[Ssf] G8, Peace in the Park, etc...

[Dan]

On the G8, counter-conferences, etc - here's an e-mail I sent to the PiP 
organisers, and the reply I got.  Their next meeting is this Monday, I 
believe: see end of e-mail for details.  This is, I reckon, well worth 
pursuing.  Another e-mail to follow...

----
Dan:

At last year's PiP, SSF and New Roots organised a 'democracy cafe'.  At 
the time - far too late - I began thinking about the 'leftfield' 
possibilities that we could have done.  ('Leftfield' being the political 
encampment that happens every year at Glastonbury.)

For this year?  Well - I would be very keen to work with PiP on thinking 
about how to bring politics into the festival - not dull, usual leftie 
politics, but really thinking about how to make it something special and 
participatory, with a wide range of events. (There were a lot of 
politicy stalls at the last one, and these should obviously still happen 
- but there's more of an opportunity to get these people debating, 
arguing and networking!)

There's even a chance, I think, that SSF folk might prefer to throw 
themselves into this, rather than plan our own 'event'. We had already 
been discussing having another full 'Sheffield Social Forum' to coincide 
with the pre-G8 security and anti-terrorism conference which is 
scheduled to happen in mid-June, so the idea of fitting in with that is 
a good one.

I think it would be particularly good because PiP is (for me) all about 
positive alternatives and how another world might be possible - rather 
than just blind protest and anger.

Anyway, I'll pop along to the next meeting, and we can talk about it 
then.  But whoever's on this list, what do you think?

---- Reply:

Yes, absolutely definately the success of the democracy cafe last year 
should be built on - well done for that! There is more time now to plan 
what should be one of the main focal points at the festival. One of the 
things we discussed at the meeting was whether the political element was 
strong enough at last years festival. Also discussed was the festivals 
relevance to the G8 summit. I didn't know that there was to be a 
conference in Sheffield! What better opportunity for debate than that. 
Maybe we should invite delagates to come join in!!! We were thinking of 
mid July as a date anyway.

PITP is and should be increasingly a platform from which 
positive/constructive solutions are put forward. The Democracy Cafe is 
central to this agenda. It would be wondeful if SSF and New Roots would 
like to organise this again. There are obviously going to be many issues 
up for discussion and PITP does not in anyway need to be an alternative 
to SSF's own event - it maybe necessary, in fact, to have both events. 
Nothing has been decided as of yet, so please use PITP for whatever 
ideas you have. As I say, we have more time now, so maybe inviting 
people to come and speak/join in debate will be easier this year (last 
year we talked about Benjamin Zephania, Mark Thomas and Tony Ben, but 
there are obviously many people who would be appropriate).

The next metting is on mon 17th Jan @ Portland works, Randall ST (off 
Bramall Ln), I think @ 7pm, not quite sure - will let u know. Thankyou 
for your e-mail. Glad you want to be involved again. Look forward to 
seeing you at the meeting.

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