From August 23rd to August 26th Montreal UQAM and Émilie-Gamelin Place

Press kit July 2007

This press kit contains :

• One standard article about the QSF for diffusion in the media; • The list of all articles and texts about the QSF; • The press releases; • List of partners.

Contact for the media : Nathalie Guay, anchorwoman for communications

514-655-6651 (cell phone) - 514-982-6606 #2235 info.communication@forumsocialquebec.org

Another Quebec is on the way! Let’s move towards the first Quebec Social Forum.

The first Quebec Social Forum (QSF) will be held from August 23rd to August 26th at

the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) and at the Emilie-Gamelin Park. This

project was born from the initiative of numerous young volunteers as well as several

Quebec organizations that united their efforts in hopes that this collective dream would

come to life, here in Quebec.

The QSF’s first goal is to create a participative and inclusive space where all citizens,

militant movements and organizations will have the opportunity to speak, to discuss, to

express themselves and to exchange ideas on all issues currently faced by Quebec

society. Therefore, the QSF is a place for popular education, promotion of alternative

practices and networking for organizations and it is also a framework to improve citizen

implication and to help them to get a better grip on politics.

Several thousand people are expected at this event where the presentation of more than

300 activities will help to create a new society for tomorrow’s Quebec and to develop

strategies and concrete alternatives to the neo-liberalist globalization. Each workshop is

organized by its participants and must be in line with one of the eight following themes:

human rights and struggles for equality, environment and ecology, public services and

social programs, 21st century labour and workers’ struggles, social and solidarity

economics, arts, cultures and plural means of communication, democracy, international

solidarity and spirituality.

As part of the QSF programme, a Cultural and Socially Engaged Art Festival will give us

the opportunity to see about one hundred cultural and artistic activities. The forum will

be launched on August 23rd with a big show at the Medley, followed by two days filled

with debates, conferences, discussion workshops, informal exchanges and socially

engaged artistic presentations. Finally a long rally will close the QSF. Please note that

we are no longer receiving workshop registrations as we have filled out our capacity.

You can find the list of registered workshops on our website.

The QSF intends to bring together all those who wish to create a fairer society standing

by its beliefs and which better respects its diversity and ecosystems. There are many

ways to get involved in the forum: you can mobilize organizations and people around

you so that they participate in the QSF, you can circulate information, and you can

become a volunteer or participate in the cultural and artistic activities.

In order to help to create a better regional dynamic, ten regional collectives have been

implemented. They are essential to ensure a Quebec QSF process that represents Quebec

well. You are welcomed to visit our website or contact us to find out how you can get

involved in your own regional collective.

The QSF framework belongs to everyone and will be a reflection of ourselves. Please

mobilize yourselves for this event and come bring a little of yourself to it. The success of

this first Quebec Social Forum will be the result of everybody’s efforts.

Raphaël Canet, Ariane Denault-Lauzier, Nathalie Guay and Gabrielle Guérin Members of the Quebec Social Forum Secretariat www.forumsocialquebecois.org

(514) 982-0533

3720, avenue du Parc, 2e étage

Montréal, Québec, H2X 2J1

Media Coverage of the Quebec Social Forum(articles are available on the web site: www.forumsocialquebec.org)

Title Media Author Date TownUn autre Québec est-il possible ? Les forums sociaux : berceau de l’autre monde possible

Le Devoir Raphaël Canet 19 juillet 2007 Montréal

Un autre Québec est-il possible ? Résistance des peuples et altermondialisme

Le Devoir Raphaël Canet 18 juillet 2007 Montréal

Un autre Québec est-il possible ? L’imposition tranquille de la société néolibérale

Le Devoir Raphaël Canet 17 juillet 2007 Montréal

Un autre monde est possible aux États-Unis aussi ! FSQ Sylvie Joly July 6, 2007 webLe Forum social québécoisUn remède au déficit démocratique

Journal Alternatives Nathalie Guay July 4, 2007 Montreal

Social forum needs art Mirror Steve Zylbergold June 28-July 04.2007 MontrealRepenser le monde à MontréalL'UQAM accueille le premier Forum social québécois

