NGO
Spotlight
It's not easy working out where the various elements of civil
society are operating from during the Summit. Terra Viva provides
a guide to the different meetings and to the action.
Global Forum
What
Official NGO forum, supported by government and the United
Nations
Where
Nasrec
Status
The official spokesman, Muzi Khumalo, was not available for
comment, though sources suggest the forum is much smaller
-- no more than 20,000 delegates -- than anticipated. The
Forum is discussing poverty eradication; globalisation and
governance. It is also developing a daily critique of the
official negotiations at Sandton.
The fact that South Africa's ruling party, the African National
Congress, is playing a prominent role is causing tension at
the Summit. Sources say that civil society does not include
political parties and especially not political parties in
government.
Action
An official march on Saturday, August 31. The Forum is also
contemplating a court case to oppose a police crack-down on
protest.
Social Movements Indaba
Who
Radical, alternative civil society forum which broke away
from the official global forum because they view it as too
"accommodationist". This organisation includes the
Anti-Privatisation Forum; the Palestinian Solidarity Committee;
Friends of the Earth; Indy Media South Africa; Jubilee 2000
and other NGOs. It is lead by Soweto community leader Trevor
Ngwane and the poet Dennis Brutus.
Where
Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
Status
The Social Movements Indaba has attracted support from anti-globalisation
icons like Naomi Klein and Vandana Shiva because it includes
influential left academics in its ranks. It is smaller than
the global forum. The indaba opposes the Summit because it
believes that "Its agenda is that of the rich and powerful.
Rio failed for that reason and the same thing will happen
here," says spokesman Dale McKinley.
The Indaba denies that it has been "infiltrated"
by radical international movements and says the majority of
its members are poor, working class people. Any international
activists in its ranks take instruction from local leaders
who are "not middle-class youth who will burn things,"
says McKinley. Government's fears of Seattle/Prague/Genoa
type protests are misplaced.
Action
The Indaba will hold a rally in the township of Alexandria
on Wednesday. It will also march from the Far East Bank in
Alexandria on Saturday, but not along the official protest
route mapped out by police and which government is insisting
protestors stick too.
Leaders say they will go to court if they do not receive permission
for their march.
Landless Peoples Assembly -
Tuesday August 27 to Sunday September
1
What
Landless people from around the
country, joined by 15 international peasant organisations,
affiliated to Via Campesina, the global network of rural people.
The Landless Peoples Movement in South Africa is led by Leticia
Solomons, the deputy national chairperson.
Where
Shareworld (five minutes from Nasrec)
Status
At least 10, 000 landless people from around the country will
meet from Tuesday, August 27 to Sunday, September 1 to highlight
their view that there cannot be sustainable development without
land. Over 70 percent of the land in South Africa is still
held by whites with a significant proportion in state hands.
Action
An international march on Saturday from George Lea Park to
the Sandton Convention Centre. It will include people from
15 different peasant organisations around the world. Permission
for the march has been granted.
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