Today’s conference featured 3 African women:

Wahu Kaara (Social Mobilization WSF 2007, Kenya, Debt relief network) Fatma Aloo (Women at WSF 2007, Tanzania Zanzabar, African social council) Sara Longwe (African Social Forum Council, Zambia)

Wahu: criticizes war making, we need to say stop warmaking. That is all about this mobilization. This voice is being heard from Nairobi. The WSF here in Nairobi has mobilized because it has connected with fundamental issues. Debt is used as an instrument of domination and control. World is designed to continue domination and control of other people, from slavery until today. Another world is not only possible, but here with us. We see this with messages here. Inspired. Memory. For example, Mau Mau here in Kenya. We are relying on you people to give the right information. Don’t disinform, but inform. Media tends to disinform, but instead world is staying engaged. We are bonded and that bond will continue.

Sara: Tries to get women’s voice in organizing. We are included, but after and then try to catch up. We want to be included from the beginning. Have we got the women here? I think it is a success, because there are more women then we have ever seen at an African social forum. Working in many different ways. Also in youth camp, which for first time by forum. Allows young women to make their issues visible. Saves resources with moving in taxis from one venue to another. Facilitates African women’s visibility. Everybody must have participation. AIDS–we can lesson scourge, but need resources. Remain very poor. They keep stealing from us. Extractive wars. Smuggle diamonds, etc. and bring back to us. Debt forgiveness–who should forgive whom, because it was stolen from us. Much support from men. Also environment. Many people live in bad circumstances. Not able to come in, and I’m glad that we were able to sort this out. Mostly women came in (for free).

Fatma: What is happening today. What do we do to enhance? Today is a day of movement. People will meet in the morning and decide on the subjects that they are working on. Come together as networks. In afternoon from 2-4:30 there is an overall session in which they go into 21 panels. People will come with what they decide is the plan of action. From Nairobi, we must go with a plan of action. It is now time. We can continue to talk, but we need to act now. 4:30 panels march to outside Gate 4 and plant trees. Symbol that from Nairobi these trees grow into specific actions that take those engaging in neoliberal activities that people will not take it anymore. This whole process of the WSF we have begun to move from donor-dependent NGOivication to activism.

Q: lack of popular base support here in Nairobi as cf. to Bamako, where many more poor people participated. Wahu: as far as I know, they are participating. Where I work with debt I see it. Very keen on topics of debt, food sovereignty, housing. Many Kenyans have gone into organizing in other seminars rather than on their own. How do translate process from NGOs to civil society? Find ways to connect. Question of agency of transformation.

Q: has women’s movement here moved forward? What has it gained? What is the way forward for the African Social Forum? What are the plans? Sara: 2 global women orgs have brought colleagues from all over the world, esp. in Feminist Dialogue–how to advance feminism, esp. since there is a lot of blockage. How to move out and deal with other social movements. How to org nat’lly, regionally, and globally. How to protect message and to get it across. We held more activities. We’ve seen a lot of solidarity. To make sure that these movement come along, and maintain networks with other social movements. Engage on different topics. It’s a growing network–both inside and reach out. We are happy to continue to reach out. Fatma: Way forward depends on what is happening today. Way to Nairobi succeeded by working on national and regional levels. We need to link more, and moving ahead.

Q: what is concern with women in Darfur and Sudan. Wahu: My comment is that the plight of women in Darfur is just a manifestation of the issues we are talking about here. It is so clear that no one can stop this process. We walk w/ the pain of what is happening in Darfur. It is clear if we do not do anything it will continue. We need to expose the issues that put the world in check. What do we do with this new neoliberal paradigm.

Q: having world women leaders like Bachalet in Chile address these women issues. Fatma: Issue of resources. It’s women and children who suffer, not men. You see that there are a lot of issues that are going around on Darfur. It is your responsibility as journalists to get that message out. Wahu: Not just men vs. women, but a societal problem that effected everyone. We are dealing with a system that effects everyone, and we are saying that we want new world that is better for everyone.

Q: personally, I have not seen much of Darfur. I know it is difficult to come here, but I thought forum would help bring people from Darfur here. All I see Sudanese trade unionists denouncing presence of UN and EU, anything that is not African. Sara: we may not have used placards, but in workshops we have talked about this. Struggle for control of resources. Smoke screen while we are busy. We have talked about oil issues in relation to Darfar, it is presence in many different panels.

Q: rumors around corruption issues, mostly that restaurant is run by defense minister in exchange for security. A: don’t know, we work on women’s issues.

Q: Zambia has made itself more debt free than many other African and Latin American countries, and gotten out from under IMF and WB control. Sara: from my perspective we have not come out form under debt, but it is used as a smoke screen. Increase tax base by taxing everything. Some don’t pay taxes, and there is capital flight. IMF is behind this. We are not finished with this issue. They are still in ministry of finances.

(These are my notes from a January 22 press briefing. Sorry, my spelling of names is off; can someone please correct?) Prof Edward Onyugi? (Sunet), lead organization of Nairobi forum Moema Miranda (IBASE) Taoufik Bin Abdullah? (Enda), secretariat of African Social Forum Omar? (South and East Africa Trade Institute, Seatini)

Highlight history and direction of forum, and where it is going.