L'Esprit simple Laurence Hallé Summer 2007 Montreal

L’Outaouais invitée à s’exprimer lors du premier Forum social québécois

Info07.com Marie Pier Lécuyer June 26, 2007 web

Le Forum social québécoisUn espace de liberté pour penser l’environnement différemment

Vigile.net André Rousseau June 14, 2007 web

Programmation du Forum social (en bref) Le Devoir Le Devoir June 11, 2007 MontrealLes Estriens invités à " repenser le Québec " La Tribune Albert Bérubé June 9, 2007 SherbrookeUn forum sur l'avenir du Québec Hebdo Rive-Nord du samedi Reine Côté June 9, 2007 RepentignyLe Forum social québécois s’annonce comme une réussite

L’Aut’Journal L’Aut’Journal June 8, 2007 web

Un espace de débat 24 heures Marie-Josée Belley June 6, 2007 MontrealUne journée verte, verte, verte Métro PC June 5, 2007 MontrealLe Sommet citoyen de Montréal réclame davantage de cogestion

Le Devoir Shields, Alexandre June 4, 2007 Montreal

Le Forum social québécois : un espace de liberté pour penser le Québec !

Développement social Ariane Denault-LauzierRaphaël CanetGabrielle GérinNathalie Guay

June 1, 2007 provincial

Un forum social québécois en 2007 La Gazette de la Mauricie Rémi Doré June 1, 2007 MauricieUn autre Québec est en marche ! Journal Alternatives Secrétariat du FSQ May 31, 2007 Montreal

July 13, 2007 1

Media Coverage of the Quebec Social Forum(articles are available on the web site: www.forumsocialquebec.org)

Title Media Author Date TownÉthique de l'habitat Le Plateau Jeanne Gagnon May 27, 2007 Montreal1er Forum social québécois Journal L'UQAM Claude Gauvreau May 14, 2007 MontrealForum social québécois Le Bulletin (le journal électronique

de la GSAÉD)Marie-Josée Massicotte May 1, 2007 web

Les Forums sociaux : principe espérance du XXIème siècle

FSQ Raphaël Canet May 1, 2007 web

Social forum ici Mirror Steve Zylbergold Apr 26-May 02.2007 MontrealForum social québécois Voir Singer, Mathilde April 26, 2007 MontrealAssociation du GAMIQ et du MIMI Voir Robillard Laveaux,

Olivier April 26, 2007 Montreal

Parlez, citoyens! Premier Forum social québécois Montréal Campus Noée Murchison April 25, 2007 MontrealLa grande alliance Un événement bénéfice pour le FSQ

Montréal Express M.J.-F. April 25, 2007 web

Le premier Forum social québécois reçoit l'appui de plusieurs personnalités» Radioactif.com

PC April 24, 2007 web

Un premier forum social au Québec Le Droit Le Droit April 21 and 22, 2007 Outaouais

Francis Halin chantera sa poésie et celle des autresUn Montarvillois sera du nombre des artistes invités au tout premier «Forum social québécois»

Le Journal de Saint-Bruno David Penven April 21, 2007 Saint-Bruno

L'Outaouais au premier Forum social québécois La Revue du mercredi Patrick Voyer April 11, 2007 GatineauSpectacle bénéfice Journal Alternatives Journal Alternatives April 10, 2007 MontrealLancement de l’auto-programmation en ligne Journal Alternatives Journal Alternatives April 10, 2007 MontrealEn 2007, un autre Québec sera possible !Vers le premier Forum social québécois

Journal Alternatives Raphaël Canet , Nathalie Guay , Ariane Denault-Lauzier , Gabrielle Gérin

April 4, 2007 Montreal

Enfin un premier Forum social au Québec ! Bulletin Oeconomia Humana Raphael Canet April 1, 2007Vers le premier Forum social québécoisLever les barrières

À babord Claude Vaillancourt April/May 2007 provincial

Pourquoi participer au Forum social québécois lorsque l’on défend la gratuité scolaire

