“So, Was the World Social Forum worth IT?”

Peter Henriot

“So, was it worth it? And what did it mean for Zambia?” Those were the questions that came to me this past weekend when I returned from Nairobi and the World Social Forum (WSF). Good questions! Do I have good answers?

There were many of us from Zambia among the 50,000-plus participants during the five-day gathering. Women, farmers, traditional rulers, social activists, church officials, NGO members, etc. As I mentioned in my column last week, Kenneth Kaunda was there – not only speaking at the huge gatherings opening and closing the WSF but actively participating in the smaller workshops on issues such as AIDS and cancellation of debts. Others have offered and will continue to offer their reflections. Here briefly are a few lessons and challenges I bring back to Zambia.

1. Extractive Industries

One workshop that challenged me to ask serious questions about what is happening these days in Zambia was on the theme of “extractive industries” and their impact on development in Africa and in others parts of the Third World. Oil, minerals, precious gems, urgently drawn from Mother Earth but richly rewarding whom? Reports from the Philippines, several Latin American countries and African countries like Chad and Congo pointed again and again to a sad conclusion: the ordinary people were not benefiting from the extraordinary profits!

Secret contracts drawn up between strong multinational corporations and weak national governments gave away too many concessions. Environmental concerns were ignored in the rush to exploit the minerals. People who for centuries had inhabited the lands were shoved aside in the rush to drill and dig and extract the riches beneath Mother Earth. In some areas tensions gave way to conflicts and wars.

Workshop speakers told of personal stories of the struggle for justice. And Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former head of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, urged us to see the link between the exploitation of natural resources and the violation of human rights.

So what is happening in Zambia? New mines are opening up at the very moment that older mines are giving immense problems of polluting the environment, degrading the workers, and removing the people. The study being released this week done by the Catholic Commission for Justice Development and Peace (CCJDP) and the Civil Society Trade Network in Zambia (CSTNZ), in cooperation with Christian Aid, raises serious questions about who is really gaining from the contracts that have given such unfair advantages to foreign investors here in Zambia Will our Government listen to this?

2. Agricultural Future

There were many informative workshops on agriculture but the one that really impressed me was about the possibility of a “Green Revolution” for Africa in the future. Would all the new agricultural techniques being pushed by some development agencies and large seed companies really feed the hungry of this continent? Here in Africa, can we, should we, duplicate what happened in India several decades ago?

A world-renowned expert on the Green Revolution, Vandana Shiva, sounded a strong cautionary note about going down the Indian route of destruction of traditional seeds and methods of farming. She spoke of the negative consequences of getting locked into corporate farming methods, abandoning organic approaches (e.g., non-chemical fertilisers) and moving small farmers out of the picture. Propaganda from Northern agencies and corporations too often neglects the human dimensions of agricultural in a race that places an increase of profits ahead of an increase of food.

Zambia came in for high praise because of President Mwanawasa’s continued ban on GMO products entering the country.

3. Debt Cancellation

As might be expected, there was plenty of attention paid to the long-lasting impact of external debts in the countries of the South. “Cancel the debt – we don’t owe, we won’t pay!” was the cry of Jubilee movements from across the continents. Again, Zambia came in for praise because of the hard work of the Jubilee campaign that helped to secure significant cancellation of our huge debt.

But again and again the warning was sounded about the two-fold danger of falling into debt once again and misdirecting the resources freed up from cancellation. This underlined for me the importance of Jubilee-Zambia’s current campaign for better public debt management (including the involvement of Parliament), budget monitoring, and focus on fair trade arrangements.

Something that struck me was the analysis offered from a variety of sources about the role of China in Africa. This was not the analysis of the fiery rhetoric that marked our recent national elections but the analysis coming from balanced research that asked in whose long-term benefits were Chinese investments and loans around the African continent. Surely it is a question that faced me when upon return I read headlines of new loans for Zambia from China and the visit of high Chinese officials coming soon to our country.

4. Women’s Role

Not only were there many women in the Zambian delegations to Nairobi, but there were plenty of WSF workshops and events focusing on the role of women in sustainable and equitable development. The Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai from Kenya, symbolised the tremendous contributions made by women around the continent of Africa. But it wasn’t only the few well-known women that were recognised but also the millions and millions of mothers and grandmothers and daughters and sisters and aunties that build the future through often un-rewarded efforts in the present.

“Feminists” were there in Nairobi – many with colourful t-shirts proclaiming their causes – and it helped to see that feminism is not, as it is often criticised, a “Western cultural” imposition on countries of the South. No, it is about the dignity of the woman as a human persons made in the image and likeness of God. And that dignity demands rights of education, health care, protection against abuse, participation in decision-making, etc.

Surely the Zambian women who participated in the WSF will be bringing home some important messages for all of us.

5. Spirituality of “Another World”

Something that struck me as altogether appropriate for a WSF being held in Africa was the strong presence of religious organisations. A European friend commented that he had not seen so many faith groups so active in previous World Social Forums. A sign of the vitality of the religious spirit of Africans was the participation of churches, mosques, temples, etc., of great variety.

The All African Council of Churches (Protestant) and Caritas-Kenya (Catholic) organised an “ecumenical platform” to discuss key issues such as water, peace, HIV/AIDS, governance, and gender based violence. Archbishop Desmond Tutu highlighted the importance of a faith response by urging a gathering of liberation theologians: “Go out there filled with the zeal of changing the world to make it a more gentle, caring and sharing world.”

Officials from EFZ, CCZ and ZEC took part in the WSF and showed the ecumenical strength of Zambia’s Christian response to the challenges facing this country. Surely the WSF’s motto, “Another World Is Possible!” needs the commitment of faith-based organisations to become a reality.

Conclusion

So, was it worth it? From what I’ve briefly summarised of only a few of the important themes from Nairobi, I believe I can say, yes, it was worth it, and the WSF does has relevance to Zambia. What our civil society, our community based organisations, our faith-based groups and our concerned individuals do with the WSF lessons in the days ahead will give the real answer to the questions that we participants must honestly confront.

The first big task to face is to assess the meaning for the poor – the majority of Zambians – of the Budget 2007 to be presented in a few weeks.

phenriot@jesuits.org.zm

[1260 words]

Peter Henriot

Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection

Lusaka, Zambia

30 January 2007