November 2012: Firenze 10+10

The first European Social Forum took place from the 6th to 10th of November 2002. Ten years later, much has changed: the historical context, the political situation (in Italy and all over Europe), social movements, civil society networks, etc.. When we set out to do an event for the Decennial of the ESF, we were not thinking of a celebration or any nostalgic memory. On the contrary, it is an opportunity to look at the present and future, and how to join forces from all over Europe because the moment is serious and we must act together.

So Florence 10+10 will not be the massive event that was ten years ago. But a moment of confrontation and convergences, joint mobilizations to decide what we put in place with a critical mass.

Ten years on, there is neither nostalgia nor a desire to celebrate what we had then; even less do we intend today to repeat paths which belong to that time and that stage of development: the social movements have changed, new actors have emerged, there have been defeats but also victories, such as that of the water and commons movement in the Italian referendum one year ago. At the same time, Europe is today pervaded by a need to build, albeit in new forms, a European public space. The need to look to the next 10 years with common objectives, agendas and strategies. The crisis – in its multiple aspects – and the austerity policies can be beaten, but we are aware that to achieve this we have to get away from fragmentation and the closure of each in their own narrow national dimensions: only if we are united can we win.

Read all about Firenze 10+10 and register to attend on the official website: firenze1010.eu

Programme of the European Water Movement Assembly on the 8th and 9th of November