Edward: Forum opening w/ march and ceremony in Uhuru park, and discussions began in earnest yesterday. Several hitches, things not in place in time. But we console ourselves that the forum is a process that always faces challenges but then settles down. We’ve sorted out transfer of registration from KICC to Kasarani, and problem of translation equipment not arriving on time. Several experiments this year, esp. “4th day” when groups come together to plan and strategize future directions and actions. We hope it will add value to momentum and growth of forum. People will come with proposals that they will discuss. Help us analyze this at end whether it is an experience worth keeping, modifying, improving. This year 14 co-organized large events that are not self-organized (2 versions in program that is a bit misleading–the one in middle is more accurate). Some speakers are already listed, but others will be added. It will be worth visiting these.

Taoufik: African social movements full engaged in organizing of forum. Many consultations on African level. It came as a result of a long process in Africa, and strong discussions within IC. After Bamako began discussions to take advantage of forum. Most important event on continent in 50-60 years. Not only committed, but want to succeed. Expectations: 1. Large groups of Africans are here, and we want to build and construct idea of African unity among people (not only among states). Part of social process of unity of continent. 2. We want to reinforce our voices. We are suffering because we are not part of discussions on future. Nairobi gives us an opportunity to reinforce voices, to tell leaders that there is no future w/o us. 3. Position ourselves in continent in context of different forces trying to take control. We say no, and we want to be in control of our future and decisions. There is no future unless we are included in process. Finally, the world is here. This is not a charity forum. Be we ask others to be with us as we discuss how to shape Africa. We want to be part of the alternative agenda that comes out of this forum. Africa was present in decision-making process, but also in attendance. All countries represented–all Africa represented.

Moema: Important, and thank you all for being here. This is important after long struggle to be here. Not a miracle, but a result of long, deep, and engaged work to be here. It is easy to do the forum in Porto Alegre where we have support of a PT government and a history of working together on struggles. But it is harder here in Africa where there are more divisions. For those of us from alter-world movement, we are proud though it has not been easy. But we are proud, and we need to work together. Another world is not possible without Africa being part of the solutions. From here, working together we will make another world possible. We are inventing new ways to make forum, for example 4th-day activities. We will give visibility to all campaigns. South-South dialogue that engages the north opens avenues. What comes out of the forum? Engaging, acting. New and visible ways are coming out of Africa. It helps change and recreate world. We are building a common future with hope and justice. Recognize Kenya and Africa in organizing forum.

Q of # of delegates & registration fee: Omar: yesterday we had registered 46,000 delegates. We would have had many more Kenyans (with affordable entrance fees). But if you look at program, not all events are taking place here. Some activities taking place in slums, etc. 46K not attending, but those registered. What most people don’t realize is that all of the costs of the forum have to be met by the OC. There is no central pot of money. Forum has cost us $5M USD, and we still have pending bills. In our organizing efforts, we expected support from solidarity organizations. We received some, but fell far short of the cost. We needed to meet expenses. Some on resource committee wanted to charge more, which would have made it prohibitively expense. In October we met with social movements in Kenya, and do appreciated that most live on $1USD a day, and charging them $7USD makes it impossible to attend. So we set up solidarity fund. 7,000 members have social movements have benefits from this fund. We also promised daily entrance passes for 50 KSH, so they can attend the events they most want to. I know that there is a lot of pressure to open the gates and let everyone in. But the same people who are saying this are also saying that we are losing control–that people are losing their purses, laptops, etc. I’m not saying that poor will cause more problems, but we would know less of who is here. There are tradeoffs.

Moema: Under capitalism, everything has a price. Someone needs to pay for it. It is easier when the government pays for something. But we don’t want to compromise our autonomy. If we relied only on friendly governments, that would compromise out positions. And it is not just Kenya’s responsibility. It is our responsibility. Don’t ask what are you doing, but what am I doing. If we want a social forum, we need to find ways to support event.

Q on relation of forum to Kenyan government: Edward: we informed government, and approached minister and approved a year ago. Govt came on board as a partner to provide things like security. Meeting with police, immigration, foreign affairs, and others that we thought would have something to do with the holding the forum. In that way, our relationship is in order. They have not put in money, but in-kind with police. Coming elections: don’t want to engage in party politics. It has not interfered with our work, and we have not allowed candidates to use forum as platform for their campaigns. This is in accordance with WSF charter. (One exception, but he has long been involved in social forum process. It is important to include people who contribute to memory of resistance; not invited as opposition leader.)

Q on conflicts around Kenya: Omar: Sudan, Somali, Uganda raised resources to be here. In some cases, organized caravan to be here. Co-organized on conflicts and peace. Strong expectations that forum will help create social momentum in region. On official level, there are problems. But people here have worked to organize themselves.

Q of Palestine flag: Omar: But there are other flags. As long as it is not in conflict with Charter, it is ok. If it is, then we will react.

Q common message for Davos? Moema: another world is possible Edward: militarization needs to end. War next door is US war by proxy. This message needs to go to Davos. Moema: demonstrate deep solidarity of south. Not only deepen resistance, but look for alternatives. We need organize struggles. From old left, we thought that at teleological end the answer was there. But now the focus is on the struggle. We need to be connected and build common community. Omar: one life is worth one life. We need to stop one-way flow of resources. Mobilizing forces, and one day this will change.

Q what themes well define alt-globalization movement in years to come. Taoufik: Take responsibility–if we want to be part of new world, we need to take action to be part of that.

Q key challenge: Taoufik: before it was just a country, but here it was the entire continent which means difficulties of mobilizing social movements in 53 countries and become stake-holders in forum. If we just take example of transport, we face barrier of lack of awareness in certain sectors–and need to talk to civil society. Some did not find it necessary to take up invitation (members of regional African institutions).