21 Jan Terraviva Bamako

www.ipsterraviva.net

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JANUARY, 21, 2006

Le quotidien independant du Forum Social Mondial Polycentrique de Bamako, 19-23 janvier 2006 The independent newspaper of the Polycentric World Social Forum Bamako, Jan 19-23, 2006

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ali, one of the world’s poorest nations and host of the World Social Forum presents the picture of a country that has been overburdened by debt, forced to spend much of its budget repaying what it owes to international creditors at the expense of its own development. While schools and hospitals lack basic facilities, the government has continued to spend most of its annual budgetary allocation on its servicing external debt, a financial outflow that has prompted Malian anti-debt campaigners to call for debt cancellation. These activists yesterday teamed up with others from across the world to lobby the world’s richest nations to cancel all debts owed by poor nations. “Debt is a stumbling block to our development,” said Diarra Sekou of the Coalition for African Alternatives Debt and Development (CAD-MALI). “Health facilities are run down, with a very insufficient number of health workers, there are no teachers in schools; schools cannot progress because the quality of teachers is very bad. This is because they cannot be paid well as the government is concentrating on paying off its debt.” Sekou, whose remarks came at a meeting of anti-debt activists attending the Bamako WSF, said Mali paid out 59 billion CFA (about 109 million dollars) last year in servicing its debt. “The total funds allocated to education and health is nowhere near even half of this amount, while education and health are vital sectors of any country,” he stressed. He accused the Malian Members of Parliament of keeping mum while they passed motions seeking their approval for debt repayments. “As a Malian citizen, I have not seen the parliament reject this indebtedness – not even once. I have never heard any member of parliament stand up to say ‘this indebtedness is not good for people’,” a visibly angry Sekou said. Mali is not alone in having to face this crippling burden – its situation reflects that of many other African countries saddled with debt. Continued on page 5

Réduire les écarts dans le monde

By Joyce Mulama

Closing the Global Gaps

La dette, l’aide et les alternatives au status quo... en examen a Bamako Debt, aid, alternatives to the status quo … all these are being examined at Bamako

La Société Civile doit s’opposer et aussi proposer

A l'écoute des voix proches et lointaines “Notre tour est arrivé”

CIVIL SOCIETY MUST OPPOSE, BUT ALSO PROPOSE

VOICES FROM NEAR AND AFAR “OUR TIME HAS COME”

Un Appel à la Justice

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Bamako a ouvert ses portes au Forum Social Mondial (FSM) avec un appel passionné à la justice à toutes les étapes

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The Camels, Fair Trade and a Push for Space When three camels were ridden into Thursday’s WSF opening procession with a banner proclaiming “Fair Trade” hung across their long necks, most delegates took it to be a harmless gimmick pointing to an important issue of justice. Not so some participants – the camels, they said, had no place importing a political message into a cultural event. The laid-back desert animals and their riders were a procession hit – many marchers took their photographs – but when it came to the venue of the opening, the Modibo Keita sports stadium, the welcome turned distinctly cool. As the camels – hired by unnamed campaigners – tried to make their way into the stadium, they were given a firm ‘keep out and stay out’ by some participants. The exact reason for the rebuff remains a bit of a mystery. According to Toufick ben Abdalla, coordinator of the Senegal-based African Social Forum (ASF), he could not allow the camels and their riders in because the venue had been reserved for cultural events. “If I allowed one organisation to come in and make political statements, then I would have to allow others to do the same and

that was not the idea of having the cultural festivities to open the WSF.” Elizabeth Eilor of the African Women’s Economic Policy Network in Uganda, who even threatened to stage a sit-in if the camels and their banner were not ejected from the stadium, claimed it was

the international NGO, OXFAM, that was behind the camel move. ‘It’s just their style – they always want to force-feed us with their agenda. If it (OXFAM) failed to put its issues across at the WTO (ministerial meeting in December) in Hong Kong, it should not think it can come here and take advantage

of our space,” she protested. Emily Joy Sikazwe, of Women for Change, Zambia, said OXFAM had shown “horrible insensitivity.” “This open space created by the WSF should not abused by big organisations like OXFAM. We are talking about poverty eradication, this is not an extension of the

By Zarina Geloo

WTO… we must all respect our spaces.” However, an OXFAM representative in Mali said the camels weren’t her organisation’s idea. While she would not comment on the furore surrounding the camels and their banner, Imma Miguel said she thought they might have been the brainchild of “some NGOs from the Netherlands”. Whoever drafted in the camels and their riders, some WSF participants didn’t think it was a bad idea at all. Bibiana Mandalyn from the Land Rights movement in Cameroon said that while it was true that OXFAM had had a chance to say its piece on fair trade at Hong Kong, there was nothing in the rule book saying it could not reiterate its position at Bamako. “If other NGOs had found their way to Hong Kong for the WTO meeting, they would have used all available forums to push their agenda without even thinking about it. I think it is unfair to start discriminating as to who should use what space at the WSF.” “Space is space – it depends on what you do with it. As NGOs we use any space or opportunity to push forward an agenda. We do not wait our turn, neither do we use only what we create for ourselves.”