L'Assaut (journal de l'AFESH) Nathalie Guay et Gabrielle Gérin

Spring 2007 Montreal

July 13, 2007 2

Media Coverage of the Quebec Social Forum(articles are available on the web site: www.forumsocialquebec.org)

Title Media Author Date TownLe Québec accueillera son premierforum social en août prochain

Le Devoir Alexandre Shields February 19, 2007 Montreal

Montréal aura son premier forum social La Presse Mario Girard February 19, 2007 MontrealForum social mondialL'Afrique demande le respect de sa souverainetéUn forum social québécois aura finalement lieu en août prochain

Le Devoir Letarte, Martine January 31, 2007 Montreal

La CSN à Nairobi Le Devoir PC January 22, 2007 MontrealLa CSN au Forum social mondial Le Droit PC January 22, 2007 OutaouaisUn Forum Social pour les québécois (vidéoreportage) Canoë Frédéric Mailloux April 26, 2007 webToute première édition du Forum social québécois CHOQ FM Marco Belair Cirino June 12, 2007 web

July 13, 2007 3

Press Release

More than 223 scheduled activities to date The Quebec Social Forum has the makings of success!

(Montreal, June 4th 2007) The planning of the first Quebec Social Forum, which will be held at UQAM from August 23rd to 26th has the makings of a major success! The widespread interest in the event attests to the relevance of creating a context in which thousands of people can debate and exchange ideas for alternatives to Neoliberalism, which dominates Quebec society as it does other regions of the world.

"The preparations are going well. Among other things, the number of registered activities to date gives us reason to believe that the QSF will prove to be the public event of Quebec this summer", remarked spokespersons for the event. While preparations are underway for a regional tour in June and July to rally public support for the event across the Quebec territory, organizers are proud to announce the programming of more than 223 scheduled activities to date, by organizations and individuals who are active in their fields. In total, 170 workshops, conferences and round table discussions are planned, as well as 53 cultural activities. And that is not all! In fact, the deadline for proposals has been postponed until June 22nd so as to allow even more people to participate.

"Although our promotional campaign is being carried out with relatively modest means, we sense a real enthusiasm to participate in the event", organizers added. They were also pleased to present newly recruited spokespersons for the event, namely Laure Waridel, Monique Simard, Joujou Turenne, Gil Courtemanche and Karen Young, who expressed their motives for supporting the initiative during a press conference. These spokespersons add their names to those of Louise Beaudoin, Paul Piché, Samian, Raoul Duguay and Armand Vaillancourt, who have already voiced their support for the QSF.

A diversified program The 223 activities scheduled as part of the Quebec Social Forum touch upon a large range of themes: overexploitation of our natural resources, the effects of privatization upon our public services, the right to housing, the effects of globalization upon working conditions, financial capitalism, cooperative and social economy, the commodification of education, problems relating to immigration, international solidarity, the status of women, social justice for marginalized groups, the rights of indigenous people etc.

Among the organizations which have planned activities, we should mention: Amnesty International, the coalition Eau secours, the Montreal YMCA, the FRAPRU, the

Fondation Rivières, Peace and Development, Quebec Native Women, The Quebec Women's Federation, as well as several union organizations.

For the organizers, the QSF will serve as a springboard for major mobilizations and for the application of concrete alternatives to neoliberalism in Quebec over the course of the next few years. "The range of subjects to be addressed is at the heart of the daily concerns of the population and of the difficulties encountered in the face of the application of neoliberal policies", they continued.

The QSF will also be the theatre of four major conferences, featuring some twenty guest speakers from here and elsewhere. Thus under the theme "Affirming our Rights, Enriching our Democracy" we will hear from Michèle Asselin, president of the Quebec Women's Federation, along with Chico Whitaker of Brazil, one of the instigators of the first World Social Forum, held in Porto Alegre in 2001. For the conference entitled "Quebec and the Americas: Which Solidarities?", Myriam Nobre of Brazil, coordinator of the World March of Women and Dorval Brunelle, professor at UQAM and director of the Observatoire des Amériques will address the assembly.

