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This cartoon is to remind us how privileged we are as we teach Marx and other theories and topics we enjoy, so that we do not forget the conditions that render our work possible. |
Posted on 01/16/2004 6:36:28 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
MUMBAI: Coming down heavily on US military campaign in Iraq and globalisation, the World Social Forum (WSF) began here on Friday night with a pledge to launch campaign for a new international order ensuring social justice at all levels.
Speakers from different countries urged the US and its allies to stop their show of power in various parts of the world and hand over Iraq to Iraqis while Indian anti-globalisation leaders criticised growing fundamentalism in the country in the context of post-Godhra riots in Gujarat.
Captain Laxmi Sehgal, the INA veteran, said globalisation was a danger and should be fought with full force to stop those trying it to impose it on the public.
Former prime minister V P Singh, in his message read out at the forum, said "another world" was a necessity and not merely a dream.
"There could be only one choice and that is of another world," he said, adding the exploitation, social indifference and communalism should be routed out and the time had come for doing it.
The fourth annual meeting of WSF, being held in Asia for the first time, has brought together thousands of people from 130 countries.
Social activist from Brazil Chico Whitaker, who is also the founder of WSF, said the forum had to challenge the political culture that was deepening in destroying the society. "We should continue with the common struggle for creating better world," he said.
Social activist and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy said the "new imperialism" had emerged and a single empire, uni-polar economic and military hegemony was being imposed by the United States.
She raised the issue of attack on minority in Gujarat state and said "it was new racism and genocide that was being facilitated."
On the US' growing interference in the various parts of the world, Roy suggested that in the new resistance era its office spread over should be identified and forced to shut down.
Iraqi Democratic Front leader said that the US war against Iraq was nothing but a political weapon and a "new hegemonic method."
Time was running out, he said, adding the WSF should form a International crisis committee for Iraq and launch a counter attack on the US intentions.
British Labour Party leader Germie Coben said there was a need for change in mentality to form a world of social justice.
He said that the decision of US and UK on war against Iraq was cynical. "Imperialism and war have shown its brutality and it is time to get together for launching a struggle," Coben said.
Nobel laurate Shirin Ebadi of Iran appealed to the women community to oppose the male-dominated society and fight for an equal place. She asked the UN to send its delegation to the Palestine for giving political freedom to the citizens.
Abadi alleged the US was not allowing the Iraqi and Afghan citizens to exercise their fundamental rights.
Mustafa Bargoudi, Secretary of Democratic Palestine Civil Society, called for rescuing Palestine citizens from the suffering they are going through.
Such as it is.
Yes, here we are contending with China, Russia, pan-Arab fascism, and Islamic Jihad. What are the Socialists doing? They want to rise up from the ashes of Castro, Pol Pot, Mao, and Stalin's destruction and steal center stage.
Progressive Socialist Network Run by Colorado U. professor.
Democratic Socialists of America
U.S. Congressional Progress Caucus members
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This cartoon is to remind us how privileged we are as we teach Marx and other theories and topics we enjoy, so that we do not forget the conditions that render our work possible. |
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