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Versammlung der Sozialen Bewegungen

4th European Social Forum
STATEMENTS AND CALLS FOR COMMON ACTION
PRESENTED IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE MOVEMENTS
 
A) NETWORKS

ARTISTS AGAINST WARS

We artists against wars are participating for the second time in the European Social Forum. We continue the engagement of artists in the world social movement which began in Florence 2002 after the World Social Forum in Porto Alegree 2001. We are independent of political parties and trade unions.

We know that our engagement must be total for the support of the people and the multitude of human beings who are fighting for their freedom, their autonomy and their dignity.

Wars all over the world are destroying the elementary human rights of millions of men and women. Wars have always been for the economic interest of a few and now this reality is stronger than ever.

We support, with our activities, the people of Palestine, Kurdistan, The Sahara and Pakistan.

We want to go back to Iraq, where we were in 2002 before the military occupation began.

The peoples of the whole world must join together in a unique stream of souls and minds to determine the conditions for a world free of conflicts, racism, exploitation and social discrimination.

We must continue on this path, which started in 1968 with the student movement and is continuing now with the anti-globalisation and peace movement.

We propose an international day for the independence of peoples of the world on 4th July 2006.

NO WARS

NO RACISM

NO PRECARIOUSNESS

NO NUKES

CHARTER OF PRINCIPLES FOR ANOTHER EUROPE

During this FSE, the network established around the Project “Charter of Principles for Another Europe” has been working on the elaboration of a project to be put forward to all European social networks and movements for discussion.

Europe must be the result of a combined participation of all people residing on European soil, whether they are native or not.  Since the French and Dutch referendums, governments have been unable to resuscitate the Constitutional Treaty; this is indeed dead.

Abandoning it is the only way to avoid aggravating the demographic deficit: it is vital to enabling the development of a democratic process to build another Europe.

The network has decided to hold a meeting towards the end of 2006 in Paris to discuss an initial meeting concerning this Charter of Principles for another Europe, to continue and to build on this process in order to provide a common tool showing that alternatives to neo-liberalism do indeed exist.  

CLIMATE CHANGE

The social movements support international demonstrations calling on world leaders to take urgent action to prevent catastrophic climate change. These demonstrations will take place on the 4th and 11th November 2006.

EDUCATION

We call for a European week of common action against the commercialisation and privatisation of education in the third week of November 2006. In this context, we support a European Day of Action on 17th November 2006.

ESF MEMORY PROJECT

The ESF memory project network is informing all organisations and networks that they can publish and circulate the outcomes of their activities in the ESF on the http://workspace.fse-esf.org. You can create “groups” with participants of various organisations; you can edit texts, images, links, files and your proposals and project. If you need help on how to use the site, please “contact participants” for the organisation called “Help desk collective”

ESF NETWORK AGAINST REPRESSION

We call on everybody to reject any attempts to legitimize torture, detention centres and executions; both domestically and abroad (including candidate states to EU membership, like Turkey).

It is necessary to raise the issue of the connection between the “war on terror”, racist exclusion and the attack on civil and human rights and against the banning of social and political organizations. We reject special courts and proceedings.

“Antiterrorist laws”, old and new, and “antiterrorist” lists are being used to criminalise and attack political dissidence, with the EU playing an active role in this.

We call for the recognition of the Political nature of Political Prisoners, which will allow a political resolution of the issue, leading to their definitive release.

We call on everybody inside and outside the ESF to include the struggle for the freedom of political prisoners, against torture, against the “antiterrorist” laws and the migrants’ detention camps in all our political and social struggles. The right to have rights is on the agenda of the day.

EURO-MARCHES

The associated Euro-marches and trade-union networks reunited at the FSE in Athens propose:

• The coordination of organisations and struggling networks against the precarious nature of jobs and of our lives by the time of the next Preparatory National Assembly.
• The organisation of initiatives and steps for the whole of Europe by the G8 Summit and the European Council in June 2007 (Heigendan/Rostock).

