Detroit to host US Social Forum in June

“Another world is possible; Another United States is Necessary.” Those words describe the goals of the 2010 United States Social Forum (USSF). An expected 20,000 to 30,000 thousand individuals and groups will converge on Detroit June 22 through 26 for the USSF, with main events held in downtown Detroit at Cobo Hall and Hart Plaza. It will also host events at the Wayne County Community College District Downtown Campus and Wayne State University. What is the USSF? According to its Web site,

The US Social Forum is more than a conference, more than a networking bonanza, more than a reaction to war and repression. The USSF will provide space to build relationships, learn from each other’s experiences, share our analysis of the problems our communities face, and bring renewed insight and inspiration. It will help develop leadership and develop consciousness, vision, and strategy needed to realize another world . . . The US Social Forum is a very special kind of gathering: one that has never taken place in this country up to now. It isn’t a conference with an agenda and a program of events; it’s a gathering whose participants produce our own agenda and our own programs.

To date, 900 activists involved in planning the USSF have developed the following list of themes:

• Capitalism in crisis/economic alternatives
• Climate justice
• Indigenous sovereignty
• Displacement/(im)migration
• Democracy
• Understanding right-wing opposition
• Building left/progressive movements
• Community-based strategies
• Labor
• Media justice/communications
• Transformative justice/healing

• Anti-war/militarization/criminalization
  International solidarity and responsibility
• Detroit and the rust belt

The USSF is an outgrowth of the annual World Social Forum, first held in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001. Every year since, this forum has worked to develop just alternatives to the neoliberal policies and globalization that continue to plunge poor countries into debt and millions into poverty while feeding the war machine and destroying the environment.

Registration for USSF opens January 20. Organizations that want to take a more active role can join the National Planning Committee or People’s Movement Assembly. They can also propose workshops for the program along a range of themes (and cross-cutting threads). Individuals can join one of the USSF’s working groups, the USSF Writer’s Workshop or build regional and local committees. Watch GRIID Indy News for continuing updates.

Another world is possible!