[Antiracism] [Workers' Rights] WSF "Global Day of Action" press release

[WMass Jobs With Justice]

-----Original Message-----
From: Emily Kawano HYPERLINK
"mailto:emily at populareconomics.org"emily at populareconomics.org

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM 2008: A GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AND MOBILISATION

Millions of women and men, organizations, networks, movements, trade
unions from all parts of the world the January 26th will act together
all around the globe to show that another world is possible

On January 22, 2008 at least seven global press conferences will
announce details of the 2008 decentralized World Social Forum Global Day
of Mobilization and Action.

Millions of people all over the world will march, speak, celebrate, and
dialogue in villages, rural zones, and urban centers. They will mobilize
on the date of the 26th of January to coincide the Global Day of
Mobilization and Action with the World Economic Forum held in Davos,
Switzerland to confront this important neo-liberal gathering of the elites.

In these same days the "old" world, represented by the World Economic
Forum complete with its economists, experts, and ideologies that produce
violence, exploitation, exclusion, poverty, hunger and ecological
disaster and deprive people of human rights, will meet in Davos as
usual. In contrast, the people's movement of movements will raise their
collective voices and take action all around the globe for the World
Social Forum 2008.

The World Social Forum is an open space where social movements,
networks, NGOs and other civil society organizations come together to
lift up issues, debate ideas democratically, formulate proposals, share
experiences, and network for effective action. These movements are
opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital and all forms
of imperialism. Since the first worldwide encounter in 2001, the World
Social Forum has become a permanent global process seeking and building
alternatives to neo-liberal policies.

World Social Forums have taken place at the end of January at different
sites throughout the world each year for the past seven years, and their
spirit will continue to be reflected in the activities planned at those
same sites and worldwide in 2008.

On January 22nd, at least nine press conferences will take place in:

- Atlanta, USA

- Zurich, Switzerland

- Mumbai, India

- Rome, Italy

- Brussels, Belgium

- Sao Paulo, Brazil

- Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

- Erbil, Iraq (to be confirmed)

- Seoul, Korea

The press conferences will highlight actions happening in each country
as well as stories from the front lines of people's struggles.

Millions of people, workers, organizations, networks, and movements
around the world are struggling, against neo-liberalism, war,
colonialism, racism, and patriarchy with rich and varied proposals of
real-life alternatives. They represent all ages, peoples, cultures, and
beliefs united by the strong conviction that ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE!

The website HYPERLINK "http://www.wsf2008.net"www.wsf2008.net <HYPERLINK
"http://www.wsf2008.net"http://www.wsf2008.net> is on line. From
now until January 26th, the Global Day of Action, it will be the main
communication tool for organizing actions as well as the main source of
information about the World Social Forum 2008.

World Social Forum 2008

Snapshots of current mobilizations towards January 26 2008.


In AUSTRIA:

- There will be a Carnival of Solidarity in Vienna and a conference on
the reform treaty in Linz,

a conference in RUMANIA, and a meeting in CHECH REPUBLIC.



In BELGIUM:

- The Belgian Social Forum is organizing a guided tour of "a different
Brussels", to invite people to visit Brussels while meeting its
movements and associations. Between January 21st and 25th 2008, local
activities will be held in some cities, like debates, public events and
workshops. On Saturday, January 26th, a common action day will be
organized in Brussels. On this date, a big "alternative visit to
Brussels" will begin at 12 p.m. (GMT +1), with stops at 15 typical
places in the city. Several guides will accompany the visitors during
the walking. Between 5 and 6 p.m. (GMT +1), the idea is to have an
interactive action, with direct contact with people that organize
actions in other countries of the world, like, for instance, a giant
videoconference.



In BRAZIL:

- Many events are happening, from a large carnival parade in Belem to a
large concert on the beach in Rio, alternating famous performers with
performers from the favelas. Actions are known to take place so far also
in Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Curitiba, Natal, Belo Horizonte and Pelotas.



In CANADA:

- Organizations in Quebec are organizing a week in which all the events
will be symbolically linked by the image of snow and fire, under the
idea of "La neige brule".

