Maghreb's anti-globalization activists on the move

Over 450 Maghreban anti-globalization activists, working in various social and immigration fields, have set up a regional social forum in Morocco.

According the Lahbib Kamal, a member of the Moroccan Social Forum steering committee, the 1st session of the Maghreban Forum is scheduled for May 2007. This was announced at a press conference themed "Pateras of Dignity" at the end of the preparatory assembly of the Forum held on January 27 to 29 in the Atlantic town of Bouznika (50 km from Rabat). Patera is the name used in Spain to describe the dinghy boats that illegally ferry would-be immigrants to the European country. As we have reported beforem these precarious boats sometimes capsize or sink in bad weather killing some of the passengers.

This is the result of a process started in July 2004, at the occasion of the second meeting of the Moroccan social forum, where anti-globalization Maghreban activists called for a federation of all the social movement actors as part of the Porte Alegre dynamic, recalled Kamal, adding that the assembly aims to harmonize local, regional and world dynamics as well as to contribute to the strengthening of regional associations' links and to allow networks to emerge.

According to the organizers, the Maghreban Social Forum will be a space for elaborating alternatives in accordance to the wishes of the people of the region.

Tags: Morocco, Fes, Maghreb, news