, Eurotopia is simply an seminar, and European teachers and dynamic and ongoing. European movements must get experiment, but we hope to contribute to lecturers unions will co-ordinate seminars on the involved and press for the Europe they want to create. this debate and the new radical European marketisation of education. There are attempts to A strengthening of the external boarder has created convergence by forge union links with social movements too – look exclusion and stigmatisation of migrants Europe-wide. ★ Providing transnational surveys of the out for the Unison and Verdi joint seminar. Opposing ‘apartheid in Europe’ and creating a human and environmental consequences The ESF also aspires to be a space for the voice of cosmopolitan European citizenship is a priority. of the corporate market and its the voiceless. No Vox network (www.novox.ras.eu.org) Sandro Mezzadra governmental allies, and the ways people is a positive example. However, communication rights are resisting. are still struggling to find recognition so the Media, Olympic opposition ★ Exposing, in collaboration with Culture and Communication Rights Forum Campaign Anti-2004 opposed the Olympic Games in investigative and campaigning (www.efcr2004.net) is organising a parallel event at Greece for financial, democratic and environmental organisations, the actions of EU London’s Camden Centre. reasons, powerfully enough to make Collin Powell governments and corporations. Oscar Reyes cancel his visit there. They vow to oppose the ★ Offering a space to the process of Olympics worldwide, saying athletes are reduced to developing alternative policies. Documenting protest walking advertisements, pumped to bursting point ★ Reporting the spread of networks, Five years since Seattle, and four World Social Forums with combat adrenalin, drugs and corporate news from past actions and plans for on, several initiatives have emerged to more effectively advertisements; the police and army restrict human future ones. organise networking and documentation of the new rights and to excess, creating dangerous Four shared understandings shape our myriad of social movements. The aim is to make the precedents; the monolithic temples constructed plural editorial personality. First, a belief achievements of this new wave of mobilisation destroyed the unique fabric of vast areas of the urban that existing political institutions need to accessible and educational. Investigation landscape and common green spaces. And this all cost be radically remade on the basis that (www.investigaccion.org) January 2004, was the first 8,5 billion euro, inevitably paid for by working people. genuine democracy requires, as a international meeting on social movement research. Eleni Portaliou minimum, a combination of ‘power from See www.eurotopiamag.org Systematize ([email protected]) and the Social ★for the full version of this feature below’ and forms of political representation that are open and IS THERE A FUTURE FOR responsive. Secondly, real democracy is only possible if economic life is founded on new principles and varieties of EUROTOPIA? socialised production and non-alienated YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS PILOT ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT labour. Thirdly, it is only by creating a Please be part of our future and return this to the Freepost address below constant process of international and Overall, how do you assess: Poor Average Good Excellent political cross-fertilisation or 1 Eurotopia as a publication? ■■■■ ‘contamination’ that we can achieve this 2 The design/overall appearance of Europtopia? ■■■■ transformation. Fourthly, our work in 3 The general readability of Eurotopia? ■■■■ Europe must always be in the context of 4 What articles did you find the most interesting and useful (and why)? solidarity and connection with the struggles and movements of the world. 5 What articles did you find the least interesting and useful (and why)? Our idea is very consciously to create a supplement.We intend it as a publication 6 What would you like to see more articles about (and why)? that values the existing national and local publications of the movements and the 7 Would like to see this supplement on a regular basis? Yes ■ No ■ left but which works through ■ 1x a month ■ 6x a year ■ 4x a year ■ 2x a year ■ 1x a year international co-operation to overcome What kind of activism are you involved in? barriers of language and political history. Our timetable, our character – indeed ■ Keep me informed on future developments ■ I can help with distribution the whole future of Eurotopia – depends ■ I would like to participate in web-based feedback ■ I do NOT wish to receive updates on feedback from you. Go to our Name website, contact us at the ESF, fill in the Address form on the left. Everything is up for discussion – including the name. Country Post code/Zip Tel no. email Carta, Epochi, Iprog, Red Pepper, Your information will remain confidential and will not be shared with any other organization. Sozialismus, TNI (New Politics), Please return this form to Red Pepper, FREEPOST, Lon 11412, London N19 5BR (no stamp required) Transform! Italia

Production editor Lorna Russell Design Tom Lynton Picture research Paddy Donnelly & Mia Moilalen Reporter/Sub Katherine Haywood Reporter Vittorio Longhi Marketing & business development Fiona Osler Translators Patrick Baker, Pete Burgess, Giorgia Donai, Iain Hollingsworth, Monica Sobrero

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