Festival of Resistance

Against neo-liberalism, war, racism, sexism and homophobia. For a just and "different" EU

DIFFERENT: "Another Europe is Possible" - this was the mantra heard at the first European Social Forum (ESF), which was held at the beginning of November, with over 50,000 participating delegates and more than a million protestors marching against war in Iraq

Jelena Milovanović

A different Europe is possible - this was the mantra heard at the first European Social Forum (ESF), which was held in one of Italy's most beautiful cities, Florence, from November 6 to 10, 2002. With over 50,000 participating delegates and more than a million protestors marching against war in Iraq, the ESF was full of events, giving a voice to marginalized groups and creating a new framework for activity. The efforts of demonstrators from Seattle to Genoa have been given more effective means of combat, thus establishing a new center of power in contemporary world economic channels.

FULL OF EVENTS: The first organized meeting of European social forums surpassed all expectations, both the organizers' and the conference participants', and culminated in the largest-ever organized demonstrations and the constituent assembly of the Forum (at which the results of the meeting were summarized). The European Social Forum had a festive atmosphere, and the peaceful nature of its protest further contributed to the spirit of victory in the anti-globalization movement today.

The ESF was conceived as a democratic, open space for debate on three main themes: globalization and liberalism, war and peace, and justice-citizens-democracy, with hundreds of presentations, seminars, workshops, and campaigns held daily in the Fortezzi de Basso (an old fortress converted into a congress center).

THE BALKANS – MIRROR OF EUROPE: Here the most interesting polemics imaginable could be heard, as well as some of the most important questions troubling modern mankind. One of the main conferences, "Central and Eastern Europe in a Globalized World: Alternatives to Neo-Liberalism", was devoted to this part of the world, that is, the transition countries. The seminar entitled "The Balkans: Mirror of Europe - Nationalism, Peace, Migration", attracted great attention, as did the meeting of the "Europe from Below" network, whose main goal is to integrate the Balkans into Europe as a unified region without borders!

The participants in the European Social Forum were more than welcome in Florence: the European Theatre Forum was taking place simultaneously, along with exhibitions, street performances and other cultural events, and admission to the famous Uffizi Gallery was free for all attending the meeting.

THE NEW EUROPE: Besides sharply criticizing official European diplomacy, NATO, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Bush Administration, the Forum proposed the creation of a new Europe by linking all its citizens, with the support of workers, civil society, prominent individuals and others. One of the most important events was mobilizing the participants to march against war, the largest organized antiwar campaign ever, with over one million marchers from Europe and all over the world.

What was seen on the streets of Florence during those November days will remain etched in the memory forever - Europe on its way to the moment when its borders will shift (the acceptance of ten new EU members). For this part of the world, the only choice - regardless of when we will join this or that ("different") Europe - is to grasp this reality and learn to choose the right path as soon as possible. While it remains to be seen what direction the Forum's activities will take from here on, it was truly satisfying to see extremely diverse groups working together under the banner of anti-globalization.

(Additional information: www.fse-esf.org)