In another vein, the conference "A Quebec enriched by all its Regions" will naturally offer a large space to local voices such as Jacques Proulx, from Solidarité rurale, and Ghislain Picard, Chief of the assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador. A forth major conference, composed of panelists from here elsewhere, including Marie Pelchat of the Clinique Communautaire Pointe-St-Charles and a French Union representative from the Confédération Générale du Travail will address the privatization of public services and natural resources. The QSF Caravan Starting June 12th, the FSQ Caravan will travel through Quebec to promote the Forum. Over the course of the summer, the Caravan will stop in a dozen towns including Quebec, Drummondville, Sherbrooke, Charlemagne, Joliette, Saint-Jérôme, Hull/Gatineau, Mont St-Hilaire, Wendake, Alma, Chicoutimi Trois-Pistoles. Evenings of information and mobilization will be organised for groups and populations of each region in which the first French language documentary on World Social Forums, entitled Changer le monde, quelle drôle d’idée, will be presented. It was directed by Violaine Bonnassies, Judith Cayer, Mélanie Morin et Manuela Santiago-Teigeler. The Caravan will be accompanied by musicians from the group Bombolessé.

Finnaly, please note that registrations are now open for those wishing to participate in the QSF (www.forumsocialquebecois.org).

For more information contact Raphaël Canet, secretary of the QSF at 514 883-9594 or 514 982-0533, or Louis-Serge Houle at 514 598-2157

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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONTREAL, FEBRUARY 18TH 2007

Finally a Social Forum in Quebec! The first Quebec Social Forum (FSQ) will be one of the most important alterglobalist events of summer 2007. Part of the movement of the World Social Forums (eg. Nairobi Summit, Kenya), and from local initiatives, such as the Peoples Summit of April 2001 and following events, all being connected to Quebec’s opposition movement, the Quebec Social Forum is meant to be a place of reflection, exchange, meeting, and consciousness raising. The Forum will guarantee an out in the open area for discussions on social, environmental, economic, ethic, and cultural issues. The FSQ aims to bring a real debate into the society to find out what kind of future Quebecers want, in a manner to bring out new perspectives and alternatives to the neo-liberal Model. The FSQ also aims to unite local and global interaction, including Feminist issues and strategies. On February the 10th, the General Assembly of the FSQ officially launched this Event. A few thousand participants are expected to join in the 4-day event, with more than 300 activities proposed and organised by the participants themselves. The FSQ proposes 8 main thematic topics: Human rights and struggles for equality and right of self-determination for all peoples and diversity of identities; Environment and ecology; Public services and social programs: struggles against the privatization and commodification of our common goods; 21st century labour and workers’ struggles, social and solidarity economics; Arts, cultures and plural means of communication; Participation, democracy and popular empowerment: rethinking politics; International solidarity and pacifism against imperialism and war; Ethics, spiritualities and religions. Activities will begin on August 23rd with a great outdoor show, then will follow two days of debates, conferences, discussion forums, informal exchange meetings, and socially committed art performances. On August 26th, an assembly of the social movements will draft a collective declaration and a schedule for concerted action. The day will conclude with a grand socially committed walk. This inclusive and participative event wants to bring together as many organisations, social movements and citizens involved in their communities representing Quebec’s diversity. Regional collectives are being organised to locally promote the FSQ, and organise a trip for their members

and citizens to Montreal for the event in late August. Many funding activities will take place, in particular a fundraising show in April, in order to support this unique event in Quebec. The FSQ will take place in the heart of the metropolis, at Quebec University in Montreal (UQAM) local and in the surroundings from August 23rd until August 26th 2007. Only made possible by a great number of volunteers and organisations from every branch of the Quebec’s society, the FSQ represents a unique opportunity for collective discussion in order to find alternatives to the hegemony of the neoliberalism. Let’s create our own Quebec, in our way! For information : (514) 982-0533 www.forumsocialquebec.org

Partners of the Quebec Social Forum

À Babord !