South Africa: The New Imperialist? By Jacklynne Hobbs

The South African chapter of the Jubilee Debt Campaign launched a broadside against the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) yesterday, saying that it allowed the country to consolidate existing financial interests in the continent – while laying the ground for making greater inroads into African economies. NEPAD is a policy aimed at addressing African poverty and marginalisation that was adopted by the Organisation of African Unity, the precursor of the African Union, in 2001. On paper, its principles and objectives are impeccable: good governance, growth, poverty reduction and women’s empowerment, among others – all with a view to giving the continent its share of the global economic pie.

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Nonetheless, “NEPAD represents the codification of the expansion of imperialism from South Africa,” said Eddie Cottle, education co-ordinator for Jubilee South Africa, at a discussion about a new booklet from the organisation, entitled NEPAD and South African Imperialism. The booklet, to be launched in South Africa next month, says that local business interests managed the country’s transition to democracy to their advantage – and that the proof lay in the adoption of a key economic programme, the ‘Growth, Employment and Redistribution’ policy. “As is well known, the substance of the policy consists of the standard menu of neoliberal items propagated by the International Monetary Fund…and the World Bank,” notes the booklet.

With the end of apartheid having opened the door to greater South African investments in the continent, a business-friendly Africa also became an attractive proposition. “Through NEPAD, the South African state is facilitating the privatisation of state-owned assets, deregulation of various markets and the intensification of exploitation on the continent,” says NEPAD and South African Imperialism. Central to this process, added Cottle, is the close relationship that has been forged between the government and labour in South Africa – one that has seen key members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) take up lucrative positions in the private sector. Jubilee also has fears about the impact of South African investments in Africa. According to NEPAD and South

African Imperialism, South African entrepreneurs put their money into existing firms rather than new ventures – something that often leads to job losses in the name of rationalisation. The report quotes economist Asghar Adelzadeh as saying that while “mergers and acquisitions bring the possible benefits of improved productivity…they do not on the whole increase productive capacity in the economy. Neither do they typically create jobs.” Elhadj Farouck Tafsir Souhmah, president of the National Council of Guinean Civil Society Organisations, does not see NEPAD as a destructive force – rather, one that needs to be reminded of its social responsibilities. “I think that NEPAD should organise a meeting with civil society organisations to better explain (it-

self) – and to enable better negotiation and collaboration,” he told TerraViva at the Jubilee presentation. “Civil society needs to be involved in its (NEPAD’s) activities, and to recognise NEPAD as a tool (for development).” Assuming that one accepts Jubilee’s argument, however, the question that begs asking at a World Social Forum is what civil society is doing to alert people to the dangers of NEPAD – and why hasn’t it been more vocal on the matter already. “The notion of NEPAD and a continental programme is a new concept to African civil society, and I think – therefore – it’s kind of expected that there would be some time before there is a ‘criterialisation’ of how to act,” Cottle told TerraViva.

At Work and Rest on Day Two

Delegates spent their second day of the World Social Forum meeting in small groups, networking and relaxing at the Centre Internacional de Conférence de Bamako. The little girl – one of the youngest campaigners at Bamako – was pictured at a meeting calling for fair trade. Elsewhere, some delegates got busy networking, Malian Red Cross volunteers took some time off and a group of African women waited on the steps of the Palais.

