Unlike the
summits of wealthy countries, whose leaders have to meet
almost in secret, surrounded by huge security cordons,
the Heads of State and Government of
the Bolivarian Alliance for the
Peoples of our America, ALBA, are holding
their seventh summit, protected and accompanied by the
social movement.
The social
movement is also participating in the analysis of urgent
subjects which are affecting all nations of the region.
Among them are the economic differences which affect
trade under the rules of the capitalist market system,
and the irrational models of production and consumption,
so aggressive with the natural environment.
Beginning on
Thursday, more than 500 delegates of the member
countries of ALBA, and another 30 invited countries, are
taking part in the Social Summit of this integration
mechanism, which is taking place in the Bolivian city of
Cochabamba.
They are
discussing controversial subjects such as the ancient
concept of peoples´ right to their land, which includes
much more than the simple possession of a geographical
area, but also of its natural resources, as well as its
social organization forms. They are also talking about
spiritual and material production, such as the cultural
expressions of the communities which inhabit this land.
The
objective would be then to create strategies to protect
the mineral and energy resources of the subsoil, which
have been devastated by the insatiable hunger of
transnational companies, as well as water sources and
the flora and fauna, threatened by climatic change.
Representatives of the popular organizations will also
talk about the Peoples' Trade Agreement, which offers
different rules than the free trade agreements proposed
by the United States and the European Union.
The Peoples'
Trade Agreement proposes respect for the differences
among member countries, and it establishes rules to
compensate these differences, so that they could be
equally benefited with a fair exchange.
Seven
working groups are analysing the different subjects,
among which are the peoples´ right to their self-determination
and sovereignty, among others.
The result
of the debates will be given to the ALBA´s presidents
and heads of state, and it won’t be a piece of paper
full of recommendations, but a popular mandate to put
into practice.
The ceremony
will take place tomorrow, Saturday, at the end of the
Seventh Summit in a multitudinous celebration at
Cochabamba´s stadium, which will be a symbol of the
unity of peoples and leaders in a common purpose, to
consolidate integration and with it, people’s welfare,
particularly the traditionally forgotten sectors of
society.
In this
Bolivian meeting, there's a mandate which should emerge,
and that is the creation of the Social Council of ALBA,
in order to complement the current economic and
political councils.
Five years have passed since the leader of the Cuban
Revolution, Fidel Castro, and Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez decided to create a mechanism capable of drawing
together the peoples in all their expressions.
Today, the
Seventh Summit of Cochabamba offers an alive, strong and
developed organization, a powerful liberating instrument
to the service of the peoples of this new world.
