[fse-esf] FW: Social movement for global call

Mon Nov 5 13:25:54 CET 2007

From: Focus India Admin [mailto:focusind at vsnl.net] 
Sent: 05 November 2007 09:29
To: Anhad Delhi; Anees Mohammed; Andy Clark; Andrea West; 'anagha
subramanium'; Anand; AMTC India; Amruta; AMNESTYINDIA; Ammu Joseph; Ammu
Abraham; amitabh at ncasindia.org; Amita Bhide; Amit Chakraborty; Amit Barve;
amehta at cypherix.com; Amaresh Misra; amara peeris; alok at narmada.org; Alok
Agarwal; allwyn d'silva; ALL INDIA KISAN SHABHA; Alexandra Strickner; Alex
Callinicos; Alester; alayque padamsee; Akshara Team; Akshara; akhilesh
chandra prabhakar; Ajay Palande
Subject: Social movement for global call

Onward to Belém,

 the global network of social movements appeal to get out in the streets on
26th of January 2008 to act together

for another world 

Today social movements are confronted by a new phase in the capitalist
neoliberal system's offensive. This period is characterised above all by a
state of permanent global war. For most of the human race this war means
recolonisation. Using the 'war on terror' as a cover, this war aims at
controlling natural resources by pillaging peoples the world over. American
projects in the 'Greater Middle East' and South America are the most visible
signs of this. Nevertheless, they cannot cover up the 'forgotten wars' in
Africa and Asia. The governments of the state of Israel expansion is also
part of this desire to subjugate the whole planet. 

Mobilising social movements against this state of permanent war means
defining new cross-border ways of ensuring solidarity with those peoples
that are mounting resistance. However, the violence the system uses does not
just manifest itself in open warfare against 'peoples who resist neoliberal
thinking'. Other weapons used to break down resistance are the repression of
social movements and the restriction of basic rights. Military occupation
and the establishment of foreign bases are an open attack on peoples'
sovereignty and their desire to cast off the shackles of imperial
domination.

Other forms of violence, such as the forced displacement of people and
expropriation of land, are the result of a desire to commodify land, water
and other natural resources. This state of war affects society as a whole
and violence becomes the natural means of oppression. Women are amongst the
first victims. The planet itself is suffering the consequences of the
system's headlong rush. The concept of maximum profit at maximum speed leads
to climate change and pollution and endangers the natural equilibrium. 

Such violence affects all aspects of social life. People who reject the
privatisation of natural resources, which only benefits multinationals, are
likened to terrorists. By questioning the sovereignty of the people, the use
and division of their natural resources and products, the very foundations
of democracy are being undermined. Dictatorships and corruption thrive in
this environment. Basic rights are denied to the victims, the producing
classes, small holders, etc. The poorest people are in an even more
precarious position both in the global North and the global South. Billions
of people are deprived of basic public goods such as education, health and
the right to housing. 

Farmer and fishermen organisations, as well as the population as a whole,
demand food sovereignty in order to satisfy their needs independently of the
world market. 

People who fall victim to these policies and the conflicts linked to them
are often forced to flee their country. In the era of free movement of
capital a fundamental task of the social movements we belong to is defending
migrants' rights, the rights of those fleeing neoliberalism and oppression,
and the rights of women fleeing from forced marriages or sexual mutilation,
as well as defending sexual diversity.

The patriarchal system is reinforced by the dominant economic set-up.
Trafficking of women and children and prostitution are further proof of the
commoditisation of all aspects of life. The situation of women at work is
exacerbated further, especially in free trade areas where they account for a
large part of the labour force and enjoy few rights. 

Our direct enemies are clearly identified. The G8, devoted to the interests
of transnationals, but also the World Bank and the IMF, who impose their
policies and are the motors behind this recolonisation. The debt imposed by
these institutions not only allows the privatisation of the world's wealth
but also the transfer of wealth produced in the South to the dominant
classes, based for the most part in the North. 

The WTO and bilateral agreements further aggravate the situation. In areas
such as agriculture, labour, environment, intellectual property, migration
or the liberalisation of services, restrictions are imposed on people
throughout the world. States themselves encourage these policies or even
apply them. 

The challenge for social movements is to ensure joint global mobilisation
against these enemies both in developing countries and in developed
countries, where people also suffer the effects of these policies. 

We should also note the difficulties the capitalist system faces in its
attempts to reach its objectives. It has faced significant setbacks at the
hands of popular resistance. Our greatest victory, however, is burying the
false idea that there is no possible alternative. The idea that there is
only one train of thought has been called into question and the legitimacy
of the dominant system is being challenged on a massive scale. 

In the continuity of the world Social Forum process, and the ongoing work of
building alliances between our social movements, of which the Brussels'
meeting in October 2006 is an important step, the social movements, here
present in Belem, call to participate actively to the global days of action,
which will culminate on 26th of January 2008 

Belem, 30th of October 2007

Contact: 

Olivier Bonfond

Secrétaire général du CADTM Belgique 

 <http://../Mes%20documents/Dossier%20Bluetooth%20Exchange> www.cadtm.org 

 <http://../Mes%20documents/Dossier%20Bluetooth%20Exchange>
olivier at cadtm.org 

0494 / 47 28 03 

59, Av. du Luxembourg ; 4020 Liège 

Rejoignez le Groupe Thomas Sankara de Liège (GTS)  :
<http://www.groupesankara.be/> www.groupesankara.be 

-- 
Focus On The Global South, India
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Mumbai – 400 049. India
Tel: +91-22-6592 1141 / 51
Telefax: +91-22-2625 4347
Email: focusind at vsnl.net / focusind at yahoo.com
Website: http://www.focusweb.org 

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