WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Latin America Longing for Another World
[Thanks to Sir Real for this link]
"The presidential swearing-in ceremonies of former guerrilla Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and left-winger Rafael Correa in Ecuador in the run-up to the 7th World Social Forum (WSF) are a graphic illustration of profound political changes in a Latin America that longs to see another world.
Today, Latin America is the region closest to fulfilling the emblematic slogan of the WSF, "Another World Is Possible", in the light of the wave of electoral speeches that put neoliberal globalisation and U.S. hegemony in the dock in 2006.
However, when the time comes for these changes to find expression in terms of more political power for social movements, analysts offer a wide range of opinions, and both sceptics and enthusiasts often have their own axe to grind.
Latin American delegations will probably be the smallest among the 150,000 activists from over 100 countries expected to arrive in Nairobi for the first WSF to be held in Africa from Jan. 20 to 25.
The distance and cost of reaching the Kenyan capital will prevent non-governmental organisations and other groups representing Latin American civil society from sending large numbers of delegates to this 7th Forum, created as an alternative to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, an annual meeting of powerful business and political élites.
However, Latin America will no doubt be frequently cited in Nairobi as a concrete example of popular resistance to the unipolar world and its dominant economic model since the early 1990s, after the end of the Cold War, based on free trade at any cost, and fiscal balance as a magic economic management formula..."
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http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36240
Small Ways to Solve Big Problems
by Joyce Mulama
NAIROBI, Jan 21 (IPS) - "We were told to come for this celebration because it is a celebration to end poverty," Edward Njeru, driver of a tuktuk (a three-wheel vehicle used as a taxi in urban areas), said about the World Social Forum (WSF) that opened here Saturday.
He told IPS, "I hope this poverty really ends." Njeru, who takes home between 14 to 43 dollars per month, barely enough to meet his needs, was with about 30 of his colleagues who paraded their colourful tuktuks in Uhuru Park, where the WSF opening ceremony took place.
"The presidential swearing-in ceremonies of former guerrilla Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and left-winger Rafael Correa in Ecuador in the run-up to the 7th World Social Forum (WSF) are a graphic illustration of profound political changes in a Latin America that longs to see another world.
Today, Latin America is the region closest to fulfilling the emblematic slogan of the WSF, "Another World Is Possible", in the light of the wave of electoral speeches that put neoliberal globalisation and U.S. hegemony in the dock in 2006.
However, when the time comes for these changes to find expression in terms of more political power for social movements, analysts offer a wide range of opinions, and both sceptics and enthusiasts often have their own axe to grind.
Latin American delegations will probably be the smallest among the 150,000 activists from over 100 countries expected to arrive in Nairobi for the first WSF to be held in Africa from Jan. 20 to 25.
The distance and cost of reaching the Kenyan capital will prevent non-governmental organisations and other groups representing Latin American civil society from sending large numbers of delegates to this 7th Forum, created as an alternative to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, an annual meeting of powerful business and political élites.
However, Latin America will no doubt be frequently cited in Nairobi as a concrete example of popular resistance to the unipolar world and its dominant economic model since the early 1990s, after the end of the Cold War, based on free trade at any cost, and fiscal balance as a magic economic management formula..."
--
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36240
Small Ways to Solve Big Problems
by Joyce Mulama
NAIROBI, Jan 21 (IPS) - "We were told to come for this celebration because it is a celebration to end poverty," Edward Njeru, driver of a tuktuk (a three-wheel vehicle used as a taxi in urban areas), said about the World Social Forum (WSF) that opened here Saturday.
He told IPS, "I hope this poverty really ends." Njeru, who takes home between 14 to 43 dollars per month, barely enough to meet his needs, was with about 30 of his colleagues who paraded their colourful tuktuks in Uhuru Park, where the WSF opening ceremony took place.
posted by Alice at
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
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