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VOICES FROM THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM

The Networked Journalism Project, organised by TNI's Networked Politics, brought together a team of journalists from around the world to share discussions at the World Social Forum with the media.

'WSF has had a prophetic voice'
Walden Bello interviewed by Gabriel Elizondo
People are now looking to the World Social Forum more than ever for the kinds of alternatives that we need to restructure the world now that the whole system has lost its legitimacy.
See also It is time to aim beyond capitalism

Scrap carbon trading
Oscar Reyes
The response of political leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos to falling carbon prices is to call for a reformed and extended carbon market. In Belem, climate justice activists and campaigners argue for the whole flawed system of carbon trading to be scrapped.

Bailing out the planet
Brendan Smith
'Green paper gold' could provide a much-needed fiscal stimulus while protecting the planet from climate change

New International Financial Institutions for a New Global Financial Architecture
Marcos Arruda

The labour movement’s response to the economic crisis
Video diaries by Global Labor Strategies with global trade union and social movement activists.
See also “Globalisation from below” tackles the great recession and Bailing out the planet

Declaration of the Assembly of Social Movements in WSF

Climate Justice Assembly Declaration

 


Other Editor's Picks

Israel may still face war crimes charges
Phyllis Bennis interviewed by Thalif Deen
The extreme lawlessness of Israel's attack on Gaza, the shocking human devastation that it caused, and the direct attacks on UN facilities and personnel all elevate the possibility of holding its leaders accountable, in spite of Israel's history of impunity.

 

“Talk of human security helps frame power relations”
David Sogge interviewed by José Manuel Pureza
Since first emerging in UN circles about 15 years ago, “human security” has become part of a common idiom, yet its role is that of an auxiliary team player alongside two paradigms with far heavier political backing: “national security” and “collective security”.

 

Progressive Public Water Management in Europe:
In search of exemplary cases

TNI and Corporate European Observatory
The experiences of Amsterdam, Grenoble and Vienna, among many others, show that progressive and efficient public water delivery companies in Europe can serve as models against the current trend of privatisation. Even good practices have to be adapted and developed further, however, as needs, priorities and circumstances may change.

 


Global perspectives

Sleaze India Inc
Praful Bidwai
The scandal concerning India’s fourth biggest IT company, Satyam, in which more money was stolen than in the Enron case, testifies to how free market policies have encouraged greed and corruption in India.
See also Modi’s lies and the BJP leadership crisis

È possibile sradicare la povertà
Intervista con Susan George di Giuliano Battiston
Non si può uscire dalla crisi economica senza uscire da quella ambientale: ci vuole «keynesianesimo verde».

Harvesting trees to make ecstasy drug
Tom Blickman
Although extraction of safrole, the main raw material for ecstasy production can lead to ecological damage, high profile burnings of the oils are counterproductive and unlikely to lead to a long-term solution.

The greater Middle East: Obama’s six problems
Fred Halliday
An arc of states across "greater west Asia" will force itself on the new president's attention.

Winds of change blow across Cuba
Roger Burbach
As it marks its 50th anniversary, the Cuban revolution is in a process of transition and transformation, with debates on economic and social reforms spreading across society.

Bolivia’s New Constitution
Nick Buxton
Against a barrage of opposition media propaganda funded by Bolivia’s elites, the new constitution in Bolivia was approved with 61% of the popular vote. Hailed as anti-neo-liberal, the new constitution commits to making key indigenous values, such as “living well” (idea of living justly with neighbours and in harmony with the planet), integral to the country’s identity and therefore promoted in all its institutions and policies.

Civil society speaks up
Praful Bidwai
After an initial muted response to the Mumbai attacks, civil society organisations in India and Pakistan are calling for zero tolerance of extremism and terrorism, and pushing for a peaceful solution.

Devaluation race
Boris Kagarlitsky
Russia will likely devaluate its currency hoping to make its economy more competitive, but it doesn't work when devaluation is everybody's game.

Terrorists, freedom fighters, or schlemiels? You pick
Saul Landau
As a supposedly anti-terrorist action, Israel dropped thousands of tons of bombs on Gaza in its latest attack.


En español


Selección del editor

Ir más allá del capitalismo
Entrevista con Walden Bello, por Alejandro Kirk
El Foro Social Mundial tiene la tarea urgente de proponer soluciones alternativas para la crisis mundial del capitalismo, e impulsar un control democrático de la economía y el Estado en todo el planeta.

