Peoples Dialogue on Alternative Regional Strategies for Equitable and Sustainable Development and Regional Alternatives to Globalised Capitalism

Peoples Dialogue on Alternative Regional Strategies for Equitable and Sustainable Development and Regional Alternatives to Globalised Capitalism
WSF 5, Sunday 30th, 8.30-11.30 am
Venue: Space 11, Number 7325 H 502

Speakers include: Walden Bello, Moema Miranda, Dot Keet, Gonzalo Berron & Brid Brennan
Chair: Meena Menon, Focus On The Global South-India

Perspectives from:
CHINA & ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations)
MERCOSUR (Mercado do Cono Sur)
SADC (Southern African Development Community)
ALCA (Accordo do comercio Livre das Americas)
'Another' EUROPEAN UNION

Spanish

The strategic global significance of regional groupings is increasingly evident with the ever-growing power and assertiveness of the regional economic power blocks created by the richest and most powerful countries in the world, namely the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA) driven by the US, and the ever-expanding European Union.

In the simultaneously regionalised-and-globalised world economy, the political and economic regrouping and mutual strengthening of neighbouring countries of the South has become a survival imperative. But these countries face contradictory forces that threaten and undermine the alternative developmental potential in their own regions and their creation of more effective bases from which they can deal together with the hostile global economic system and regime.

The major powers are using offensive unilateral, bilateral, plurilateral and regional strategies in order to counter the potential in other regional groupings in the South, such as MERCOSUR in South America, CARICOM in the Caribbean, SADC in Southern Africa and others. Washington's proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA/ALCA) and Brussel's proposed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with regional groupings of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries aim to incorporate such countries into vast 'free trade' regions dominated by the US and the EU and their global companies.

In the face of this assault, popular organisations within the actual and potential strategic developmental regions of the South have launched Peoples Dialogues within and between their regions to share information and formulate joint strategies to build up popular campaigns and alternatives for South-South development.
It is essential that we also develop South-North dialogues and campaigns in order to counter the strategies of the major powers from within as well as from without. It is essential for us all that we create and campaign for 'de-globalised' strategies appropriate for our communities and countries and our respective regions, and diverse and sustainable regional alternatives to globalised neo-liberal capitalism.

Contact: Brid Brennan - Mobile 00-31-6-3049 4829