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La Société Civile doit s'opposer et aussi proposer Parmi les milliers d’activistes qui se préparent aux Forum Mondial Social (FMS) au Mali et au Venezuela, il y a ceux, tant de l’intérieur que de l’extérieur du processus du FSM, qui se demandent quelles sont les solutions mondiales que le FSM produira. Tandis que le FSM a consciemment cherché à créer un espace pour le dialogue et l’engagement et à ne pas produire d’accord sur des positions politique spécifiques, il présente un moyen utile à différents acteurs de la société civile de trouver un terrain d’entente afin de s’engager dans des stratégies communes, et de planifier des activités d’avenir. Le lancement l’année dernière de l’Appel Global à l’Action Contre la Pauvreté (AGAP) à Porto Alegre était une décision consciente des organisateurs afin d’aligner cet effort avec le grand message positif du FSM qui était “un autre monde est possible”. Par contre, aucune espérance n’avait été formulée afin de voir les délégués du FSM tomber en accord avec toutes les positions de politique préconisées Il est important de préciser aux détracteurs qui tentent de cataloguer le FSM comme un forum l’antimondialisation, qu’il représente une voix qui concerne et critique la profonde, l’injuste et la pénible réalité sociale et économique à laquelle font face aujourd’hui les citoyens ordinaires dans les pays riches ou pauvres. Dans une période relativement courte, le FSM est devenu une rencontre annuelle où la société civile peut attirer l’attention sur certaines injustices, nouvelles ou récurrentes, que doivent envisager de combattre les citoyens du monde à savoir : les conditions relatives à la militarisation croissante, le déficit démocratique, les inégalités administratives à l’échelle mondiale et l’augmentation de la violation des

droits de l’homme. Le FSM apporte une contribution valable, juste et importante à ces problèmes. Le FSM est devenu le représentant d’un réseau des forces centrées autour d’une justice sociale mondiale, économique, et politique. Écarter le FSM comme étant simplement « un mouvement anti-mondialisation » est ignorer le fait qu’il est l’un des mouvements les plus mondialisés dans l’histoire de la planète. Bien que générer des ententes spécifiques sur des positions politiques serait extrêmement difficile pour les structures de prise de décision du FSM étant donné la diversité de vues dans le forum, je pense qu’il y a un équilibre qu’on pourrait trouver en accentuant les éléments de propositions dans le message du FSM. Les critiques du forum sur le présent ordre politique et économique mondial sont clairement incapables d’apporter des propositions pour un changement. Malgré le fait qu’une fausse route

serait empruntée en essayant de contenir les délégués du FSM dans un consensus construit artificiellement sur des politiques, il est aussi important que le forum corrige le mythe qu’aucune voie politique principale ne doit être suivie par ses délégués, tant de l’intérieur que de l’extérieur. Par exemple, sur la question de la dette à laquelle font face beaucoup de pays du Sud, il y a déjà un large consensus assez clair sur un ensemble de recommandations. Tandis qu’il pourrait y avoir des différences spécifiques entre divers organismes participant, tant dans une coalition particulière du FSM que chez les délégués, une possibilité intéressante serait de trouver une piste de communication spécialement pour les secteurs déjà en accord. Les principales coalitions dans les différents secteurs peuvent prendre les devants en promouvant ces positions pendant et après le FSM, soit par des conférences de haut profil médiatique ou d’autres activités spécifiques orga-

TerraViva is an independent publication of IPS-Inter Press Service news agency. The opinions expressed in TerraViva do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of IPS or the official position of any of its sponsors. IPS gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Action Aid and Novib/Oxfam for the production of TerraViva. © 2006 IPS-Inter Press Service www.ipsterraviva.net

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Publisher Mario Lubetkin Mana gingEditor Paula Fray Editors Jacklynne Hobbs Michée Boko Dipankar de Sankar

By Kumi Naidoo

nisées autour du FSM. Il est également important d’apprendre des autres sociétés civiles qui se mettent sous pression pour aboutir à un communiqué ou à un ensemble de résolutions. Nous avons souvent constaté comment un sens d’unité peut être anéanti par une vision majoritaire pour décider quels mots spécifiques devraient être pris en considération dans une résolution ; ceci est un processus qui paralyse la créativité et l’innovation. Garder les demandes d’ un changement à un niveau plus étendu, soit sur l’environnement, le genre, ou la poursuite de la prétendue « guerre contre le terrorisme » vaudrait la peine de continuer tout en reconnaissant une différence entre les différentes visions. Un tel geste réduirait au silence ceux qui argumentent que les participants du FSM savent comment se plaindre au sujet de ce qui est erroné dans le monde mais sont incapables de dire ce qui devrait être fait pour le renReporters Almahady Cissé Abdoulaye Barry Joyce Mulama Zarina Geloo Photographer Sidibe Abdoul