EUROPEAN COORDINATION ON PALESTINE

Report after the seminars, working sessions and Assembly on Palestine during the ESF in Athens, conducted with the participation of Palestinians civil society representatives and Israeli anticolonialist activists.

The occupation system on Palestine is achieving a new stage. Israel is implementing its strategy in order to achieve its own unilateral solution completing the building of an apartheid system. The total isolation of Gaza is part of this system.

We condemn the Israeli governement’s intention to unilaterally draw borders using the wall and land annexation, threatening the Jordan Valley, creating a new wave of refugees, increasing the threat to the “right of return”. The “green line” 242 resolution has always been the basis for any peace process and is denied by this policy and acts. The wall should be demolished and not become a “new” basis for peace negociations.

We condemn the daily arrests and attacks to the civilians in the West Bank and Gaza, the attack and kidnapping in Jericho prison, allowed by the withdrawn of European responsibility as it was under the existing agreement. We  condemn the implementation of  a whole  policy of organised chaos aiming to “devide and rule”.

European Union, following the US decisions, is supporting the Israeli policy, who started to stop the taxes due to the PNA. The cut of funds to the Palestinian National Authority delegitimates a Governement democratically elected, exacerbates the whole situation and pushes for divisions and internal conflicts.

The developing of military and so called security cooperation between Nato, European Governments and Israel in the Mediterranean area is becoming structural, and it goes to increase tension and conflicts. At the contrary Europe needs much more dialogue and peaceful cooperation in the Middle East.

The situation is changing dramatically: it is urgent to act now!

We call for a general mobilisation of the social movements against the arbitrary decision of the European union to cut the funds to the PNA, punishing the occupiers instead of sanctioning the occupation. We condemn this policy and ask for the immediate restauration of funds. This policy is also a damage for Europe itself, it is against the principles of dialogue and the respect of international law.

In continuity with the process started in the previous Forums and considering the urgence of the situation we call for the following campaigns and initiatives:

• 26 - 28 may 2006: International Conference in Geneva  “For a just peace in Palestine and Israel: enforce international law”
• European Campaign against EU decision to cut funds to PNA starting with:
  -29 june 2006 in Brussels: European delegation to meet European institutions and give a press conference
  -7-9 july 2006(anniversary of the ICJ advice in 2004): mobilisation against the cut of funds to the PNA and for its immediate restauration. Pressures on National Governements and parties.
• Reiterating the European campaign on sanctions against occupation and violation of international law, launched by European coordination, in particular on economic association agreement and military agreements
• 9-16 november 2006: against the wall and annexation, stressing Jerusalem issue
• Campaign about the political prisoners, for the respect of Geneva Convention, for their liberation
• Increasing and strengthening European civil missions, with more participation of trade unions, against the isolation of Palestinian people

HEALTH

We, the participants of the health network at the Athens ESF, reject the neoliberal approach to health and insist on a revitalisation to the principles of Health for All as set out in the Alma Ata declaration. These are universality, comprehensiveness, equity and services free at the point of care. The right to health will only be achieved with social and economic justice.

We invite all European peoples and organizations to participate in and support the world campaign for the right to health considering the defence of rights in Europe and international solidarity for the right to health of African People.

We demand a respect of the Geneva convention regarding the protection and full cooperation for the health missions, services and professionals in the care of populations in war zones.

We propose two specific European campaigns:

• Against the Bolkenstein directive and privatisation of all Public Services
• For free access for All to quality Health Services in public hands

HOUSING: AGAINST THE HOUSING CRISIS AND SPECULATION

European housing Networks (AIH, HIC, NO-VOX...) are calling for local and united mobilisations, around 2 October, to demand from public authorities the realisation of the right to decent and sustainable housing for all, without discrimination, an increase in public sector housing, the regulation of housing and land markets, an end to forced evictions and the destruction of popular districts.

