European Social Forum 2008

[Jess]

www.fse-esf.org
Here I post a link for all those who think we can make a real change!! I was lucky to participate as an interpreter this year in The European Social Forum (ESF), an open space where civil society groups and movements opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism, but engaged in building a society centered on the human person, come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, to formulate proposals, to share their experiences freely and to network for effective action.

Hope we'll meet in the next one!!

[Conectafrica Turismo Solidario 2.0]

Hi Jess,

Thanks for sharing this experience with us, if you could just translate the text on the flag on the picture... no, I'm joking ;)

I'm glad to see that Social thematics are at the center of the attention, at least in social forums...

You told me you got there working for an NGO of translators called ¿Babel?, did they organize the event too? Maybe it could be interesting if you have their contact, please feel free to explain & promote their work here, in a few words. Thanks a lot!

Take care
Stef

[Jess]

For anyone interested in these kind of organisations, here I explain the work of the ONG I participated with during the ESO:

Babels is an international network of volunteer interpreters and translators whose main objective is to cover the interpreting needs of the Social Forums. It was born from the process of the Social Forums, experimental meeting spaces for movements and organisations from different countries and regions. Without interlinguistic and intercultural communication these spaces could not exist.

Babels is made up of activists of all tendencies and backgrounds, united in the task of transforming and opening up the Social Forums. We work to give voice to peoples of different languages and cultures. We fight for the right of all, including those who don’t speak a colonial language, to contribute to the common work. We try to allow everyone to express themselves in the language of their choice. By increasing the diversity of contributions to the debate, we transform its outcome.

GENERAL INFO.:
www.babels.org
[e-mail]

Good luck u all!

[Conectafrica Turismo Solidario 2.0]

Great! Thank you for sharing this info on Babels: interesting work, & perfect report!
I specially liked your conclusion: "By increasing the diversity of contributions to the debate, we transform its outcome".
Let's work on it!
Hugz
Stef