Posted on 22-1-2003

The Brisbane Social Forum

Brisbane Powerhouse, 21-23 March 2003, The 'Axis of Hope' Hope ::
Challenges :: Alternatives :: Workshops :: Exhibitions :: Performance, an
open space of ideas, issues and alternative visions, created for and by
your participation www.brisbanesocialforum.org

Hope can be a powerful tool for change. As we are confronted with the stark
realities of a world defined by profit and war it is hope we turn to for
inspirational visions of an alternate world. Visions that excite ideas for
a realistic and achievable future and arouse and energise quests for
change. The Brisbane Social Forum joins with scores of social and
environmental justice organisations, and thousands of individuals and
communities in the hope of another, better world. Hope, for achieving real
security: job security, food security, ecosystem security, indigenous
sovereignty. Security based on trust, peace and justice rather then war and
fear. The forum will create an 'axis of hope' for another better, world. We
encourage people throughout Australia and overseas to converge and
participate in the 2003 Brisbane Social Forum, to triumph hope over fear,
to make another world truly possible.

Participants

Anuradha Mittal
A native of India, Anuradha is the Co-Director of US-based Food First which
campaigns for global food security. Anuradha was a key participant in the
protests against the World Trade Organisation in Seattle in 1999. She has
written and edited numerous books, including America Needs Human Rights
(Food First Books, 1999), and The Future in the Balance: Essays on
Globalization and Resistance (Food First Books, 2001). Her articles and
opinion pieces on trade, women in development and food security have
appeared in numerous national and international news papers and journals.
Anuradha is a jury member of the Right Livelihood Award (also known as the
Alternative Nobel Prize) and is a Board Member of the Turning Point Project.

William Blum
Brisbane Social Forum, in conjunction with the Brisbane Stop the War
Coalition, is co-ordinating William Blum's visit to Australia. William Blum
is the US author of Rogue State, a "mini-encyclopaedia" of US intervention
around the world re-released and updated post 9-11. One of the founders and
editors of the Washington Free Press, the first "alternative" newspaper in
the US capital, Blum is a journalist and author specialising in US foreign
policy. He is the author of three books and many articles and papers and he
maintains the Foreign Policy Watch section of Znet.

Helena Norberg-Hodge
A native of Sweden, Helena is a leading analyst of the impact of the global
economy on cultures around the world. She is an author and the recipient of
the Right Livelihood Award (otherwise known as the 'Alternative Nobel
Prize') She is the Director of the International Society for Ecology and
Culture in London, co-founder of the International Forum on Globalisation
and the Global Eco-village Network, and a regular contributor to The
Ecologist.

Emmy Hafild
Emmy is an Environmental Activist from Indonesia and former director of
WAHLI, the Indonesian Environment Forum.

Chris Richards
Chris is the Australiasian editor of New Internationalist Magazine.

Susan Hawthorne
Susan is the author of Wild Politics and co-editor September 11,
2001:Feminist Perspectives.

Performances
Morning Star Concert for West Papua - Friday 21st Featuring David Bridie
(My Friend the Chocolate Cake/ Not Drowning Waving) with Telek (Papua New
Guinea), Native Ryme, Hot Rubber Glove, Zimbira, Spankinhide and more to be
announced.

Other performers for the forum yet to be announced

Open Space Workshops
The Brisbane Social Forum will be structured using an inclusive model
called open space. This is a self-organising model where the agenda for the
forum is defined on the day by the people who attend. Participants will be
invited to run workshops on the topics of their choice - or to attend
whatever workshops they choose. For more information about how open space
works - or to advertise your workshop prior to the forum go to
www.brisbanesocialforum.org

Exhibitions

In the Streets-A People's History of Brisbane
The Brisbane Social Forum is putting together an inspiring photographic
exhibition of social movements in Brisbane covering the last thirty years
of political life in our city. There will be photos from the civil
liberties and land rights campaigns, abortion rights actions, the MUA
strike, Reconciliation Walk, Peace Marches, M1 actions and many others. We
look forward to any contributions you may wish to make to the exhibition.
Please contact Kate Warner on 0439 844 880 or email
bsf_exhibition@yahoo.com.au

Global Citizens
An exhibition by the Global Citizens collective will be on display
throughout the Brisbane Social Forum. The exhibition contains multi-art,
and was conceived and exacerbated by the current mistreatment of people
seeking asylum within Australia. The exhibition will take the form of an
interactive art environment, featuring works motivated by actual accounts
from the movement against the detention centres and the first-hand
experience of being placed in refugee detention.

Forum Themes
The broad themes for the forum are hope and real security: job security,
food security, ecosystem security, indigenous sovereignty. Security based
on trust, peace and justice rather then war and fear. Participants will be
invited to run workshops on these topic areas.

Who should participate?
People concerned about the issues of justice and sustainability. One of the
aims of the forum is to encourage communication and co-operation between
the wide range of organisations and individuals who either work on, or
think about these issues. All participants are invited to offer their ideas
and share their experience.

Tickets
Tickets go on sale in February at the Powerhouse Box Office Waged: $45
Concession: $25

Sponsoring Organisations
Last year more then 60 organisations sponsored the Brisbane Social Forum.
The support of such a diverse group of social justice and environmental
organisations was the key to the success of the event. The Brisbane Social
Forum, needs your support again this year. To support the forum download a
sponsorship form from the downloads section of our website or phone Alison
on 3391 4283. Supporting organisations receive one free ticket to the event
as well as the opportunity to hold a stall and be included in promotional
literature.

Website

The Brisbane Social Forum has just launched a new website. We encourage you
to contribute to the site, by posting stories, links, workshop ideas,
events, contact details, participate in a discussion, listen to audio from
last years event and even check your email. More details at
www.brisbanesocialforum.org

Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington St New Farm
When: 21st-23rd March
For more information: Phone Alison on 07 3391 4283

Daniel Franks Ph: 07 38757517 D.Franks@mailbox.gu.edu.au