Join together, in real time, with participants of the Americas Social Forum in Guatemala, for a simultaneous workshop on collaborative democracy and the Internet. This workshop is a unique opportunity for those of us in New York to attend the forum, interact directly with Latin American activists and organizers, and contribute to building a collaborative and democratic agenda on the Internet.
Date: Thursday, October 9
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm America/New York time
Locations: New York City, Brecht Forum / Guatemala City, San Carlos University
The Americas Social Forum (ASF) is happening in Guatemala City October 7 - 12. It is part of the World Social Forum (WSF) process initiated in 2001 which has become the largest space for the articulation of social initiatives, the development of critical thinking, and the construction of alternatives to the neoliberal order, under the common belief that Another World is Possible.
Several of MF/PL member organizations are attending this year's ASF and MF/PL itself is being represented by co-director Jamie McClelland and member Maritza Arrastia.
The workshop will be based on our Internet rights workshop, presented at the US Social Forum and several other conferences since then, in which we use the Internet itself to collaboratively build a common document. However, for the ASF, will introduce several key, new features:
- The goal will be to come to an agreement on our Internet agenda, rather than focusing on Internet rights
- We will run the workshop over the Internet, with one session in Guatemala, one in New York
- We will operate in both Spanish and English
To RSVP, please email mallory@mayfirst.org.
Why attend?
The Social Forum of the Americas is taking place in Guatemala starting October 7 and we can't think of a moment when an event of this type was more appropriate. Internet work is no longer a field pursued only by technical people. It has become one of the most critical areas in use by all organizers. Developing a common agenda, hemisphere-wide, on how to develop, organize and expand the Internet is critically important for the left. This workshop is designed for activists of all technical capabilities to collaboratively build a common, hemispheric, agenda for the Internet.
The workshop usually attempts to put together a statement of Internet rights through collaborative discussions using Internet technology. This time, we're going to do an agenda for Internet users throughout the Hemisphere and think about ways to work to push for and realize this agenda.
And the workshop itself will reflect that hemispheric approach. It will be held in two locations simultaneously: San Carlos University (the site of the Social Forum of the Americas) and the Brecht Forum in New York. This isn't two workshops in two places; this is one simultaneously conducted workshop, over the Internet, with participants in those two places.
It's an attempt to start working on a model for collaboration among the people, movements and organizations of the Americas: to grapple with the differences in perceived Internet needs and rights (and how those are prioritized) as well as culture and language and the basics democratic collaboration. Many of the planners are hoping that this "model" can help contribute to collaborations of this type in many areas.
