New York and Porto Alegre

Monday February 11, 2002 16:05

by Socialist Worker (Britain) - SWP

20,000 confront the rich, 70,000 plan a new world

YOU WOULDN'T have known it from the news in Britain, but some 90,000 people took part in protests last weekend against capitalism. Some 20,000 hit the streets against the World Economic Forum in New York, while 70,000 gathered in Porto Alegre in Brazil to debate an alternative. ALEX CALLINICOS and MIKE GONZALEZ report from the Porto Alegre. HELEN SHOOTER reports from New York.

THE MOVEMENT against capitalist globalisation is
alive, growing and truly global. Some 70,000 people
here in Porto Alegre, Brazil's southernmost state, are
giving the lie to Clare Short's dismissal of the
movement as well meaning white middle class people who
have no support in the Third World. The World Social
Forum first met in Porto Alegre a year ago. Then,
between 15,000 and 20,000 people took part.

The numbers at this second forum are three or four
times as big. 15,000 young people from all over Latin
America and the rest of the world are staying in the
Youth Camp alone. The opening day of the forum proper
on Friday last week saw over 3,000 people, mainly
Brazilians, listening intently to an hour-long lecture
by Noam Chomsky. Chomsky was given a rapturous welcome
when he addressed a teach-in last Friday on the theme
of "A world without wars."

To enthusiastic cheers he told his audience, "If one
looked at the official definition of terrorism, it
would be identical to the official definition of US
foreign policy." Chomsky's unremitting but often very
lonely fight against US imperialism over the past
generation has made him one of the great symbols of
the new movement. He acts as both a source of
information and analysis, and as a model of political
integrity.

In his speech Chomsky was very clear in his
recognition of the movement's significance, calling it
an "unprecedented" challenge to the capitalist
"masters of the universe", and "the most exciting
opportunity for the workers' movement and the left to
build a real internationalism". Chomsky argued that
the movement was not against globalisation as such:
"We want globalisation in the interests of the world
population. They want globalisation to be their
particular form of corporate globalisation." The forum
has mainly taken the form of conferences, seminars and
over 1,000 workshops.

It started with a demonstration. On Thursday of last
week 50,000 people marched through Porto Alegre. Like
earlier anti-capitalist mobilisations in Europe and
the US, the march was dominated by local
organisations. The banners and slogans of the
Brazilian Workers Party (PT), the left trade union
federation CUT, and the landless labourers' movement
the MST were everywhere.

But if most demonstrators came from all over this
country, their consciousness was global. Banners
connected the fight against neo-liberalism with the
struggles in Argentina and Palestine. The official
sound truck constantly blared out slogans denouncing
imperialism and war. The mood of militancy,
determination and celebration recalled the atmosphere
at the great demonstration of 300,000 against the G8
summit at Genoa on 21 July last year. The popular
rising against neo-liberalism in Argentina has
captured the imagination of the movement throughout
Latin America, and indeed the world.

It was completely unanticipated when the forum was
planned, but Argentina brings into focus many key
issues facing the movement. Around 2,000 Argentinians
came to Porto Alegre, along with many others from the
rest of the Americas-for example 400 from Uruguay,
which lies between Brazil and Argentina. But there are
also many from far further afield. 1,500 came from
Italy, reflecting the enormous radicalisation produced
by Genoa.

The speakers' panels reflect the global nature of the
forum. Alex Callinicos shared a panel with speakers
from Argentina, France, Italy, Pakistan and the
Philippines. The mood at the forum is one of both
celebration and struggle. Both during the breaks and
even while meetings are in session impromptu
demonstrations-about Palestine, abortion, the rights
of the disabled-compete for space with Brazilian
popular bands and dance groups.

Minar, from Focus on the Global South in India, said,
"I am here to basically show that there is an
alternative to the globalism which has been done,
which has been forced on people today. "What I expect
from all of us is to build good solidarity to counter
locally, regionally and globally the effects of
capitalism, and to create a people's alternative
system of governance and economics."

