[WSF-Discuss] Durban press conference begins in 50 minutes

[Patrick Bond]

(available on skypecast if you write to patricksouthafrica ... at 10am 
our time)

*Press Release*
**

*Event :* World Social Forum FESTIVAL FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

*Date :* 26 January 2008
*Time :* 10 for 10:30am

*Venue :* Diakonia Centre, 20 Diakonia Street, Durban

*Theme : *The State of the People / ASINAMALI

**

*Press Conference : Led by Prof. Dennis Brutus and Prof. Fatima Meer*

* *

*Date :* 22 January 2008

*Venue :* Diakonia Centre, 20 Diakonia Street

*Time :* 10 am


On Saturday, 26 January at Diakonia Centre in central Durban starting at 
10am, hundreds of progressive activists will gather to contemplate the 
WSF, develop strategy in workshops, air local grievances against 
municipal neo-liberalism and a repressive state, forge unity, and march 
to nearby targets protesting injustice at 4pm. The event is being 
arranged by the KwaZulu-Natal Social Movements Indaba network, the 
University of KwaZulu-Natal Centre for Civil Society, Diakonia Council 
of Churches, Streetnet, Treatment Action Campaign, South Durban 
Community Environmental Alliance, Wentworth Development Forum, KZN 
Subsistence Fishermen's Coalition, Peoples Social Movement, Palestine 
Support Committee, Chatsworth residents, Merebank residents, and other 
civil society organisations committed to social justice. There will be 
seven workshop breakaway groups to discuss issues central to the people 
and the planet, in conflict with profits and the police state Durban is 
becoming. We will also tackle the explicit grievances that WSF 
constituents will raise, and at 4pm depart Diakonia for a protest march 
to raise our voices against injustice.

Please Note :

- More information will be posted at http://www.ukzn. ac.za/ccs, where 
we will also be running a skypecast so comrades across SA, Africa and 
the world can tune in.
- Lunch will be provided, but please RSVP for a free meal ticket, by 
calling 031260 3195

*WORLD SOCIAL FORUM 2008: A GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AND MOBILISATION
*
Millions of women and men, organizations, networks, movements, and trade 
unions from all parts of the world will act together on January 26 to 
show that another world is possible

On January 22, 2008 press conferences from cities across the world will 
announce details of the 2008 decentralized World Social Forum Global Day 
of Mobilization and Action.

Millions of people all over the world will march, speak, celebrate, and 
dialogue in villages, rural zones, and urban centers. They will mobilize 
on January 26 in the Global Day of Mobilization and Action to coincide 
with the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland.

The neo-liberal gathering of the elites in Switzerland represents 
the “old” world, with its elites, economists, experts, and ideologies 
that produce violence, exploitation, exclusion, poverty, hunger and 
ecological disaster and deprive people of human rights. In contrast, 
the people’s movement of movements will raise their collective voices 
and take action all around the globe as the World Social Forum 2008.

The World Social Forum is an open space where social movements, 
networks, NGOs and other civil society organizations come together to 
raise issues, debate ideas democratically, formulate proposals, share 
experiences, and network for effective action. These movements are 
opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital and all forms 
of imperialism. Since the first worldwide encounter in 2001, the World 
Social Forum has become a permanent global process seeking and building 
alternatives to neo-liberal policies.

World Social Forums have taken place at the end of January at different 
sites throughout the world each year for the past seven years, and their 
spirit will continue to be reflected in the activities planned at those 
same sites and worldwide in 2008.

On January 22nd, press conferences will take place in:

- Durban, South Africa
- Atlanta, USA
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Mumbai, India
- Rome, Italy
- Brussels, Belgium
- Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
- Erbil, Iraq (to be confirmed)
- Seoul, Korea

The press conferences will highlight actions happening in each country 
as well as stories from the front lines of people’s struggles.

Millions of people, workers, organizations, networks, and movements 
around the world are struggling, against neo-liberalism, war, 
colonialism, racism, and patriarchy with rich and varied proposals of 
real-life alternatives. They represent all ages, peoples, cultures, and 
beliefs united by the strong conviction that ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE!

The website www.wsf2008. net <http://www.wsf2008. net> is on line. From 
now until January 26th, the Global Day of Action, it will be the main 
communication tool for organizing actions as well as the main source of 
information about the World Social Forum 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: _http://www.wsf2008. net/eng/node/ 2844_