World Social Forum Location Creating Challenges for People from Southern Countries

Posted on August 9, 2016 by GJEP staff

GJEP Executive Director Anne Petermann and ¡Buen Vivir! Gallery Director Orin Langelle are in the World Social Forum in Montreal. This is the first time the WSF has taken place in a Northern country, which is creating challenges for people trying to attend from Southern countries, as noted in this article from CBC.ca:

(Anti-globalization activist) Aminata Traoré called the ordeal a “worrying” and “dreadful lesson in democracy.”

“It is precisely these countries that are supposedly there to give lessons to our democracies,” she said.

“In reality, the West is more and more afraid of debates on ideas … We are bearers of ideas, not bombs.”

Despite increased media attention on the problem, organizers said several guests had yet to obtain their visas with the event set to begin Tuesday.

The World Social Forum, an annual meeting bringing together activists and leftist intellectuals from around the world, runs from Aug. 9 to Aug. 14 in Montreal.

Read the full article here.