Just to reiterate a few points:
My initial message questionning the merits of the Vancouver conference was
not meant to come across, as some appear to have interpreted it, as a call
for all conferences to take place within a distance that we in Hull (and
the UK) could reach. Nor was it meant to be an attack on the organisers,
or a suggestion that it would hold back initiatives in other areas.
It was questionning the whole exclusive nature of conferences per se, no
matter where they are, and attempting to provoke discussion relating to
issues of democracy and access within the CGF, and the various possible
options open to us to achieve these aims (rather than merely accepting
that conferences _are_ exclusive). To paraphrase Andy Pratt, my aim was
not to erase the possibility of this (or any) conference, but merely to
provoke a discussion relating to what, why, and how we are doing things,
and what other options are open to us (all).
In relation to what Steve Pile says concerning his fear that if Vancouver
doesn't happen then other spin-off activities wouldn't either, i thought
it had already been more or less accepted, albeit in a slightly different
context, that this wasn't an either/or issue. I'm sure Vancouver will
take place, and I'm sure the people who attend will enjoy a good
conference - all I hope is that the 'critical'-link between the CGF and
Vancouver is not that it is 'critical' that you attend if you want to be
a critical and radical geographer.
Cheers ears
D
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Duncan Fuller
Institute of Power, People, and Place Research
School of Geography and Earth Resources
University of Hull
Cottingham Road
Hull
HU6 7RX
Phone: 01482 466332
Fax: 01482 466340
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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