Photo courtesy of World Social Forum
The prospect of a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah in Gaza and the possible displacement of more than 1.5 million people looms like a dark and ominous cloud. The images of children scooping flour into their hands and hurriedly shoving it into their pockets symbolize the desperation and thread of life with which many survive, having experienced severe hunger and are now completely dependent on aid. .
But in the midst of all this despair, my participation in the World Social Forum in Kathmandu, Nepal, last week reinforced my belief that there is still much solidarity in the world and that humanity is deeply connected. . The main protest march at the World Social Forum was captured by chants of “Freedom, Freedom, Palestine”, “Stand up for freedom” and “Stand up for justice”. The streets of Kathmandu echoed with a spirit of resistance and refusal to yield. People from all over the world gathered for this event with the aim of demonstrating the power of people. Social movements, grassroots activists, human rights defenders, campaigner networks and individuals working on a variety of issues are coming forward to share their struggles and prove that a different world is possible.
What was most moving was seeing people from the West Bank demonstrating freely in the streets and raising their voices. Free from fear. Free from fear of arrest, free from fear of violence, free from oppression, even if only for a few days. Their spirits were able to recharge with the sense of dignity that comes from being able to express themselves. Until they left, they believed the world had abandoned them to a fate worse than hell. Instead, they ended up feeling and experiencing a much-needed sense of community, love, and camaraderie in a corner of the world they never imagined. They return to Palestine knowing that despite everything, they are not alone.
The spotlight is on Asia, which accounts for more than 50% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is home to 60% of the world’s women and youth, 67% of the world’s indigenous peoples, and 37% of African countries. There was a lot to discuss about the Asian region. the world’s poor. Kathmandu is at the center of a strong call for collective action and grassroots activism that gives voice to people living in exclusion and various forms of marginalization, with a focus on combating the shrinking of democratic spaces, including digital spaces and platforms. It became a stage. Thematic discussions included gender inequality, systemic discrimination, endemic poverty and economic inequality, social exclusion, and promoting a just feminist transition.
Activists from Sri Lanka, the Pacific, Latin America, Palestine, Myanmar, and many other regions whose populations have been oppressed by authoritarian regimes are coming together to address the world’s rise in populist governments that are seizing power and weakening societies on all continents. This reflects the current trend. Democratic principles and values. The authoritarian and sometimes violent nature of these governments, combined with the constant fighting between superpowers and the perseverance of unjust market structures that maximize profits in times of global crisis, creates a hopeless new world order. is producing. Military solutions and violence are used as a first response to disagreements and conflicts between states, ignoring negotiation and dialogue and the most affected marginalized communities.
35,000 people gathered to renew their commitment to working with communities, people’s organizations, youth and women’s movements, groups and networks, social movements, and other allies to overcome the structural causes and consequences of poverty and injustice. He pledged to confirm and link concurrent efforts. We invite you to engage in broader efforts and struggles for justice at the local level, and to join movements and campaigns at national, regional and global levels to make the greatest contribution towards a just, fair and sustainable world. i promise.
We believe that change is possible and is rooted in the individual and collective empowerment of those most affected to know, claim, defend and enjoy their rights over the long term. committed to ensuring meaningful participation and movement for the deepening, fair and credible alternatives and strengthening of principles. Working with movements and coalitions supported by global solidarity and dedicated supporters.
In Kathmandu, we reaffirm that people power is our greatest resource for achieving our ambitions, and we seek empowerment among communities, people’s organizations, social movements, and citizen groups to strengthen power. , emphasized the need to ensure collective efforts and struggles through solidarity, campaigning and a common cause. Increasing the number of people working to drive change not only in the Gaza Strip but also in Myanmar, Syria, Afghanistan and other countries where human rights are at risk and obligations to help and protect are ignored. I am.
As a global movement, we are fighting against systems of injustice that view Black, Brown, and Indigenous people as disposable objects to be victimized by racist and colonial systems of exploitation and domination. Masu. The Palestinian people’s struggle against occupation and apartheid is part of our collective struggle for climate, racial, economic and political justice, and for a world where everyone has the right to live with dignity and freedom from oppression. .