ReturnWorld Social Forum International Day of Action - “Another World is possible!”
The World Social Forum (WSF) made a call for a global day of collective action to be organised in the localities where social movements and organisations are based on the 26th of January, 2008.
In response to the WSF call for collective action, StreetNet and Durban street vendor organisations joined the WSF Festival for Social Change - The State of the People/ASINAMALI on 26th January hosted by Social Movements Indaba and the Centre for Civil Society (UKZN) at Diakonia Centre, Durban, South Africa.
At the discussion on People’s Economy, facilitated by StreetNet Co-ordinator Pat Horn, participants representing informal economy organisations from Durban decided to formulate demands around what a World Class City For ALL, which includes the need of the urban poor, should really look like and to plan action around these demands. Organisations present were street traders (Eye Traders Association), street barbers (Sisonke), Timberwatch, concerned with the social and economic effects of timber plantations, and an alliance of informal fishermen who are environmental activists from the South Durban basin (The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance - SDCEA). The concerns raised included respect and recognition of informal work, income security of all its workers, development and building skills rather than destruction of livelihoods particularly for women who are supporting households, making space for and building African markets, valuing and building on the people’s entrepreneurial efforts and resourcefulness instead of prioritising big business and commercial interests.
Making it happen on WSF Website
StreetNet also responded to the WSF by registering on the WSF2008 website (www.wsf.2008.net) to build the visibility of informal economy organisation and street vendors, and link with the Durban Festival for Social Change Action Space on the web. StreetNet was among more than 800 global organizations and social movements who took part in the Global Call for Action on the worldwide web.
Ligue pour le Droit de la Femme Congolaise
Angélique Kipulu Katani Secretary General of Ligue pour le Droit de la Femme Congolaise (LDFC), StreetNet affiliate, sent its programme of action which was posted on the world map of Global Action on WSF website and StreetNet also added its solidarity.to the LDFC action. LDFC hosted a public debate on the problem of illegal taxes (”Tax Anarchiques”) that women market and street vendors are forced to pay by police and security guards in the informal economy which was attended by 80 people in Kinshasa. Angelique Kipuli Katani explained what WSF Global Day of Action was and the history of the World Social Forum. She encouraged informal traders to pay the taxes they are required to as these go towards providing schools, infrastructure and for police etc, but to refuse to pay illegal taxes. She proposed that 26th be marked every year by LDFC in working towards “Another World”.