abcde conference in Oslo

national | miscellaneous | news report

Wednesday June 26, 2002 21:36

by Frederick Howard - IMC NORWAY

frederick at hybridmedia dot no

Web films, radio shows, texts and photos from the demonstrations and the Reclaim in Oslo june 24-26th.

http://www.indymedia.no

Massive protests against the World Bank

Monday, June 24th: While researchers gathered at Holmenkollen Park Hotel for the first day of the World Banks ABCDE conference, protesters filled the streets opposing the Banks neoliberal policies. According to estimates based on Oslo2002 counts during the demonstration, 8800 participated. Oslo 2002s website now lists the number of protesters at 15.000, while the police estimates 10.000.

The demonstrations were a colourful fireworks of carnival, juggling, banners, balloons, slogans, dance and music - a powerfull manifestation of the diversity and creativity in the global alternative movement. Curious citizens watched the protests from the roadside, and many chose to join the protesters during the demo.

As the demonstration was about to start at 18:00. Jernebanetorget square was stuffed, and it took almost an hour to get the march moving. Several appeals were held, including by Audun Lysebakken (socialist left part) and Alejandro Bendana, former Nicaraguan UN ambassador and Jubilee south member. The demonstration moved from Jernbanetorget past the National Bank, the Oslo Bourse, and the dept. of foreign affairs before returning to Jernbanetorget by Karl Johan - Oslos parade street. Several more appeals were held afterwards - by the Argentinian labour union leader Jorge Smith, Attac-leader Vegard Hole, African Women's Policy Network leader Helen Wangusa and leader of the Centre Youth Anne Beathe Krisitansen.

A side note: The police were invisible during the entire (non-violent) demonstration, and the expectations of Ragnarok in central Oslo were shown to be entirely baseless.

Following the demo, a successfull reclaim the streets party was held at Vaterlandsparken.
Media:
Pictures: the demo:1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Reclaim the Streets: 1 | 2

http://www.indymedia.no

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CWI REPORT FROM NORWAY

by cwi report - cwi report

Thu Jun 27, 2002 00:15

Norway
World Bank ‘poverty’ conference bunkers on the Heights of Oslo while city celebrates anti-capitalist carnival
"The sad statistics about African economic performance have become so familiar as almost to lose their ability to shock: that, for example, more than half the population lives on less than $1 a day, 250 million people have no drinking water, and two-thirds of the world's cases of Aids are in southern Africa.

"Personally the statistic I find the most disturbing is that much of sub-Saharan Africa has lower living standards than Europe had at the time of the Roman Empire. It is as though 2,000 years of progress have entirely passed this continent by. It is disturbing because anyone looking at any plan to try to lift Africa's performance has to see it in the context of this failure. We've got to believe that 2,000 years of experience are wrong." Hamish McRae, The Independent (London), 26 June 2002.

More than 10,000 demonstrated in Oslo, the capital of Norway, on 24 June, against the opening of the World Bank’s so-called ABCDE Conference. This was achieved despite a vicious scare mongering campaign conducted by the press and the police. The colourful demonstration, which was like a carnival, was peaceful and the police were nowhere to be seen.

While the demonstrators were marching, the delegates at the ABCDE Conference, held at the luxury Holmenkollen Park Hotel, high in the hills above the capital, started their discussion on ‘fighting world poverty’ - ignoring the fact that the policy of the World Bank is part of the problem, not the solution!

"Our World is not for sale", was the main slogan, adopted by the organisers, ‘Oslo2002’, a rainbow coalition. Many of the slogans and the speeches were directed at the World Bank’s neo-liberal agenda. However, the struggle against privatisations, de-regulations and cuts is global as well as local. We, the CWI members, were part of the trade union contingent, where one demonstrator carried a placard against the closure of one of Oslo’s nursing homes.

The speeches by protest organisers were anti-capitalist, but did not mention socialism. The Left and the trade unionist activists sang the Internationale, the signature tune of international workers’ solidarity and struggle. But apart from CWI literature, no one else talked about linking the day-to-day struggle against the effects of global capitalism with the struggle for socialism.

Twenty-one trade unions supported the demonstration, amongst them the TUC in Oslo, Oslo council workers and the city’s transport workers union. The trade unions were at the front of the demo with their red banners.

Workplace fears
Trade unions tried to campaign for the protests at the work places, but the press campaign against the demo, all the warnings issued that it will be dangerous and violent, had an affect. Workers were concerned and many discussions were held at work places, which concentrated on the issue of safety.

Forty-three organisations in total supported the demonstrations, including Attac in Sweden and Denmark. However, it was particularly the youth that made this demonstration into a lively and colourful march.

The police stopped nine demonstrators from Denmark and one from Sweden from entering Norway and taking part in the demo. Nineteen, in total, were arrested before the march. The reason given by the police was that the arrested had taken part in similar demonstrations and were "registered".

At least $6.6 million was spent ‘protecting’ the World Bank Conference. Public transport and other services were closed for several hours on 24 June. The Oslo council, after first deciding to open schools for demonstrators’ accommodation, changed its decision, after criticism by the police, and closed the school. Demonstrators had to find their own accommodation, and were able to because working people in Oslo welcomed them as guests in their own houses. One man, who did not even supported the demo, moved out from his house and let demonstrators stay there.

The demonstration was a success, despite all the repressive measures. CWI members from Norway and Sweden sold papers and literature worth £145.00. Thirty people gave their names and addresses and asked for more information about the CWI.

Trond- Sverre Kolltveit, CWI Norway, 26 June 2002

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abcde conference in Oslo

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