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World Social Forum Takes over Caracas
The World Social Forum in Caracas Venezuela has started. This is a report and photographs from the opening days activities.
World Social Forum Takes over Caracas
Another World is Possible
By Mike Rhodes
Over 100,000 activists from throughout the world have arrived for the start of the sixth World Social Forum (WSF), which began yesterday in Caracas, Venezuela. Under the unifying slogan of “Another World is Possible,” participants at the WSF have gathered to build a powerful movement against neoliberalism, capitalism, and imperialism.
The WSF is organized in a decentralized format that encourages grassroots participation. This is accomplished through a series of workshops and forums that bring together political activists from throughout the world to give them the opportunity to share experiences and build social networks. Each day, during the six days of activities, there will be hundreds of forums, discussions, and meetings to choose from.
The opening event at this year’s WSF was a march with over 60,000 participants demonstrating against War and Imperialism. There were large delegations from all over South America - including Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and of course Venezuela.
While the majority of participants at this year’s WSF are from South America, there are a substantial number of US citizens participating. San Francisco based Global Exchange, for example, has a delegation of over 150. Delegations from Jobs with Justice, the American Friends Service Committee, and Code Pink were seen at yesterday’s march. There are many smaller US delegations as well as participants who are not a part of any formal group.
Several hundred Cubans were at the front of the march, chanting in solidarity with the WSF theme that another world is possible. Representatives from Puerto Rico, Haiti, Canada, and Australia also had a presence at the march. In addition to the delegates who identified with their country of origin at the march, many participants marched behind the banners of grassroots organizations working on human rights issues, environmental justice, or women’s rights.
Today, (Wednesday, January 25, 2006) workshops, panels, and forums will take place throughout Caracas on a wide variety of issues, including:
* Human Rights
* Feminism
* Globalization
* Arts, Music, and Culture in the popular movement
* War and Peace
* The role of the media in building a just society
* Environmental Justice
* Organized labor and workers rights
Here are a few descriptions of the approximately 800 activities listed in the program for the first day:
* The opening World’s Assembly of Social Movements
* Food Rights and International Trade
* Radical Democracy: new challenges in the strengthening of civil societies power
* Marxism 101: Bringing the World Working Class Together to Abolish Capitalism
* Troops out of Iraq: Can the global movement stop US Imperialism?
* Another America is Under Way, popular movements and the rise of progressive governments in Latin America
* Scars of a toxic industry: impact of the high tech industry and resistance of the concerned communities
* Sexual and reproductive rights in the context of youth movements
One of the challenges of last year’s WSF, which was held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, was providing translation to manage the “Tower of Babble” that was created, as dozens of different languages were being spoken by participants. The primary languages used at the forum events are Spanish, Portugese, French, and English. Unfortunately, not very many events at last year’s forum had the ability to provide translation services.
Having the WSF in Venezuela this year highlights the achievements of the advances made by the progressive movement in South America. With left, indigenous, or socialist leaders elected in Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina there is a great deal of enthusiasm and hopefulness about this regions ability to determine its own destiny.
The WSF is the grassroots alternative to the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. While the WSF is not intended to eliminate the street demonstrations that have confronted the WEF, it does provide a an opportunity for grassroots activists to envision and build a new future which is an alternative to the global domination of US imperialism and corporate interests. The regional WSF in Caracas is one of three being held throughout the world. The others are being held in Pakistan and Mali.
Additional reports and photos from this week’s events will be posted to this Indymedia site. For more information about the World Social Forum, see http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br
###
Another World is Possible
By Mike Rhodes
Over 100,000 activists from throughout the world have arrived for the start of the sixth World Social Forum (WSF), which began yesterday in Caracas, Venezuela. Under the unifying slogan of “Another World is Possible,” participants at the WSF have gathered to build a powerful movement against neoliberalism, capitalism, and imperialism.
The WSF is organized in a decentralized format that encourages grassroots participation. This is accomplished through a series of workshops and forums that bring together political activists from throughout the world to give them the opportunity to share experiences and build social networks. Each day, during the six days of activities, there will be hundreds of forums, discussions, and meetings to choose from.
The opening event at this year’s WSF was a march with over 60,000 participants demonstrating against War and Imperialism. There were large delegations from all over South America - including Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and of course Venezuela.
While the majority of participants at this year’s WSF are from South America, there are a substantial number of US citizens participating. San Francisco based Global Exchange, for example, has a delegation of over 150. Delegations from Jobs with Justice, the American Friends Service Committee, and Code Pink were seen at yesterday’s march. There are many smaller US delegations as well as participants who are not a part of any formal group.
Several hundred Cubans were at the front of the march, chanting in solidarity with the WSF theme that another world is possible. Representatives from Puerto Rico, Haiti, Canada, and Australia also had a presence at the march. In addition to the delegates who identified with their country of origin at the march, many participants marched behind the banners of grassroots organizations working on human rights issues, environmental justice, or women’s rights.
Today, (Wednesday, January 25, 2006) workshops, panels, and forums will take place throughout Caracas on a wide variety of issues, including:
* Human Rights
* Feminism
* Globalization
* Arts, Music, and Culture in the popular movement
* War and Peace
* The role of the media in building a just society
* Environmental Justice
* Organized labor and workers rights
Here are a few descriptions of the approximately 800 activities listed in the program for the first day:
* The opening World’s Assembly of Social Movements
* Food Rights and International Trade
* Radical Democracy: new challenges in the strengthening of civil societies power
* Marxism 101: Bringing the World Working Class Together to Abolish Capitalism
* Troops out of Iraq: Can the global movement stop US Imperialism?
