Michiana Call To Action

by Ana Velitchkova
Michiana Call to Action, Publicity Committee

We invite area residents to participate in a Michiana Call to Action, January19-26, 2008, a local response to the World Social Forum’s call for a globalweek of action http://www.wsf2008.net/ . Throughout the week, Michiana residents united to speak out for labor and other human rights, peace and justice, and sustainability will lead us in actions supporting initiatives for social change.

The action week will culminate on Saturday, Jan. 26 with an event at the St.Joseph County Public Library where people can learn more about the World and U.S. Social Forums, reflect on the week’s activities, become familiar with local groups and initiatives, and join in discussions about launching a local social forum process in Michiana.

Since the first World Social Forum in 2001, millions of people from over 130 countries have participated in local, national, and regional “Social Forums.”

Planning team members, including Judith Rubleske, hope to begin a social forumprocess in the Michiana region. “What’s really exciting is that we’re part of aglobal event—that we’re part of a much bigger movement for social justice.”

“The 15,000 people at this past July’s U.S. Social Forum were an inspiration. They reminded us that this country is very diverse but also full of creative and dedicated people” said Jackie Smith, who teaches peace studies at the University of Notre Dame. “If ‘another world is possible,’ they said, ‘another U.S. is necessary.’ Well, if we’re going to change things in our country, it’s best to start right here.”

Fortunately, there’s no need to start from scratch, since “there is an increasing level of democratic citizen participation in thisarea and these events can help us explore new opportunities to work together,”according to Diana Hess, who is active in many local groups, including the Community Forum for Economic Development.

Participants seek to build new alliances and explore strategies for addressing persistent problems of social and economic injustice, violence, racism, and environmental destruction. As Joseph Carbone of Jobs with Justice and the St.Joseph Valley Project noted, “what I’m hoping is that we start some conversations between groups that now have little or no contact. Over time,this can lead to lasting relationships where people cooperate to promote more just and sustainable policies.”

Events will be held throughout the Michiana area during the week. On Saturday,January 26 all are invited to the downtown branch of the St. Joseph CountyPublic Library (at Main and Wayne Streets in South Bend) to learn more about the World Social Forums and about the campaigns that have been part of the Michiana Call to Action. The program will bring together diverse community groups working on issues such as peace, civil and immigrant rights, worker rights, human rights, and environmental sustainability. A key goal of thediscussion is to identify lessons from each others’ experiences that can strengthen social change efforts, and seek new ways to work together to address common problems.

Karl Hardy, of the St. Joseph Valley Greens, sees the call to action as a refreshing change from politics as usual: “The presidential primaries seem sofar removed from the actual problems we’re facing on a day-to-day basis. This week of action gives everyone a chance to lead. We are defining the agenda andexploring ideas of how we can make our city and region a better place to live.

The point is, we don’t have to wait for change from above.”Participation in the Michiana Call to Action is open to all individuals, groups,or organizations interested in learning about connections between global forcesand local problems and in furthering a sustainable and people-centered economy,fighting violence, exploitation, and discrimination, and advancing human rights.

For more information or to get involved, see: http://michianasocialforum.org/

Events:

Saturday, January 19: Earth Friendly Eating – Living Green, 11AM St. JosephCounty Public Library, South Bend (Main & Wayne), Dickinson Room. Learn how food choices affect the environment and our health.

Sunday, January 20: Cool Cities Campaign, 4PM Fiddler’s Hearth Public House(Colfax & Main). The Progressive Town Hall hosts Christine Fiordalis (SierraClub) and guests for a discussion of this national response to the globalclimate crisis.

Sunday, January 20: Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND), 3PM NorthernIndiana chapter open house at Rachel’s Bread, 212 W. Washington Street inGoshen. For details, contact Jacob@wandni.org

Monday, January 21: Martin Luther King Day – Michiana Peace and Justice Coalition's Call to end funding for the war in Iraq, 4PM Congressman JoeDonnelly’s office (Colfax, next to SB Tribune building). 5-6PM vigil at theFederal building (Jefferson & Main).

Wednesday January 23: Jobs with Justice action on the worker’s rights, 5-6PMSouth Bend Housing Authority, 501 Alonzo Watson Drive (off of Western, near Kovaleski Stadium). Support JWJ and the Teamsters Union to help local workersachieve the international human right of choosing whether or not they can joina union.

Thursday January 24: Blue-Green Alliance Press Conference, 10AM, further detailsTBASaturday January 26: Michiana and the World Social Forums, 12 Noon-4:30 St.Joseph County Public Library, South Bend (Main & Wayne). Learn about the WorldSocial Forums and the U.S. Social forum. Hear from the organizations andcampaigns that have been part of the Michiana Call to Action, and join in thesocial forum process in Michiana.