Illustrations Mico Omar Galindo Pepe Gai Art Cristina Pozzobon Rosana Pozzobon

dre plus juste, plus équitable, et plus supportable. Avec des ressources considérablement plus grandes le Forum Économique du Monde (FEM), est naturellement en position avantageuse pour la diffusion de ses messages vers la majorité des réseaux d’information dans le monde. Cependant, étant donné qu’une des principales motivations du FSM était de servir d’alternative au FEM, il devient important que, dans la bataille des idées, de la vision et des perspectives de ce que le monde veut créer pour les futures générations, le FSM serve de plateforme permettant de présenter des alternatives qui atteignent le coeur et l’esprit des personnes pas encore activement impliquées dans les efforts louables d’assurer une justice globale. Kumi Naidoo est Sécrétaire Général de Civicus (Alliance Du Monde Pour La Participation De Citoyen) Administration José Washington Rodríguez Production Alejandro Kirk François Saint-Pierre Assistants Amadou Traoré Claudia Diez de Medina Ana Libisch

Plaidoyer pour une coopération entre médias du Nord et du Sud

Continues from page 1

Call to Tackle Corruption While Cancelling Debt According to Demba Moussa Dembele of the African wing of Jubilee South, an international coalition of NGOs, Africa’s debt in 2003 stood at a massive 315 billion dollars. Jubilee South is calling for unconditional cancellation of the debts owed by all developing countries. Dembele asserted that structural adjustments programmes imposed by the Group of Eight (G8) most industrialised countries through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank had not realised their stated aim of pulling Africa out of poverty. “All these conditions, which have been in exchange for loans, have been a total failure. They have not offered any solution,” Dembele said. Such conditionalities include privatisation and trade liberalisation, which some analysts say have caused more harm than good. According to Dembele, trade liberalisation has cost sub-Saharan Africa 272 billion dollars over the last 20 years – the period over which much of the region’s economic reforms were rolled out. Faced with mounting pressure by anti-debt campaigners to halve the debt of poor countries the G8 – composed of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States – cancelled the debt of 14 African countries in July 2005. But activists gathered in Bamako said this was not enough as it accounted for only 10 percent of the total debt owed by Africa. Campaigners, however, are not stopping with their call to cancel debt – increasingly, they are calling for the problem of domestic corruption to be addressed. “There is a direct relationship between indebtedness and corruption. Most African countries do not have the capacity to check how the money given in loans is spent. Because of this, some of the money may easily be spent on corruption,” Sekou said. “When you fight debt without resolving corruption and monitoring how funds are used, you cannot get very far.” Lamin Nyangado, Action Aid’s policy and advocacy manager for The Gambia, also pointed to the need for monitoring spending of funds freed up by debt cancellation. “It is important that citizens are involved in the process – to make sure that in the event that debts are cancelled, the money which would have gone into repaying it is used for boosting services that will improve the living conditions of citizens.”

Par Abdoulye Barry

Farai Samhungu, directrice régionale de l’agence Inter Press Service (IPS), Michelle Ndiaye Ntab, directrice régionale de Word association of community radio broadcaster et Kris Kabwato, universitaire zimbabwéen ont plaidé hier vendredi pour une coopération entre médias du Nord et du Sud. Les médias africains, d’une manière générale, évoluent dans une précarité qui ne favorise pas leur développement. ‘’Il s’impose alors la nécessité de créer un partenariat avec les médias internationaux en vue d’un renforcement de leurs capacités’’, a déclaré Samhungu. Ce partenariat exige au préalable, selon elle, un renforcement des capacités des médias locaux. La conférence a été organisée pas l’institut Panos Afrique de l’ouest basé à Dakar, en partenariat avec le Forum de la communication en Afrique de l’ouest. Les débats ont porté sur ‘’l’impact de la globalisation sur les médias africains et les stratégies de résistance à la mondialisation’’. Les débats ont été largement axés sur les véritables

problèmes des médias africains dans le contexte de la globalisation rampante du monde et les perspectives à envisager pour que les médias africains ne puissent pas se noyer dans le système. ‘’Il apparaît une sorte d’uniformisation des médias africains qui traitent en grande partie des mêmes sujets et de la même façon’’, a fait remarquer Ntab. Transformer les services publics tout en développant les radios communautaires alternatives sont entre autres les solutions qu’elle propose. Les nouvelles technologies

de l’information sont une opportunité à saisir, ont estimé l’ensemble des participants. Ils ont regretté aussi le fait que les médias africains, au lieu d’aller vers des associations de presse fortes, se replient vers une sorte d’identité religieuse ou culturelle aux conséquences souvent dramatiques. Dans le contexte de cette globalisation, ‘’le journaliste africain ne doit plus se cloîtrer dans une position d’objectivité, mais s’engager dans les mouvements civiques afin d’aider à l’émergence d’une nouvelle conscience’’, estime Kabwato.

