The World Social Forum's first African foray, which ended on Thursday attracted approximately 100 000 participants. They came by plane and bus from all corners of the world in a spirit of solidarity, to, for the seventh time interrogate universal strategies of internationalizing their revolution. They were also brought together by their common resistance to what they called the globalisation of capitalism, exploitation of labourers and vulnerable groups. Another issue they tackled was the militarisation of the world post 9/11.
Socialists, brought together by a common belief that 'Another World is Possible' and distinguished delegates, among them former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, former UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson and Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai were locked in meetings, press conferences, spoiled to festivals, engaged in discussions, exchanges and music for the whole week. The festival started last Sunday.
The African episode, held at Moi International Sports Centre at Kasarani with socialist thinkers from all over the world was originally founded in Porto Alegre (Brazil) seven years ago.
Briefing the media Organising Committee member and Secretariat chairperson Odour Ongwen explained their reasons for bringing the event to Kenya. He explained that a decision to diversify the hosting of the WSF was taken in Brazil during the last meeting. Ongwen added that they also realised that it was the globalisation of capital that was making life very difficult for ordinary people all over the world, "We are here to globalise our struggles. There will be no solution to the problems of the poor without Africa being part of the solution. We are gathered here to show to the people of Africa that indeed another world is possible". He was quick to indicate that even though they are meeting in Kenya, they were in no way financed by the Kenyan government.
Ongwen diplomatically disputed the claim that the war in Somalia and the conflicts taking place in most of the countries bordering Kenya were one of the reasons for their decisions. Asked if the fifty Kenyan shillings (R50) charged for entrance was not deterring ordinary Kenyans from being part Brazilian committee member Moema Miranda argued that it was time for the socialist forces all over the world to start footing their own bill. "If cannot be able to do so someone will always step to do it" she warned. She added that they were fortunate that in Brazil they were dealing with a friendly government which is not the case with other countries where the meeting is held.
The committee's Professor Edward Oyugi disputed that the venue might also have anything to do with the impending parliamentary and presidential elections.
Miranda's point was supported by the organisers refusing multinational corporates a platform to use the event to capitalise. Food and drinks companies were denied stalls and visibility at the venue rather opting to afford small farmers and micro entrepreneurs the stage to benefit from the event. The imposed ban attracted much coverage in many Nairobian dailies.
However the South African delegation refused to entertain the reason that money was supposed to be the determining factor on who affords attend but rather opted to chant and march through the guarded gates with scores of Kenyans who had not paid anything. All security staff could do was stand back and watch. The following day they joined other groups in blockading the main road leading to the venue to force the Secretariat to consider opening the gates for everyone to enter.
Even though Ongwen told journalists that they had already spent $5million on staging the event and that only 46000 delegates have registered by Monday, by Tuesday it was already free for all, regardless of the mounting bills the Secretariat sensitised journalists about. A message was sent to Davos (Switzerland) where the World Economic Forum leaders were meeting that the world was getting tired of having most of the world's riches concentrated in the coffers of only eight countries. The occupation of Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia and many other Gulf States was denounced.
Representatives of social movements from all over the world had stories of hardship and resistance to share.
South African Salim Vally from the Palestinian Solidarity Network delivered a moving account of what he called the United States Military Complex which's 'main desire is to militarise the world and plunder the resources of Third World countries'. He questioned that if South Africa is as progressive as it claims to be, why would US President George Bush call president Thabo Mbeki his point man in Africa? He argued that 'what South Africa, through the ruling class and corporates' was doing in many African countries was 'to export global capitalism which renders the working class forever enslaved'.
Another interesting discussion was conducted by Malcolm Suber of the US People's Hurricane Relief Fund who questioned his government's late response to last year's Hurricane Katrina disaster. "The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is trained to respond to a disaster within 18 hours. It took them four days regardless of them having performed an evacuation exercise in 2004 code named Katrina which revealed that New Orleans was most likely to be eroded if a category five storm came. They responded so unwillingly because the South is predominantly black and they wanted to change the landscape", Suber, a self-confessed revolutionary communist said.
