STWR - Share The World's Resources

The curtains opened at the eagerly awaited World Social Forum meeting yesterday with a vow to fight inequality and social injustice in the world.

Hundreds of delegates converged at Uhuru Park, signalling the beginning of intense discussion on how to tackle some of the world's major problems.

The delegates, drawn from both developing and the developed world, shared the common goal of making the world a better place.

Speakers representing the world's major continents spoke against free trade models which they said were being pushed down the throats of the world by the Bretton Woods Institutions and some western countries to impoverish the world.

Chanting "a better world is possible" the delegates condemned the global wars which have left millions without food and shelter.

The forum is the first one to be held on African soil and it comes ahead of the scheduled World Economic Forum to be held in Davos Switzerland next week. The forum focuses on world's major problems brought by changes in the modern world.

Former Zambia President Kenneth Kaunda set the ball rolling by urging Africans to participate in decision making processes and take charge in the management of their resources.

"Let people participate fully in the control of the processes of decision making in public affairs and denounce all forms of exploitation of person by person in any shape or form," said Dr Kaunda.

In his keynote speech, Mr Kaunda said the struggles in Africa, Asia and Latin America had shown that people need not fear or doubt victory.

"Indeed, those struggles were but part of one common struggle for the welfare of the whole of humanity," he said.

Dr Kaunda said sustainable development could not be achieved through exploitation.

He said: "The creator of all demands fair play for the woman. But why do we, the men, turn cruel against women? We are entirely dependent on women for a good nine months before we come out to be what we are today. Let us think through this and allow this mother her dignified place on earth."

Speaking on behalf of Europe, Flavio Lotti urged Africa to forgive the West for the historical injustices meted on them by colonialism.

"I feel the burden of our historical responsibilities. Forgive us for what we did, what we are doing and what we have not done," said Mr Lotti.

He said though the forum lacked the power wielded by the World Economic Forum which brought together the globe's richest countries, the delegates in Nairobi were committed to the struggle of making the world a better place.

Mr Lotti criticised the West for spending millions of dollars in buying armaments, building new bases and involvement in wars while millions of the world's inhabitants go hungry.

African delegates urged leaders on the continent to fight for human rights and reject neocolonialism.

"Down with capitalism, neo-colonialism and privatisation. Viva landlless people, people with disability and all other ills in the world," the crowd chanted in unison.

Multi-national companies also came under scathing attack for what the delegates termed unfair trade practices which had impoverished the world's poor.

Delegates from Asia urged the world to fight all forms of fundamentalism which they added was making the world an insecure place.

"Fundamentalism must be fought in all Christian, Muslim, Hindu and other regions," they said.

Mr Guy Ryder of the International Trade Union Confederation said unemployment rates had reached unreasonable proportions due to unfair trade practices.

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