Civil Society must oppose, but also propose By Kumi Naidoo As thousands of activists prepare for the two World Social Forum (WSF) events in Mali and Venezuela, there are those both within and outside the WSF process who are asking: what global solutions is the WSF generating? While the WSF has consciously sought to create a space for dialogue and engagement and not to produce agreement on specific policy positions, the Forum does provide a useful opportunity for different civil society actors to find common ground, engage in joint strategising, and plan joint activities for the future. The launching last year of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) in Porto Alegre was a conscious decision by GCAP organisers to align this effort with the broad and positive message of the WSF that ‘’Another World is Possible’’. There was no expectation, though, that all WSF delegates would agree with all the policy positions it advocated. To those critics who have tried to dismiss the WSF as ‘’the anti-

globalisation forum’’, it is important to point out that in essence what the Forum represents is a voice of concern and criticism about the deeply inequitable and painful social and economic realities that ordinary citizens are facing in both rich and poor countries today. In a relatively short period of time, the WSF has come to represent a yearly occasion where civil society can draw attention to some of the enduring and new injustices that citizens around the world face, from conditions relating to growing militarization, the deepening democratic deficit, inequalities in global governance, to growing human rights violations. This is a just and important contribution. Globalised movement The WSF has come to represent a loose network of forces around the world advocating social, economic, and political justice. To dismiss it as simply an ‘’anti-globalisation’’ movement is to ignore, among other things, the fact that it is one of the most globalised movements in the

history of this planet. While generating agreement on specific policy positions in the delegates’ numerous areas of focus would be extremely difficult for the WSF decision-making structures, particularly given the diversity of views within the Forum, I think there is a balance that might be found in highlighting the propositional elements in the WSF message. The Forum’s critique of the current global political and economic order clearly contains kernels of proposals for change. Although it would be a mistake to straitjacket all WSF delegates into an artificially-constructed consensus on policy positions, it is important that the Forum correct the myth that there are no major policy directions that most WSF delegates share and advocate – both within and outside of the WSF. For example, on the question of the debt crisis facing many countries in the South, there is already a broad consensus on a fairly clear set of recommendations. While there might be specific differences between various participating organisations, both within a particu-

lar WSF coalition and amongst WSF delegates, finding a way to more forcefully communicate areas of considerable agreement is a viable possibility. The leading coalitions in the different sectors can take the lead in advancing these positions in the run-up to, during, and after the WSF events, whether through high-profile media conferences or other specific activities organised around the WSF. How to answer critics It is also important to learn from other civil society gatherings that put themselves under pressure to agree on a communiqué and a set of resolutions. We have often seen how a sense of unity is dissipated by an overwhelming focus on deciding which specific words should go into a resolution – a process that hobbles creativity and innovation. Keeping demands for change at a broader level – whether regarding the environment, gender, or prosecution of the socalled ‘’War on Terrorism’’ – might be worth pursuing, while recognising of course areas of difference. Such a

move would silence those who argue that the WSF crowd knows how to complain about what is wrong with the world but is incapable of saying what should be done to make it more just, equitable, and sustainable. The World Economic Forum, with considerably greater resources and far more access to the media, is of course in an advantageous position in terms of getting its messages out via most mainstream media networks. However, given that one of the driving motivations of the WSF was to serve as a counterpoint for the WEF, it becomes critically important that in the battle of ideas, vision and perspectives on what kind of world we want to create for future generations, the WSF serves as an enabling space which can present alternatives that reach the hearts and minds of people who are not yet actively involved in the commendable efforts to ensure global justice.

Kumi Naidoo is SecretaryGeneral of Civicus: World Alliance For Citizen Participation.

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WSF: From Protest to Alternatives… and Action

Bringing it back … delegates deliberate in the shade at the Memorial Modibo Keita By Paula Fray

The Mali session of the polycentric World Social Forum (WSF) is an opportunity to set the tone for discussions that are to follow in Venezuela and Pakistan, says ActionAid International chief executive Ramesh Singh. ActionAid is an international development agency that targets poverty in 42 countries worldwide.

