[Ssf] some thoughts, ideas, comments

[noone noone]

dt, I am not sure what practicle point you are trying to make?

You werent at the democracy cafe` meeting, i have to admit it was only due 
to chance that i was there, BUT everything that was suggested was suggested 
in context.  For the G8 stuff my idea was that we could bring in other 
groups (e.g. green party, make poverty history campaign, WDM etc... etc...) 
and therefore it wouldnt be up to a few people and it would be a broader 
conference.  The G8 has come to us, to be a little more existentialist, it 
has come to me and will be landing in my back yard (metaphorically of 
course) at some point during 2005 and i dont want it to leave without making 
some sort of mark on it.

It doesnt mean that local stuff isnt going to happen because local stuff is 
happening all the time and all you have to do is read a local paper to find 
out about it.  If you read the local papers and think up an idea then the 
chances are that someone will agree and you can make it happen.

On the issue of democracy and decision making, i dont think it applies to 
the G8 counter-conference idea because i don't envisige it being an "SSF" 
event, i see it more as being something that incorporates loads of other 
groups and individuals outside the ssf as well as people in the ssf.

for now
cuthbert


>From: dave thompson <mpower0 at yahoo.com>
>To: Ssf at lists.aktivix.org
>Subject: [Ssf] some thoughts, ideas, comments
>Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 04:57:30 -0800 (PST)
>
>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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