Loudest voices at the world social forum

Groups from the Free Palestine cause shout slogans. The cause is the most prominent at the World Social Forum (WSF) where international activists have gathered in the Tunisian capital, Tunis. AFP PHOTO

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Activism. A peek at the World Social Forum in Tunisia

The World Social Forum is taking place in Tunis right now. Civil society, rights campaigners, activists, social justice are all gathered here.
Some turned up in large numbers, others are lone campaigners. It is not possible to highlight all the organisations as they run into several hundred, but there are groups that are quite active. Here are some of the groups that have managed to beat their way to the front.

Free Palestine
Not all who join these groups activities are from Palestine though a good number are human rights campaigners from Palestine itself. Their marches prove quite popular and they are often joined by other people from other countries and groups. They have specific activities like workshops and discussions though you would be forgiven for not knowing that.

They are around the campus grounds where the forum is taking place appear to be their main activity. It is not strange to be attending another forum and suddenly hear the free Palestine chant break out. The flag and trademark keffiyeh are also popular items around the forum flag hat. They do have the somber moments though, when candlelight vigils are held for those who have lost their lives or those injured.

Women’s rights groups
These ones come in all shapes and sizes, from well-established NGO’s like the international march of women to those whose campaigner, founder and main coordinator are all rolled into one.

Different groups are raising awareness on the plight of different groups of oppressed women like the rural woman, women in conflict zones to name but a few. But they are able to unite on some campaigns, like the anti-patriarchy call and denouncing various forms of violence against women.

One of the more popular chants at the forum is “So so so! Solidarite avec le femme, de monde entiere,” translated, it is a call to solidarity, with all the women of the world.

Women’s rights activities and discussions on the situation of women anywhere rarely have the fanfare other group activities have, still, they prove to be some of the most attended.

Free Western Sahara
This group from the small occupied desert nation turned out in their numbers and are one of the most identifiable in a crowd. The women in their bright print loose fitting dresses and the men with the bulky cotton sleeveless tunics they throw over their regular clothes. In a sea of people mainly dressed up against the chilly weather, the Sahrawis stand out.

Most times they will also have a flag tied around their shoulders. Since they are a diverse group, they are able to be present at a wide range of events, from youth, to women, to media rights and if an opportunity arises, or even sometimes if it does not, they will talk about their oppression by Morocco, their fight for independence, and brevity does not seem to be their strong suit.

They can also be found at a massive tent on the university grounds where more information on their plight can be found. The attraction though is when the music starts, people gather at their tent to watch the Sahrawi folk music.

Anti-capitalist groups
Their main call, and that is for capitalism to find its way to the grave pronto. Their chant is yet another one that grows on you once you hear it a few times. “Ah! Mortir, mortir capitalista!” which means Ah! Death to capitalism!

Some though will not mind if it lives on as long as it exists alongside other financial systems and people all over the world have more choice as to how money should work for them.

Some anti-capitalists are also campaigning for other causes for instance women’s rights as they see capitalism oppresses women while using them and their bodies for gain. It also overlaps with those campaigning for the environment food security among others.

Environmental groups
Their cause is self-explanatory. This is where you are most likely to get a take home, say a sticker, or poster or eve a t-shirt. They are from every corner of this globe and will highlight degradation and its effects from the mangrove forests to mountaintops. They set up along walkways and catch people enroute to other activities.

Small holder farmers’ rights
They have a huge presence, though the most visible group is members of Il campensina, an organisation that campaigners small scale farmers rights all over the globe.

Their concern is that the small holder farmer is a dying breed, fast being edged out by large scale, mechanised farming. Their question the wisdom of leaving the control of food production to a powerful few.

Also, they protest that so many small scale farmers potentially stand to lose their livelihoods if the system continues to push them out.

The lone soldiers
They are usually artists of some sort. They act as walking placards, and the message goes with them wherever they go. They are most likely calling attention to one of the above causes or protesting for other oppressed groups, but they seem to prefer to work alone. There is one man from Yemen who plays the lute, as he sits in the midst of a forest of placards denouncing oppression in his country.

The researchers and social scientists
They stand out for their diligence in taking notes, asking questions and interest in the events that are set up more like workshops.

Anti-racism
They are against all discrimination based on a person’s colour. There is a large group from Brazil here to present the cause, and the Tunisians with dark skin are also active.
Both groups say discrimination is still rife in their countries of birth. Their events are mainly testimonies of different people’s experience of racism in its various forms.
So far, nothing tramps these.

The music brigade
Frankly I have no clue what their call is. But they do take drumming up support quite literally. And a crowd, mainly of you is always around to dance to the sound of this support. Maybe if you ask, they would interrupt their music to explain what they are all about. But for now, most people seem to be satisfied with just enjoying the music.