|
|
FRANCISCO
"CHICO" WHITAKER
Chico is a founding figure of the World Social Forum, and Executive Director
of the Brazilian Catholic Bishops Committee for Justice and Peace. Active
in the Brazilian Workers Party, Chico will be speaking in Sydney for the Sydney
Social Forum.
ALSO SPEAKING: VINCENT
CHAKULYA
Former economist for the Zambian government, Vincent will be speaking about
the crippling impact of debt on African countries.
6:30pm
Monday 16th May |
Background Information
Every week, poverty kills more people than the Boxing Day Tsunami. The poorest
countries in the world are forced to routinely spend more on debt repayments
than they do on health. Each year, while over $1 trillion is spent globally
on the military, a billion people in the developing world are trapped in a
cycle of poverty, struggling under the crushing burden of debt to rich countries.
The rich creditor nations continue to drag their feet on debt relief. John Howard, at this year's World Economic Forum in Switzerland, opposed plans to alleviate poor country debt saying "the biggest thing the developed world can do to alleviate poverty is to remove trade barriers". The reality, though, is that in this era of globalisation and free trade, the gap between rich and poor has increased massively -- both within developed countries like Australia, and between the developed and developing world.
But it's not all bad news. The first few years of the 21st Century have also seen renewed outpourings of protest and the formation of movements against the devastating impacts of neoliberal globalisation, the corporatisation of daily life and rising inequality. Building on these movements we need to articulate our own agendas for change -- for a society based not on division and greed, but on justice, equality and sustainability.
You're invited to come along on World Debt Day to hear the latest about the international campaign to drop the debt and join discussion about the growing international movements for change encapsulated in inspiring events such as the annual World Social Forum. Another world is possible.
What is the World Social Forum?
Begun in 2001, the World Social Forum (WSF) is an annual international event
held by the alternative globalisation movement to help coordinate world campaigns,
share and refine strategies, and inform each other about movements from around
the world and around many different issues. It tends to meet in January when
its 'great capitalist rival', the World Economic Forum (WEF) is meeting in
Davos, Switzerland. This year's WSF in Porto Alegre, Brazil attracted over
150,000 pople. The WSF has inspired a social forum 'movement' of which the
Sydney Social Forum is part. This year's
Sydney Social Forum is being held 27-29 August.
Sponsored by
THE SYDNEY SOCIAL FORUM & JUBILEE AUSTRALIA
