The daily journal of the
World Social Forum.
Porto Alegre, Brazil,
Jan 31, Feb 5, 2002
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Despite the air conditioners set at full blast, the air in the room was hot and sticky, filled with bodies trying to squeeze into a space already filled to capacity and overflowing. With conference-goers spontaneously breaking into chants of slogans and solidarity songs, the room was tense with an excitement that only Noam Chomsky can provoke. The meeting was to have begun at 6 pm but by 7:30 people were still forcing their way in, and a human shield had to be set up across the entrance to prevent any more from entering and crushing those already in the room. Finally, Chomsky entered the room to thunderous applause, but there was a near riot when it became apparent that the conference venue was inappropriate and would have to be relocated. When he left the room to set up next door, people marched out in protest throwing papers and whistling. Elbowing his way into the auditorium, Paul Nousa from Chile said he does not understand everything Chomsky talks about, but he was eager to see the 'great man' in person. He says Chomsky represents an intellectual rebellion that he admires. 'He does not see things as others do, he is not afraid to insult the United States and other so-called world powers. He is the idol of our generation. I will fight to see him in person.' Holding onto his arm for dear life was his girlfriend Fabiana de Sousa,17, who described Chomsky as a hero. 'He is our icon. He gives us a sense of power that we do not get from politicians, who have taken a defeatist attitude. He shows us that all is not lost, that we can redeem our generation.' Grizela Manou from Argentina said this was the only opportunity to see a man of Chomsky's political stature so she would do what it takes to get into the conference hall. 'He is up there with Che Guvera, people who fight for the masses.'
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| 03/02/2002 | |
| 02/02/2002 | SE
Chomsky desceu à Terra And Chomsky descended in Earth |
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01/02/2002
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| 31/01/2002 |
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| The
generous support of the Commonwealth
Foundation in funding the participation of the following journalists
is gratefully acknowledged:
Zarina
Geloo |
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It is a tax whose time may have finally come and one that a significant portion of the anti-globalisation movement swears by. And yet the proposal for a Tobin Tax, which would be levied on global financial transactions, continues to generate strong debate - not so much over its practicability as over its real effectiveness in curbing the various ills associated with globalisation today. |
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Don't Use Cultural Rights to Mask Human Rights Violations, Says Robinson UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Mary Robinson yesterday said that the ongoing efforts to protect the cultural rights of indigenous peoples should not be used as a rationale for preserving practices that are clear violations of human rights. |
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Debt cancellation is necessary for Third World development, agreed the panellists at the WSF conference on External Debt yesterday, but they stressed that civil society must be prepared to monitor the process. |
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Debt Relief Is Not Enough - Interview: Lidy Nacpil, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Philippines Lidy Nacpil, Secretary-General of the Freedom from Debt Coalition, an organisation created in 1988 at the height of the debt crisis to change the debt policies of the Philippine government and to join the international campaign to cancel the debt of developing countries, was a panellist at yesterday's conference on external debt. Nacpil spoke with TerraViva about why the people should not have to pay debts incurred by their governments, debts often tainted by corruption and illegitimacy. |
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Since 1994, the southern Mexican state of Chiapas has symbolised indigenous rebellion against centuries of oppression, but now it is the site of efforts to build peace through a process of reconciliation, justice and social development, which includes reaching out beyond Mexico's borders to the globalised world. That was the message the Governor of Chiapas, Pablo Salazar Mendiguchia, brought to the Local Authorities Forum at the WSF, and discussed in this conversation with TerraViva. |
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Unionists Reach Out to Prevent Another Argentina Labour activists at the WSF say its time they transformed the movement into a new type of global organisation, one able to 'fight evil and represent the poor'. |
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Chomsky: US Foreign Policy = International Terrorism With his usual biting wit, noted linguist, philosopher and social activist Noam Chomsky gave the audience at his Friday 'teach-in' a strong dose of exactly what they were looking for. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor first defended the anti-globalisation movement, then neatly exposed the motives behind the US government's ongoing 'War on Terrorism', and finally trashed the entire rationale the global elites give for the policies of neo-liberalism they push. |
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'The Fight Is On,' Say Afro-Brazilians The Afro-Brazilian group at last year's WSF urged Africans to prepare for the 'fight of their lives,' an appeal that reverberated through the Special Conference/Africa-Brazil yesterday. |
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Say No to Plastic, Yes to Porongo In the spirit of citizenship and health preached by the II WSF, a special Kit is being distributed by the Healthy Eating Habits Corner for those who love natural food and hate waste. |
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Environmentalists attending the WSF have a wish. They want to see the spirit and momentum of Porto Alegre carried to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) or Rio+10 in Johannesburg come September. |
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