WEF and WSF

In a message dated 1/26/2003 8:51:18 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
btws549@singnet.com.sg writes:

> I would like to enquire, does anyone know what the World Economic Forum is 
>supposed to achieve? 

It began in the early seventies, when capitalism was feeling a lot of heat.  It 
is basically a forum for the economically powerful to share ideas and develop 
strategies.  In the last five years or so, it has come under the glare of the 
international spotlight, so it occassionally makes minor efforts to appear to 
be listening to other voices or attending to world problems.   But don't expect 
much.


>And is the protest forum, the World Social Forum, of any significance or 
> use at all? 

It's not perfect (there's an obvious bias toward people who can afford to 
travel and/or are networked in to the internet etc, allowing for a 
disproportionate influence of NGOs and European Social Democrats), but it's 
currently the premiere global site for social movement participants to exchange 
ideas and develop strategies.   Since I think that needs to be done if we are 
going to make a better world, I'd say it's useful.

Steven Sherman