[g8-sheffield] SWPie

[Dan]

Can someone please work out some device that stops me writing e-mails 
when I'm drunk?  Maybe getting so rdnku htta I catn tpey...?

:)

Dan wrote:

> Hmm,
>
> The SWP is a difficult issue for me.  It's perhaps best out in the 
> open: I still hold the SWP responsible for undermining the local 
> social forum movement in the UK.  In the run-up to the (SWP-dominated) 
> European Social Forum in the UK, the SWP (having previously decided 
> not to work with local social forums) set up their own network, called 
> 'UK ESF mobilising committees' rather than contact and work with 
> existing local social forums - even though, for example, I personally 
> wrote to SWP members, including Alex Callinicos, asking him to make 
> contact with us.  Neither did the ESF support space for local social 
> forums to organise - we had to sort that out ourselves, even though 
> we'd tried to arrange it.
>
> The result was a lot of local confusion.  I still don't really 
> understand what the reasoning behind all that was.  There are all the 
> cliches about 'the SWP not being able to control the social forums', 
> but given what we've been hearing about SWP members being free to act, 
> that seems a little wierd.  I find it hard to believe that the 
> caricatures are true.
>
> I would, now at least, like to believe we could move forward - but I 
> confess I'm nervous.  I am still working to try and get the Sheffield 
> Social Forum going again, but the whole ESF shebang knocked it for six 
> a bit.  A quick search on  the internet reveals that this has happened 
> before with the SWP, and that seems a shame.  I'm wondering whether 
> I'm suffering from an awful prejudice and - as Ian says - would be 
> willing to talk about it.
>
> The best idea seems to actually work on an event together, rather than 
> debate on a list.  By their fruits shall ye know them, after all.  If 
> we in Sheffield could accomplish a broad-based event - of any kind - 
> it could be a big step forward.  Been to a meeting tonight, and it 
> reminded me of how easy it is to slip into negativity when talking is 
> all that's going on.
>
> The optimism of the action is better than the pessimism of the 
> thought, after all.  What say you, Ian?  I know that the regional 
> organiser lives next door to a good friend of mine.  Maybe I should 
> pop round for a cup of tea...?  Bearing in mind that, at the first 
> sight of anyone trying to control the agenda or pack a meeting, I'd 
> scream blue murder...!
>
> love n peace n hippy nonsense
>
> Dan
>
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