[Ssf] some thoughts, ideas, comments

[dave thompson]

Hello All, 

It’s really great that there has been a burst of
enthusiasm for the SSF after the Xmas break, there is
a real need for a new political entity and I am
convinced the SF model could be the long-term answer.
In the short term, we clearly need to get new people
involved, get our name around more and develop
creative and inclusive ways of campaigning and
networking. I think we also have to really think
through our attitude to organising events, but
particularly publicity, something I have realised
after the benefits meeting. However, while it is
totally understandable and commendable, that our
thoughts turn to global inequalities in this already
tumultuous year, and with the G8 coming to the UK, I
do wonder if we need to pause for thought just a
little about our future direction.

Many of the newly proposed activities are largely
national campaigns, (as I accept is the benefits one
to some extent) which other groups are already
campaigning and networking on. Surely, we do not want
to duplicate their work. Perhaps one way forward is
that when such groups have major meetings we can say
it was supported by the SSF or we can within our
limited means help a group off the ground. While we
should certainly work with a wide variety of people
and orgs, I also think we have to be careful who we
get involved with though. One of the leading lights
(the secretary) in the admittedly broad N2ID campaign
is none other than Guy Taylor of Globalise
Resistance/SWP infamy, moving on now GR is a dead
duck. Another interesting partner is the Freedom
Association, a very right think tank who Thatcher once
praised in relation to the 70’s Grunwick industrial
dispute as being ‘the best thing to happen since the
Israeli Army went into Entebbe’ and UKIP… 

I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but imo,
one of our strengths is that we haven’t been jumping
on every bandwagon as it were, particularly the really
high profile ones such as the G8, taking an easy way
to growth, etc and becoming a mini GR. Instead through
diligent hard work, slogging  and application, we are
getting some respect in the city: for instance I have
been asked to speak at the next Church Poverty Action
Group meeting on the threatened disability benefits
cuts. Another issue is that this year thousands of
pensioners will die of hypothermia, some in Sheffield,
many more live in real abject, (not relative poverty)
others are isolated and afraid. What rewards are these
for lifetime of work and often war service?  Again
because of the respect we are starting to get, a
significant person working with very old people has
offered to speak at one of our future meetings  Yet,
another example is that many of us have recently met
what may be described as angry young men, working
class, these men have largely, though not exclusively
been angry, about what is happening to their city: the
yuppies, crime, new deal, regeneration. Wouldn’t it be
great if by addressing these issues we get these guys
involved and watch as they begin to look at the much
bigger picture: global poverty, enviromental
degradation, etc. 

Much of this agenda has been driven by a few
incredible individuals, if we start to replicate the
worst of the global action groups, etc, we will get
many more people, after all it's much more ‘sexy’ to
campaign on global debt .However, I don’t want to
prejudge, but from past experience,  I suspect that if
we adopt such an agenda, for the new members,
pensioners in Sheffield, disability benefits or even
regeneration in burngreave may not be too high on
their agendas. Something I witnessed when giving out
leaflets for the disability meeting at the last PSC
benefit.

For me one promising avenue is building up our
relationship with the cultural groups such as PITP and
the lantern carnival folk, deepening and strengthening
those links. But at the time reaching out to other
networks and individuals whose main interests may not
yet be civil liberties, the environment or peace and
war, but their homes, livelihoods, their communities
and their future. I do think the democracy café though
not strictly the SSF can be a real asset in getting
more people interested in our ideas and values. Why
not use various venues? including ones in more
marginal areas. In terms of internationalism I really
think we (and PITP?) could link up with another SF
perhaps in Africa or S.Americas developing real
organic links and solidarity. I am not dishing peoples
ideas and I am really not saying we shouldn’t be
organising G8 stuff,etc, I just think we have to be
aware of our strengths and limitations (at least for
the moment.) Perhaps a balance of the local and global
would be for the best.  

Finally, we cannot do this without more/new people so
lets get publicising our meetings, café, events etc,

Regards

Dave T 



		
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