In CATALUNYA:

- Civil society organizations will organize the first Fòrum Social
Català (FSCat) on 25-27 Jan (press dossier available on
HYPERLINK "http://www.forumsocialcatala.cat"www.forumsocialcatala.cat) which
has already been announced through an
action on 28 Dec (people on the streets of Barcelona carrying banners
with phrases showing how "naive" is our political and economic
establishment... like "it's not pollution that threatens the
environment, but impurity of water and air" by Bush, or "what is good
for multinational corporations, is good for the country" by World Bank).
On the 26th, in the Hall of Barcelona University, we will project on a
big screen activities being done on the Global Day of Action, and
establish direct connection with movements all over the world.



In COLOMBIA:

- The WSF local committee is focusing the activities on the struggle
against poverty and exclusion. There will be a large concert in the
Bolivar Square in Bogota.

In CONGO:

- The journey will coincide with several local social forums, one of
them in Kinshasa. Three other provinces have also expressed that they
will carry through some activities.



In FINLAND:

- In Finland, we are planning on having a WSF speakers corner downtown
Helsinki from Monday 21 January - Friday 25 January 2008. On Saturday 26
January 2008 the idea is to give an as large as possible visibility to
the WSF process /our visions for another world in the form of an open
space for any organisations to carry out own actions, followed by a
downtown Helsinki rally with candles/torches.



In FRANCE:

- Large mobilization in Paris and other smaller initiatives in other
towns, specially about migration and the war on Iraq.



In INDIA:

- Women's groups are planning a conference and a march.

- In Maharashtra there will be a protest by indebted farmers and their
supporters.

- In Mumbai a float parade is planned. Delegates also reported that they
would try and organize a response to the global call in west Bengal and UP.



In INDONESIA:

- Farmer groups are responding to the call from Via Campesina, an
international movement of peasants, small- and medium-sized producers,
landless, rural women, indigenous people, rural youth and agricultural
workers.



In IRAQ:

- The Hiwar (means "dialogue" in Kurdish) Centre in Erbil is
coordinating activities that will take place in Erbil, Dohuk, Suleymania
and other towns of the Iraqi Kurdistan. In Erbil there will be a panel
between laical politicians and activists, islamists, trade unions, NGOs
and the local civil society on the meaning of the WSF as an open
political space. The Hiwar Centre will also produce material in Arabic
on the WSF that will be posted on websites of Iraqi networks for Human
Rights and Nonviolence. The Iraqi Nonviolent Movement LAONF expressed
interest in organizing decentralized actions in some central and
southern towns of Iraq.



In ISRAEL:

- The Alternative Information Centre is interested in organizing an
event against the occupation of Palestinian territories, or at least
spreading information in Israel on what is going on in Palestine on that
day.



In ITALY:

- Several events will take place all regions in around issues of peace,
disarmament, racism, xenophobia and solidarity economy. Symbolic actions
will take place around military basis and barraks. Arci Turin and Arci
Terni, for instance, are organizing in Turin a concert in memory of the
dead workers of ThyssenKrupp and a congress in Collegno (Turin) about
the experience of other workers killed by cancer in a colour factory.
The nonviolent activist of Rete Lilliput will do several decentralized
pacifist actions. In Rome the Città dell'Altraeconomia, the first "town
in the town" of fair trade, organic and social economy will host an
event organized Fair Cooperative, Liberomondo, Reorient and other
solidary economy linked to similar initiatives done by Thanapara Project
(Thanapara Village, Bangladesh), Asha Handicrafts (Mumbai, India), Rais
network (Guatemala), Kwanza (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) and Korogocho
(Nairobi, Kenya). In Florence a party will celebrate the experience of
European Social Forum 2002 hosted by this city, that introduced regional
Forums in WSF process.

- This email group has been created for making easier a common thought:
we could imagine to organize different and small events coordinated (as
a seminar, a public debate, or a small exhibition, or a prayer meeting)
having the same keyword and a common idea.

We think that six different initiatives coordinated could be an
important message for our fair trade movement: we have to act together
if we want to change our future.

Within few days we'll send you more informations about the initiative in
Rome, have you any new idea about the eventual your initiatives in your
country?

