Karibu to WSF Nairobi 2007
It was an
exiting experience. Marginalised people and mass movements marched form Makini-Kibera, the largest (population of over 700,000 people)
slum of East
Africa, to
Uhuru Park (freedom park)
to proclaim that 'Another world is possible'. This first ever social forum to
be held on African soil brought with it the experiences of successful massive
events of Porto Alegre, Brazil, Mumbai and the poly-centric
version of the forum in 2006.
So far the
World Social Forums have coordinated mobilization in favour of peace and
against war, and the successful global campaign against poverty. This Seventh
World Social Forum takes place from 20th to 25th January 2007 under the banner 'people's
struggles, people's alternatives'. The opening march that passed through the
main streets of the city conveyed strongly worded messages through banners,
placards, slogans urging the different stake holders not to sell people's
dignity, land, water, minerals, culture and people's future. The excitement was
infectious despite the burning sun for the demonstrations in the march with
drum beats, dances and colourful display of the power and the struggles of the
masses. This march that culminated in Uhuru Park was marked by reflections, official
remarks and solidarity messages. Speaker after speaker, the prominent among
them being, Bishop Desmund Tutu, former Zambian
President Kenneth Kaunda, Chico Whitaker, Brazil, one
of founding members of WSF, not only accused the rich states pushing through
exploitative policies that have increased the poverty of the third world
countries, but also called the civil society to show greater legitimacy,
transparency and accountability. While acknowledging the Europeans asking for
forgiveness for their past colonial domination, Flavio
from Italy regretted that even today the western
countries continue to spend millions of dollars and euros on developing the
military instead of deploying resources to promote human welfare.
WSF-Nairobi
is a witness to a flood of seminars, (approximately about 1218, being
registered) held in MOI International Sports Complex from 21st tot 24 th Jan. This is complemented with
theatre and musical performances, panel discussions, art exhibitions, poetry
recitations, impromptu rallies and marches in the concentric open space around
the stadium. The main attractions are
also the film screenings emphasizing the issues of poverty, children,
unorganized workers, refugees, migrants and the displaced, and gender inequality.
The increasing number of stalls, display the artistic
handicrafts of the multicultural Africa.
The
contribution of the Indian contingent is conspicuous in the forum emphasizing
the concerns of the marginalised communities in India namely dalits,
adivasis, women, youth and minorities. One example
could be the well attended seminar, 'A Green Revolution for Africa? A warning from India'. Some of the dominating issues of
this WSF are HIV/AIDS, children, gender and sexuality, arms trade, exploitation
of the natural resources by multinationals, land alienation, grassroots
democracy, models of alternative and sustainable development, and international
solidarity. On the latter the presence of faith-based organizations is evident.
SAPI in WSF Nairobi
A 64 member
delegation of South Asian Peoples' Initiatives (SAPI) began their solidarity
journey from Mumbai on 20th with a day-long orientation at Vinayalaya.
This group is composed of 48 from India and 16 from Sri Lanka. For effective and meaningful
participation in WSF, we meticulously planned, forming different groups to
facilitate seminar, open space activities, and cultural performances. Already
on 16th Jan, a six member delegation from South Asia joined the *Ignatian
Family Encounter* which began with a pre-forum, organised by the Jesuits and
collaborators of Africa.
The second
day (21st) rally of SAPI was one of the well participated and impressive events
which attracted the media. SAPI's cultural performance of the Dappu attracted participants from various countries to join
the SAPI rally. During this rally number of SAPI delegates were sought out and
interviewed by different mediapersons.
In the
evening Fr. Grum SJ and Sch.
Antony Coma SJ addressed the SAPI delegates on the
similarities and differences that India shares with African realities.
While on the one hand India and Africa share a common colonial legacy, Africa is plagued with tribalism, arabisation and the neo-colonial globalising forces. The
invitees dwelt on the need for building intra-continental communication
networks to facilitate global solidarity.
The SAPI
delegates were very appreciative of the openness, simplicity and warm
hospitality of Africans in general, and Kenyans in particular. One of the SAPI
delegates challenged the group to take note of and join hands with the non-sponsored,
excluded, minority groups among the mass movements in WSF.
On the
third day (22nd) SAPI's innovative protest through a funeral procession of coke
and pepsi, as representatives of the neo-colonial
exploitative forces, exposed the hidden agenda of the imperialists. This was
well in conjunction with increasing protest among the participants, especially
the Kenyan youth, in WSF against the understated corporate sponsorship such as Celtel, a leading mobile operator in Kenya, and a five-star restaurant which
has set up its stall selling food at exorbitant prices. A seminar on *Social
Transformation in Africa: Ethical Perspective*was organised by the *Ignatian
Family Encounter* was well appreciated.
Dunia Mbadala Yawezekana ('Another
World is Possible', in Kiswahili)
- Reporting
Committee
--
JESA
Secretary, Indian Social Institute
10
Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi - 110 003
Tel: (011)
2462 2379 / 2461 1745 Fax: 2469 0660
Mobile: (0) 98681 22302
Email:
jesa@jesuits.net (O) ajoexavier@gmail.com (P)