Réunis vendredi pour une conférence à la bibliothèque nationale de Bamako, diverses associations et organisations paysannes ont évoqué l’idée selon laquelle les vrais responsables du retard de l’Afrique sont les gouvernants africains eux-mêmes. Ils sont venus en grande partie de pays dont l’agriculture constitue le pilier de l’économie comme le Burkina Faso, le Cameroun, le Mozambique, la Gambie et Madagascar, pour débattre de l’accès à l’eau et à la terre en Afrique. C’est Cyprien Essong Ze, membre d’une association paysanne du Cameroun, qui a estimé que le premier combat à mener par les paysans africains, c’est de se regrouper car, souligne-t-il, “nos ennemis ne sont

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Mali, one of the poorest countries in the world, is hosting the first WSF session ahead of those in Caracas, Venezuela next week and the Karachi, Pakistan, session in March. “Hosting this session in Bamako recognises that the WSF has spread and has taken root in many continents and not just in Porto Alegre. It is a much more broadbased and diversified space for discussions.

“Secondly, the Mali session is important because Africa will host the WSF in 2007 and it will help prepare for that,” says Singh. Nairobi, Kenya, is the host city for the 2007 WSF. Singh believes the Bamako event is also an opportunity to regroup and strategise. “In 2005, a lot of attention which was externally created was focused on Africa; it’s a good time to come together now and

Les agriculteurs africains accusent leurs gouvernants… Par Abdoulaye Barry

reflect on what happened during the year. We need to reflect on how to keep the unity in Africa but, at the same time, make the connect that was made outside Africa.” Singh says Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP), launched at the January 2005 WSF in Porto Alegre, kick-started a process that brought “attention to poverty and justice – not only at special forums but also in the drawing rooms and onto the streets in many countries”. Organisations mobilised support within the context of a number of major disasters – such as the tsunami, food crisis in western Africa and the earthquake – last year: “There has been a groundswell of citizen support across the world and the mobilisation of NGOs and civil society.” The major events of the year, such as the G8 meeting in Scotland, the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting in Hong also focused people’s attention on global poverty. “Quite clearly, this has brought issues of poverty and injustice global attention in the minds of the South and the North – and that is a big gain to have made. We need to capitalise on that and keep it going,” says Singh. He acknowledges that some expectations were not met: “One could say that we did not get the promises made – particularly at the UN Summit – but it has created a momentum of unity and it has focused the agenda. That has been one of our major outcomes.” Similarly, the outcome of the WTO negotiations in Hong Kong was disappointing but there was a measure of success in “galvanising developing countries”. What roles then does the WSF play? Singh says the WSF charter is important for its principles of diversity, peace interventions, solidarity and search for alternatives. “Personally, I believe that it is important that the WSF is a space. The WSF has created and enhanced a large space – that does not mean action does not take place within the WSF,” says Singh. “WSF started as protest; it is now a search for alternatives. The next logical step is action – without losing that space. Whether the WSF itself takes action is a different issue.”

pas loin de nous, ce sont nos gouvernants qui s’accaparent de nos terres en disant qu’elles appartiennent à l’Etat”. Il estime que pour avoir une bonne production alimentaire, il faut avoir accès à l’eau et à la terre. Toutes les crises alimentaires que connaît l’Afrique sont dues, selon lui, à la défaillance de l’eau et des terres. “Un paysan sans terre est un organisme sans vie”, renchérit un membre de l’Organisation catholique pour le développement et la solidarité du Burkina Faso. Pour atteindre la souveraineté alimentaire, poursuit-il, il faut avoir accès à l’eau et à la terre d’abord. Il préconise alors une organisation de tous les acteurs (ONG, producteurs, etc.) afin de sensibiliser les populations par

rapport à l’impact négatif des politiques néolibérales. “Il nous faut une ouverture d’esprit et ne jamais avoir honte de consommer ce que nous produisons”, confiera-t-il à ses pairs. Toutefois, les politiques néolibérales, reconnaissent la plupart des participants, assassinent les productions des pays du tiers monde. Les participants ont, à l’issue de cette rencontre, convenu de former un pool de communication en vue de faire pression sur les responsables au niveau des organisations sous-régionales telles que la Communauté Economique des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO) afin que les politiques qu’elles développent tiennent compte des aspirations des peuples.

“Our time has come” “Notre tour est arrivé” The many voices at Bamako – from near and afar Les nombreuses voix de Bamako – de loin et de près It will make Porto Alegre more interesting when we meet in 2009.”

