US Social Forum Results

Well, first I apologize for taking so long to post the results of the first ever US Social Forum in Atlanta the end of June, but I have been traveling around and just not spending much time on my computer since I am doing a bit of camping out of my van.

I have a very limited perspective on the Social Forum since I was there to table my fair trade wares. I am happy to report I did very well being the only fair trade gift seller at the event. Surprisingly, activists do have a little money to be able to buy things and I am most grateful for that. : )

What I can tell you all is that there were about 9,000 people there from around the country and the world! I had 3 roommates (2 from the west and southwest US and one from Australia) and stayed at the Westin not far from the civic center. The list of workshops during the 4 day event was contained in a virtual CATALOG! From what my roommates told me the workshops were informative but not a lot of solutions came out of the discussions which is frustrating. I find this to be the case at many of the leftist events I attend. Analysis without solutions brings about frustration and eventually burnout.

I attended a fabulous one-man show "Marx in Soho" which is a play written by Howard Zinn and performed by Fenton Wilkinson who plays Karl Marx. I happened to have sat in front of him the morning of his performance and he was wearing his "M I S" t-shirt and he looks remarkably similar to Marx. We talked for a few moments and he shared with me that about 10 or so years ago he gave up his legal practice (he was in w/ 2 of his siblings) when he had a moment of consciousness and decided to live kind of like me...from day to day being an activist and learning how to survive and thrive and share his knowledge with those who wanted to hear it I went to the performance with my friends from Salt Lake City (I met during my work on the Nader campaign) and truly enjoyed the show.

I shared table space with two lovely ladies Sandy and Pat from "Emma's Revolution" (my FAVORITE heroine!!) when I found them out on the street where the vendors not tabling inside were at. They did not have a tent to keep them from the VERY HOT weather conditions so I told them to pack up their things and share one of my two tables with me. It was great having them as my table companions (they helped me take little breaks which I needed) and enjoyed getting to know them better. They are raising funds to host a camp in both Israel and Palestine this summer. Pat and Sandy are truly wonderful souls!!! Keep an eye out for them to come down to Melbourne from time to time. They have friends in Melbourne Village and come down about once a year and would love to play at some event or place while in town. : ) www.emmasrevolution.com

Well, since Atlanta I have driven around North Carolina beginning in Ashville. I just love that hippie town! The farmer's market is a blast too. Great locally grown foods and Amish canned goods (all pure ingredients!) and local artists under one roof! It is HUGE!

I then went to Wilmington, NC to visit wonderful old family friends. The town is lovely with an old historic district and a really cool beachside area. I was taken aback by the mass traffic (reminding me of south Florida) conditions but it is a gem that has been discovered (much like Vero Beach now) and people want to live there (who can blame them, right?).

After a couple days there I traveled to Moorehead City and Beaufort to visit the place where I stayed for a night back in '88 and '89 when I hitched a ride from Nantucket on a yacht/sportfisher. Both towns are quaint fishing villages and worth visiting.

Then I drove up to Cedar Island to catch the car ferry to Ocracoke Island (2 plus hr. ride) and stayed in the state park campsite that is minutes north of town and has a huge sand mound seperating the campsite from the beach. Really a cool town and cool park to stay at. The town reminded me of Nantucket but in the south (hot and humid!) with dirt roads, lots of trees and flowering bushes and manicured lawns. Howard's kicks ass when it comes to GREAT food (especially the fresh fish dishes!) and open 365 days a year! The man works like a dog!!!! ; )

The next day I took another shorter ferry ride to Hatteras and visited the lighthouse and swam at the beach! Lovely weather and day!

Will sign off now and report again soon!

Wishing everyone a great summer!

PEACE,

Mindy : )