Remember to register your organization end your event on the WSF website
too: HYPERLINK "http://www.wsf2008.net"www.wsf2008.net  (you can find some
informations on
HYPERLINK "http://www.faircoop.it/wsf2008.htm"www.faircoop.it/wsf2008.htm)





In JAPAN:

- To protest the coming G 8 meeting to be held in Hokaido, a campaign
starts in the end of December and will continue through January 26th.

Trade unions, non-governmental organizations and a wide variety of
social movements will come together to focus on issues including labor
rights, caste, migration, peace, and human rights.



In LEBANON:

- Beirut International Resistance Social Forum will take place from 26
JANUARY /02 FEBRUARY /2008.



In MAURITANIA:

- The Maghreb Social Forum will take place in Mauritania and the African
Council is organizing support for widespread initiatives connected to
the Global Day of Action.



In MEXICO:

- Large events will coincide with the summit of the heads of state of
the Latin American countries, such as the Mexico Social Forum and the
Corn March that will be part of the Global Day of Action.

In PAKISTAN:

- Pakistan Social Forum is planning for the year 2007-08: events,
messages and mobilization (WSF "Action Week" on 19-26th January 2008).



In PALESTINE:

- The National Committee for the Commemoration of the Nakba, and the
Palestinian grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, in collaboration
with al-Mubadara (Palestinian National Initiative), are preparing
actions along the Wall and a massive popular march to demand an end to
the Nakba in Palestine, and an end to war on people of Middle East.
Another Voice Campaign will organize actions to ask for international
solidarity for Gaza, and are planning an event in Ramallah to denounce
all deaths of Palestinians in Gaza as a result of the siege.



In the PHILIPPINES:

- Different organizations have come together for a week of action in
which a "peoples camp' will be set up from January 23-25 where various
activities (workshops, forums, film showing, trade fair, concerts) will
be held.



In PORTUGAL:

- Preparatory meetings are taking place at the P. Carlos Alberto nº 128
A, no Porto.
(HYPERLINK
"http://pimentanegra.blogspot.com/2007/12/reunio-preparatria-para-o-dia-de-a
co.html"http://pimentanegra.blogspot.com/2007/12/reunio-preparatria-para-o-d
ia-de-aco.html).





In SOUTH KOREA:

- There will be a week of action involving various social movements from
the 21st to 25th. Each day there will be focused on one major theme.

In SPAIN:

- Andalucia: the Foro Social de Sevilla (España) will organize a meeting
of social movements on 23-26 Jan in Sevilla. The january 26 several
organizations of Andalucía, coordinated in the Foro Social de Sevilla,
Foro Social de Granada, Foro Social de Jaen y Córdoba Solidaria, will
organize a march in Córdoba. Contacts: Miguel Sanz Alcántara, Foro
Social de Sevilla, HYPERLINK "mailto:msa980 at gmail.com"msa980 at gmail.com.

Catalunya, civil society organizations will organize the first Fòrum
Social Català (FSCat) on 25-27 Jan (press dossier available on
HYPERLINK "http://www.forumsocialcatala.cat"www.forumsocialcatala.cat) which
has already been announced through an
action on 28 Dec (people on the streets of Barcelona carrying banners
with phrases showing how "naive" is our political and economic
establishment... like "it's not pollution that threatens the
environment, but impurity of water and air" by Bush, or "what is good
for multinational corporations, is good for the country" by World Bank).
On the 26th, in the Hall of Barcelona University, we willthey'll project
on a big screen activities being done on the Global Day of Action, and
establish direct connection with movements all over the world. They'll
sent to the communication commission our call for press conferences on
the 22nd, and they'll take a decision on the 9th in the preparatory
assembly.

- Canarias: se ha hecho un llamamiento a la participación en el Enero
26, y avanza la preparación de actividades en las islas en el marco del
Día de Acción Global. Contacto: Koldobi Velasco Vázquez, grupo de enlace
y comunicación del foro en las islas, Gran Canaria, HYPERLINK
"mailto:moclaspalmas at gmail.com"moclaspalmas at gmail.com.

