WSF Mumbai 2004
January 24, 2004
The World Social Forum (WSF) was created to provide an open platform to discuss strategies of resistance to the model for globalisation formulated at the annual World Economic Forum at Davos by large multinational corporations, national governments, IMF, the World Bank and the WTO.
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January 23, 2004
The very first thing to hit you when you enter Nesco Grounds, the enormous area where WSF was held, is the feeling of taking part in a massive meaningful festival. There is a fantastic energy coming from the tens of thousands of people who have all come here from all over the world to participate in seminars, workshops and to discuss and be a part of the global movement. You will find everything from the Dalit-movement (working for the rights of those without caste or from low caste), numerous tribal- or Adivasigroups (indigenous people in India) to childworkers and trade unions, all fighting for their rights. Everywhere you see banners and posters followed by hundreds of people demonstrating around the area, some with rhyming chants and slogans, others singing and dancing to promote their cause.
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January 23, 2004
Returning to London from Bombay was like moving from technicolor to black and white. Bombay's ferocious but friendly vitality is mind-blowing at the best of times, but when this is combined with the diversity and energy of the Indian movements represented at the fourth World Social Forum (and the noise and colour of their demonstrations), the effect is to produce a surge of adrenalin that will keep me (and, I'm sure, lots of others) going for a long time to come. Truly this was a festival of the oppressed.
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January 23, 2004
This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
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January 22, 2004
I attended the WSF in Mumbai and it was truly an amazing experience. The atmosphere was electric and I am so glad I had the opportunity to go.
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January 16, 2004
Friday, 16 January 2004
Here's what GR's very own John Sinha had to make of his first few days in Mumbai:
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January 16, 2004
Friday, 16 January 2004
There are about 80,000 observers and delegates from all over India, Nepal, Bhutan, Korea, Africa as well as Europe and the Americas.
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Back in 2003 George Bush's visit to London brought hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets. He stayed at Buckingham Palace under siege and the world was certain that although he was feted by the government and the royal family, normal people in the UK did not welcome him. The largest mobilisation during his stay was indeed the biggest EVER protest in London on a weekday; 300,000 people turned out to register their disgust.
We are constantly being told that easy personal actions will 'save the climate'. The problem is that most of these “top ten tips” are ineffectual and play directly to our denial tendencies.
Hardly a week passes without someone emailing, phoning or posting a DVD to the Globalise Resistance office championing the idea of 9/11 being an inside job.
TELL BP TO CLEAN UP IT'S ACT - AND IT'S MESS !