[WSF-Discuss] Report on a discussion: WSF and People’s Alternatives: Sharing the Experiences of Belem

[Madhuresh]

Report on a discussion:
WSF and People’s Alternatives: Sharing the Experiences of Belem
Intercultural Resources, Delhi
February 27, 2009

Background
The first World Social Forum was held in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001. 
Since then, the WSF has been an yearly event, varying in format and 
location. In 2004 it took place in Mumbai, for the first time out of 
Brazil. After being back in Porto Alegre in 2005, in 2006 a polycentric 
WSF was held, spanning 3 continents (Bamako, Caracas and Karachi). 2007 
was the year of the controversial WSF in Nairobi, Kenya, where many felt 
that large corporate NGOs dominated the event. This was followed by the 
WSF Global day of Action in 2008. The 9th World Social Forum was held 
this year in the Amazonian city of Belem, Brazil from January 27 to 
February 1, 2009, which saw participation of many friends from India as 
well.

The indigenous peoples’ movements were to take centre stage in the 
Amazonian region. The Latin American context with its strong indigenous 
movements and a solid shift to the left was meant to provide a convivial 
space for these movements to share their political, social and cultural 
visions and concerns. This can also be seen in the spreading theme of 
Pachamama - mother earth goddess of the indigenous peoples of the Andes 
– in discussions related to solutions to intensive and extensive 
exploitation of natural resources and in the global phenomenon of 
climate change. Impelled further by the global economic crisis, WSF's 
'open space' became an even more intense site to share and work towards 
strengthening alternatives.

In this context, we felt that it was important for us to organize a 
discussion with some of those who were at Belem so that they could share 
their experiences and discuss strategies to add more momentum to the 
political debates and striving for alternatives in India. This 
opportunity was also to facilitate a process where some of the 
experiences at Belem could be shared with a wider concerned community.

Belem Participants:
Ashok Chowdhury, National Forum for Forest People and Forest Workers 
(NFFPFW)
Bijulal, Indian Social Institute
Bipin Rai, Delhi Solidarity Group (DSG)
Guman Singh, Himalaya Niti Abliyan (HNB)
Jai Sen, Critical Action: Center in Movement (CACIM)
Mamta Dash, National Forum for Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW)
Roma, National Forum for Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW)
Sandeep Minhas, Himalaya Niti Abliyan (HNB)
Soma KP
Soumya Dutta, Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha

Report
A rich two-hour discussion with those who participated in the Belem WSF 
highlighted the following main issues:

Sidelining of indigenous concerns and issues
The Belem gathering was meant to bring about a shift in the focus of 
this year’s WSF. Choosing Belem, in the Amazonian region, as a venue was 
to be an expression of the will to engage with issues related to 
indigenous people, natural resources and climate change. However, most 
participants felt that indigenous peoples’ issues were in fact 
undermined and few groups acknowledged the long history of genocide, 
marginalization and exclusion. It was also observed that while there 
were vibrant discussions on climate justice, the question of indigenous 
peoples’ struggles were either sidelined as a result or subsumed within 
the issue of climate justice. The Assembly of Indigenous Movements’ 
Alliances saw the mere participation of only 10-12 indigenous 
participants. Critical issues like “cultural genocide” were rejected by 
the full group.

While choosing Belem was meant to be a historical recognition of 
indigenous peoples’ struggles, the region is also a stronghold of the 
ruling PT (Workers’ Party) and was strategic in displaying its strength. 
The complex politics of the Amazonian region was absent from the 
discussions that followed. Moreover, there was also a conspicuous 
absence of the recognition of civil society’s historical complicity in 
the repression and suppression of indigenous peoples’ struggles. As a 
result, there was no reconciliation process with the indigenous 
struggles. At the same time, indigenous groups gave a call to everyone 
to join the Pachamama (mother earth) invocations on October 12 (the day 
on which Columbus reached the Americas) and to recognize their agenda.

Rich analysis on climate justice
Participants noted the strong predominance of climate concerns. Earlier 
discussions on climate change had remained highly technical and there 
was no real engagement with grassroots struggles and their responses to 
climate issues. This time, it was observed, there was a convergence 
between climate concerns and a grassroots understanding and the need to 
strategise together. Many felt that the Latin American indigenous groups 
in particular, and some African groups, had a clear understanding of the 
issues at hand, seeing climate concerns as a convergence point for 
bringing together various movement groups, an understanding as yet 
lacking within most Indian groups.

The critical juncture posed by the financial crisis was recognized as a 
significant context for a growing interest of trade unions in climate 
concerns, recognizing at the same time that few were willing to take a 
position on the tension between the need to change the patterns of 
industrial development and the defense of labour rights. CUT (Central 
Única dos Trabalhadores, the Brazilian trade union affiliated to PT) 
proposed a meeting at the next WSF of southern trade unions on labour 
rights and environmental concerns. The discussions on climate justice 
were seen as a convergence of social, environmental and labour groups, a 
significant process that needs to be strengthened.

Most felt a clear rejection of market-based solutions. Asserting the 
ways of indigenous peoples as sound and sustainable based on the 
principle of using only as much as Pachamama (mother earth) gives, there 
was growing recognition of such an understanding. However, it was felt 
that the discussion on alternatives was not satisfactory and lacked 
depth and coherence. There were no clear paths to move forward, 
particularly in the context of the uncritical high consumption 
lifestyles of many who participated in these discussions.

Northern NGOs’ domination in climate discussions
Most participants noted the similarity of issues between regions of the 
South, but also noted the strong presence of Northern NGOs who tried to 
dominate the thrust and direction of the discussion which often 
contradicted the perspectives and priorities of the South. While 
Northern NGOs were keen on strategizing towards the UN meeting on 
climate change scheduled to take place in Copenhagen in 2010 (Cop 10), 
Southern groups understood it as a longer term structural and political 
issue, not based on single events. Northern NGOs, it was observed, 
attempted to place their agenda as the collective agenda and when this 
was opposed, it provoked a strong reaction from Northern NGOs.

Gendered voices were muffled
It was felt that the space for women’s voices and concerns had shrunk. 
Radical critiques were not articulated or made vocal. While various 
issues were informed by gender concerns, they were not gender concerns 
these were not articulated in the depth and complexity that women had 
been highlighting. Gender concerns were also absent from the climate 
discussions.

WSF organization as an event
Participants reported that, at the Asian groups meeting on February 1, 
there was a proposition to articulate an understanding of critical 
issues from a Southern perspective. This was rejected by the Asian 
members of the International Council of the WSF (IC) - out of 22 to 25 
people, there were 2 Japanese, 1 Korean, 1 Chinese and the rest, Indian. 
It was observed that the meeting revolved around where to hold the next 
event, leaving little space to debate real issues. This was is in stark 
contrast to the Latin American groups, who were attempting to bring 
about a convergence on key issues and were supported by Latin American 
IC members.
Also taken note was the massive international funding agencies’ 
sponsorship of the WSF this year and its obvious implications on the 
content and thrust of the Forum.

Participation of the youth
Several participants noted the strong participation of the youth. 
However, there was also a limited involvement of youth groups in some of 
the critical discussions. While they were present in large numbers at 
the Forum and in the rallies, they were hardly involved in the various 
sessions that took place.


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www.icrindia.org

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