Another World Is Possible!

Workers' Daily Internet Edition: Article Index :

Another World Is Possible! European Social Forum 2004

International Demonstration through Central London Concludes ESF

From the European Social Forum:
Lessons of Ireland
The Future of Palestine
The Right to Access Is an Essential Condition of the Right to Health Care
"Chavez – Inside the Coup"
Not-In-Our-Name Music Drama: "Occupation Is Not Liberation"

The Call of the Assembly of Social Movements

European Social Forum 2004

As part of the organised movement of the working class and the people’s movement of Europe to address the difficult problems facing modern society, against the increasing backdrop of the dangerous escalation of war, anti-social measures and violation of basic human rights by Britain and the other European powers, the European Social Forum gathered from October 15-17 in London as a manifestation of the people that another world is possible.

Over 20,000 people from nearly 70 countries registered for the three-day events of the ESF, which took place at venues across London with the main venues at Alexandra Palace in North London and Bloomsbury in central London. Participants flocked to hear over 2,500 speakers at over 500 plenary sessions, seminars and workshops, and to discuss with passion and enthusiasm how to make a different world possible. An integral part of the Forum was a cultural programme with more than 100 films, music, drama, poetry and exhibitions. The six central themes of the ESF were: against war; for democracy and fundamental rights; for social justice against privatisation and deregulation, for workers’, social and women’s rights; against corporate globalisation and for global justice; against racism and discrimination and for equality and diversity; and for a solution to the environmental crisis, against neo-liberalism and for sustainable societies.

The Assembly of Social Movements which met during the ESF called for national mobilisations in all European countries on March 19 against war, racism, and against a neo-liberal Europe, against privatisation, against the Bolkestein project (named after Frits Bolkestein, the EU commissioner for the Internal Single Market and Taxation, champion of deregulation and big business, who upholds corporate governance in Britain as a model for the rest of the EU) and against the attacks on working time; for a Europe of rights and solidarity between the peoples. The date marks the second anniversary of the start of the war against Iraq and the meeting of the European Council. The networks and alliances established during the three days will be strengthened in the coming weeks and months and years. The next World Social Forum will be held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in January 2005. The next European Social Forum will be hosted by Greece at Athens in March 2006.

The ESF in London represented the reality of the movement of the working class and peoples of the globe for another world. Within that movement are different trends, shades of opinion and viewpoints, forces on various fronts of struggle for their rights and against oppression, united around the vision and programme that Another World Is Possible. The Forum underlined the isolation of the warmongers, the imperialists and all reaction, while presenting starkly that since these forces in power present such a great danger to humanity, such an oppressive, exploitative and destructive force, it is an urgent task to build the movement for a new world in opposition to the power of the warmongers, deprive them of their power and establish the people as the decision-makers. The ESF was an important manifestation that the progressive forces are engaged in this task, an action in itself towards this end. To continue to advance, the movement must continue to discuss and analyse the causes of the problems facing society and their solution.

We call on the working class and people of Britain to strengthen their unity around this important task and step up their initiatives based on their own strength.

Over 70,000 international demonstrators marched through central London on October 17 to a rally at Trafalgar Square calling for an end to war, racism and privatisation and for a Europe of peace and social justice.

The march marked the culmination of the third European Social Forum, and was organised in conjunction with the Stop the War Coalition, CND and the Muslim Association of Britain.

The different sections of the march took at least two and a half hours to set off from Russell Square, beginning at 1.00 pm, marching past parliament, up Whitehall past Downing Street, before rallying in Trafalgar Square, though such was the diverse nature of the demonstration that many contingents never reached the rally before having to return home.

Rose Gentle and Reginald Keys spoke at Trafalgar Square. Both have lost sons who were serving with the invading forces in Iraq and called for the troops to be brought home.

The demonstration which thronged the streets of central London, while focusing on opposing and ending the war in Iraq and demanding the removal of Anglo-American chieftains Bush and Blair, was also a powerful manifestation of the movement for the alternative and against the parties of the warmongers, as well as embodying all the concerns of the international contingents who made up the European Social Forum and its agenda for a different world.

Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Fein, led the important discussion of hundreds of people packed into this seminar. In his remarks and answers to questions and contributions Gerry Adams said that the first lesson of Ireland was not to invade and occupy another country. The simple but profound remark summed up the stand of the people towards all of the imperialist powers. He said everything in Ireland had to be seen in the context of British colonial rule and he explained briefly its history. He spoke about what had to be done in ending the union between Britain and Ireland and creating relations of equality and mutual independence. He spoke about the techniques that had been perfected in Ireland by Britain which it was using throughout the world.

