#wsf2024 Radical democracy and autonomy session 17feb

Cohosted by Global Tapestry of Alternatives, Global U(niversity) of Sustainability and others. Reporters from/on Rojava (Democratic Confederation of North East Syria), Chiapas (Zapatistas) and Chinese struggles of peasants and rural communities in the wake of hugely disruptive urbanisation an industrialisation post 80s. See captions.

Still haven’t posted images from wsf2024 @ Kathmandu. Being a tourist today, stupa pix to come.

Very powerful sense at #wsf2024 of movements of untouchables, Dalits, freed indentured labourers, Middle East migrant workers sending money back home. Trade unions also surprisingly engaged, even though membership in South Asia countries is typically <5%, and India, for example, is driving a neo-liberal coach & horses through labour laws, replacing them with laws for arbitrary employer power.

Walking this morning to Bhrikuti Mandap (#wsf2024 venue) UN military tankers (water carriers?) parked in public parkland, accompanied sometimes by Nepali military units parading & manoevring, separated by a coil of razor wire from cricketers & footballers. A squad of riot police (women & men) complete with shields sticks helmets & rifles, chatting on the way to today’s duty location, in counterflow with the stream of rush hour pedestrian commuters.

What’s that all about?

#wsf2024

Just getting our heads above water, travel (long haul, ugh) and first conference day (chaos!).

Kathmandu is fascinating, our hotel has a back door leading directly into Darbur Square (World Heritage Hotel & Apartments aka Dwarikas Chhen). Part of Darbur Square complex, renovated before and after 2015 earthquake. decent daily rate booked at Agora, helpful owner- mangers, invested in Kathmandu culture. Fortunate choice.

There will be a second forum at the #WSF2024 by the 3 orgs mentioned above on Sun., Feb. 18 at 08:15 UTC (at 03:15 EST for those on the east coast of the US).

"Women’s Revolution In #Rojava - Confederal Women’s System In North And East Syria"
https://wsf2024nepal.org/organization/activity/174