TWO ‘WORLD FORUMS’, TWO WORLD VIEWS
The World Economic Forum (WEF) convened in Davos, Switzerland, from 26-30 January to provide a "collaborative framework for the world’s leaders to address global issues, engaging particularly its corporate members in global citizenship". On the other side of the globe, the World Social Forum (WSF), gathered in Porto Alegre, Brazil, from 23 to 28 January to provide an "open meeting place where groups and movements of civil society opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism, but engaged in building a planetary society centred on the human person, come together".
WEF: Lost momentum challenged in Davos
Among the WEF’s original objectives was to bring together world leaders, from all walks of life, to pursue economic and social activity that will improve the state of the world. This year’s meeting focused more on social, political and developmental issues in its final call for action on the tough issues of poverty, climate change, education, equitable globalisation and good global governance. Specifically, participants at the annual meeting called for the adoption of technology to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, the creation of a fund to accelerate financial aid to the poorest nations and the removal of trade barriers that prevent economic growth in developing countries.
However, the WEF was criticised by some observers for failing to get down to the trade-offs business and political leaders need to make, contrary to its theme of "taking responsibility for tough choices". Also at the meeting, civil society groups for the first time presented the "Public Eye on Davos Award" to a number of corporations, including Dow Chemicals, oil giant Shell, US-based retail chain Wal-Mart, and the consulting firm KPMG International. According to the organisers, these companies were chosen as "model cases for all the corporate groups that have excelled in socially and environmentally irresponsible behaviour. They reveal the negative impacts of economic globalisation."
The 2005 WEF, however, will most likely be remembered for the informal meeting of trade ministers that was held on 29 January. Gathering on the sidelines of the Davos meeting, the ‘mini-ministerial’ gave a "political kick-start" to the Doha Round of negotiations at the WTO, noted Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath. According to Joseph Deiss, Switzerland’s Minister for Economic Affairs, the countries present agreed to direct particular attention to modalities for agriculture; a formula for reducing tariffs on industrial goods; market-opening offers in services trade talks; progress on trade facilitation and strengthening WTO rules; and a "proper reflection of the development dimension" of the negotiations. The ministers also agreed on the need for greater ministerial involvement throughout the year, and for the talks to "move from the clarification phase to real negotiations" on all issues.
WSF: Civil society struggles with recommendations
The WSF is an alternative forum to the WEF that aims to provide an "open meeting place for reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences and interlinking for effective action". Thus, it tries to provide a non-hierarchical space for opponents of neoliberalism that are "committed to building a planetary society directed towards fruitful relationships among Humankind and between it and the Earth" to meet with one another.
However, eighteen high-profile WSF participants issued a manifesto at the meeting calling for the transformation of the WSF into "an instrument for action" based on concrete proposals and ideas with broad support. The group advocating the "Porto Alegre" manifesto included Nobel Peace Prize-winner Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Portuguese sociologist Boaventura de Souza Santos, Egyptian economist Samir Amin, U.S. sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein, Pakistani writer Tariq Ali, and Walden Bello, head of Focus on the Global South and did not claim to be leaders speaking for the meeting but rather interested participants.
The manifesto makes recommendations regarding putting an end to destruction of the environment, especially in the area of climate change; enhancing fair trade; food sovereignty and security through small-scale agriculture; and the prohibition of patents on knowledge and living organisms and the privatisation of water.
Participants from tsunami-struck countries voiced criticisms towards international funding agencies and corporations which they said had undervalued environmental factors that could have reduced the scope of the disaster such as the large mangrove forests that have been reduced in recent decades (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 21 January 2005). "These multilateral funding institutions continue to promote environmentally degrading industries such as shrimp farming, industrial tourism, charcoal production and urban expansion," Alberto Quarto, Executive Director of the US-based Mangrove Action Project, said.
Trade-related concerns were raised by the Coordination/Platform Soy-Brazil, a coalition of several groups, which pointed to the impact of international trade on environmental protection and human development. They suggested that the increasing spread of soy monocropping had forced small farmers off their lands and threatened the Cerrado, a savannah ecosystem. "This unregulated crop generates contamination, blocks water sources, and attacks biodiversity and the micro-climate," they said. Soy cultivation as a major cause of deforestation in the Amazon was also one of the most controversial issues discussed at the fourth Pan-Amazonian Social Forum, taking place Jan. 18-22 in Manaus, Brazil.
In 2006, the WSF will be held in different places of the world, while the Forum will move to Africa for its 2007 gathering.
Additional Resources
ICTSD Reporting; "World Economic Forum: Starring Role For The Doha Round," IPS, 31 January 2005; " Davos: world leaders not delivering on big promises," EURACTIV, 26 January 2005; " World Economic Forum: A Siren Song For Doha Negotiations," IPS, 28 January 2005; "Globalization Activists Debate IMF, World Bank," REUTERS, 31 January 2005; "World Social Forum: The Risks Posed by Success," IPS, 31 January 2005; "A Tale Of Two Forums In Worlds Apart," IPS, 28 January 2005; "Focus On The Environment, Too!" IPS, 31 January 2005; "Pan-Amazonian Meet Highlights Diversity," IPS, 19 January 2005; "Soy Invades The Amazon," IPS, 27 January 2005; " Unique Awards Highlight Corporate Irresponsibility," IPS, 28 January 2005.