Global Day of Action
GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION: On January 26, 2008, millions of people marched, spoke, celebrated, and dialogued in villages, rural zones, and urban centers throughout the world - joining in a Global Day of Mobilization and Action. This momentous event happened in place of the World Social Forum (WSF) where tens of thousands of global justice activists have convened every year since 2001 under the banner "Another World Is Possible!" The WSF is an alternative movement to the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland - a gathering of corporate elites and wealthy nations that have imposed neo-liberal economic policies that are intensifying global poverty, disrupting local economies, displacing millions of land-based people, violating human rights and eroding environmental protections. This past summer in Atlanta, GA, 15,000 people convened at the first United States Social Forum (USSF). The USSF reflects a growing national movement for change. From the Wall of Death on the U.S./Mexico border to the broken levees of New Orleans; from the rubble of demolished public housing to the multitude of new prisons; from hospitals that shut out the poor and uninsured to decaying school systems, from ravaged indigenous lands to toxic sites in communities of color - people are declaring that “another world is possible,” and demanding that “another US is necessary!” In this election year, in every city of the U.S., people are demanding change. Sarita Gupta, National Director of Jobs with Justice and member of the National Planning Committee states: "Coming out the US Social Forum, we are clearer about needing to build a national movement connected to an international movement. In that spirit, JwJ believes it is critical to engage in January 26 Days of Action in order to continue linking workers' struggle here in the US and the Global South. JwJ is organizing a wide range of actions from workers' rights, trade, stopping privatization, and against the pending trade agreements with Colombia." As participants on the National Planning Committee of the US Social Forum, we joined our brothers and sisters throughout the globe on this historic day. Our relationship with the rest of the world must change. Imperial policies by George Bush and past presidents have created an environment where the U.S. is at permanent war. “Free trade” policies have enriched few and impoverished many in the U.S. and abroad. We must demand an end to U.S. imperialism and the control of the world's resources by transnational corporations and promote peace, equity and justice. Tom Goldtooth, Director of Indigenous Environmental Network and member of the National Planning Committee states: "The membership of Grassroots Global Justice Alliance recognizes that we live in the country that is pushing economic globalization and violating Human and Environmental Rights. As the base-building groups in the belly of the beast, we are the local voice and struggle against globalization and by taking action on January 26; we are raising the consciousness in our communities to help them understand how to link our struggles with our brothers and sisters in the Global South." On January 22nd, over 20 press conferences took place around the globe: A sample list includes:
The website for the World Social Forum, http://www.wsf2008.net will be the main communication tool and the main source of information about the World Social Forum 2008. If you had an action but did not register it, please do. Follow these instructions on how to Post an Action. |
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