Alliance de la fonction publique du Canada (AFPC)

Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS)

Alliances de recherche universités communautés - Économie sociale (ARUC-ES)

Alternatives

AlterUQAM

Amis du Monde Diplomatique, Les

Artistes pour la paix

Association des chrétiens pour l'abolition de la torture

Association des médecins congolais du Canada

Association des retraitées et retraités de l'enseignement du Québec

Association étudiante des études avancées en sociologie de l'UQAM (AEEA)

Association facultaire étudiante des sciences humaines de l'UQAM (AFESH)

Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (ASSÉ)

Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI)

ATTAC-Québec

Beaux-Arts et Ateliers (Communauté d'artistes visuels francophones en ligne)

Café Campus

Carrefour de participation, ressourcement et formation (CPRF)

Carrefour des pastorales sociales

Centre Afrika

Centrale des Syndicats du Québec (CSQ)

Centre d'études internationales et mondialisation (CEIM)

Centre Justice et Foi

Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur la diversité au Québec (CRIDAQ)

Chaire C.-A. Poissant de recherche sur la gouvernance et l'aide au développement

Chaire Raoul Dandurand en études stratégiques et diplomatiques

Chaire de recherche du Canada en mondialisation, citoyenneté et démocratie

Chaire de responsabilité sociale et de développement durable

Chantier de l'économie sociale

CHOQ FM

Coalition Urgence Rurale

Comité régional d'éducation pour le développement international de Lanaudière (CRÉDIL)

Communauté Catholique Congolaise de Montréal

Confédération des Syndicats Nationaux (CSN)

Conseil central du Montréal Métropolitain - CSN

D'abord solidaires

Département d'éducation et faculté d'éducation UQAM

Département des sciences juridiques de l'UQÀM

Département de science politique de l'UQÀM

Diocèse de Montréal

Être Terre, L'

Faculté de science politique et de droit

Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (FECQ)

Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ)

Fédération des femmes du Québec (FFQ)

Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ)

Fédération nationale des enseignants et enseignantes du Québec (FNEEQ)

Festival Ciné-Paix Fondaction

Forum social régional 02 / Saguenay Lac St-Jean (FSR02)

Groupe de travail sur la démocratie et la citoyenneté (GTDMC) du Centre d'écologie urbaine

Institut d'études internationales de Montréal (IEIM)

Institut de recherches et d'études féministes (IREF)

Journées sociales du Québec

Mercure Tourisme équitable

Moisson Montréal

Mouvement Action-chômage de Montréal

Mouvement d'éducation populaire et d'action communautaire du Québec (MEPACQ)

Observatoire des Amériques (ODA)

Pastorale et solidarité sociale Ste-Croix

Pastorale sociale Mercier-Est

Radio Centre-Ville

Rencontre internationale de la chanson d'auteur (RICA)

Réseau de vigilance

Réseau d'information et d'aide aux personnes assistées-sociales de Châteauguay (RIAPAS)

Réseau québécois des groupes écologistes

Réseau du Forum social de Québec et Chaudières-Appalaches

Services aux collectivités de l'UQAM

Syndicat de la fonction publique du Québec (SFPQ)

Le syndicat des employées et employés professionnels-les et de bureau - Québec (CTC-FTQ)

Syndicat des étudiant-es employé-es (SÉTUE)

Syndicat des professeurs de l'UQAM (SPUQ-CSN)

Syndicat des professeures et professeurs CEGEP Édouard-Montpetit

Syndicat des professeurs du Collège du Vieux-Montréal

Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels du gouvernement du Québec (SPGQ)

Syndicat des travailleurs et travailleuses des postes (STTP)

Syndicat du personnel enseignant du Collège Ahuntsic (SPECA)

Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

Ville de Montréal

Quebec Social Forum 3720, du Parc (2nd floor)

Montréal (Québec) H2X 2J1

Phone : 514 982-0533 Cell. : 514 883-9594

info@forumsocialquebec.org www.forumsocialquebecois.org