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Whose London? Shaping Alternative Futures for our City

The London Social Forum is gathering support and participation for a major conference/ workshop on alternative futures for London, to be held on Saturday 29th October, at City Hall.

Everyone has some good things to say about the new London government. But there has been widespread dissatisfaction among action groups, local campaigns, unions, left and green organisations to the official plans and policies for London - objections to the kind of 'democracy' we are experiencing and to many of the policies and proposals themselves. Critical debate and constructive action for a better London are hindered by the sheer scale of the city, the fragmentation of issues (housing, low pay, transport, Olympics, gender issues, racism, challenges to corporate dominance...) and the lack of a space where we can come together. Active people are over-stretched.

The conference is planned as a forum: a series of workshops in the morning at which groups and individuals involved in London issues can
- present their work
- engage with people from other parts of London or working on linked issues
- forge contacts and alliances

Then in the afternoon - using an "open space" process - to re-form in fresh groups to see what scope there is for
- collaboration in developing alternatives
- mutual support for campaigns
- developing strong position(s) for the forthcoming Review of the London Plan.
but - in line with the practices of the World- / European- / other Social Forums - NOT to try and decide policy or become a party.

The topics which will focus discussion is being decided in the light of the responses received by email, preparatory meetings and further responses. A programme group is working on the scope and process of the Forum. Details here.

From the monthly meetings of the London Social Forum so far we envisage sessions on
(i) Developing alternative visions for London, including the use of participatory budgets
(ii) Examining local development projects, such as Kings Cross, Thames Gateway, Elephant and Castle, Queen's Market, the Olympics
(iii) Considering how to re-balance the London Plan's bias towards financial and real-estate interests
(v) International impacts of London's way of growing; alternatives
(vi) Housing, wages, benefits
and others to be added according to the responses received to this email and at a preparatory meeting to which you are invited.
 
Further details of programme, workshops etc will appear here - Download PDF - also check here for programme updates

Participation in the October conference will be free, though donations will be sought to cover organising costs. Sponsorship from organisations, union branches etc also very welcome. We need to know who is coming to plan the event so there is be a booking link here on the web site.

[ Link to list of working groups preparing for the meeting. If you can help, this page tells you who to contact. ]
Please reply to: Teresa Hoskyns t.hoskyns@ucl.ac.uk until the web site is more fully operational

This page now also in French at http://fsl33.apinc.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=972.
How about some translations into London's other 299 languages?. Just send them in to m.edwards@ucl.ac.uk.