50 YEARS ON THE ROAD TO THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM.

Dec 18, 2006

The 7th World Social Forum took place in Nairobi, Kenya January 20th to the 25th. 50 Years Is Enough was one of over a thousand organizations that participated. Below are some links to some of the key debates that arose as a result of this latest forum.

The call by the Social Movements Assembly:
http://www.focusweb.org/social-movements-assembly-in-nairobi.html

Article: Globalization from Below by Steve Ouma
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/wsf2007/39637

Article:WSF 'NGO trade fair' to left politics? by Patrick Bond
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/39594

WHAT, WHEN, WHERE?
The 7th edition of the World Social Forum brings the world to Africa as activists, social movements, networks, coalitions and other progressive forces from Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, Europe and all corners of the African continent
converge in Nairobi, Kenya for five days of cultural resistance and celebration; panels, workshops, symposia, processions, film nights and much much more; beginning on the 20th of January and wrapping up on the 25th of January 2007.If you would like more information on the World Social Forum in Nairobi, including participating organizations, the program, events and more, visit the site at www.wsf2007.org

GRASSROOTS GLOBAL JUSICE DELEGATION
Representatives from 50 Years Is Enough will be attending as part of the Grassroots Global Justice delegation. GGJ is an alliance of U.S.-based grassroots groups who are organizing
to build an agenda for power for working and poor people. Our work is to:
• Organize national grassroots campaigns to challenge corporate globalization.
• Facilitate dialogues
to develop a progressive agenda.
• Conduct popular education and leadership programs to
help us understand the links between global policies and local struggles.
• Form international alliances to achieve global justice.

OUR PLANNED SELF-ORGANIZED EVENTS
We will be in Kenya from January 16-26 and have co-organized the following workshops:

1. January 21: IMF: Shrink It or Sink It Campaign. An Introduction. Registered by 50 Years.
Sponsored by Focus on the Global South, Solidarity Africa and Christian Aid.

2. January 21: US Electoral Grassroots Organizing and Building towards Global Justice:
Perspectives and strategies from grassroots organizations. Registered by GGJ

3. January 22. Just Between Us: Women in Struggle in Africa and the African Diaspora.
Registered by GGJ.

4. January 22: Yes! There is movement in the Belly of the Beast. Registered by GGJ.

5. January 24: Immigration. Registered by GGJ.

6. Seminar: Where next on the IMF? To shrink or sink. Registered by Christian Aid.
Sponsored by Jubilee South, SEATINI-Kenya, and 50 Years Is Enough.

WHY A FOCUS ON THE IMF CAMPAIGN?
After the financial debacles in East Asia and Argentina – caused or exacerbated by the IMF – the institution has been on the defensive. Since December many of the IMF’s major clients have announced plans to pay off debts ahead of schedule. This development, coupled with massive build-ups in Asian countries’ foreign reserves, signals thatgovernments which can, are trying to insure they will never be vulnerable to the IMF’s
disastrous meddling again.

The International Monetary Fund’s present crises of legitimacy and solvency offer us an unprecedented opportunity to reduce or eliminate its power. The “IMF: Shrink It or Sink It” campaign, launched at the September meetings of the IMF and World Bank, represents a
crucial opportunity – one that requires immediate action.

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50 Years Is Enough Network - 3628 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017 USA
Tel: 202-IMF-BANK (202-463-2265) Email: info@50years.org