Final impressions of my first ESF
European Social Forum 2004
This was my first ESF and I wanted my final post to be focused on my impressions as a newcomer and relative outsider.
All in all I felt that this event had so much potential yet somehow it left me feeling uninspired and dissatisfied. Over the past few days I have tried to analyze why I felt this.
Firstly I thought it was a shame that events had to be spread between Bloomsbury and Alexander Palace. I missed many key seminars as it took so long to travel between the two. I loved the buzz and atmosphere at Alexander Palace but it was lost completely at the Bloomsbury venues. All the seminar rooms were spread out in ghostly corridors - it felt more like attending a lecture at uni than anything else. At least at Alexander Palace you felt free to wander to get a taster of each seminar and be able to socialize with other delegates.
Secondly I was appalled by the treatment of the Babels International Network. The fact that our government refused entry to some interpreters meant that the team were left with limited resources and little support from higher management. Under the circumstances I thought they did a fantastic job and should be applauded.
On a positive note it was encouraging to see such a mix of nationalities, and that people had bothered to pay the extortionate ticket price and traveled to our expensive capital.
Above all I came to the ESF to learn something new about the issues surrounding globalization and to be inspired by new ideas and campaigns yet I feel like I have learnt less than I hoped and witnessed people feeling let down.
Perhaps I have been a little too harsh as I do believe that these events have great potential for the future. If the event can mature into something more focused and better organised, I feel it will be better for it.
Joanna
This was my first ESF and I wanted my final post to be focused on my impressions as a newcomer and relative outsider.
All in all I felt that this event had so much potential yet somehow it left me feeling uninspired and dissatisfied. Over the past few days I have tried to analyze why I felt this.
Firstly I thought it was a shame that events had to be spread between Bloomsbury and Alexander Palace. I missed many key seminars as it took so long to travel between the two. I loved the buzz and atmosphere at Alexander Palace but it was lost completely at the Bloomsbury venues. All the seminar rooms were spread out in ghostly corridors - it felt more like attending a lecture at uni than anything else. At least at Alexander Palace you felt free to wander to get a taster of each seminar and be able to socialize with other delegates.
Secondly I was appalled by the treatment of the Babels International Network. The fact that our government refused entry to some interpreters meant that the team were left with limited resources and little support from higher management. Under the circumstances I thought they did a fantastic job and should be applauded.
On a positive note it was encouraging to see such a mix of nationalities, and that people had bothered to pay the extortionate ticket price and traveled to our expensive capital.
Above all I came to the ESF to learn something new about the issues surrounding globalization and to be inspired by new ideas and campaigns yet I feel like I have learnt less than I hoped and witnessed people feeling let down.
Perhaps I have been a little too harsh as I do believe that these events have great potential for the future. If the event can mature into something more focused and better organised, I feel it will be better for it.
Joanna
posted by Joanna at 4:32 PM
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