Gerry Adams pointed out that it was vitally important for the working class and people of Britain to grasp the necessity to campaign for Irish independence and he added that what Britain is doing in Ireland in "your name" means people have to be involved in ending Britain’s rule. One speaker pointed out that the attack on and imprisonment of many in the Muslim community was likened to the interment of the Irish. She asked Gerry Adams to speak about their rich experience in protecting their communities. After giving one example of how they had organised to prevent the smashing of their communities Gerry Adams said that their work was aimed at every citizen not from the point of view of forcing liberation on people but creating the conditions so that people will seize freedom for themselves.

The Future of Palestine

Thousands gathered for this plenary session. The first speaker spoke about the death and injury of the children of Palestine carried out by the criminal Israeli state. Jamal Juma spoke about Israel’s Wall, which had been condemned by the world, and he condemned the re-colonisation of the Arab world with Islam phobia used to justify the mass killings of the people. He said that the ability of people all over the world is greater than the nuclear arsenal, the social and people’s movements are a force against the new colonisation. He called for boycott against Israel.

Then both an Israeli speaker Jonathan Shapiro Israeli senior helicopter pilot serving in occupation and the first of 26 pilots to sign letter refusing to serve in occupation and Mustapha Bharghouti Palestinian Director of Health development and Information Project Ramallah, received standing ovations for their very moving contributions to the discussion at the plenary session. Mustapha said that the situation is not one of negotiation. He said Israel is waging a comprehensive war against the Palestinian people destroying health, education, economy and infrastructure. This was the worst type of occupation and longest in modern history with 1,000 Israelis killed, 3,450 Palestinians in a population of 3.6 million. He pointed out that Sharon and others like him are not heroes, they should be in prison, the real heroes are people like Jonathan Shapiro. In his contribution Jonathan Shapiro said when we wrote our letter refusing to fly missions into the occupied territories it had a big impact in Israeli society. Some called us traitors, some said it is the first time they felt hope in a long time. He said that they have had a lot of support in the army and the air force people ring us and say they support what we are doing, but they do not have enough courage to refuse. He said that the top commanders know we are the tip of an iceberg, that is why they come down so hard on us.

Both pointed out in their conclusions that the joint struggle of the Palestinian people and the struggle of the Israeli people against the criminal actions of the Israeli Zionists was not enough and called for the peoples of Europe to demand economic and military sanctions against Israel.

The Right to Access Is an Essential Condition of the Right to Health Care

About sixty people, many from the European Network for Right to Health, People’s Health Movement, attended this seminar. The issue of how our health care systems are funded and for the people to demand first claim on the social product in order to guarantee their right to access health care at the highest level was highlighted.

"Chavez – Inside the Coup"

Over 500 people attended a crowded cinema area to see the acclaimed Irish film documentary "Chavez - inside the coup" which was very well, received people applauding for several minutes at the end.

Not-In-Our-Name Music Drama: "Occupation Is Not Liberation"

St Michael’s Church, Camden, was the venue for this opera, a musical and dramatic co-operation from cultural activists who have come together in the Not-In-Our-Name cultural group. Well over an hour long, it gave cultural expression to the opposition to war and the occupation of Iraq, and affirmed that liberation cannot come from an outside force. Its framework was that of a People’s Tribunal, in which the warmongers are indicted for their crimes and the people affirmed as their own liberators. An Iraqi mother sings her story, which is reflected in dance, while a chorus connects the action. The declaration that the war is not in our name and the opposition in the name of the soldier marks a turning point. The transition from the crimes of war to the resistance of the people and the affirmation of their culture was reflected in a continual background of projected images. A powerful performance.

We come from all the campaigns and social movements, "no vox" organisations, trade unions, human rights organisations, international solidarity organisations, anti-war and peace and feminist movements. We come from every region in Europe to gather in London for the third European Social Forum. We are many, and our strength is our diversity.

Today war represents the harshest and most real face of neo-liberalism. The war and the occupation of Iraq, the occupation of Palestine, the massacre in Chechnya, and the hidden wars in Africa are crushing the future of humanity. The war in Iraq was justified by lies. Today Iraq is humiliated and destroyed. Iraqis are prisoners of war and terror. The occupation brought neither freedom, nor better conditions of life. On the contrary, today the supporters of the thesis of "clash of civilisation" are stronger.

We are fighting for the withdrawal of the occupying troops in Iraq, for an immediate halt to the bombing and for the immediate restitution of sovereignty to the Iraqi people. We support the right of the Iraqi people to resist the occupation.

We support the Palestinian and Israeli movements fighting for a just and lasting peace. Following the judgment of the UN International Court of Justice and the unanimous vote of the European countries in the UN General Assembly we call for an end to the Israeli occupation and the dismantling of the apartheid wall. We call for political and economic sanctions on the Israeli government as long as they continue to violate international law and the human rights of the Palestinian people. For these reasons we will mobilise for the international week of action against the apartheid wall from 9 to 16 November, and for European days of action on December 10 and 11, the anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights.

The destabilisation of global climate poses an unprecedented threat to our children's future and to humanity: We support the call from environmental organisations for international action on climate change in 2005. We support the campaigns against GMOs and for safe agriculture, food and environment.