The meeting ended with a 20-kilometre march from Korongocho slums to Uhuru Park in the city center.
Socialists, brought together by a common belief that 'Another World is Possible' and distinguished delegates, among them former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, former UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson and Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai were locked in meetings, press conferences, spoiled to festivals, engaged in discussions, exchanges and music for the whole week. The festival started last Sunday.
The African episode, held at Moi International Sports Centre at Kasarani with socialist thinkers from all over the world was originally founded in Porto Alegre (Brazil) seven years ago.
Briefing the media Organising Committee member and Secretariat chairperson Odour Ongwen explained their reasons for bringing the event to Kenya. He explained that a decision to diversify the hosting of the WSF was taken in Brazil during the last meeting. Ongwen added that they also realised that it was the globalisation of capital that was making life very difficult for ordinary people all over the world, "We are here to globalise our struggles. There will be no solution to the problems of the poor without Africa being part of the solution. We are gathered here to show to the people of Africa that indeed another world is possible". He was quick to indicate that even though they are meeting in Kenya, they were in no way financed by the Kenyan government.
Ongwen diplomatically disputed the claim that the war in Somalia and the conflicts taking place in most of the countries bordering Kenya were one of the reasons for their decisions. Asked if the fifty Kenyan shillings (R50) charged for entrance was not deterring ordinary Kenyans from being part Brazilian committee member Moema Miranda argued that it was time for the socialist forces all over the world to start footing their own bill. "If cannot be able to do so someone will always step to do it" she warned. She added that they were fortunate that in Brazil they were dealing with a friendly government which is not the case with other countries where the meeting is held.
The committee's Professor Edward Oyugi disputed that the venue might also have anything to do with the impending parliamentary and presidential elections.
Miranda's point was supported by the organisers refusing multinational corporates a platform to use the event to capitalise. Food and drinks companies were denied stalls and visibility at the venue rather opting to afford small farmers and micro entrepreneurs the stage to benefit from the event. The imposed ban attracted much coverage in many Nairobian dailies.
However the South African delegation refused to entertain the reason that money was supposed to be the determining factor on who affords attend but rather opted to chant and march through the guarded gates with scores of Kenyans who had not paid anything. All security staff could do was stand back and watch. The following day they joined other groups in blockading the main road leading to the venue to force the Secretariat to consider opening the gates for everyone to enter.
Even though Ongwen told journalists that they had already spent $5million on staging the event and that only 46000 delegates have registered by Monday, by Tuesday it was already free for all, regardless of the mounting bills the Secretariat sensitised journalists about. A message was sent to Davos (Switzerland) where the World Economic Forum leaders were meeting that the world was getting tired of having most of the world's riches concentrated in the coffers of only eight countries. The occupation of Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia and many other Gulf States was denounced.
Representatives of social movements from all over the world had stories of hardship and resistance to share.
South African Salim Vally from the Palestinian Solidarity Network delivered a moving account of what he called the United States Military Complex which's 'main desire is to militarise the world and plunder the resources of Third World countries'. He questioned that if South Africa is as progressive as it claims to be, why would US President George Bush call president Thabo Mbeki his point man in Africa? He argued that 'what South Africa, through the ruling class and corporates' was doing in many African countries was 'to export global capitalism which renders the working class forever enslaved'.
Another interesting discussion was conducted by Malcolm Suber of the US People's Hurricane Relief Fund who questioned his government's late response to last year's Hurricane Katrina disaster. "The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is trained to respond to a disaster within 18 hours. It took them four days regardless of them having performed an evacuation exercise in 2004 code named Katrina which revealed that New Orleans was most likely to be eroded if a category five storm came. They responded so unwillingly because the South is predominantly black and they wanted to change the landscape", Suber, a self-confessed revolutionary communist said.
The meeting ended with a 20-kilometre march from Korongocho slums to Uhuru Park in the city center.
