Opening of the World Social Forum – another world is possible!

“I am not nostalgic for the times when we were distracted by what was happening at the parallel or at the anti-Forum”, Peter Sutherland remarked at the GFMD in Mauritius last week. Well, unlike the UN Special Representative  for Migration I am – or rather: I was until today, when the World Social Forum on Migration (EWSFM) finally started in Manila. And to me this event highlights what was largely missing from this years’ GFMD: A more inclusive and participatory approach, and the willingness to think “out of the box” . While at the GFMD there was a constant reminder to be pragmatic – nothing wrong with that – the WSFM also provides the opportunity to question some fundamental issues and the neoliberal “framework” under which most labour Migration currently takes place. The keynote adress by Walden Bello was a great example for that approach – more on that upcoming. For now, here are some pictures from the opening rallye this morning 7.30 am- a great way to start the day!