A Goal for the anti-globalizers !

By Satya Sivaraman

Imagine, World Cup soccer as a staging point for anti globalization protests. Well, that is precisely what could happen if a proposal by the South Korean delegation to the WSF wins approval from participants for inclusion in the Forum's call for mobilisation this year.

'We will ask the Forum participants to consider a 'Global Day of Action' to coincide with the start of the World Cup on May 31 in Seoul' said Yoon Youngmo, International Secretary of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. Hundreds of thousands of football fans are expected to descend on South Korea and Japan, the two co-hosts of the event while millions more will be glued to their television sets watching the games.

According to the KCTU representative the details of the 'action' to be taken up will be open for discussion and suggestions from groups and delegates at the WSF interested in participating. It could range from holding rallies, educational campaigns or something more dramatic- depending on the feasibility.

The idea, he said was to tap, on behalf of the anti-globalisation movement, the huge amount of media attention and interest among football lovers generated by the World Cup.

The Korean delegation also plans to propose that the 'Day of Action' be observed on the theme of global peace- with peace interpreted in the larger context of how neo-liberal policies are the root cause of militarism, terrorism and war.

'In South Korea in particular peace is an important issue right now with the US targeting North Korea and going ahead with the implementation of its Star Wars program' said Yoon pointing out that there was also an ongoing 'war' against workers by the proponents of the neo-liberal economic order.