* Another America is Under Way, popular movements and the rise of progressive governments in Latin America
* Scars of a toxic industry: impact of the high tech industry and resistance of the concerned communities
* Sexual and reproductive rights in the context of youth movements
One of the challenges of last year’s WSF, which was held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, was providing translation to manage the “Tower of Babble” that was created, as dozens of different languages were being spoken by participants. The primary languages used at the forum events are Spanish, Portugese, French, and English. Unfortunately, not very many events at last year’s forum had the ability to provide translation services.
Having the WSF in Venezuela this year highlights the achievements of the advances made by the progressive movement in South America. With left, indigenous, or socialist leaders elected in Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina there is a great deal of enthusiasm and hopefulness about this regions ability to determine its own destiny.
The WSF is the grassroots alternative to the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. While the WSF is not intended to eliminate the street demonstrations that have confronted the WEF, it does provide a an opportunity for grassroots activists to envision and build a new future which is an alternative to the global domination of US imperialism and corporate interests. The regional WSF in Caracas is one of three being held throughout the world. The others are being held in Pakistan and Mali.
Additional reports and photos from this week’s events will be posted to this Indymedia site. For more information about the World Social Forum, see http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br
###
For more information:
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Churches, charities and CIA cash
Social Forum con game
This is because the Social Forums and the so-called “anti-capitalist” movement in fact pose no fundamental threat to capitalist rule. Their organisers buy into the predominant myth of the “post-Soviet” world: that class struggle against the capitalist order is a thing of the past; the working class is irrelevant as a factor for social change and the best that can be achieved is to give the system a “human” face. The truth is that the capitalist system is as dependent as ever on the working class, which has the power to overthrow capitalism. To achieve this, the working class must become conscious that its own interests are irreconcilable with those of the capitalists. The Social Forums are an obstacle to this class-consciousness.
http://www.icl-fi.org/english/wh/191/socialforum.html
Social Forum con game
This is because the Social Forums and the so-called “anti-capitalist” movement in fact pose no fundamental threat to capitalist rule. Their organisers buy into the predominant myth of the “post-Soviet” world: that class struggle against the capitalist order is a thing of the past; the working class is irrelevant as a factor for social change and the best that can be achieved is to give the system a “human” face. The truth is that the capitalist system is as dependent as ever on the working class, which has the power to overthrow capitalism. To achieve this, the working class must become conscious that its own interests are irreconcilable with those of the capitalists. The Social Forums are an obstacle to this class-consciousness.
http://www.icl-fi.org/english/wh/191/socialforum.html
I see anti-WSF posts here and there occasionally, and as usual, this one ("Social Forum con game") is baseless. "Young Spartacus" incorrectly characterizes the WSF as lacking class consciousness, as trying to "give the system a human face." This couldn't be farther from the truth! Why don't you tell it to Hugo Chavez, I suppose he is a postmodernist apologist for capitalism, eh? And the large Cuban delegation I visited in WSF 2003 was there trying to defect, right? Get a clue!
I hesitate to point fingers in the way "Young Spartacus" has, but the "con game" post might as well have been written by an agent provocateur. More likely, the author is a frustrated but sincere "new convert" to communism, thinking that running around pumping your fist and yelling out old slogans can make revolution.
It is true, the WSF is not a vanguard revolutionary party, and doesn't endorse economic reductionism. And, yes, Christians and reformists do participate, but they're far from setting the agenda. The point is that in order to make change, a diversity of perspectives must be represented. The thing all WSF participants agree with is that we're opposed to neoliberalism in all its forms and to domination of the world by capital.
From Pravda: "This Forum intends to provide an alternative to the rampant and aggressive capitalism which sweeps round the world like a terrible storm, leaving destruction and misery in its wake. Instead of his obsession with buying and selling weaponry, mankind should be addressing issues such as the eradication of poverty and illiteracy, correcting inequality, combating disease, criminality, marginal activity and defending the environment.
These are the main issues in the centre of the manifestos of every Communist Party around the world. Communism is exactly this. The problem is, people hear the word “Communist” and run for shelter, expecting an imminent invasion of seven-headed monsters. The Forum here in Porto Alegre is intended to change this image.
It is not a Forum of Communists, but a Forum of ideals shared wholeheartedly by the Communists."
Marcia MIRANDA,
PRAVDA.Ru
I hesitate to point fingers in the way "Young Spartacus" has, but the "con game" post might as well have been written by an agent provocateur. More likely, the author is a frustrated but sincere "new convert" to communism, thinking that running around pumping your fist and yelling out old slogans can make revolution.
It is true, the WSF is not a vanguard revolutionary party, and doesn't endorse economic reductionism. And, yes, Christians and reformists do participate, but they're far from setting the agenda. The point is that in order to make change, a diversity of perspectives must be represented. The thing all WSF participants agree with is that we're opposed to neoliberalism in all its forms and to domination of the world by capital.
From Pravda: "This Forum intends to provide an alternative to the rampant and aggressive capitalism which sweeps round the world like a terrible storm, leaving destruction and misery in its wake. Instead of his obsession with buying and selling weaponry, mankind should be addressing issues such as the eradication of poverty and illiteracy, correcting inequality, combating disease, criminality, marginal activity and defending the environment.
These are the main issues in the centre of the manifestos of every Communist Party around the world. Communism is exactly this. The problem is, people hear the word “Communist” and run for shelter, expecting an imminent invasion of seven-headed monsters. The Forum here in Porto Alegre is intended to change this image.
It is not a Forum of Communists, but a Forum of ideals shared wholeheartedly by the Communists."
Marcia MIRANDA,
PRAVDA.Ru
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