Pre- WSF Preps

[kabaso bwalya]

Dear Comrades
Greetings from Zambia!
We are writing to inform you that as the SASF Local Organising
Committee (LOC) held a meeting to chart the way forward on the SASF
participation at the 2011 World Social Forum to be held from 6th to
11th February 2011. As you are aware, the LOC has been busy soliciting
funding for the 2011 SASF. However, you may recall that we are also
tasked to coordinate the collective or regional participation at the
WSF, but due to lack of financial resources, we have not been able to
call for a pre-WSF preparatory meeting. In this regard, we would like
to ensure that even in the absence of having meetings early; we take
it up from the resolution which was made during the Maseru SASF event;
that we should direct our energies towards building solidarity and
actions around the fight against human rights abuses in the identified
countries, which were considered to be in crisis in the region; visa
vies Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
Swaziland and Angola. However, we must continue to push on other
issues affecting the region too. The idea is to strengthen the unity
and solidarity with these countries through action and activities for
those who will be able to physically participate at the Dakar WSF.
However, we should continue with the other struggles around social,
political and economic issues facing the SADC region, such as land
ownership and tenure. The media strategy (video link) for those who
will not be able to travel will be used to further build the
capacities of grassroots movements.

The LOC has suggested at least one preparatory meeting to be held on
the 15th of January in order consolidate the issues for the WSF.  If
some of the comrades or institutions have available resources to
contribute towards this meeting, which should be held in any
convenient meeting, but convened by ourselves, we would appreciate if
they can let us know the kind of resources they have because, as
Zambia we still have not started receiving any funding. We have
however initiated discussions with various donors on the collective
(SASF) participation at the WSF.
We know that some comrades in the region are making their own
(country) arrangements or initiatives towards the WSF. We would like
to encourage social movements to share with us and other comrades in
the region on what they are doing or will be doing before and during
the WSF. This will also help us in our coordination efforts before and
during the WSF events. Those who will be conducting local activities
(WSF- extended) should also share what exactly they will be doing to
ensure that we also link issues and solidarity.

Considering the amount of work we have, that of mobilizing for the
hosting of SASF in 2011, we are hoping that countries or comrades from
the region (especially ROC members) will also rise to the occasion and
help us catch up on the preparations through different efforts, which
include fundraising, mobilisation and communication.

We are registering SASF event at the World Social Forum, which we will
use to discuss the issues that we will finally agree on before getting
to Senegal. We are also encouraging countries from SADC to register
specific events so that we can have a wider presence and impact at
different levels, especially that the regional event will be
specifically focusing on a few issues.

We are hoping that we will receive feedback on these matters as soon as possible


Aluta

Zindi
--
"Do it for those coming after you. Dont be Greedy" Me

Organisation Development & Community Management Trust (ODCMT)

Plo 59 A Cha Cha Cha Road, Opposite Lusaka Hotel Car Park

P.O. Box 38665, Lusaka, Zambia 10101
Tel: +260 211 231322
Fax: +260 211 231583
Email: od...@zambia.zm / odcmt....@gmail.com

--
Ms Kabaso Bwalya,
Information Officer
Zambia Council For Social Development.

Tel: 211 236219
E-mail: kabaso...@zcsd.org.zm
Web: www.zcsd.org.zm