Eivind Dahl, media consultant in Oslo, Norway. “I hope the delegates at Bamako will discuss issues of economic justice – not just global justice but also justice and equity within our own countries.”

Cyprien Essong Ze, Membre d’une association paysanne du Cameroun “Nos ennemis ne sont pas loin de nous, ce sont nos gouvernants…” Brendan Marcus (56), peace activist in London, United Kingdom “This is really exciting that we are having the forum in Bamako which is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Here, we can see in real terms what we are talking about when we say there has to be peace in order for people’s lives to be improved. Peace does not only mean the absence of war, it also means people should be able to pursue the kind of life they want for themselves and must also be provided with an atmosphere in which to do it.”

Souley Ibrahim, Porte parole de la jeunesse au Forum “Le slogan, ‘la jeunesse fer de lance et force vive’ doit se traduire dans les actes à travers une implication accrue des jeunes dans tout ce qui concerne la marche du monde’’. Justine Mwitwa, Project officer at the Land Alliance in Lusaka, Zambia “As NGOs, we need this time to exchange our views on where our countries are going and as organisations we need to reflect our strategies – what has worked, what has not. I think it is very important for us to have the meeting in an African country where there will be a predominance of African NGOs. Sometimes, because the meetings have been held in Brazil, our voices have been drowned out… while their issues are similar to ours, we also want to say things in our way.” Amadou Goita, Mouvement de la jeunesse sankariste du Mali “On ne peut pas construire l’avenir avec une jeunesse fainéante et désœuvrée”. Mama Shiko (43), fruit and vegetable hawker in Nairobi, Kenya “Where is Bamako and when do they think they will change this weird world?” Nouhoum Kéita, Président de la Commissior Communication du FSM du Mali “Une jeunesse qui ne rêve pas, n’est pas une jeunesse d’avenir”. Sara Page, Safaids activist in Harare, Zimbabwe “In terms of progress for social movements in Africa, I feel that by having WSF on African soil, there will be a greater awareness created among activists through-

out the world about the challenges facing African countries. Equally, it will go a long way toward inspiring African activists to call for social change. The significance of hosting the WSF in Bamako...is about participation. For too long, Africa has been excluded as a host for international events. There is a need for more events to be hosted in Africa to enhance the participation of Africans and to create awareness about the African continent. I hope that the forum will discuss ways to reduce health inequalities and address the problem of emerging and re-emerging diseases.” Bruno Saffré, Ecrivain et auteur de la biographie de Thomas Sankara “L’enjeu pour les jeunes, c’est d’être une jeunesse actrice et non spectatrice’’. Juniper Mwale, Project Officer at World Vision in Lusaka, Zambia “Meetings of this nature are important for NGOs to get together and liaise on their strategies and network. However, I do not think this has been happening. More and more, the WSF has become something of an annual jamboree where the same people and the same ideas are floated. I feel part of the global movement in the sense that any good thing that occurs is welcome by me and my organisation.”

Abdoul Bah, constructeur de stands “Avec cette participation massive, on peut espérer des changements dans ce monde.”

Mariam Mono, Présidente de la Coopérative féminine pour la protection de l’environnement (COFEPE) “J’espère que notre capitale concrétisera le slogan - Un autre monde est possible”. Jules Nambangi (38), a sweets and groundnut vendor in Bamako, Mali “For me the meeting is about making some money – more money than usual. I have placed myself strategically at the entrance of the meeting hall so that as people go in, they buy sweets or groundnuts. I do not know what the meeting is about, but it must be something good because it is bringing a lot of people together to talk and not to fight.”

Korotimy Théra, Membre de la Coalition internationale pour l’habitat (HIC en anglais) “Je crois qu’à Bamako, il y aura un changement, mais pas des solutions à tous nos problèmes.” Margaret Tshombe, the Land Alliance in Yaounde, Cameroon “This is a good opportunity for NGOs to get together and discuss our issues without having the northern alliances and NGOs getting in our way. We will be able to fine-tune issues and make them Africa-specific. At the moment, we are merely following what the western NGOs and civic society are doing, without making it more continent specific. This is the best idea – to have the social forums in the continents.

Mariam Dem, Collectif des ONG du Sénégal (CONGAD), Dakar, Senegal “This world social forum is important to us because it is being held in Africa. In order for the social forum to be effective, it needs to be rooted in the realities that people are dealing with on a daily basis, and the fact that this is being held in Africa is a good beginning to address this concern. However, I feel we need to find more effective strategies to further broaden the space and actively mobilise ordinary citizens to link them to such processes. As activists, we are not paying enough attention to raising awareness on the ground because we are preoccupied with raising funds, attending one conference after the other and managing our organisations.” Moustapha Ouattara, Technicien au Centre international de conférence de Bamako “Pour le moment, il n’y a que des slogans. Je ne vois rien de concret. Je souhaite que le Forum puisse apporter des changements à ce monde, mais franchement, je suis pessimiste.”

