to all WSF IC members,
to the IC working group on WSF09
Greetings from Nairobi and the Caritas/AACC Ecumenical Platform!
The Caritas/AACC Ecumenical Platform in unity with a wide number of organizations and institutions involved in the WSF process has participated actively in the WSF2007.
After a reflection and an evaluation of the event, we suggest Africa to be again the host of the WSF2009.
Attached please find a letter addressed to regarding the Caritas/AACC Ecumenical Platform’s reflections for the WSF2009.
In solidarity,
Caritas/AACC Ecumenical Platform for the World Social Forum
Together for Social Justice!
Together for social justice
To all WSF IC members,
to the IC working group on WSF09
21st March 2007
RE: Churches propose that Africa will be again the host of the WSF2009
Greetings from the Caritas/AACC Ecumenical platform!
We hope that everybody has nice memories about the last forum and that everybody felt at
home in Nairobi.
The Churches of Africa met to evaluate their presence at the World Social Forum and to
assess the whole process. After our reflection, we recommend the International Council
to choose Africa for the next WSF2009.
Following some of the reasons:
1. We do believe that through the WSF the struggle for social justice in Africa has been
accelerated.
2. The WSF has been the baptism of new African social movements and a new civil
society able to change the destiny of its continent and with another forum they can
grow more.
3. Different actors of the civil society organisations and movements working on the
same issues have met in order to organize their presence at the forum and this has
created positive synergies and collaborations, another forum can reinforce them and
build new ones.
4. Another WSF in Africa will give the possibility to correct all the mistakes done this
year and organise an even more effective event.
5. Some issues coming from the WSF were reported by African media and are now in
the political agenda, another forum will continue to change the political agenda
including in it the concerns of the people.
6. The long presence of the WSF in South America has helped the political change of
the entire continent and today we have governments closer to the poor. Therefore,
remaining in Africa, the WSF can bring positive political changes in Africa.
7. Africa is the most neglected continent where the contradictions of the neoliberalism
are stronger and the effects on the life of people more visible. It is very meaningful
that the people constructing alternatives meet here at the epicentre of the struggles.
The Churches have participated massively and actively to the Nairobi Forum working on
water and climate change, debt, democracy and good governance, rural and urban poverty,
slums, pastoralists’ rights, extractive industries, HIV/AIDS, peace building and
reconciliation, and other crucial issues together with other actors to give voice to the
voiceless.
We are now writing also to the Africa Social Forum to encourage them to present an
African candidature to the IC. The Churches will support an African candidature and are
willing to collaborate in the process that hopefully will bring us to meet again in Africa in
2009.
In solidarity,
Caritas Africa/AACC Ecumenical Platform Towards the World Social Forum
Contact Persons:
Mrs. Margaret Mwaniki
Caritas/AACC Ecumenical Platform
Co-Chair
Caritas Africa AMECEA
Email: camecea ciaas.org
Phone: 020-4442039
Nicholas Otieno
Caritas/AACC Ecumenical
Platform Coordinator
Ecumenical Coordination Office
Email: cric_africa yahoo.com
Phone: 020-4441338 ext. 37
Rev. Canon Grace Kaiso
Caritas/AACC Ecumenical Platform
Co-Chair
AACC
Email: ujcc utonline.co.ug
Phone: 020-4441338 ext. 37
CARITAS: Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service
organizations working in over 200 countries and territories to build a world of justice, peace and spread
solidarity across the world. As the social action arm of the Catholic Church, rooted in the gospel and Catholic
social teaching, Caritas reaches out in solidarity with all those in need regardless of creed, race, gender or
ethnicity.
AACC: The All Africa Conference of Churches is a fellowship of 169 members comprising of Churches and
National Christian Councils and Institutions. The membership of the AACC accounts for over 120 million
Christians of 39 countries in Africa. Of these 134 are from member Churches and 35 are the National
Council
of Churches. The work of the All Africa Conference of Churches encompasses the whole continent and
provides a broader vision for unity among all peoples.