[WSF-Discuss] [ESF 2008] Power to the people

[CACIM]

*"Power to the people – against capitalism and environmental destruction.
Another world is possible!"*

*Under this slogan over 15.000 people took the streets in Malmö (Sweden) on
Saturday 20th September 2008. The peaceful three-hour parade was part of the
5th European Social Forum that took place in South Sweden from 17 to 21
September and included 250 seminars, workshops and assemblies and over 400
cultural activities (films, theatre, concerts, poetry).*


Over 13.000 participants came to the Social Forum discussing over a great
variety of topics from welfare and public services, economic alternatives to
environmental and climate justice. The debates and conferences were
accompanied by a cultural program and activities.


During the 2008 ESF several initiatives and campaigns were planned, e.g.
towards the Climate summit in Copenhagen 2009 and the 60th anniversary of
NATO 2009 and the next European Social Forum which is scheduled to take
place in Istanbul 2010.


With the following declaration of the Assembly of the Social Movements, the
Social Forum was closed (European Social Forum Malmö, Sunday 21st September
2008, evening):


*2009: To Change Europe
*
On the European level, we are witnessing a liberal and anti-social front on
all domains: economic financial crisis, price increases, food borne illness
crisis, privatization and disassembly of public services, movements against
work reform, decisions of the European Court of Justice, dismantling of the
Common Agricultural Policy, reinforcement of Fortress Europe against
migrants, weakening of democratic and civil rights and growing repression,
economic cooperation agreements, military intervention in external
conflicts, military bases,  all this in a world where inequalities, poverty
and global and permanent war are increasing day by day.


In this context of global crisis, we want to reaffirm that alternatives do
exist for global justice, peace, democracy and environment.

We, the European social movements gathering in Malmö, have committed on a
common agenda in the way to lead the fight for "Another Europe" and Europe
based on the people's rights.

*1. On the social issue*: We launch immediately a COMMON EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN
against UE social and labour policies, first to oppose specifically the EU
directive on working time and UE decision on migrant labour. This campaign
will have different steps (e.g.: December the 6th in Paris) and includes the
objective of a massive joint mobilization at European level as soon as
possible.


As a second step, we build up a large, inclusive and strategic
conference/counter-summit of all the European social movement, in Brussels
in March.

*2. Against NATO and war:* we call a large demonstration in April the 4th in
Strasbourg/Kiel, centre of celebration of the 60th anniversary of NATO, to
say "Stop NATO!" and dissolving this terrifying tool of war. In the same day
we call demonstrations in all countries in Europe. We propose the WSF in
Belem to declare the 4th of April a day of international mobilisation
against NATO.

*3. Against the climate crisis:* we call for a global day of action on
climate on December 6th during the Poznan summit in Poznan itself and al
other the world. We are calling for a massive international mobilisation
next year to make the critical Copenhagen talks in December 2009.

*4. Against the G8:* In July 2009, the Sardinian and Italian social movement
will invite all movements to come to Sardinia where the G8 summit will be
held in la Maddalena island to protest against G8 and its policies and to
present our alternatives for global justice, peace, democracy and
environment.

@ http://www.european-left.org/english/news/esf_2008/
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