16th January: Welcome to India, Sister!16 January 2004
WSF: Another World
is Possible
is Possible
Many women, each in a beautiful differently coloured sari, have welcomed me here today.
I'm happy to be here.
But also overwhelmed. All of my senses are being stimulated by amazing and terrible things.
Dust and pollution. Crazy traffic. Poverty. Vibrant colours and sensational food. Corporate globalisation may be on the prowl in India, but it has a fierce enemy in India's diverse and vibrant communities. India is proud to be hosting the fourth World Social Forum (WSF) and it's an honour to be here.
Dancers at the opening of the talks
Yesterday was "kite day" in Mumbai. From the tops of their flat roofs, people flew hundreds of colourful paper kites which fluttered amongst the circling vultures under the setting sun. It reminded me of one of the first rallies I attended - more than 20 years ago - flying kites for peace on the side of a Welsh mountain.
World Social Forum: now open But on some other issues, there are differences. Many of these are due to differences in:
The call for peace and against war is the one thing that everyone can agree on.
- Culture
- Ways of working, and
- Ideology
The next few days will be about accepting and embracing these differences so that we can strengthen our networks and develop a mutual understanding.
No one country can fight corporate globalisation alone...we must stand together.
Arundhati Roy
We come together under the call that Another World is Possible, and the passion with which this belief is held is uplifting and inspiring, and I feel like we can move mountains to get there.
Main stage at the WSF
Speaking of mountains in the way, the World Economic Forum (WEF) have issued a statement saying "a better world is possible" in advance of their annual meeting next week - which my colleagues will be reporting from.
A better world for who? I ask myself.
How dare those World Eating Fatcats abuse our
unifying rally and ideals. This is why the WSF is so important.
In solidarity, excitement and optimism,
Hannah
Hannah Griffiths, our Corporates Campaigner is sending daily updates direct from the WSF in India.
© Friends of the Earth