LATIN-AMERICA NETWORK

The Latin American group of the Network Latin America and companions met in the framework of European Social Forum:

1. We considered the organisation of 4th FSE very successful and we thank all the people who contributed to  outcome.
2. We accentuated the importance of the against-summit and other events that were going on within the framework of Connecting Alternative the 2 in Vienna. [Δεν ξέρω τι θέλει να πει αυτή η πρόταση.]
3. We decided:
   -To look at common ways of organising initiatives against the catastrophic role of the multinationals that usurp the life of millions of people in Latin America. In particular, in one discussion about the privatisation of water, we drew attention to the fact that most of the companies involved are European, a fact that demands that European movements resist such processes;
   -To find common processes of solidarity with the movements and the cities and towns of Colombia that are being repressed by the militarist government of Uribe which refuses to find a political solution to the social and armed conflict, and to support the processes of the Permanent Tribunal of the Towns so as to allow it to judge the policies of the multinationals and their degree of impunity in Colombia
   -To express our solidarity with the Zapatistas and the "Other Campaign". More especially, we express our solidarity with the community of San Salvador Atenco that in these days is resisting assassins’ attacks from the repressive mechanisms of the Mexican state
   -To express our solidarity with all the political prisoners of the continent and to look for ways to make the subject of political prisoners visible and to organize solidarity campaigns
   -To denounce once again the embargo against Cuba and to express our solidarity with the cities and towns of Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia and with all the processes of liberation that develop in the cities and towns of Latin America and the Caribbean;
   -To support the campaign For The Demilitarization of Latin America (EACH) in all possible ways.

MIGRATION: CALL FOR THE EQUALITY OF RIGHTS, LEGALISATION OF ALL THE MIGRANTS AND FOR THE CLOSURE OF DETENTION CENTRES

The 4th ESF places a strong emphasis on European and transnational migration in terms of struggles, analyses and demands. We decided to propose a European day of action and mobilisation on 7th October 2006, not only because it commemorates the events in Ceuta and Melilla, the southern European border, but also because it will connect the European action with the international mobilisation proposed in Bamako, in the run up to the world social forum in Nairobi. We want to connect our initiative with the one promoted by the American migrants’ movement in September, in order to stress the global dimension of migrant struggles today.

The day of action will be directed against the denial of rights and criminalisation of migrants, claiming clear demands with respect to freedom of movement and the right to stay; for a European unconditional legalization and equal rights to all migrants; for the closure of all detention centres in Europe, an end to externalisationand  deportations ; against the precariousness of the migrants situation and for the uncoupling of the link between resident permit and the labour contract; for a residence citizenship.

NO VOX: FOR NEW RIGHTS FOR THE ”HAVE NOT” AND PRECARIOUS PERSONS

The ESF in Athens was an opportunity to strengthen the presence of movements of the  Have not, precarious persons and the struggles against poverty. This solidarity support should continue.

The No Vox network calls for demonstration against the G8 in 2007 to denounce the increase in social inequalities, poverty, discrimination, repression, to share the wealth and build new rights such as a descent wage, freedom of movement and residence, housing and land for all.

PUBLIC SERVICES: FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICES POOL

In this ESF, more than 40 organisations shared their struggles against the commodification of common goods and the privatisation of public services, against the GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) and the Bolkestein-Directive and against the neoliberal policies of the EU, national and local governments. From here with the “Athens statement” we launch the European Network for Public Services. We will meet on 27th October 2006 in Geneva in order to launch a European Day of mobilization to defend and relaunch Public Services in Europe aiming at building the first European Forum of Social movements for Public Services in 2007.

In Turkey, where there are no freedoms, the militarist fascist character of the state still continues. The increasing exploitation of the working class and the oppression of the Kurdish people has not come to an end.

Egypt today is one of the most important supporters of imperialist policies in the Arab region, while the Regime continuously oppresses its opponents in the movement for democracy. We express our full solidarity with the demands of this movement and demand the immediate release of allthose involved in the struggle who are in jail. 