In February 2005 we will join the actions of protest against the NATO summit in Nice. We oppose the G8’s self-assumed task of global government and neo-liberal policies, and therefore we pledge to mobilise massively on the occasion of the G8 summit in Scotland in July 2005.

We want another Europe, which rejects sexism and violence against women and recognises the right to choose an abortion. We support the international day of mobilisation against violence against women on 25 November and the European initiative. We support mobilisation to celebrate International Women's Day on 8 March. We support the European initiative on 27/28 May in Marseilles proposed by the World March for Women.

The ESF is opposed to all forms of segregated provision for disabled people. In all work about disabled people the ESF supports the principle of "Nothing about us without us". All ESF organisations should actively include disabled people. The ESF opposes all eugenics and fights for the rights to life and full civil rights for disabled people. All ESF events must be fully accessible for disabled people. We recognise that sign language is a basic necessity for the inclusion of Deaf people.

We stand against racism and Fortress Europe and for the rights of migrants and asylum seekers; for freedom of movement; for citizenship of residence and the closing of detention centres. We oppose deportation of migrants. We propose a day of action on 2 April 2005, against racism, for freedom of movement and for the right to stay as an alternative to a Europe based on exclusion and exploitation.

The Assembly of the Social Movements supports the Indymedia global solidarity statement and condemns the seizure of the indymedia servers as an attack on free speech, press freedom, privacy and the right to communicate, and calls for a full investigation in the seizure of the Indymedia Servers.

We express our solidarity to the Greek sailor Giorgos Monastiriotis, who was condemned 3 years and 4 months when he refused to take part in a military mission in the Gulf and thus participate in the war against Iraq. We demand the immediate dropping of any charges against him. We express our solidarity to all soldiers of all nationalities who refuse to take part in the occupation and the repression of Iraqi resistance.

At a time when the draft for the European Constitutional treaty is about to be ratified, we must state that the peoples of Europe need to be consulted directly. The draft does not meet our aspirations. This constitution treaty consecrates neo-liberalism as the official doctrine of the EU; it makes competition the basis for European community law, and indeed for all human activity; it completely ignores the objectives of ecologically sustainable society. This constitutional treaty does not grant equal rights, the free movement of people and citizenship for everyone in the country they live in, whatever their nationality; it gives NATO a role in European foreign policy and defence, and pushes for the militarisation of the EU. Finally it puts the market first by marginalising the social sphere, and hence accelerating the destruction of public services.

We are fighting for another Europe. Our mobilisations bring hope of a Europe where job insecurity and unemployment are not part of the agenda. We are fighting for a viable agriculture controlled by the farmers themselves, an agriculture that preserves jobs, and defends the quality of environment and food products as public assets. We want to open Europe to the world, with the right to asylum, free movement of people and citizenship for everyone in the country they live in. We demand real social equality between men and women, and equal pay. Our Europe will respect and promote cultural and linguistic diversity and respect the right of peoples to self-determination and allow all the different peoples of Europe to decide upon their futures democratically. We are struggling for another Europe, which is respectful of workers’ rights and guarantees a decent salary and a high level of social protection. We are struggling against any laws that establish insecurity through new ways of subcontracting work.

We are fighting for a Europe that refuses war, a continent of international solidarity and ecologically sustainable society. We fight for disarmament, against nuclear weapons, and against US and NATO military bases. We support all those who refuse to serve in the military.

We reject the privatisation of public services and common goods like water. We are fighting for human, social, economic, political and environmental rights to defeat and overcome the rule of the market, the logic of profit and the domination of the third world by debt. We refuse the use of "war on terrorism" to attack civil and democratic rights, and to criminalise dissent and social conflict.

The European Social Movement supports the national mobilisation of the Italian movement on 30 October to mark the signing of the European Constitutional Treaty – against war, liberalisation and racism, to get the troops out of Iraq and for another Europe. The European Social Movement supports the national mobilisation in Barcelona against the summit of Zapatero, Chirac and Schroeder on the European constitution in January 2005. We support the mobilisation on November 11, 2004, against the Bolkestein directive.

At a time when the new European Commission shamelessly boasts a high profile of laissez-faire politics, we must start a process of mobilisation in all European countries in order to impose the recognition of both collective and individual social, political, economic, cultural and ecological rights for men and women alike. To enable all the peoples of Europe to join this process, we must build a movement that overrides our differences and groups all the forces of the peoples of Europe ready to be involved in the struggle against European neo-liberalism.

March 20, 2005, marks the second anniversary of the start of the war against Iraq. On March 22 and 23 the European Council meets in Brussels. We call for national mobilisations in all European countries. We call for a central demonstration in Brussels on 19 March against war, racism, and against a neo-liberal Europe, against privatisation, against the Bolkestein project and against the attacks on working time; for a Europe of rights and solidarity between the peoples. We call all the social movements and the European trade union movements to take to the streets on this day.