A Celebration of People’s Struggles A Festival of Hope Table of Contents Foreword 6 by Antonio Tujan, Jr. Schedule of Events 10 Communiqué of International Festival of Peoples’ Rights and Struggles 18 ISBN 978-971-9941-04-4 © IBON International 2011 International Festival of Peoples’ Rights and Struggles: Common Opening 23 All Rights Reserved IFPRS Common Opening: Promoting People’s Rights for a Better World 24 The Common Origin of the Multiple Crises: The Logic of Capitalism and the People’s Response 25 IBON International holds the rights to this publication. The publication may be cited in parts as long as IBON is properly By Francois Houtart, Founder, Tricontinental Centre acknowledged as the source and IBON is furnished copies of the final work where the quotation or citation appears. Message of Solidarity to the International Festival for Peoples’ Rights and Struggles 46 IBON International is the international division of IBON Foundation, Inc. As an international NGO, IBON Foundation responds By Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Chairperson, International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) to international demand to provide support in research and education to people’s movements and grassroots empowerment and advocacy Message to the International Festival for Peoples’ Rights and Struggles 49 and links these to international initiatives and networks. By Leila Khaled, Member, Palestinian National Council IBON International initiates and implements international programs, develops and hosts international networks, initiates and Foro Internacional Democracia y Cooperacion (FIDC) Asia-Pacific Regional Forum 51 FIDC Asia-Pacific towards Stronger International Solidarity 52 participates in international advocacy campaigns, and establishes regional and country offices where necessary and appropriate. The Economic Crisis from a Gender Perspective 53 Published by By Liza Maza, Chairperson, International Women’s Alliance Globalisation: New Challenges to the Working Class and the Trade Union Movement 58 By Padmanabhan Krishna Murthy, Foro Mundial de Alternativas Global Economic Crisis and Impact on Indigenous Peoples 61 IBON International By Jiten Yumnam, Forum for Indigenous Perspectives and Action The 1st AGITPROP International Film Festival on Peoples’ Struggles 67 With the support of About the Festival 68 International Migrants Alliance 2nd General Assembly 71 Communiqué of the Second General Assembly of the International Migrants Alliance 72 Uphold the Rights of Migrant Workers, Resist Imperialist Attacks and Win Greater Victories 75 By Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Chairperson, International League of Peoples' Struggle Keynote Speech 78 The Karibu Foundation By Len Cooper, Chairperson, ILPS Australia IMA Chairperson’s Report for 2008-2011 83 Prepared by Eni Lestari, Chairperson, International Migrants Alliance IBON International 3rd Floor IBON Center International Forum on Aid and Development Effectiveness in Agriculture and Rural Development 87 114 Timog Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines 1103 PCFS Hosts Public Forum on Development Effectiveness in Agriculture and Rural Development 88 By People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty Tel: +63 2 9277060 to 62 local 202 Telefax: +63 2 4251387 Outcome of the CSO Regional Consultations and Regional Context Sharing from Asia 89 Website: http://www.iboninternational.org By Danilo Ramos, Secretary General of the Asian Peasant Coalition International Conference on Progressive Culture 93 Filipino People’s Struggle: a 115-Year Saga 159 People’s Art Conference Declaration of Unity 94 By Satur C. Ocampo, President, Makabayan & Bayan Muna Partylist Keynote Speech 96 Speech by Mr. Binda Man Bista, All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary) 161 By Malcolm Guy, Chairperson, ILPS Canada The Moro People’s Struggle for Right to Self-Determination and Liberation 163 On Artists’ Rights and Welfare 101 By Bai Ali Indayla, Secretary-General of KAWAGIB-Alliance for the Advancement of Moro Human Rights By Bonifacio P. Ilagan, Concerned Artists of the Philippines International Panel Discussion on US Overseas Military Bases 169 Message of Solidarity and Inputs on Millennium Development Goals 104 “Ban the Bases!” BAYAN and global allies form campaign network vs. US military bases 170 and the Convention on Cultural Diversity By Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Chairperson, International League of Peoples' Struggle US Imperialism and the Role of Overseas Bases in US Geopolitical Strategy 171 By Dr. Dante C. Simbulan, Sr., Former Dean, College of Arts and Science, Polytechnic University of the International Women’s Alliance 1st General Assembly 109 Philippines Manila Declaration of Unity of the International Women’s Alliance 110 Australia and the Imperialist Web of Deception 180 Announcement on the International Women’s Alliance First General Assembly (FGA) 113 By Len Cooper, Chairperson, ILPS Australia Held on July 5-6 in Manila, Philippines U.S. Forces in Japan and Okinawa, and New Stage of U.S.