Blogging the WSF

Mumbai, Jan 20 - The organizers of the WSF have put together a series of very compelling events with some real top notch speakers.  One such event was entitled "G-20: A Passing Phenomenon or Here to Stay?" organized by Fredrich-Ebert Stiftung, Focus on the Global South, Economic Research Foundation, and the CUT from Brazil.  The featured speakers with Ambassador Clodoaldo Hugueney of Brazil and Shri. SN Menon, Special Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Indian government.  Members of civil society, incuding Walden Bello of Focus, Jayati Ghosh and Zhiyuan Cui of ERF, Dot Keet of SOuth Africa and reps from Via Campesina and the CUT, were given the chance to answer and ask questions.

It became clear that there are major faultlines within, and between, the governments; and major gaps with civil society positions.  Both governmental reps characterized the G-22 as only about obtaining increased market access for developing country agro exports, and about fundamentally continuing the trade negotiations.  The Brazilian rep seemed more willing to work as an individual negotiator around other issues, including an opposition to the Singapore Issues in investment, but felt that the efficacy of the G-22 revolved around its singular focus. 

Walden Bello countered that the G-22 might have been larger if the smaller countries in Asia and Africa felt that the grouping was anything but a legitimacy seeking cover for the Cairns Group of agro-exporting countries.  Nevertheless, Bello characterized the grouping as an important political conjuntural alliance.  Dot Keet also pushed the reps to answer why, even if their focus were only agriculture, why would they not look at broader investment and service sector employment issues essential for agro development.  This was left unanswered.

In other news, the South African judge who came to the WSF to participate in forums on HIV-AIDS, has been accused of raping a member of his delegation.  Many at the social forum are scandalized by this, which happened only hours ago. 

The Grassroots Global Justice delegation from the US threw a party last night that was well attended by comrades from France, Sri Lanka, Brazil and of course India. Still recovering a bit from that.

Finally, folks from Miami Workers Center and SOuthwest Organizing Projec in US, and various groups from South Asia have shown some willingness to host Venezuelan activists and policy makers in undertaking organizing and technical trainings.  This is a very exciting development and will do much to bolster the movement there.

That's it for now...