Hungarian Social Forum Coordination Committee (HSF CC)

Theme of the outcome

Others and/or Cross-thematic

Description of the outcome

Hungarian Social Forum Coordination Committe (HSF CC)
Outcomes, proposals and Initiatives for Actions and Alternatives at ESF 2008.

1.) Despite the efforts of certain members of the Nordic Organising Committe (NOC) Eastern Europe has not received the necessary attention. In the debates we have experienced that majoritity of the Western Europeans „licks his/her wounds” only and fails to notice that against the capitalist system we can fight only together, joining our forces in a concerted way. As we raised in the discussion: we made a proposal of establishing united Pan-European trade unions.
2.) Upon the organisers’ request we have done our utmost to bring the poorest, the most excluded of East Europe, namely the Romani people with us to Malmö. It is outrageous that almost no interest was taken in them. They were only formally included in the programme. We are protesting against the fact that the Gypsy Band, which was a huge success at the ESF inauguration, has not been assured another appearance. The promised solidarity for free food for the poverty-stricken Romani did not happen, which caused a lot of problems for our group
3.) Solidarity fund-raising for the 6th ESF to be held in Istanbul in 2010 should be started right now in order to assure the participation of both CEE countries and the poor.
4.) We demand the introduction of guaranteed social minimum income (GSMI) in the EU, which should be one of the main slogans of ESF
5.) The critique of neoliberalism is not enough, because neoliberalism in itself is capitalism.
6.) This winter pensioners, disabled and unemployed people will already be unable to pay their heating bills. Suffering and unfortunately often death waits for people fallen in cold and damp flats. We recommend for all organisations cooperating in the European Social Forum to require from the corresponding organs of EU the discussion of social aspects of energy items, the urgent acceptance of the European Energy Consumers’ Charter. We demand from the EU to increase the support of energy saving heating processes and encourage their spending.
7.) The big number and the separation of events (i.e. debates/discusssions in seminars and workshops) make the ESF formal. The debates/discussions of each axis (main themes) should be concentrated in one place and after harmonisation (having reached an agreement) we should come to common conclusions and action plan.
8.) We are much obliged to the organizers of the 5th ESF, but the grave defects of organization caused us a lot of troubles.

Budapest, 22nd October, 2008.

Matyas Benyik
Member of HSF CC