[asia-apec 1452] Is Genuine Social Development Possible Under Globalization?

[rcpd]

		Social movements, people's organizations, NGOs and 
	concerned individuals who are taking part in and around the events 
    during the World Summit on Social Development in Geneva on June 26-30 
		 are cordially invited to a forum-workshop... 

			Is Genuine Social Development Possible 
				Under Globalization?


					organized  by 
			International South Group Network  (ISGN)	
	Resource Center for People's Development (RCPD) - Philippines
					ATTAC - France
				   Geneva, Switzerland
				       June 23, 2000



On June 26-30, 2000 world leaders will gather in Geneva to assess the
progress made on the implementation of commitments made in the 1995 United
Nations World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen.  Among the key
issues to be addressed in the Geneva Summit include poverty eradication and
improvement of living conditions, employment, social integration, access to
basic social services, empowerment, etc.  

This early, the shortfall of many governments to realize even the narrow
targets of the Copenhagen Declaration and Program of Action can be gleaned
from official documents of the Geneva Summit.  There is an open admittance
that people living in poverty increased since 1995, of an increase in
causal and informal employment and that many countries still fall short of
the targets particularly for the provision of basic social services.
Likewise, the worsening terms of international trade is recognized as among
the factors that undermined measures to poverty eradication.

These are to be expected in an institution that sticks to the narrow
confines of the current world order where a few rich and powerful nations
dictate the terms of socio-economic and political relations at the expense
of people particularly in developing countries. It can never address the
fundamental problems that have kept nations and peoples impoverished and
powerless.  In fact the Social Summit pursues the same neo-liberal policies
of liberalization, deregulation and privatization that have deprived many
of the even the barest needs for survival.  It will be utilized by global
powers in its agenda towards further liberalizing world trade and
investments.  

We are aware that globalization is the biggest stumbling block towards the
attainment of genuine social development.  It drives poor countries further
into underdevelopment and the people to more miserable situation.  It
denies the people their means of livelihood - i.e. peasants of their land
and workers of decent employment.  The acute mal-development of the
majority of the world's population cannot be cured by simply instituting
appropriate reforms, as the Social Summit prescribes, in order to
strengthen the current national and international arrangements.  In the
same light, structural adjustment programs cannot be expected to effect
social development, especially eradication of poverty.

But the Social Summit in Geneva provides another avenue for social
movements from different parts of the globe to muster strength and
relentlessly pursue the struggle against globalization.  Build on the
significant gains of the anti-globalization struggles in Seattle and in
Bangkok and continue the fight in Geneva.   As the question of poverty and
social development takes center stage at the Social Summit in Geneva, there
should be more than enough space to espouse the bases of our resistance
against and alternatives to globalization.  Involve in the continuing
debate, exchange and struggles against globalization. 	Join a forum that
will tackle the meaning of genuine social development in the era of
globalization.

Date - June 23, 2000
Time - 9: 00 am - 12: 00 nn	
      Place:  Geneva Switzerland (exact venue to be announced later)


For more information:

Alice Raymundo
Resource Center for People's Development (RCPD)
24 Unit-7 Mapang-akit St., Brgy. Pinyahan,
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel/fax:  (63 2)  436 18 31
Tel:	 (63 2)  435 08 15
e-mails: rcpd at info.com.ph and alice at info.com.ph  (use both)


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Resource Center for People's Development
#24, Unit 7, Mapang-akit St, Pinyahan, QC, Philippines
telefax- (632)4361831 tel - 4350815
email: rcpd at info.com.ph