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 WORLD SOCIAL FORUM - MUMBAI-INDIA
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A report by Dr. Leo Rebello (Website : www.aidsalternativa.org)
I shall give you day to day news of the World Social Forum being held in Mumbai, India
from 16th to 21st January, so that you can get the ring-side view of it. So, here is the first day's report.
The World Social Forum is not an organisation, not a united front platform, but …an open meeting place
for reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences
and inter-linking for effective action, by groups and movements of civil society that are opposed to neo-liberalism
and to domination of the world by capital and any form of imperialism, and are committed to building a society
centred on the human person. (From the WSF Charter).
The first WSF was held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2001 and the response was overwhelming. About 20,000
persons from some 500 organisations participated. So, it was decided that the WSF be held annually.
This is the 4th WSF and the theme is Another World is Possible. This is the biggest, maddest event with
some 1,20,000 persons from 120 countries participating. Inspite of multitude, there was great discipline and the
khakee (the police) simply had nothing to do.
The inaugural session started with Pakistan Sufi rock band Junoon along with Indian drummers belting out
three popular numbers. South African troupe Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre followed with their stage shattering
dance.
91 years old Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal, associate of Subhsh Chandra Bose presided over the inaugural function.
The co-president, V.P.Singh, former prime minister of India could not come due to illness. The Chairman of the Reception Committee, Dr. Shanti Patel, 83 years old, former Mayor of Mumbai, Member of Paliament and Union Leader made a mistake in his welcome speech. He said during this century we will ensure that we have a better world (obviously he forgot that we were only 3 years into new century and there were 97 years more, when none of us would be present. Who has the patience to wait for 97 years for a better world? We want it today. We want it now.
The other speakers included Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi (Iran), Ahmed Ben Bella (Algeria), Chico Whitaker (Brazil) one of the founders of WSF, Jeremy Corby, antiwar Labour MP, Mustafa Barghouti (Palestine), Abduk al Rekabhy (Iraq), Arundhati Roy and Shabana Azmi from India. The speeches were not inspiring. Whatever is known was spoken. That America is a big bully, that Israel is building a wall, that IMF, WB, WTO should go. But no one touched on how to do it. There was no keynote address. There was no agenda, no vision, no leadership visible.
Till 21st January, 1200 workshops and seminars will be held and activists from 81 countries will be contributing
their experiences. Delegates have come from 120 countries. Some 2000 media men have descended to cover the event.
Meeting halls can accommodate minimum 100 persons and maximum 8000. To cater to the delegates, 110 stalls
have been put up. Food is as cheap as Rs.20 (1/2 dollar) to as as high as Rs.300 (6 dollars). Water bottles were
available for sale, but refill is Rs.5, which poor participants and tribals can ill afford and was inadequate. The total
cost for this extravaganza is Rs.10 crores (100 million rupees) and already there is a criticism that this money has
come from rich NGOs which get grants from the MNCs.
Simultaneously, Mumbai Resistance is also being held across from the WSF venue. There about 10,000
delegates have registered. Mumbai Resistance is a motley group of radical thinkers, NGOs working
at the grass root levels, communist parties, etc. Police in mufti are keeping watch on them.
Mumbai Resistance and the critics say that : (a) WSF is an ineffectual forum; (b) debates lack consensus;
(c) no clear strategies or solid alternatives; (d) it can at best be dismissed as a large festival event.
(e) It it ill-focussed talking shop.
Judging by the inaugural function and since I know most of the organisers, speakers (those who spoke today
and those to follow), I would agree with the above criticism. I shall also attend the Mumbai Resistance and
give you a run down on them too.
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