World Social Forum – India invites you to join the process of conceiving and
constructing Asian alternatives to globalisation
People’s movements across the world are working to identify and demonstrate that
the path to sustainable development and social and economic justice does not
lie in neo-liberal globalisation but in alternative models for people-centred
and self-reliant progress.
In 2001 and 2002, the World Social Forum process has explored and proposed such
alternatives, and questioned the rules of governance and investment being set by
the World Economic Forum. The people’s argument is that Another World IS
Possible. It is an argument based on both vision and reality.
The World Social Forum developed as a response of the growing international
movement questioning the neo-liberal economic policies being pursued in most
countries and capitalist-led globalisation.
As the clock moves towards the 3rd international gathering of the 2003 World
Social Forum at Porto Alegre in Brazil, WSF-India invites you to the city of
Hyderabad, to take leadership in dialogue, discourse and design to formulate an
Asian blueprint for building another world – a plural, just, responsible and
shared world which accords equal dignity and rights to all its people.
The Asia Social Forum 2003 will focus not only on the impact but also the
processes of neo-liberal globalisation that is creating a small global,
‘over-class’ and a vast, increasingly marginalised and vulnerable under-class in
every country. Every part of the process seeks to draw out people’s perceptions
regarding the impact of neo-liberal economic policies and their attendant
divisiveness on their daily lives. Local forms and idioms will inform the
language of resistance and the formulation of alternatives.
Asia Social Forum 2003
2-7 January 2003, in Hyderabad, India
Connecting Across Asia
Asia’s own diversity and spread invites and demands interaction and connections
across the continent. The variety of Asian cultures, faiths and traditions
provides to the process a rich resource to explore. The Asia Social Forum 2003
proposes and seeks participation from all the many Asian sub-regions so that the
process builds and yields a rich exchange bringing together Central Asia, West
Asia/Middle East, South Asia, North Asia, South-East Asia, and reaching out to
the Pacific.The WSF India is working to build contacts across Asia to develop an
initiative to form an Asia Solidarity Group/Network, which will mobilise
participation, support and assistance from organisations, movements and networks
from all over Asia. We welcome ideas, advice, and suggestions for the WSF-India
Working Committee, to help make the Asian Social Forum a working example of
unity in diversity. We invite proposals on content and specific activities and
events. We hope especially for interest and response from groups and networks in
Asia, to give the Hyderabad setting a genuinely truly Asian heart and character.
To join the network, organisations and interested individuals can register (add
your email in ‘Join the ASF Network’ on the website www.wsfindia.org).
The Forum Focus
The main or broad themes identified by the WSF India are the following :· Peace
and Security· Debt, Development, Trade, Finance and Investment· Nation State,
Democracy and Exclusions· Social Infrastructure, Planning and Cooperation
· Ecology, Culture and Knowledge · Alternatives and Peoples Movements.Proposals
for the organization of conferences /seminars/workshops are being sought from
the interested organisations. Interested organisations are requested to make
their initial proposals for the proposed activities online as per the schedule
given below:Conferences September 30
Seminars October 15
Workshops October 30
Joining the Asia Social Forum 2003:
Design your own process and event !
The events that are envisaged over a period of 6 days, from 2nd to 7th January
are:
· 2 public/ plenary sessions, i.e. opening session on 2nd afternoon/evening and
closing session on 7th morning.
· 2 conferences daily (total 8)
· 25 parallel seminars daily (total 100)
· Upto 50 workshops daily (total 200)
· Testimonials, and open “spaces” for mass movements
All participating networks and organisations must arrange to cover costs of
their own travel and local stay, and to pay basic costs of Forum facilities.
Event Duration No. ofParticipants Facilities Costs
Conference 4 hours Upto 4000 Rs.2,50,000 ($5000)
Seminar 4 hours 1000-1200 A/C, Auditorium Rs. 30,000 ($600)
Seminar 4 hours 800-1000 Non A/C, Simple facilities Rs. 3,000 ($60)
Seminar 4 hours 200-300 A/C, Auditorium Rs.25,000 ($500)
Seminar 4 hours 200-300 Non A/C, Simple facilities Rs. 2,000 ($40)
Workshop 4 hours 50-75 A/C, roundtable Rs.20,000 ($400)
Workshop 4 hours 50-75 A/C, ClassroomType Rs.15,000 ($300)
Workshop 4 hours 50-75 Non-A/C, SimpleClassroom Type Rs.500 ($10)
All equipment such as OHP, Slide Projector and LCD Projector are additional cost
as follows:
Equipment Cost
OHP 400/- (10$)
Slide Projector 500/- (10$)
LCD Projector 2,500/-(60$)
Facilities on offer: Conference halls, meeting rooms, open forum space;
translation and on site interpretation (limited languages, please enquire);
display and exhibit space; audio-visual and photocopying services, limited
internet facilities (Please enquire on rates).
The individual registration fee for the Asian Social Forum will be Rs.100 ($2)
per delegate. Delegates will have to pay separately for their board and lodging
directly to the providers. The Hyderabad local organising committee will help
with information regarding logistics and help with bookings, etc, for delegates.
For all other details, contact ‘WSF India, Delhi Secretariat’.
Forum Schedule
Date 9.00 am to 1.00 pm 2.30 pm to 6.30 pm 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm
2nd Jan. Registration Opening Plenary(open to public) Film Shows;Cultural
Performances;Testimonials, Open spaces
3rd. Jan. Conferences – 2 per day(3-4,000 people); 25 Seminars in
Parallel(200-300 people);50-100 Workshops(50-100 people) Film Shows;Cultural
Performances;TestimonialsOpen spaces
4th. Jan. Conferences – 2 per day(3-4,000 people); 25 Seminars in
Parallel(200-300 people);50-100 Workshops(50-100 people) Film Shows;Cultural
Performances;TestimonialsOpen spaces
5th Jan. Conferences – 2 per day(3-4,000 people); 25 Seminars in
Parallel(200-300 people);50-100 Workshops(50-100 people) Film Shows;Cultural
Performances;TestimonialsOpen spaces
6th Jan. Conferences – 2 per day(3-4,000 people); 25 Seminars in
Parallel(200-300 people);50-100 Workshops(50-100 people) Film Shows;Cultural
Performances;TestimonialsOpen spaces
7th Jan. Closing Plenary(open to public)
Those interested in submitting films or participating in the cultural events are
welcome to get in touch with their proposals.
Youth Camp:
Young people are organising a special space for themselves within the Asia
Social Forum. Focusing mainly on the under privileged, the unemployed, the
marginalized the youth camp will feature special workshops, films, music, and
other events of, by and for Asian youth. Details about participating in the
youth camp and its activities are available on: www.youth4wsf.org. Log in and
join the mailing list.
WSF-India, Delhi Secretariat,
204, Elite House, 36 Community Centre
Zamrudpur.
New Delhi: 110048
Tel: + 91 11 6476580 Tele-fax: 91 11 6435441
wsfindia@vsnl.net Registration for events is online at :
www.wsfindia.org
WSF-India, Hyderabad Secretariat
1st Floor, Green Channel
opp. Nasr High School,
Khairatabad
Hyderabad – 500 007
Andhra Pradesh, India.
Ph: 91-40-3392726.
Email:
wsfhyd@hotmail.com mailto:
wsfhyd@hd2.dot.net.in 
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