---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2002 15:43:12 -0500 Subject: Re: Brazilian labor unionist critique of WSF
To hear anarchist/socialists refer to all NGOs as tools of capitalism is interesting indeed especially in the context of the very specific examples given below... My opinion is that you can find examples of rotten policies on a global scale for anything. Pick your poison. The ENDA example below being a prime case along w/ the ATTAC group policies in light of a few (possibly necessary diplomatic) public words from a spokesperson being another. Again the context of the original words is key and to understand it is beyond most of our non-political careers... and available atoms in the universe. In short the below article may point out valid negative points about specific NGOs and such negative things as traditional capital based influences on the WSF-- is anything truly pure these days-- but in my opinion it all paints with too broad a brush. NGOs are in essence social groupings through the globe within existing societies recognized and sheltered within the existing structures and in most cases there is quite a bit of latitude- within the context of the applicable laws- on how such a group is constituted and what it is permitted to do. And in most cases their is if not structure at least an agreement on an interface that allows some level of accountability into that organization. On another note: one of the issues we've seen recently that is not addressed well by the militant anarchist/socialist groups is the lack of transparency within their ranks. Instead of working to gain more transparency in the groups that they assemble against (allow for open criticisms and hopefully amelioration/remediation/explanation such as in the cases below) they have a strong tendency to internally hold their policies and gatherings in secret- in fear of infiltration and subterfusion. Granted if you form a spokescouncil and agree to membership rules you're allowed fairly deep penetration of externally hidden strategies. But... I fear I paint w/ a broad brush myself when I say that it sounds like a new religion to me... ;-) Then again the anarchist goal is the destruction of all traditional authority structures and that is not predicated w/ any level of transparency, cooperation, or in some cases accountability. Maybe I'm still realing from influences/shocks of "cult of personalities" during recent events... ;-) How close to the absolute left is the absolute right. Yeehaw!
