Why have an LUU Social Forum?

Next Monday i will have worked as LUU's Campaigns and Democracy Support Manager for exactly 7 months. Aside from the huge paypacket, I took the job because I thought wow...this place has over 30,000 young, intelligent members who must, like me, have concerns about the world we live in...maybe together we could do something awesome?

People say to me..."but James it's not your job to decide what issues the Union campaigns on" as if I might be approached by a 400-strong block of students who want me to help ensure the University increase its carbon footprint or the Union support a campaign to make the government build more nuclear weapons (maybe spending $4bn a year is enough?) I'm still waiting to hear from those people...

There is a basic common morality to the campaign activity that I've seen at LUU. This morality is one reflected by the activists, NGOs and Social Movements that I've encountered in wider civil society. Very few people believe in the exploitation of people or the environment for the benefit of the few, precisely for that reason - it only benefits the few.

The invite-only, World Economic Forum is by definition, for the selected few. In stark contrast to this, Social Forums across the world are characterised by plurality, diversity and decentralised coordination. Anyone can attend, take part, share their experiences, ideas and meet other people who they can work with to change the world for the better. Should LUU have one of these for its members? Sounds pretty good to me...