for reference  http://openfsm.net/projects/wsf-cafe-fsm/wsfcafefsm-ottawa-narrative

WSFCafe Brisbane participants and topics: Tackling some of civil society's incongruities

Some of the questions of what? and where? and when? are already answered at the Home Page, but other questions still prevail.  Who are the participants in WSFCafe Brisbane and, on a larger scale, in the activities surrounding the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brisbane?

What will all these other participants be talking about, and will there be space to talk about the topic(s) I am passionate about?

To some participants, 'space' is tactile; to others it is ephemeral.  For example, some have defined Musgrave Park, South Brisbane as a physical space, with boundaries, and with special and contested significances.  Whilst not even venturing into the 'rightness' 'or 'wrongness' of differing points of view, it is easy to comprehend that civil society can be defined by its divergences and its convergences.  Thankfully, convergences are starting to appear on the programmes of some who will be in the space defined by 'activities around the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brisbane'.

I recollect a little more than 12 months ago, there was discussion and hope at Moscow's Civil Society Summit for the Group of Twenty (G20).  The aspirations and expectations of the very few who returned, 3 months later, to St Petersburg, were largely unfulfilled.  Will Brisbane be similar, or different?  Brisbane is the home city of many people, and many others will be 'visiting' for the special occasion in November.  I have spoken to some who attended preparatory activities, either the Civil Society Summit in Melbourne in June or other activities elsewhere, and a few people are already feeling despondent and disappointed.  Why?

Civil society can be measured by its incongruities.  As shown above, such a simple concept of Musgrave Park is loaded with incongruities.  To some, it is a physical space that is identified on a map or a street directory.  Yet its definition appears in the annals of time, of Expo or the Commonwealth Games of other histories that are certified by encyclopaedia or newspapers.  The Murri traditional owners of this space have a different viewpoint.

In the space of WSFCafe Brisbane, our participants can discuss this and other topics.  Indeed, some attending activities around the G20 Leaders' Summit will not even venture to Musgrave Park, or other specific locations in and around Brisbane (such as Cloudland).  But that is for another time.

pre-Brisbane gatherings have commenced, Six Weeks in Advance

As is the nature of national forums and gatherings, some people have further to travel than others.  With about the furthest to travel, experienced roadtrippers Oaktree Foundation will set out from Melbourne on Sunday, and we hope to bring updates of their G20 journey from time-to-time.   The G99% group has been busy, firstly with the Northern Rivers Regional Peoples' Assembly in NSW and, more recently, releasing their invitation to post-G20 activities in association with the First Peoples' Embassy.

There is still considerable planning to be done as some Brisbane-bound groups are starting to collaborate with others, and some out-of-towners are learning of the vibrancy of Brisbane's organic groups within civil society.  I would not be suprised to see a large representation of anti-frackers amongst the various Lock the Gate groups that travel from rural NSW and Queensland.  What does all this have to do with WSFCafe Brisbane?

Like others, we are in the final stages of planning before the release of invitations to individuals to participate.  In expanding awareness and real-time opportunities of individuals to participate in Brisbane's activities around the G20, we are becoming more aware that international timezones are very accomodative for participation from across Asia.  Furthermore, start/end-of-day activities will still be accessible and meaningful for other individuals from further afield.  So do not despair, because WSFCafe Brisbane will offer opportunities for individuals from across the world to actively participate in activities around Brisbane's G20 Leaders' Summit.

For those travellers setting out soon, we wish you safe, speedy and uneventful travels as you set out to join us in Brisbane.