 

El proceso bolivariano y las tensiones de un proyecto alternativo
Edgardo Lander entrevistado por Franck Gaudichaud
Como proyecto de otra sociedad, el bolivarianismo es un proyecto en cambio permanente, y depende sobre todo de la presencia de organizaciones de base preexistentes, con experiencia de lucha y de participación colectiva.

 

Después de Gaza, divisiones agravadas
Mariano Aguirre
La ofensiva de Israel sobre Gaza ha disminuido las posibilidades de una negociación con los palestinos. Por otro lado, el nombramiento del ex senador demócrata George Mitchell como enviado especial del gobierno de Estados Unidos para Oriente Medio es un signo positivo.

 

La burbuja del comercio de emisiones
Oscar Reyes
La respuesta de los dirigentes políticos reunidos en el Foro Económico Mundial de Davos consiste en reformar y ampliar el mercado de emisiones. En el Foro Social Mundial, los activistas que defienden la justicia ambiental sostienen que es necesario acabar con el sistema de comercio de emisiones, que está totalmente viciado.

 


Perspectiva global

Reelecciones buenas y malas en Bolivia
Atilio Borón
El rotundo triunfo de Evo Morales en referendo constitucional servirá a los 'analistas independientes' para advertir que esto es solo una estratagema del líder boliviano para perpetuarse en el poder. Este 'peligro' existe siempre en los gobiernos críticos de Estados Unidos, nunca en otros.

Gestión pública y progresista del agua en Europa
En búsqueda de casos ejemplares

Transnational Institute y Corporate European Observatory
Las experiencias de Amsterdam, Grenoble y Viena, entre otras, demuestran que las empresas de suministro de agua públicas, eficientes y progresistas en Europa pueden servir de modelo contra la actual tendencia de privatización. Sin embargo, incluso las buenas prácticas se deben seguir desarrollando y adaptando, ya que las necesidades, las prioridades y las circunstancias pueden cambiar.

¿Terroristas, combatientes por la libertad o infelices? Decidan ustedes
Saul Landau
En una acción supuestamente antiterrorista, Israel dejó caer miles de toneladas de bombas en Gaza.

Declaración de la Asamblea de los movimientos sociales, FSM 2009

Declaración de la Asamblea por la Justicia Climática

New from our network

Stimulus: One Percent for the Imagination
John Cavanagh et al
The Nation >>

La reacción conservadora en Estados Unidos en tiempos de cambio
Manuel Perez Rocha
RMALC >>

Energy crisis (among others) is in the air
The Commoner >>

Sentence for key AQ Khan middleman marks decades of failed Dutch export policiess
www.stoparmstrade.org >>

See also the TNI Briefing Project Butter Factory

Recommended

Lack of inspiration unites Davos delegates
Financial Times

TerraViva

Belem frente a Davos
Carlos Taibo, Dominio público

NGO Consultation on the Commission of Experts of the President of the UN General Assembly on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System

Financial crisis: Silly Money
Bird and Fortune, youtube

Camina por el mundo por la No Violencia
Canalsolidario

Events

17 February
The Global Crisis, Solution and Implications for EU Trade Policy
Susan George debates Gaspar Frontini, the Chief Economist for the EU’s DG Trade, and Ignasi Guardians, Liberal MEP and vice-chair of the Committee on International Trade.
Brussels, Belgium

19 February
It's not the economy, stupid!
Susan George debates the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade
The Hague, Netherlands

28 February
Can we tackle both climate change and poverty?
London, UK

In the media

Prague is a stop for heroin entering Europe
Prague Post

World Social Forum 2009: a generation’s challenge
Geoffrey Pleyers, Open Democracy

Contra oligopólio, FSM pede mídias públicas e alternativas
Vermelho

Banqueros que desataron la crisis deberían ser procesados por crímenes de lesa humanidad
La jornada

Referendo é 'tudo ou nada' para Chávez
Pleito sobre reeleição ilimitada na Venezuela é prova para o futuro do chavismo no país.

Estadao

Banqueros que desataron la crisis deberían ser procesados por crímenes de lesa humanidad
La jornada

Forum sociale: Houtard-Bello, radicali e creativi contro crisi
ASCA

Em década de Chávez, pobreza caiu na Venezuela
BBC Brasil

Looking for a handshake with Obama
Inter Press Service

Britain's big polluters accused of abusing EU's Carbon Trading scheme
The Guardian

India risks losing its nuclear ally in Washington
The National

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