Non profit
European social forum at Malmö
Six years after the first ever ESF, this forum aims to breath new life into the movement and to create an action plan for a more socially concious vision of Europe
di Staff
The countdown has begun. The European Social Forum kicks off on September 17 at Malmö, Sweden, where more than 20 thousand participants from across the continent (and the globe) will meet with one clear thought in mind: another Europe is possible.
The forum, by far the biggest meeting place for social movements and progressive civil society in Europe, will, during the course of the five days hold more than 200 seminars and workshops which will be mixed with even more culture, film, music, informal meetings, activism and demonstrations.
The event starts at 6pm on September 17 with an inauguration, speakers and performers from all over the world, from the local to the global. The cultural program starts earlier, at 12 noon. From Thursday to Friday there will be seminars and workshops all day, from 9.30am – 9pm, on Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am – 12.30am. Saturday is the day for the big parade/demonstration, leaving from Rosengård in the afternoonand ending up in Pildammsparken to finish off the day with a big party. During Sunday there will be a closing event from 1.30pm to 4pm, with presentations and open discussions around the results from the forum days.
ESF is the regional counterpart of World Social Forum. It was first held in Florence 2002, and the last ESF was in Athens 2006. Together the forums have been attended by over 150 000 participants and joined thousands of organizations and networks determined to make another Europe possible. Among the participants are trade unions, migration networks, environmental organisations, feminist organisations, the global justice movement, peace networks, human rights organisations, academics, youth organisations – and many more.
The themes being discussed at Malmö this year are not new to civil society: growing inequalities in and between European countries, climate change, labour laws, public services for all, migrant rights, European democracy, gender justice and Europe’s global agenda.
To find out more about the event: www.esf2008.org
