Another world is possible1 January 2008
Activists around the world will be organising events this weekend to mark the annual mobilisation of the World Social Forum (WSF).
Thousands of groups from the global justice movement will take part in the WSF's Global Day of Action on 26 January, including:
- Environmental activists
- Peasant farmers' movements
- Women's organisations
- Development and human rights groups
Social verses economic
The WSF's purpose is to coordinate global campaigns against:
- Injustice and exploitation
- Corporate power
- Environmental destruction
The WSF is timed to coincide with the World Economic Forum, an annual meeting of global business and political leaders.
They come together to work out how to manage the global economy often in the interests of multinational corporations and global elites.
Act local, think global
Friends of the Earth will be joining development campaign organisations in an action to highlight the problems with new European trade deals, including Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
EPAs are trade deals currently being forced on 76 countries in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific region (ACP) by the EU.
EPAs will damage industries, jobs, livelihoods and the environment in these countries
Resisting unjust trade deals
Before Christmas many ACP governments were bullied into signing up to interim deals.
In 2008 they face pressure from the EU to go even further. To sign away their rights to control investment by multinational corporations in their economies.
Friends of the Earth is calling on the UK Government to use its influence to stop these unfair deals from going ahead.
We want to halt the EU's destructive corporate-driven trade agenda.
Instead an alternative approach to trade that protects poor communities and the environment must be developed.
Tackling global challenges from the grassroots
Friends of the Earth International is also working with global movements to tackle false and unjust solutions to global environment problems.
Most recently warning of the growing corporate involvement in suggesting ill-conceived solutions to tackle climate change.
Climate Justice Now!
Climate Justice Now! - a new global coalition - is demanding that we tackle this crisis by supporting:
- Reduced consumption
- Indigenous peoples' rights to conserve forests
- Energy efficiency
- Safe renewable energy
© World Social Forum
