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The 6th WSF in Caracas: A Shot in the Arm for Global Civil Society

The 6th World Social Forum held in Caracas, Venezuela, provided the shot in the arm needed by this annual gathering of global civil society. The WSF had come under fire, even from some of its key founders, for simply recycling the discussions of previous fora with no discernible direction and goal. Caracas, for all of Venezuela's oil wealth, is "deep" third world and it constantly reminded us of the many dimensions of the social and ecological problems everyone had come to discuss. (Focus on the Global South, February 3, 2006)

http://www.focusweb.org/content/view/823/28/

(Added: Thu Jun 01 2006   Modified: Mon Jun 26 2006   Hits: 97)

Lula's Flame Still Burns

Writing from the World Social Forum being held in Caracas Brazilian author Arthur Ituassu discusses the relative performances of the new generation of South American leftwing leaders. In particular he argues that, while much recent attention has been paid to Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales, Lula da Silva (the president of Brazil) still has much to offer the continent.

http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-protest/lula_flame_3218.jsp

(Added: Wed Feb 01 2006   Modified: Thu Mar 23 2006   Hits: 110)

Protest and Celebration in Venezuela

In this article Michael Blanding discusses events at the 2006 World Social Forum (WSF) held in Venezuela. Blanding outlines how the 2006 WSF forum took place during a time of changing fortunes for the Latin American Left. In Brazil the Workers' Party, who were instrumental in setting up the first WSF, have struggled amongst allegations of corruption and accusations from activists that they have betrayed their 'base'. Meanwhile in Venezuela Chavez has imposed much more dramatic reforms than those attempted in Brazil but has been accused of autocratic tendencies. And at the same time left-leaning governments have been brought to power in Uruguay, Chile and Ecuador. Blanding argues that moving the forum from Brazil to Venezuela has breathed new life into the forum process but has also raised questions about how movements can support a government without being co-opted.

http://www.alternet.org/story/32381/

(Added: Fri Feb 24 2006   Hits: 90)

World Social Forum - Another World is possible

Some observations from Venezuela and the 2006 World Social Forum (WSF), held in Caracas. By Tim Anderson, AidWatch, 2006-02-07.

http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=1&display=aw00856&display_item=2

(Added: Thu Feb 09 2006   Modified: Fri Feb 10 2006   Hits: 180)

World Social Forum in Pakistan

The 2006 World Social Forum was a polycentric event, taking place in Karachi Caracas, and Bamako. This article looks at its Karachi edition, finding that, even though the earthquake in Pakistan last year had disrupted many plans and the organizers were not able to travel and persuade people elsewhere in the continent to come, the fact that the forum happened at all in Pakistan was positive. The Forum enabled many from repressed social layers and minority religions to assemble make their voices heard: persecuted Christians from the Punjab, Hindus from Sind, women from everywhere told heart-rending stories of discrimination and oppression. The author sees in the forum hopes for change, saying that the common people who spoke were articulate, analytical and angry, in polar contrast to the stale rhetoric of Pakistan's political class. To him, NGOs are no substitute for genuine social and political movements, and he hopes to see Pakistan following Latin America's lead in this aspect. (Tariq Ali, Counterpunch, 1 April 2006)

http://www.counterpunch.org/tariq03282006.html

(Added: Thu Apr 20 2006   Hits: 70)