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WRI homepage > Programme areas > Nonviolence > European Social Forum 2008 > EPA programme
The general format of the EPA forum is that each "strand" or theme will start with an introduction to the issues in that theme. This will usually be one speaker followed by a short question and answer session and will last around 30 minutes. Following this, we will divide into the smaller workshops. These may have one or two people giving a more detailed introduction to the specific area, or feedback on existing campaigns, but will be mainly an interactive discussion rather than a presentation. The workshops will all have a focus on practical outcomes and what we can do to achieve change in their area.
The final strand, on Sunday 21 September, will not have the introductory speaker in the same way, since this strand is trying to draw together the outcomes of all the previous workshops and work out and implement practical ways forward, both on specific ideas and in terms of establishing better networks.
Please note: this is a draft only and may still be subject to changes.
This strand will look at the impact and spread of militarism in our societies, the ever-growing reach of the military-industrial complex and the militarisation of previously civilian infrastructure.
There will be two workshops in this strand:
This workshop will focus on
While arms manufacturers have always, and continue to, profit from wars around the world, the web of corporate involvement in, and profit from, war has grown to encompass a wide range of businesses. This workshop aims to analyse the war industry, share campaigns strategies and develop possible lines of cooperation. Specifically, we will look at:
Nuclear weapons are perhaps the ultimate expression of militarism and the militarist mindset. The UK and France both have nuclear weapons systems and several European countries host US nuclear weapons through NATO. All NATO countries are part of a nuclear first-strike alliance and nuclear first-strike war plans. Yet, resistance to nuclear weapons continues, with some positive signs over recent years.
There will be three workshops in this strand:
The US, through NATO has nuclear weapons stationed in 6 European countries. This workshop will look at:
Both France and the UK have started work to upgrade and modernise their nuclear weapons systems, indicating a planned continued reliance on nuclear weapons for another 50 years. This also presents an opportunity to change direction on nuclear weapons. This workshop will look at:
Peace camps have long been a part of the anti-nuclear movement. This workshop will look at the power of just being there, the importance of watching them and the campaigning opportunities present by the transport of nuclear weapons, when they are forced out of their bases and into our communities. In particular, we will focus on:
The EPA forum is an opportunity not just to meet each other, discuss the issues, network and co-ordinate but also a chance to take action together. On Thursday evening we will have a short Action Preparation Workshop in advance of the action day on Friday.
Since the end of the cold war NATO, rather than fading away with the loss of it's primary function, has been actively looking for new roles and seeking to draw in new countries. At the same time the EU is trying to create a military role for itself. Both are increasingly willing to act unilaterally.
There will be three workshops in this strand:
NATO has been, and still is, expanding and drawing in new member countries, especially in Europe. In addition, and often as a step to, to full membership there are a range of other ways countries become entangled in NATO. this workshop will look at:
While the fate of the Lisbon Treaty is now somewhat uncertain, following the Irish rejection, both the proposed EU Constitution and the Lisbon Treaty have represented significant militarisation of the EU. Most probably whatever is proposed to amend/replace Lisbon will do so as well. This workshop will look at:
The argument is often made that a strong EU can be a counterbalance to the US, and that a strong EU military could be a counterbalance (though not a competitor) to NATO. In reality, most military structures and specifications in the EU mimic NATO almost exactly, to an extent only necessary if you wish to allow for interoperability. What's more the rationales and excuses given for military actions are so similar as to prevent either seriously criticising the other. This workshop will look at:
The EPA forum is an opportunity not just to meet each other, discuss the issues, network and co-ordinate but also a chance to take action together.
We will provide information in advance on military related companies and organisations in the Malmö area. We are encouraging people who wish to to come with an affinity group and a plan for their action. We will provide some basic support and facilities for sharing the story of your action.
We will also organise an action in Malmö, open to all. Those who wish to take action together but haven't come with an affinity group and a specific plan are welcome to join us in this.
This strand aims to be a stage in between the analyses of the issues facing the anti-militarist movement and the co-ordination stage. In this strand we aim to evaluate the strategies taken on by the anti-militarist movement over the years and try to come up with more effective strategies to strengthen the movement.
There will be three workshops in this strand:
Analysing the different stages of where the direct action anti-militarist movement is at. To help analysing how to move forward in the development of our movement.
Using different tools (pillars of power, spectrum of allies, cross spectrum,etc) we will analyse the strategies used by the direct action anti-militarist movement and how to develop more effective strategies to reach your campaign goals
Practical workshop on preparing nonviolent action, we will look at different action models e.g. Mass nonviolent direct action and high risk and secretive action.
Space in an integral part of modern war fighting. From the US "missile defence" system, to unmanned aerial vehicles to satellite surveillance to basic communications, modern, high-tech militaries rely on their space capabilities. Introduction by Bruce Gagnon, Coordinator for Global Network Against Nuclear Power and Weapons in Space.
There will be two workshops in this strand:
The US "star wars" missile system requires both radar and missile bases in Europe. This workshop will look at the new bases being built in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary and the resistance to them. It will also look at the role of existing bases (such as Menwith Hill in the UK).
While most people think first of the US in terms of military use of space, Europe has a role there too. This workshop will look at
The driving force behind the EPA/f/ has been a desire, expressed frequently whenever anti-militarist activists from more than one place gather, for us to be able to co-ordinate our activities better (when appropriate), to support each other better, to have better contacts and communications and so to be more effective. While the early part of the forum has focussed on specific areas, this final session will try to draw everything together and map a way forward to build on the contacts established during the forum. We hope EPA will continue as a loose, facilitatory network but the details are up those who want to use it.
We will probably split down into workshops along the following lines, although much of this session will be dictated by what the people present want to achieve.
How can we co-ordinate decentralised actions, spread information about actions to come, documentation and spreading information about actions done?
How can we make the information and knowledge within our groups available to others around Europe in the most effective way? How we can make and run a database with all the information EPA will cover, and also information about action methods? How we can share information and contacts so that several groups/person don´t do the same work? How will communications work within the EPA network?
Do we want another European Peace Action Forum? If so when, who will host it, how will it be organised, what do we want it to achieve?
This session will be an opportunity to share skills, learn new techniques and learn from each other others experience.
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