Posted Sunday, January 18, 2004; 13.35GMT Tempers inside the fourth annual meeting of the World Social Forum — the developing world's answer to the World Economic Forum — were even hotter last week than the blistering Bombay weather outside. The tone was set by Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy, whose novel The God of Small Things won the Booker Prize in 1997. She accused the U.S. of building a militaristic empire under the guise of the fight against terrorism. "The WSF demands justice and survival," she thundered. "For these reasons, we must consider ourselves at war."
The WSF is a place where activists, NGOs and leaders of the anti-globalization movement get the chance to make their voices heard. This year close to 100,000 people — from 132 countries and 2,600 organizations — converged on a dusty old exhibition center in Goregaon, a suburb 35 kilometers north of Bombay. Their theme: "Another World Is Possible". The possibilities they explored ranged from new ideas for peace in the Middle East (Palestinian activist Mustafa Barghouti called U.S. support for Israel "the worst mistake" the country has made) to a fairer deal for struggling farmers (French capitalism-basher José Bové decried the control of food production by multinationals). One thing all the speeches had in common: anger at America's dominance of the world's political and social agenda.
Delegates from Africa, which harbors more than half the world's HIV/AIDS population, complained that the U.S. is not doing enough to help stop the disease. "If they can spend billions on a war [in Iraq] that was not required, then why can't they give a little more to solve a global health crisis?" wondered Chris Kinyanjui, from ActionAid Malawi. Maude Barlow, a member of the Peoples World Water Forum, warned against the dangers of allowing corporations to control the developing world's dwindling reserves of clean water. Multinational companies "are determined to turn our water systems into a for-profit concern," she claimed. "But we want the World Trade Organization and the World Bank out of water. Water should be returned to the people."
While all the delegates agree that the WSF is a wonderful way to show solidarity, few seem to expect concrete results. "This place is about getting to know each other," says David Minoves of the Catalan delegation. "The solutions will come later." Perhaps, but only if the folks in Goregaon and Davos start doing a lot more talking to one another.
Across the Great Divide [Jan. 19, 2003]
Why Davos' élite must listen to the young leaders of the Bridging Europe Initiative
Mogadishu at 60 Miles an Hour Arms merchants are once again doing brisk business after a rapid change of power in this tough town, but so far the peace has held
The Year of The Nuke A rundown of the world's nuclear powerhouses, and what to expect in the coming months
Tempers inside the fourth annual meeting of the World Social Forum — the developing world's answer to the World Economic Forum — were even hotter last week than the blistering Bombay weather outside. The tone was set by Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy, whose novel The God of Small Things won the Booker Prize in 1997. She accused the U.S. of building a militaristic empire under the guise of the fight against terrorism. "The WSF demands justice and survival," she thundered. "For these reasons, we must consider ourselves at war." 
Premium Content