SEATTLE TO BRUSSELS: CALL TO STOP THE EU CORPORATE TRADE AGENDA AND TO DERAIL THE WTO

On 27-28 July 2006, the WTO members will determine whether or not the present Doha Round of negotiations can be concluded by the end of this year. If they succeed the destruction of jobs, farmers livelihoods, public services and the environment will accelerate world-wide.

We must therefore unite and enlarge the mobilisation against free trade worldwide.  We propose a conference with European networks working on migration, the casualisation of labour, public services, GMO’s, food sovereignty and the trade unions at the end of 2006.

Meanwhile, the Seattle to Brussels network calls upon those who can travel to be present in Geneva in July. 

WOMEN

We call for convergent campaigns throughout Europe:

• A European campaign and European law, as well as mass mobilization against violence towards women.
• Re poverty and precariousness: marches in June 2007 to the G8 with European social movements.
• Bolkestein and women’s rights: a day of action in October or November in Brussels.
• Campaign against the “Eros centre” and the trafficking of women during the next Football World Cup in Germany.
• A European coordinated campaign to promote and improve our conception on a feminist, equal and secular Europe

B) OTHER STATEMENTS AND CALLS FOR ACTION 

CALL FOR AN “ANTI-DELATION” NETWORK

At the conclusion of a debate on repressive and fail-safe politics and their repercussions on the most vulnerable members of society, the organisations present proposed the establishment of an information, resistance and warning system given that such policies are being implemented in all countries.

One of the primary actions could be aimed at the European Directive obliging Member States to pass legislation on the surveillance of private means of communication within 2 years.

CALL FOR AN ECOLOGICAL SOCIAL FORUM

In the light of global consciousness about the ecological threat and the responsibility we have to future generations, the Assembly of Social Movements decided to launch the Ecological Social Forum.

The agenda of this Ecological Social Forum, includes:

A campaign against the privatisation of the water, a campaign against the GMO, the abolition of the revision of the Reach director on toxic and chemical products for the UE and the designation of 4th November as the day against climatic change.

CITIZENS’ LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES AND REFERENDUM

We the participants of the 4th ESF ask people, civil societies, NGOs, political parties and governments to adopt and establish in the next revision of their national Constitutions the right and ability of a sufficient number of citizens in every state to ask their Parliaments for new Legislation, coming out of Citizens’ Legislative Initiatives, as well as to accept Referenda for the cancellation of Laws considered as being against the will of the majority of a State’s Citizens.

CUBA

The 4th Social European Forum in Athens criticises and condemns not only the US embargo on Cuba but also the ”Communal Position” of the European Union which favours injustice, discrimination and prejudice against the people of Cuba and Europe.

In the same way, the FSE demanded, at it’s meeting of June 2006, that the sanctions against Cuba be eliminated once and for all, as well as the “Communal Position”.  In its place, an open relationship of collaboration should be established.

Furthermore, the Forum recommends the elaboration of a “Communal Position” within Europe, which, in contrast to that of European governments, creates a reality of respect and solidarity in this time of awakened consciousness and emancipation in Latin America where Cuba is playing such a positive role.

This document will be put forward to the Assembly of Social Movements at the European Summit for Latin America and at the counter summit «Connection Alternatives» which will take place in Vienna from the 11th to the 13th May 2006.