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'They're Enron, we're Argentinians'

By Helen Shooter

THE 20,000 people who took to New York's streets in a
loud, joyous march last Saturday left no doubt that
the anti-capitalist movement is back. Young people
from across the US protested against the meeting of
the World Economic Forum-a private club for business
and political leaders-in the city. The protesters knew
the significance of their march.

This was New York, the site of the attacks on the
World Trade Centre on 11 September. The US media had
attacked the march organisers, Another World is
Possible, for daring to hold the demonstration. "New
York needs protest like it needs another airplane
attack," declared the New York Times. But the marchers
were determined to show their protest against George W
Bush's war and against the power of multinationals.

Julia Steinberger, a student from Boston, explained,
"It's more important than ever to protest. There is a
tough climate here. The government is trying to get
rid of our civil rights since 11 September. "But I
think the World Economic Forum is about a bunch of
thieves who are organising the best way for them to
plunder even more. People should resist and do it
openly."

Ben Weinkove had come along with ten other students
from the local Columbia University to march behind a
banner that read "Stop the war-end terrorism by ending
injustice". "We decided to come here with the banner
to say we're against the war and the media's reaction
to it," he said. Despite the press witch-hunt the
marchers did not face any hostility from passers-by.
Some waved in support from tower block windows. The
marchers even took up the chant "George Bush is a
terrorist" as they reached the final rally.

The giant energy corporation Enron was a key focus for
people's anger. Its collapse last November drove
thousands out of work and opened up a political
scandal linked to President Bush. A group of marchers
carried giant images depicting Bush as a
Frankenstein's monster of Enron, and his defence
secretary, Rumsfeld, with the words "3,000 Afghan
deaths" written across his face. Fought The marchers
also showed their solidarity with the people of
Argentina who have fought back against the impact of
the IMF's crippling debt. At the front of the march
several giant placards read "WEF-they are all Enron,
we are all Argentinians".

The New York Times was forced to admit the day after
Saturday's demo, "The mood was festive, with
cheerleaders belting out anti-capitalist ditties, and
a drum corps banging away on old pots and plastic
drums." "We've scored a victory today," said one
marcher proudly as she left the demonstration.

The marchers were prevented by a heavy police presence
from getting close to the World Economic Forum
cosseted in the luxury Waldorf-Astoria hotel. But they
had shown that the movement against the rich and
powerful could take over the streets of New York. Even
before the demo, students and trade unionists had held
two mobilisations of thousands of people.

Some 2,000 trade unionists and protesters joined a
demonstration against sweatshop labour outside a Gap
store in the centre of New York. Jeff Crosby, a member
of the IUEWA electrical workers' union, made the link
between workers' conditions in the US and around the
world:

"We are all victims of the global economy. General
Electric, where I work, wants to move to Mexico, where
the costs are cheaper. Many workers' jobs will go.
Then in Colombia I hear about workers there fighting
back against companies and even being killed. The
common thread is these multinationals. They threaten
workers everywhere. We have to say 'Another world is
possible,' just like they are talking about in the
conference in Porto Alegre."

Some 1,500 students attended a two-day conference in
Columbia University organised as an alternative to the
World Economic Forum. The students eagerly listened to
a wide range of speakers. Ricardo, a construction
worker from New York, got a standing ovation when he
said, "They tell us history really started on 11
September, but I think it started with the protest in
Genoa last year and with the struggle in Argentina.
That's because we are showing there is an alternative
to neo-liberalism and the corporations' vision of the
world."

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"I come from the US. I am here to learn from other
people around the world, to see what they are doing to
make a real difference, a long lasting change, and not
just dealing with individual issues."

ELIZABETH TAN, Jobs for Justice, speaking in Porto
Alegre

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"It's not just Enron-it's us too. I see those rich
people meeting behind closed doors. I just think some
of those bosses should be locked up in jail."

RUSSELL SHEFFLER, member of the United Steelworkers of
America, New York

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"Yesterday 40,000 children died of hunger around the
world. Today 40,000 children will die of hunger,
preventable hunger around the world. Tomorrow 40,000
children around the world will die of hunger. There
are no headlines about this."

ODED GRAJEW, Porto Alegre Organising Committee