PHA-Exchange> URGENT : Asian Social Forum pledges to resist globalisation and imperialism (Press Release)

[UNNIKRISHNAN PV (Dr)]

 ASIAN  SOCIAL  FORUM
Nizam College Grounds, Hyderabad, India.

Phone: +91 (0) 98450  91319   or   +91 (0) 98480  76637
 URGENT                                                                        PRESS RELEASE 

 "ANOTHER ASIA IS POSSIBLE - A JUST AND PEACEFUL  ASIA"

Asian Social Forum pledges to resist globalisation and imperialism.

Hyderabad, India  (January 2nd, 2003):  A gathering of over 10,000 people, who landed here from across the world reaffirmed their unflinching commitment and resolve to make another world possible. It is not just about making another world possible but is a necessity, was what the gathering felt and they resolved to go ahead with the task of making the Asian continent a region that would be free from war mongering, hunger and fratricidal wars. Marking the beginning of the Asian Social Forum at the historic South Indian city of Hyderabad, the gathering was addressed by eminent economists, political fighters and thinkers. 

The Asian Social Forum (ASF), a summit of social activists, progressive organisations, research institutions and mass movements, the first of its kind to be held in Asia from Jan 2nd till 7th, provides an open platform for debate and interaction to people's movements across the Asian Continent. 

"Our sons and daughters and all those who disappeared in the struggle against oppression in Argentina and elsewhere are present here, in all of you" said Ms. Nora De Cortina from Argentina in an emotional speech at the plenary. Ms. Cortina is a cofounder of Las Madres de La Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the May Plaza), an Argentinian women's organization. 

People from various walks of life like ordinary people and people's movements, Dalits and indigenous groups, marginalised communities and internally displaced people, workers and trade unions, health workers and medical professionals, environmental and peace activists, economists and those who work on poverty was the spirit that ran across the inaugural session. 

ASF draws inspiration from the World Social Forum, an annual event held at Porto Alegre, Brazil, that has challenged the Brettonwoods institutions -- World Bank and the International Monitory Fund. Add to this the Asian Development Bank and their terms that threaten the physical existence of millions in the continent. The ASF is expected to synergise and strengthen the ongoing struggle against globalisation and imperialism. 

It would give a voice to the voiceless, ordinary people who are facing the onslaught of the capitalist and neo liberal economic policies. 

"Keep your hands off Iraq" was another warning that came from among the participants. Several speakers too echoed this sentiment in the plenary. "Any attack on Iraq will have catastrophic fallouts not just for the people of Iraq, but for the rest of Asia as well as the whole world" participants said. "We have to stand with the people of Iraq and Palestine in the struggle against imperialism", said Prof. Prabhat Patnaik, eminent economist from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, India.  Peace and global security is one of the key themes of this people's summit.

"We have to end US imperialism and the Israeli Occupation," said Abdel Jawad Saleh, a former Minister in the Palestinian Authority and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Saleh's address was applauded so frequently by the delegates suggesting how intensely the delegates detested the Zionist occupationists and their allies in the NATO.

"The crying need of the hour is a unity of all forces committed to a just world order and that is the essence of the fight against globalisation,'' stressed Medha Patkar of India's National Alliance for People's Movement, a coalition of organisations and mass movements. " Secularism and decentralization is the only path before the progressives and this can happen only if people have access to resources" she said. 

" Communal harmony and peace is upset by religious fundamentalism- be it in the pogrom that was witnessed in the Western Indian state of Gujarat or the Gaza strip in the Middle east" echoed some of the speakers.  

Walden Bello, director of Focus on Global South, from Thailand emphasized that the world is at a historic moment: the US is poised to attack Iraq, and corporate globalisation has increased poverty all over the world during the decade after 1990. However, he also noted that every crisis also carries with it an opportunity. US imperialism has led to overextension and a counter-reaction in the Middle East, South Asia, South Korea, Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador. 

Bello suggested three roles for the ASF: it provides movements with a space to share solidarity; plan against militarism, corporate globalisation, the IMF, World Bank and WTO; and it allows activists to come together and imagine the new world that is possible.  

"Social progress via economic development, continuous democratisation, and a new international negotiation that is completely against corporate globalisation is the way to reduce poverty, create social justice and build peace, " said Samir Amin, leading political economist from Egypt. He said that we have to reject the economic imperialism of the American, Japanese and European triad. We have to deepen and expand social movements and we have to build political citizenship. 

The path to accomplish this lies in constructing a common Third World front, creating the conditions for a rapprochement between the countries of the Global South and possibly with Europe as well.

The ASF is an initiative to bring together organisations and movements engaged in creating a democratic, socially just, and sustainable world. The ASF believes that "Another Asia is possible- a just and peaceful Asia"

For media enquiries , please call:

Mobile :+91 (0) 98450 91319     or    +91 (0) 98480 76637

E-mail: unnikru at yahoo.com

+++++++++++++++++      message forwarded by   ++++++++++++++++

Dr. Unnikrishnan PV                                                                                                                                                       People's Health Movement / International People's Health Council                                                                                              

Phone (Mobile) : +91 (0) 98450 91319       :    E-mail:   unnikru at yahoo.com

  

 

 

 

 

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