WSF 2008: The end of organised social protest or the beginning of a new social era?

A week from the beginning of this year?s World Social Forum Vita Europe launches a debate: Is this the end of organised social protest or the beginning of a new social era?

For the past seven years the World Social Forum has met at the end of January in different places around the world ? Porto Alegre, Mumbai, Nairobi – to oppose a world ruled by capitalism, imperialism and domination. Indeed it is no coincidence that global civil society chooses to meet every year around the same time as the World Economic Forum is held at Davos, where economic and political leaders of the ?old? world meet to discuss the social and economic problems of the world.

As expected, the WSF will take off this year as well. But this time a big change is in store. The WSF 2008 will not be meeting anywhere in particular. No world city has been selected this year to host the forum. The WSF organisers have instead chosen to take decentralisation to the letter and have called on activists, social movements, organisations, unions and social networks to organise activities themselves in their own regions during a one-week period to culminate in the Global Day of Action on January 26th.

What does this mean? Is it the sign that global civil action is waning or is it an indication that the global village mantra ?act local, think global? can really be implemented to promote social change? This is the debate that Vita Europe is launching a week from the WSF 2008 kick-off. As always we would like to hear what you think ? write to us at staff@vitaeurope.org.

The WSF goes 2.0
Given the decentralised nature of this year?s global action, the WSF is using the internet to coordinate its activities. The WSF 2008 website has gone the full stretch and ?gone? web 2.0. Here is how:

• Register as an individual or an organisation so that you can post details of your planned activities. A global google-style calendar pinpoints all the events that will be going on. Not planning any event? Register anyway as this will grant you access to the action space, where you can make comments, send messages edit news network and stay informed with the latest WSF news;
• Participate in the WSF 2008 video exhibition ? anyone can! Documentaries, interviews, fiction, video art, news reports ? all will find a space and be broadcasted in ?real? public spaces as well as online;
• Video conference during the WSF?s global action days. All you need is an internet connection, web-cam and microphone to create intercommunication groups of up to 30 people.

The events planned for the week beginning 19th January range from demonstrations, protests and debates to concerts, street festivals and carnivals demonstrating that the World Social Forum still embraces it?s spirit of diversity.

To take a look a look at what will be going on in Europe see: WSF 2008: What's on in Europe

More info:
www.wsf2008.net