[WSF-Discuss] US Social Forum - What Another U.S. Might Look Like

[CACIM]

      *Commentary: US Social Forum - What Another U.S. Might Look Like*
*by Michael Leon Guerrero*

   [image: USSF graphic] At the World Social Forum in Nairobi, in January,
there was much anticipation of the US Social Forum, which will take place in
Atlanta, June 27–July 1, 2007. Many international allies are eager to attend
and to know what initiatives emerge.

Like many people, I'm excited about the first-ever national U.S. Social
Forum. We expect some 10,000 people, more than 600 workshops, street
theater, music, a youth camp and more. There is a lot of potential for the
USSF, and it comes at a critical time in U.S. history. We have to bear in
mind, however, that this gathering is part of a longer process, and it will
not result in "the roadmap" for change. Like all social forums, it will be a
point of convergence for many social change processes. The trajectories of a
variety of organizations and movements will come together in Atlanta. This
will be a time to reflect, to see each other, and develop a snapshot of the
progressive forces that will ultimately shape national and international
politics. The USSF will be a moment to take stock of where we are and what
we have with which to build a movement. New relationships will be forged,
old relationships will be renewed, current partnerships will be
strengthened.

Some groups will come ready to plan joint strategies. The organization I
work with, the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, is talking to partners in
Latin America, Korea, and the United States about organizing a response to
U.S. trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Peru. Others plan to
work on strategies to close military bases. Groups from the Gulf Coast
envision the forum as a springboard towards the People's Tribunals and
Survivors' Conference in New Orleans in late August. Others will talk about
the war, indigenous sovereignty, energy, gay and lesbian rights, gender,
education, immigrants' rights, and the 2008 national elections.

The National Planning Committee has defined six core areas for plenary
discussion based on key movements that have surfaced, especially in the last
18 months:

   1. Gulf Coast reconstruction
   2. The war and militarism
   3. Immigrant rights
   4. Energy exploitation and indigenous sovereignty
   5. Workers' rights
   6. Women's and queer liberation.

Apart from the plenary sessions, the forum is planned by participants. Their
workshops will be grouped by a theme for each day—day 1: consciousness, day
2: vision, day 3: strategy.
The purpose is to create a convergence so we can look beyond our own issues
and explore how we build the whole into a movement. We encourage people to
organize activities with other groups to help with this convergence.

The US Social Forum is part of an international process. Here, we will take
our place in a dialogue happening throughout the world and show that we are
not isolated from the international community.

Undoubtedly, many will leave the forum asking, "What did we just do?" The
answers to that may not be totally clear at closing ceremonies on July 1.

But in 10 years we may look back on this moment and realize that at a
critical time we came together and struggled, argued, laughed, cried, sang,
and marched. And just maybe that "aha moment" will come to many of us, and
we will have a glimpse of what "another U.S." will look like in the context
of "another world."
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  [image: Michael Leon Guerrero] Michael Leon Guerrero is coordinator of the
Grassroots Global Justice Alliance (GGJ) (www.ggjalliance.org) and a member
of the National Planning Committee for the US Social Forum (www.ussf2007.org).
He also serves as a representative to the World Social Forum International
Council and attended the 2007 World Social Forum in Nairobi.
  ------------------------------
  http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?ID=1725
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