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South African Social Movements vs the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentFranco Barchiesi writes: "Unmask the W$$D in Johannesburg and around the world! (A Call To Action from the Social Movements Indaba in On the 31st of August, tens of thousands of South Africans will swarm the World $ummit on $ustainable Development (W$$D) in Johannesburg. We call on all people concerned about our planet and its people to join us in saying "Enough!" -- enough empty promises and lies, enough neoliberal destruction of the commons, enough impoverishment of people for profit! Join us for international days of action from August 28 through September 2! Show solidarity by organising local actions in your town or city and roar to the "leaders" of the globe: "OUR WORLD IS NOT FOR SALE!"
The "World $ummit" on "$ustainable Development":
The world plunges into an abyss of economic desperation and environmental catastrophe. In response, as in Rio ten years ago, the global caretakers of the status quo clamour for "sustainable development." The W$$D is a grand spectacle of promising ideas and powerful rhetoric, designed to manufacture an image of positive, dynamic action. Yet the dry details and technical implementations of the pretty words have revealed the rotten core behind the mask: the same old neoliberal prescription for a world dominated by corporate capital and ruled by an unaccountable elite. This is
South Africans, host to this year's summit, experience directly the ugly truth behind the lies. The ANC (and our increasingly despised president, Thabo Mbeki) have maintained a stranglehold on power by conjuring the image of liberation and socialism in every popular campaign, while reassuring the financial sectors with
In fact, the government is explicit (to the financial press) that it is sacrificing the masses to build a black capitalist class. Eight years after apartheid's official end, South Africa has moved from third to first on the list of the world's most unequal societies. This is Mbeki's "African Renaissance." This is the "better life for
This ideological doublespeak extends to the W$$D itself. Not only has the official decision-making body been dominated by power players behind the scenes, but forces aligned with the South African state have attempted to coopt the parallel NGO "Global Peoples Forum," silencing dissent and maintaining the illusion. But the spectacle
Now, we're going on the offensive. As the NGO globetrotters descend on the glitziest rich suburb of our most unsustainable city, tens of thousands of the usually ignored will seize the moment to express our
Moreover, as poor people we have few resources to coordinate action and transport even a fraction of those who wish to come. For thousands the inability to raise one euro or one dollar for bus fare will prevent attendance. Fundraising and pledges of support from our comrades around the world will help our young Join us in our fight against a world of lies and despair. We need you. Join us! Our World is Not For Sale!
For more information, to pledge support, or to offer funds, please email smi@union.org.za. See also Social Movements Indaba |
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