In SWITZERLAND:

- "The Other Davos" a counter- World Economic Forum conference occurs
every year during the Davos Symposium.

- The Genevoise Federation of Cooperation will organize from Jan 24 to
26 the second Solidarity Crusade to the Meyrin Forum.

In THAILAND:

- Actions are in the planning stage.



In the USA:

- A major action in Atlanta, the Poor People's Caravan and Movement
Assembly, will bring together thousands of voices demanding change.

  - Grassroots Global Justice Alliance has called on all the member
groups to do actions across the country.

- There will be actions at the border of Mexico and the US against the
fence the US has plans to build along the border. Those active against
the fence have named it the "wall of death".

- In New Orleans, actions will demand the Right to Return, and
solidarity actions will take place in different states for Gulf
Coast/Katrina Survivors and local housing struggles.

- And the AFSC, Jobs with Justice, AFL-CIO are planning various actions
with their members.



- RUSSIA, SIBERIA, AFGHANISTAN, and perhaps UZBEKISTAN will be on board
as well.



OTHER INITIATIVES:



- AMARC, World Association of Community Radio stations, will cover the
initiatives trying to connect them online

-  CARITAS INTERNATIONAL has issued a call to all its members to
participate.

- HABITAT INTERNATIONAL COALITION: Campaign Act Together - Housing for
All! Various international networks that develop and organize campaigns
and events for housing and land rights are taking part of this action.
It will last four months: from October 1st 2007, International Housing
and Land Rights Day and/or the celebration of the Habitat Day, until
January 26 2008, with the global day of mobilization and action within
the WSF process. The world campaign is the result of a joint initiative
from the networks Habitat International Coallition (HIC), International
Alliance of Inhabitants (IAI) and Forum of Local Authorities,
consolidated at the WSF 2007 in Nairobi.

- HEMISPHERIC SOCIAL ALLIANCE is planning the following: as the Bolivian
crisis is getting deeper, the HSA proposes at the national level, but
also in Bolivia, to organize solidarity activities on Jan 26 around the
Bolivian situation.

- IFAT, International Fair Trade Association has communicate to their
members the event trying to connect local producers and initiatives with
global day of action.

- INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNIONS CONFEDERATION (ITUC) will issue its own
call on decent work.

- IPS will distribute WSF 2008 Global Day of Action' stories on
TerraViva and the IPS wire

- PEOPLE'S HEALTH MOVEMENT: The People's Health Movement (PHM), whose
Global Secretariat is in Egypt is strongest in the Arab countries, Iran,
Africa and Asia, but have members also in Latin America, Europe,
Australia and US/Canada. Member organizations/movements from around the
world are being called on to join the Global Day of Action, with a focus
on health and neoliberalism. There will be an event in Egypt, and they
will submit others to the website and let us know as other events are
developed. Also, Doctors for Global Health, a part of PHM global and US
will be having a meeting and event in New York that week.

- SOCIAL MOVEMENTS NETWORK has also issued a call to mobilize.

- TERRE DES HOMMES - INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION: For a mobilisation on
Child Rights. Terre des Hommes - International Federation reiterate its
support to the Mobilisation Day 26 Jannuary 2008 by inviting all others
associations, social movements, NGOs dealing with child rights issues to
create a network so that the WSF Mobilisation Day becomes also a
mobilisation for the Rights of the Child. As international network,
Terre des Hommes will promote local initiatives with others actors in
favor of child rights aiming at supporting a successful Mobilisation Day
and will invite each of those local network initiatives to use WSF
website to give visibility to the Mobilisation Day.

- VIA CAMPESINA calls for mobilisation throughout the world against
multinational corporations. Via Campesina has member organizations in 56
countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

- WORLD MARCH OF WOMEN: The WMW has sent an appeal for the different
countries to participate and there are already 17 countries where some
initiative will be organized. WMW will address the specific corporate
power and is looking forward to build alliances around these issues.
There is a blog that will be used to mobilize the women. Blog on J26:
HYPERLINK
"http://www.wmw-action26january.blogspot.com/"http://www.wmw-action26january
.blogspot.com/




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