The University of Regina will be buzzing with activists this weekend. The Saskatchewan Peoples’ Social Forum is scheduled to run from Sept. 19- 21 and will address social issues, engaged learning, and creating change. It will also focus on building change, solidarity, and a progressive community in the province.
“There’s something for everyone,” said Michelle Stewart, an assistant professor with the department of justice studies and one of the forum’s organizers.
There will be panels, group discussions, workshops, and movement assemblies throughout the weekend, as well as the Saskatchewan Radical Bookfair on Saturday, Sept. 20. Discussions will include the environment, climate change, missing and murdered aboriginal women, homelessness, economic justice, workers’ rights, public services, and more.
Stewart hopes people will look at the schedule and find something that piques their curiosity. “The conversations happening will generate a whole host of activities that follow. People will be meeting and talking about ways to move forward,” she said, noting that forum will act as a catalyst.
“It’s important for everybody to sit back and see what issues matter to them, and then get engaged on that issue,” she said.
The Social Forum has been inspired by a series of events. In 2001 grassroots activists from all around the world met in Brazil to counter the annual Davos Economic Summit. The goal was to strengthen the activist community and spawn resistance to corporate agendas.
Thousands of Canadians congregated in Ottawa in August for the first ever National Peoples’ Social Forum, a gathering intent on developing activist involvement in individuals and civil organizations who seek to transform Canada. Now regional forums are popping up across the country. The Saskatchewan Peoples’ Social Forum is trying to establish inter-province connections between groups and social movements, and to create space for action planning and networking.
“We hope (the forum) will educate students and the community members,” said Anna Dipple, a member of the Regina Public Interest Research Group. The group’s assistance to the forum is no surprise because their mandate is to support campus activities concerning social and environmental justice. “We look to help build awareness of issues pertinent to Saskatchewan within the community,” she said.
Briarpatch magazine is also involved with the book fair. “We’re a perfect fit,” said Andrew Loewen , an editor for Briarpatch. “Regina lost its only independent bookstore, and right now the city is not in a good place for independent, progressive, and affordable book stores,” he said, adding that access to non-mainstream books is a necessity.
The fair, like the forum, will bring together many groups including literature sales, publishers, artwork, and clothing tables, political groups and organizations.
On Sunday, Sept. 21 at noon the group will wrap up the forum by meeting at the legislature, in solidarity with the Peoples Climate March in New York. They will protest the Energy East Pipeline, slated to go directly through Regina, which will be the biggest tar sands pipeline thus far.
The Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation is partnering with the forum to host their 40th AGM which will take place on Saturday, Sept 20, followed by an evening celebration at the Artesian.
You can register online with price variations for adults, students/seniors, and a sliding scale donation for all others. All are welcome to attend no matter their financial situation. More information is available at: http://sasksocialforum.wordpress.com/programming/.
