On of the decisions of the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre in January was that there should be regional social forums organised in different parts of the world. This will enable a greater level of participation of grass roots activists from outside Latin America than has been possible so far.
After some debate, it was decided that the European Social Forum should be held in Italy in November. Italy is obviously an excellent choice given the strength of the anti-globalisation and anti-war movements in that country.
The first planning meeting for the European Social Forum took place in Brussels on March 9 and got the organisation underway. There was a lively debate about whether political parties should be invoven in Tae to um.
This debate actually con- sion. flates two things.
On the one hand there is are other political parties legitimate concern about that see themselves as part the extent to which politi- of the movement itself. In cians who support the Italy itself, Rifoundazione establishment want to co- Comunicta was at the cenopt the movement, to tre of the mobilisations in remove its potential to fight Genoa and in building one for real change and a differ- of the most powerful antient kind of society. When war movements in Europe. even the ring-wing Gaullists This question will be in France feel under enough decided at the next planning pressure to turn up to Porto meeting in Vienna on May Alegre, this is a real discus- 11-12.
Watch this space for furOn the other hand, there ther developments. AL capitalist system we live under?