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United
States criticized in Porto
Alegre and Davos
CRITICISM
of the U.S. administration’s aggressive policy
were heard in all the political activities taking
place at the 3rd World Social Forum in Porto Alegre
where, since before the event’s opening march,
there have been constant attacks on the President
George W. Bush’s military threats and
preparations.
The
possibility of a U.S. war on Iraq and its pernicious
international consequences are among the main
concerns of the 100,000-plus social activists,
intellectuals and representatives of political
organizations and institutions attending the forum.
Other
issues of concern include the neoliberal
globalization process to the benefit of the large
transnationals, the Free Trade Treaty of the
Americas (FTAA) and the external debt.
Referring
to the globalization phenomenon, Juan Somavía,
secretary general of the International Labor
Organization (ILO) affirmed: “Just as the Latin
American dictatorships were eradicated one day,
globalization too can be changed.” The ILO leader
took part in one of the events within the forum,
which initiated its debates yesterday and continues
until next Tuesday.
The
welcoming addresses made reference to an issue that
has caused disagreement: the transfer of the World
Social Forum to India. Both Joao Verie, the mayor of
Porto Alegre, and the governor of the state of Río
Grande do Sul lamented that decision, while stating
that they would welcome the fourth forum if anything
prevented it taking place in India.
In any
event, in 2005 Porto Alegre will one again be the
venue of this international meeting of social
groups, international organizations and progressive
and international parties.
THE
WORLD IS MISTAKEN
Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil,
reiterated in Porto Alegre that he is to participate
in the World Economic Forum in Davos to state that
the world is mistaken, that the political economy is
not working well and that the world needs peace, not
war. “I cannot miss the opportunity to speak on a
global platform to say those things directly,” he
added.
In a
meeting attended by more than 100 leaders of NGO’S
and social movements from all over the world, the
Brazilian president stressed that he believes in
promoting South American integration.
Meanwhile,
in Davos, the possibility of a war against Iraq
unleashed by the United States loomed over the
opening of the World Economic Council. The issue was
mentioned in the opening ceremony by Pascal
Couchepin, the Swiss president, and Mahatir bin
Mohammed, head of the Malaysian government, who
alerted the meeting to the consequences of military
action against Iraq. The Malaysian prime minister
affirmed that such aggression would result in the
death of many innocent people, which would anger
many Muslims.
Throughout
the Friday session further concerns on the
possibility of the war were heard in the speeches of
figures with different positions in terms of
international events, such as Shimon Peres, former
prime minister of Israel; Recep Tayyip, leader of
the government party in Turkey; Zoran Djindjic, the
prime minister of Serbia; and Salam Fayyard, the
Palestinian finance minister.
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