The Nelson Social Forum

If you are concerned about the future of Nelson & New Zealand you are invited to this 3rd Forum to address issues impacting our community in the tradition of town hall meetings

2 - 6pm Saturday

5th March 2005

Anzac Park, Halifax St, Nelson.

(bring a picnic lunch)

Issue to be discussed

ƒރnDemocracy

Speakers:

Celia Lashlie - former superintendent Christchurch Women¡¦s Prison

Kerry Marshall - former Mayor Tasman District Council

Nicky Hager - author and researcher

Facilitator: Teresa O¡¦Connor

Koha

Background information.

A better world always springs from grass roots

The age-old tradition of town hall meetings was recreated five years ago on a truly unprecedented international scale in a phenomenon known as the World Social Forum.

The first World Social Forum was held in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001. Since then it has been growing exponentially with more than 100,000 people representing 6000 different organisations from 150+ countries participating in the 5th World Social Forum just held in Porto Alegre. The power of these events is the shared dream: that it is possible to construct another world with justice for all - a better world on every level.

Inspired by the success of the World Social Forum, a number of Nelson people have initiated a social forum on a local community level. Called the Nelson Social Forum, the first two of these in July and October proved to be stimulating, provocative and entertaining. It involved encounters between members of our community with local, national and international issues being explored and confronted. Rather than simply being another form of talkfest, these meetings aim to inform and motivate networks of action out of which people rather than politicians take responsibility for changing our collective lives and circumstances for the better.

Living in these most interesting of times, there is a need for people to become actively engaged in addressing issues of immediate concern, encouraged by their community and empowered to make good things happen. Amazing outcomes are possible when we awaken from denial, routine, and comforts or, for many, the overbearing struggles of everyday life. As a result, communities will have reason to envision a more hopeful and meaningful future.

The significance of what is proposed is that the process of transformation envisioned by the World Social Forum has reached the point where it is being expressed locally. It is at this level that real changes can happen.

The 3rd Nelson Social Forum will be held in Anzac Park, Halifax St, Nelson

from 2 ¡V 6pm on Saturday 5th March 2005, with Teresa O¡¦Connor as MC.

The issue for discussion will be DEMOCRACY

Hoping to see you there for another provocative and motivating afternoon.

Our goals: to inform, involve, engage and act.

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