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 News from Around the Americas | January 2006 
Activists Hold Separate Forum in Venezuela
 Natalie Obiko Pearson - Associated Press
| | An activist wearing a hat with read's 'Radical Subversion, No to the Capitalism' marches during a rally as part of the 6th World Social Forum in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan 27, 2006. (AP/Fernando Llano) |
Caracas, Venezuela — The World Social Forum started as an alternative to the market-friendly World Economic Forum, but now there's an alternative to the alternative.
Annoyed by all the focus on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, some anti-globalization activists have split from the World Social Forum to hold their own "Alternative Social Forum" in the Venezuelan capital.
Disgruntled activists complain the ubiquitous red T-shirts of Chavez's party and rows of promotional booths are everywhere at the main event, stifling debate and undermining the forum's capacity to act as a catalyst for social change.
"The World Social Forum was born as an alternative," said Luis Silva, 35, an organizer of the dissident forum. "But little by little it has succumbed to political parties and governments. It's acting as a stage of support for Chavez."
The seven-day alternative symposium shares some of the anti-capitalist themes dominating the World Social Forum, which has drawn more than 60,000 people from around the globe and coincides with the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
But the dissident event is taking up issues that resonate in Venezuela, like the dangers of authoritarianism under a military strongman. The theme could easily be taken as criticism of Chavez, a former paratroop commander accused by political opponents of running roughshod over democratic institutions. It is off-limits in the main forum, said Nelson Mendez, a Venezuelan engineering professor who has helped organize the dissident event.
Participants at the six-day main conference have heaped praise on Chavez's social programs for the poor and applauded him for standing up to U.S.-backed free trade initiatives.
The Venezuelan leader, who insists his policies have not undermined democracy but given voice the poor, welcomed activists to the main forum Thursday, saying the ideas being discussed have raised awareness and helped "pulverize" free trade proposals.
"These ideas have been pulverized by history," Chavez said in a televised speech. "That's why the World Social Forum that is happening right now in Caracas is so important." |
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