News and reports from Mumbai

This fourth edition of the World Social Forum, which will have its venue for the first time in Asia, will focus on debating the following issues: imperialist globalization, religious sectarianism, identity politics and fundamentalism, castes, racism and social exclusion, patriarchy and militarization. Seventy-five thousand people are expected to attend, ten thousand of which will come from outside India.

A wide range of regional events are being organized with the aim of discussing global, regional or national issues, thus enabling participation in the preparation of the WSF 2004 and bringing the forum closer to the realities of movements and organizations from different parts of the world. These forums are open spaces that give civil society organizations the possibility of engaging in exchanges and debates among themselves. Their methodology and political criteria are those set out by the WSF Charter of Principles.

These thematic forums seek to deepen the discussion on specific issues which are seen by the Forum’s International Council as priorities on an international level.

On the same day in Quito, Ecuador, the First Social Forum of the Americas, to be held in that city from 8 to 13 March 2004, was publicly announced as part of the international launching of the WSF. This first continental Forum will cover key global themes focusing on the particular circumstances in the Americas. Such themes include the economic order, the violent side of the neoliberal project, power, democracy and the State, cultures and communication, and the specific concerns of indigenous and Afro-American peoples. In each case, discussions will highlight resistance movements, visions of the future, and alternative constructions.

New book

The World Social Bibliography
A bibliography on the World Social Forum and the global solidarity and justice movement. By Jai Sen and Peter Waterman, with Madhuresh Kumar, December 2003, pdf format.