It has also been proposed that this document be sent to the following institutions within the European Union:

• European Parliament
• European Commission
• Development Committee of the EP
• European Delegation in Havana
• European Union Relations Seminar - Cuba

DECLARATION AGAINST ANTICOMMUNIST CAMPAIGNS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

On the 25th April, Jiri Dolejs, the vice-chairman of the Czech Communist Party and the deputy of the Czech Parliament, was brutally beaten on a street by a group of anticommunists who knew his face from the TV. Two days ago he underwent eye surgery and still remains in hospital as a consequence of the attack. This act of politically motivated right-wing violence is just the tip of an iceberg of systematically organised anticommunist campaigning, led by the Czech media and right-wing politicians. To give an example: the Czech minister of foreign affairs personally supported the production of T-shirts with slogans that included “kill a communist to strengthen the peace”

Declaration

We, the participants of the European Social Forum, condemn anticommunist campaigns, as these campaigns limit and destroy political freedoms. We continue to fight to keep and extend political freedoms for the left

Socialist Circle (http://sok.bz/)

FOR A FAIR PROCESS IN GREECE

An appeal process regarding the “17th November” opens on the 2nd December in Athens. The alleged members of this leftist Greek organisation are accused of having committed, since the end of the junta, a series of political crimes and attacks.  At the time of the Olympic Games in Athens, the Greek authorities engaged in a dismantling this group, a process that resulted in arrests and subsequently legal proceedings conducted in a scandalous manner.

The initial process was a complete failure resulting in extremely heavy sentences for the accused who claimed their innocence.  Indeed, up to 21 of the accused were given life sentences.

The rights of the defence and the presumption of innocence must be fully respected during the appeal process.  This process, along with the other remaining cases, must be carried out fairly in front of regular judiciary.

We call on you to employ all the political and legal resources at your disposal for the defence of the State of law and of democratic rights and freedoms in order that no one is condemned without evidence, that prison doors are not closed on the innocent and that the States, of which we are all citizens, forbid the imposition of detention conditions incompatible with the respect of human rights.

International Monetary Fund / World Bank

We support the call for action launched by the abolition of debt campaigns which asks us to organize collectively the occupation of World Bank and IMF offices all around the world during their annual meetings, 19–20 September 2006.

GENERAL CAMPAIGN FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAELI OCCUPATION

1. 7-9 July 2006-Against the cutting of funding to the PNA and for its immediate restoration.
2. 9-16 November 2006 against the wall and annexation, stressing the Jerusalem issue.
3. Increasing the European civil missions.

G8 SUMMIT IN ST. PETERSBURG

As the G8 summit will take place in St. Petersburg, Russia, in July 2006, we call on social movements and militants for their support, by direct participation or by solidarity actions, for the 2nd Russian Social Forum that is to be held by Russian opponents to the neoliberal capitalism in St. Petersburg, parallel to the G8 Summit.

Within the framework of “counter-G8” events in July 2006, an exchange of experience between militants from different countries is needed, allowing their political positions to become closer and facilitating agreement on a program of further activities by movements, organizations and activists from Western and Eastern Europe and ex-USSR countries who are promoting alternatives to neoliberalism, racism and war.

In this respect, we beleive the following problems are of primary importance for Russia and other ex-USSR countries:

• Jointly counteracting, on an international level, new neoliberal measures being promoted by the Putin regime in connection with Russia’s entry into the WTO (in housing, health care and other spheres of vital importance);
• Support for workers’ movements and labour union militants against capitalist bosses and the pro-capitalist state, particularly in TNCs; solidarity with prosecuted labour militants;
• Support for the Russian movement for high-quality non-commercial education for everyone, against the inevitable destructive effects of commercialisation and privatisations in education:
• Opposing the growth of xenophobia and the provocative policy of the state authorities leading to ethnic conflicts; promoting internationalist alternatives on migration issues;
• International solidarity in cases of police repression against social activist and Left political militants, support to political prisoners;
• Housing reform and privatisation of common goods.

9/11 2006

On September 11th 2006 people over the world stand together for peace, justice and solidarity.

We commemorate the innocent whose blood was shed on 9/11 1973 in Chile in the American-supported military coup d’etat.

We remember and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the satygraha movement –the movement of non-violent resistance and truth force — on 9/11 1906.