7

Par Almahady Cissé

Les alter mondialistes, dans leur lutte contre l’impérialisme et le néo-libéralisme n’ont pas oublié un anti-impérialiste des premières heures, le président assassiné du Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara. Le mérite de Thomas Sankara, note Chérif Sy, ancien compagnon de lutte du défunt président burkinabè, c’est d’avoir su être un visionnaire en dénonçant des maux qui sont encore d’actualité comme l’impérialisme et la marchandisation de l’Afrique. C’est le stade omnisports Modibo Keita qui a abrité, vendredi, le symposium sur l’homme d’Etat burkinabè assassiné le 15 octobre 1987. Pour Souley Ibrahim, président de la commission d’organisation du camp de la jeunesse, le choix de Sankara s’impose parce que c’est un révolutionnaire, qui a rendu service à son pays et à la jeunesse du monde entier. L’écrivain et biographe de l’illustre disparu, le Français Bruno Saffré, s’est beaucoup appesanti sur l’héritage révolutionnaire de l’homme. “Sankara a mené une révolution d’esprit, surtout chez les jeunes. L’élément important de combat, c’est la redistribution des revenus, l’incitation à consommer burkinabé, et à mener une lutte sans merci contre la corruption” dira-t-il. Julien Nana, un membre de la famille Sankara, a également témoigné au symposium. Selon lui, près de 20 ans après sa disparition, le discours de Sankara reste encore d’actualité, notamment ses idées contre l’impérialisme. La voix nouée d’émotion, il a laisser entendre : “Thomas

Les jeunes ressuscitent un alter mondialiste de première heure: Thomas Sankara

Trading Free

8

By Zarina Geloo

Outside the main conference of the sixth World Social Forum (WSF) is a hive of activity which gives practical expression to some of the issues being discussed in the session on income-generating and free trade. Mamadous Busiye who set up her stall on Wednesday morning says she is selling material and clothes made from Malian cotton, produced by a woman’s co-operative. “I think that the forum is an appropriate place to sell indigenous goods as most people coming to the meeting are foreigners, so they will appreciate and buy Malian products. I hope that I will make some nice profit here. I am not too expensive; I have kept my prices low so that I can sell larger volumes.”

Next to her, dressed elaborately with coordinated accessories, is Dari Doucoure who traveled from neighbouring Senegal. Doucoure is selling hand made necklaces and bracelets made with sea shells, beads and dried seed. “Whenever possible, I travel to whereever there is a large meeting because my goods sell very fast. Yesterday, I sold goods worth 1,500 dollars. Tomorrow it will be more as the meeting gets into full force and more people come.” She says that, although the competition is high and will increase as more people bring their wares for sale, she is confident that all her goods - worth $8,000 dollars - will be sold by Monday when the WSF ends. NGOs and other international organisations like OXFAM, Caritas

n’est pas mort. Il ne peut pas mourir parce qu’il a vécu utilement pour son pays, pour l’Afrique et pour le monde. Un héros ne meurt jamais, parce que même mort, il sert de référence aux vivants”, finit-il. Pour la plupart des intervenants, Thomas Sankara n’est pas mort. “Il a vaincu la mort”, affirme Abdoulaye Diallo, un jeune participant guinéen. L’avenir, Thomas Sankara l’avait lui-même prédit : “Même si on m’assassinait, il y aura demain des milliers de Sankara qui vont renaître”, disait l’homme en son temps. Les jeunes réunis à Bamako ont rendu véridique cette prédiction.

and ATTAC have also taken up kiosks to showcase their research and provide an opportunity for interaction with delegates. Colourful art and craft exhibits by Malian artisans dot the rows of kiosks. Some artists are not sure if they want to sell their pieces just yet - “perhaps we will just before the WSF is over”. A few organisations have preferred to say it all in pictures, exhibiting graphic images of torture by the state and human suffering caused by HIV and AIDS, drought and famine. Hosting one such photo exhibition entitled, “Morocco: culpable of crimes against humanity”, Sayed Yousef says sometimes one does not need to say much when the pictures can speak for themselves.