The European Social Forum (ESF) is a meeting for social movements in Europe, a force of regional coordination integrated in the framework of the Global Social Forums. In the case of Europe, it first took place in Florence, Italy in 2002.
This year, the Forum took place in Malmö, Sweden and according to the organizers 20,000 participants attended and around 200 activities took place, among them seminars, workshops, and debates. Under the slogan “another Europe is possible”, the participants included members of unions, organizations for the environment, women’s rights, the defense of indigenous peoples’ rights and human rights in general, as well as leftist movements linked to political parties as well as independent groups.
SIPAZ participated in two workshops under the theme “Chiapas, 14 years after the Zapatista uprising” as well as a debate about social movements in the south of Mexico
with members of Radio Plantón (a community radio station run by members of the teachers trade union in Oaxaca) and the Finish boat Estelle which works in solidarity with the zapatistas.
Workshop on the Finish Boat Estelle
Among the cultural program, which included more than 400 activities including concerts, movies, and photography exhibitions, one of the exhibitions which was very successful was “la Otra Mirada” (the other vision) which was organized by a group of independent photographers from Mexico. Their exhibition about La Otra Campana (the Other Campaign) and Subcomandante Marcos’ tour in 2006 was very popular.
For More Information about the European Social Forum or the Finish boat Estelle:
http://www.estelle.fi/en/index.php
