United States criticized in Porto Alegre and Davos

www.granma.cu Havana. January 26,  2003

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.