REPORT ON ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM 2003
RACHEL GALEA
Hyderabad, India
Another world is crucial!
The Asian Social Forum was held in Hyderabad India from the
2nd of January to the 7th. Having read the background to the
process of the world social forum I was confident that I would
be witnessing a defining milestone in the struggle against
the neo-liberal hegemonic forces which govern our world. No
amount of reading could have adequately informed my conscience
as to the importance of such a forum. At first I was a little
surprised at the forum's venue. When I read Nizam College
as the site for the major forum events, I assumed that it
would be some sort of air conditioned building.
Well, Nizam College is made up of a series of buildings.
Even though these buildings were built in 1993, they resemble
buildings recovering from World War II. Broken windows, concrete
cracks flowing down all sides of the structure, no electricity,
no water, and many not so friendly critters to greet you.
On the dusty grounds of the college, two huge dome shaped
tents were erected as the major conference centres. A series
of small stalls surrounding the larger ones were the home
of the many representative social groups and NGO's. Here a
sea of social causes greeted us. We were swarmed by eager
delegates handing out pamphlets and information. We were lobbied
to sign endless petitions and banners. Each stall was zealous
to give their ideas of what our society should really look
like and how we should get there. Despite the surprise that
awaiting the eager ICMICA contingent arriving at Nizam, the
atmosphere was electric. The sheer volume of people mixed
with the sounds of traditional India along with the smell
of exotic spices and traditional Hyderabad Biryani, will always
be remembered.
Thousands of people sat on the dusty grounds to listen and
watch. Tribal performers along with the trance-like ASF anthem
opened the forum along the dignitaries Samir Amin, Abdel Jawad
Saleh, Medha Patkar, Walden Bello, Prabhat Patnaik and Bojja
Tharakam. "Another World is Possible" the motto
of the ASF. Over the duration of the forum this somewhat fuzzy
slogan would lie at the heart of every main speech and in
every conference and workshop.
People mobilizing all over the world, from Seattle, Prague,
Melbourne, Florence and Davos are dissenting to the ever-increasing
control and power that MNCs (Multinational Corporations) and
TNCs (Transnational Corporations) along with institutions
such as the WTO are exerting over the worlds natural and human
resources and the threat they offer to genuine democratic
forms of governance. The peoples' discontents to the economic
fundamentalism that corporate globalisation espouses, the
neo-liberal imperialist agenda and the continual exploitation
and oppression of the worlds most marginalized were the common
bonds that connected people at the ASF. It was a space where
people came together to debate, discuss and deliberate visions
of an alternative society. The main themes which the series
of workshops and conferences were centred around included:
- Social Rights and Globalisation
- Debt Development and Trade
- Democracy, Nation State and Exclusions
- Women and Globalisation
- Peace and Security
- Marginalised Groups and Globalisation
- Alternatives and Peoples Movements
- Ecology, Culture and Knowledge
Hundreds of workshops were organized by grassroots organisations,
NGO's and community groups. ICMICA organized three workshops
throughout the ASF. Each workshop ran for about 4 hours with
high profile speakers such as Swami Angevish and Chandra Muzzafar.
The themes of the ICMICA workshops included: Water as a Human
Right, Ethics and Governance and Self-Determination and Human
Rights.
Throughout the forum, a bleak realization was constantly
brought to my attention, most people around the world are
in a state of utter desperation, where daily survival is a
constant struggle. It is imperative that forms of just governance
are actively sought after. Where people are not for profit,
where access to water, food and housing is not a utopian vision
and where self-determination, respect for human rights and
environmental sustainability are taken for precedence in our
global community.
It is impossible to summarise the underlying ideas emerging
from the ASF. ACMICA has a few local Indian reporter booklets
which give an accurate account of the main conferences held.
The most important reflection that I made as a result of the
ASF is one which challenged my somewhat cynical view of our
current global crises. Another world is not only necessary
but crucial. There are very committed social movements that
are constantly challenging and dissenting to the unjust forces
which govern our society. Civil disobedience is on the rise
and a culture of dissent is becoming more vocal and visible!
I left the ASF with the belief that it is only a matter of
time until the tables turn and that the Catholic community
has much to offer the revolutionary processes needed in order
to transform our world.
We must plant the seeds so that others can bear the fruits
of their growth!
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