On that day at a meeting at the Empire Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sheth haji Habib, an Indian and South African Muslim declared his commitment to refuse non-violently, at any cost, the new laws of repression passed by the British colonial empire against coloured people in South Africa. Mohatmas Gandhi attended the meeting which became a historic step forward for people’s non-violent power in its modern form. Since then, this same force has brought down imperial rule in India and elsewhere, achieved civil rights in the USA, contributed to the defeat of apartheid in South Africa and inspired people’s struggles for justice and dignity across the planet.

The worldwide social forum movement for global justice must become globally visible and show its vision, diversity and strength.

We therefore call upon all people to join us on 9/11 2006 to commemorate the suffering of innocent victims of terror, wars and injustice and to celebrate, recreate and renew the force of non-violent struggle for our times. Let us use that occasion worldwide to demand democracy at all levels and to express our condemnation of war, particularly those in Iraq and Palestine, our solidarity with all oppressed people and our commitment to a habitable planet for human beings and other species.

Athens, European Social Forum, May 6th 2006

The initial signatories are Luciana Castellina, Ramon Duran, Susan George and Thomas Wallgren

(www. folkroresler.nu/nonviolence100)

REPRESSION

We support the 4th International Conference Against Disappearances, which is to be held in Diyarbakir, Turkey (Northern Kurdistan, 16th-20th May 2006 organised by the International Committee Against Disappearances (ICAD) and Relatives Association of Disappeared people (YAKAY-DER), organisations struggling against political oppression and specifically disappearances during custody.

This Forum should call on all people to fight for the abolition of isolation in prisons, especially in Abu-Graib, Guantanamo, F-type Prisons in Turkey and white cells in Europe. Isolation should end. The date of 19-22 December should be organized as a day of support for political prisoners.

HÖC (The Front for Rights and Liberties)

We re-emphasize that the racist separation wall is destroying the daily lives of Palestinian people.

We declare our solidarity with the international movement against the wall.

We demand the liberation of Dr. Ahmed Saadat (General Secretary of Popular-Liberation Front. Maha Nassar-Palestine).

REPRESSION IN SAN SALVADOR ATENCO (MEXICO)

San Salvador Atenco is an area near Mexico City, which is well known for the struggles of the peasants. Recently, the Mexican Federal Police attacked a flower-seller, who claimed the right of selling in a public area, which is due for the construction of a wall.

When San Salvador Atenco’s citizens protested against violence, police brutality went beyond limits. A 14-year old boy was killed, a 30-year old man now lies clinically dead and there are 110 injured people and 213 have been arrested. Most of them are members of the FPDT (Frente por la defensa de la tierra) which had signed the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandona jungle and participates in the “Other Campaign”.

San Salvador Atenco is now occupied by 4,000 policemen. EZLN declared Red Alarm in the zapatistas communities and the Other Campaign and the EZLN’s “Comision Sexta” called for a solidarity demonstration nationally and internationally so that the police withdraw from the area as well as for the liberation of the arrested people.

We support the Other Campaign’s appeal. It is important to have an international mobilization against the criminalization of the social fight and the use of government violence against people. We resist the imposition of financial benefits against our lives.

The San Salvador Atenco’s cause is our cause.

We call for:

• The police force to withdraw from the area
• The liberation of the arrested people
• The respect of San Salvador Atenco’s people and their right to a life in dignity

We all are San Salvador Atenco

Down with the repression

SEMINAR “GLOBAL DRUGS POLITICS, REFUSING MILITARY AND REPRESSIVE POLICIES”

We are against the military and repressive policies, which are exercised in the name of “the war against drugs” at the international level, guided by the government of the United States of America against the national sovereignty of countries and the human rights of their people.

We demand

• The creation of alternative ways
• The ending of the prohibition policies
• The initiation of new forms of social control in the production, distribution and consumption of psychotropic substances.

SEMINAR FOR NEPAL

A European-wide day of Solidarity with the people of Nepal to take place throughout Europe on 2 September 2006 under the slogan “Support the people’s struggle. Hands off Nepal”.

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