-Japan Military Alliance: Opening Remarks 116 Strengthening Their Military Domination in Asia through Integration of Both Military Forces 183 By Liza Maza, Chairperson, International Women’s Alliance By Mr. Mamoru Kamoi, Asia-Wide Campaign-Japan The Women of Valor 119 International People’s Speak Out for the Right to Land and Life 189 First International People’s Speak Out Seminar on US War on Terror and Counterinsurgency 123 for the Rights to Land and Life in the Streets of Q.C., Philippines 190 Seminar on US War on Terror and Counterinsurgency 124 By People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty US War on Terror and Counterinsurgency 126 Workshop on the Permanent People’s Tribunal: By Prof. Roland Simbulan, University of the Philippines Manila The Rule of Law versus the Rule of Justice 193 The Rule of Law versus the Rule of Justice: Exposing the Gaps between Law Theory and Practice 194 Post-Cold War Imperialist Agenda on the US National Security Doctrine (Joint Vision 2020) 129 RESIST Forum 197 By Prof. Michel Chossudovsky, Center for Research on Globalization Making sense of the global crisis and new world disorder: Challenges and opportunities for people’s struggles and alternative 198 The Functions of US Imperialism in the Global System 133 By François Houtart, Founder, Tricontinental Centre Keynote Speech 200 By Antonio Tujan, International Director, IBON Foundation, Inc. The Global Movement of Migrants Current Situation and Resistance against Imperialist Attacks 141 Migrants unite and resist attacks against our rights! 142 The Case for System Change: Addressing the fundamental roots of the multiple crises: rethinking By Garry Martinez, Chairperson, Migrante International economics, politics and ecology for sustainable development 204 By Demba Moussa Dembele, Director, African Forum on Alternatives Troubled Seafarers in the Troubles Seas 145 By Atty. Joseph Entero, Chairman. FILDAN A Case for System Change 214 By Len Cooper, Chairperson, ILPS Australia Forum on the Current Challenges of Climate Change in Asia Pacific 149 Communities, education, global solidarity, key to fighting climate change 150 Solidarity Forum on Youth Struggles: Understanding the Landscape of Youth Defiance in the Global Disorder 221 IT Skillshare Information Security & New Media Practices for Activists 153 Unity Statement of the International Solidarity Youth Forum 222 Social Media and Advocacies 154 By Noel Colina, Computers Professionals Unions Solidarity Night 225 Seminar on People’s Resistance and Struggles for Liberation 157 Seminar on People’s Resistance and Struggles for Liberation 158 Foreword movements and intense political conflicts and struggles by people‘s movements seeking radical reform and liberation. A Celebration of People‘s Struggles, A Festival of Hope Antonio Tujan Jr. About the International Festival of People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS) International Director, IBON Foundation Amidst this panorama of widening and intensifying people’s resistance across the globe, workers, peasants, women, indigenous peoples, migrants, artists and cultural workers, youth and many other sectors and communities from all over the world gathered in Manila for the International Festival of oss of jobs and livelihoods, continuing erosion of already low incomes and high prices of basic People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS) from July 2-6, 2011. needs have been the lot of working people in the past decades as they bear the brunt of the crisis of monopoly capital. And as the latter unleashes neoliberal globalization to expand markets and Peoples from Asia and the Pacific, Africa, North America, Europe and Latin America and the Middle Lintensify exploitation through new speculative measures, small producers and their communities East found a liberating space in the IFPRS to share and learn from each other about new and longstanding fall into the whirlpool of collapsing markets, shrinking prices for their products and spiraling costs of threats to people’s individual and collective rights. It was also an occasion to draw lessons from and production. celebrate the victories of people’s struggles to claim and assert their rights. Environmental degradation and climate change, by-products of monopoly capitalism, bring more This book therefore documents the highlights of these events to capture the spirit of celebration and displacements, intense droughts, floods and storms, increasing desertification, poisons, and further hope of all the participants towards the realization of a society that is free from war and strife, social destruction to peoples‘ lives and livelihoods.