Sheffield Social Forum Launch

The workshops are still being sorted out on the wiki:  http://wiki.sheffieldsocialforum.org.uk/Workshops following is a snap shot:


Workshops

Politics and Power

Where does the power lie? How do we get more power for our own communities? Focused around enabling and empowering people to make those in power accountable – understanding some of the structures, and learning from people who have had a lot of experience in dealing with them.

Could end with thoughts on ways of carrying on this work / ways of making it known what work is already being done.

DEF: Mandy Aitken from IMPACT ( http://www.impactsheffield.org.uk/)

Poverty in Sheffield

This is a new (as of 15th march) suggested workshop, thought it had obviously been discussed before.

DEF: Father Shaun Smith of Church Action on Poverty could help to lead this workshop, the group has done some research into low wages and bad debt in Sheffield.

Pot: Rosalind Eve of Age Concern
(Kev is currently contacting other key participants to get involved - any more suggestions welcome.)

Timetabling: Shaun Smith would like to take part in a session in the early afternoon.

Resources: If possible a video player would be good for this session.

Regeneration Comes to Fir Vale - Community Involvement and the Struggle for Equal Rights

DEF: Gulnaz Hussain, Pakistani Advice Centre
DEF: Richard Lee
DEF: John Le Corney of Heeley City Farm ( http://www.heeleyfarm.org.uk/)
DEF: Helen Todd from Netherthorpe and Upperthorpe Community Alliance ( http://www.nuca.co.uk/).

Non-Violent Direct Action
non-violent direct action workshop
Discussion of direct action
Examples from around the area.

DEF: Rhiannon from Seeds for Change ( http://seedsforchange.org.uk/) can do a workshop on non-violent direct action – how to fit this in with others?

POT: Someone willing to talk about Nine Ladies and Sherwood?

Timetabling issues: obviously mustn't clash with Consensus Decision Making.

Consensus Decision Making

A practical "how-to", as well as an informative "what is?" Rhiannon from Seeds for Change offers a perspective on a direct form of democracy that we can make use of in campaigns, actions and group-work of every level. Mark offers experience of using consensus to make decisions quickly and efficiently in the head of direct action at events like the protests around DSEi in 2003.

DEF: Rhiannon from Seeds for Change ( http://seedsforchange.org.uk/).
DEF: Mark B from Sheffield Samba Band ( http://www.sheffieldsamba.org.uk/).

Timetabling issues: obviously mustn't clash with NVDA; Mark requests that it doesn't clash with Creative Action workshop either.

Your Green City - Environmental Regeneration in Sheffield

A range of perspectives on projects to ensure sustainable and diverse green space in Sheffield. Questions over the balance between short-term conservation and long-term sustainability will be central.

DEF: Garry Smith from Green City Action
DEF: Angus Hunter from Friends of ??? Woods
DEF: John Le Corney from Heeley City Farm ( http://www.heeleyfarm.org.uk/)

Timetabling: Garry Smith can only be at the event after 12.30pm.

No-one is Illegal

Workshop on immigration, noborders ( http://www.noborder.org/) and civil liberties.

DEF: Harriet from the No One Is Illegal Group ( http://noii.blogspot.com/).

Creative Action for Social and Political Change

The importance of music and creativity in politics and some practical experience of how to go about it.

DEF: Matt from Creative Action Network ( http://www.creativeaction.net)
DEF: Sheffield Samba Band ( http://www.sheffieldsamba.org.uk/) (well almost, Mark B has put a request out and suggests that one or two people will almost certainly take part).

Timetabling issues? none Resources requested: use of video.

Measuring your Ecological Footprint

Find out your own ecological footprint and question what needs to change in local and global politics for a sustainable world.

DEF: Heather Hunt, Green Party ( http://www.sheffieldgreenparty.org.uk/)

The grassroots go global - the emergence of Indymedia

DEF: Penni from London Indymedia ( http://london.indymedia.org.uk/)

An introduction to the global Indymedia network (proposal as sent to IMC and SSF lists ( http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-sheffield/2004-March/001519.html)).

Timetabling issues? none | Resources requested: use of video.

Council Housing and Public Services

DEF: Shirley from Sheffield Defend Council Housing ( http://www.sheffdefend.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/) Pot: Alex from the Centre for Public Services ( http://www.centre.public.org.uk/) .