What is the ESF ? - meeting for trade unionists at TUC

events | London trade unionists are being asked to get involved in the European Social Forum. Invited speakers at an event on 29 July (6.30pm at Congress House) will briefly answer the following questions. What is the ESF? Why is it coming to London? What will it do for us? How can trade unionists help? It will be followed by contributions from the floor.

Chair: Mick Connolly, Regional Secretary SERTUC Speakers: Bob Crow, General Secretary, RMT Maureen O\'Mara, outgoing President NATFHE Barry Camfield, Assistant General Secretary T&G Rahul Patel, London UNISON, Regional Committee Anick Coupe, Union Syndicale G10 Solidaires, France All speakers have confirmed Thursday, 29th July, 6.30pm TUC Congress House Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS The third European Social Forum (ESF) will take place from 14-17 October in London. The ESF is a giant gathering for everyone opposed to war, racism and corporate power, everyone who wants to see global justice, workers\' rights and a sustainable society. The ESF emerged from the spectacular success of the World Social Forum which opened in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001. Its first two gatherings in Florence (2002) and Paris (2003) attracted over 50,000 participants from across Europe and beyond. It is a chance for people from around the world to come together to engage in debate, organise action and build networks to strengthen our movement. The Forum will be launched with a large opening event on Thursday 14th followed by three days of discussion and debate involving leading activists from around the world as well as music, drama, film-showings and exhibitions celebrating the global movement. The key themes addressed will be: • War and peace • Democracy and fundamental rights • Social justice and solidarity: against privatisation (deregulation), for workers, social and women ’s rights • Corporate globalisation and global justice • Against racism, discrimination and the far right: for equality and diversity • Environmental crisis and sustainable society There will be an International demonstration through central London on Sunday afternoon. This year ’s ESF in London will bring together thousands of people from across the UK, Europe and the world and is an unmissable event for everyone who wants to see a better world. The 2004 ESF is being organised by an Organising Committee of affiliated national and local social movement organisations and trade unions in the UK with support from the GLA. The TUC has affiliated. The following trade unions backing it nationally & regionally are the T&G, UNISON, GMB, AUT, NUT, NATFHE, AMICUS, TASS, RMT, SERTUC, STUC & LONDON UNISON. So are many local trade union branches

DATELINE: 25 January, 2010

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