Posted on: October 15, 2009  @ 11:30

Quebec Social Forum: “We Are Building Another World”

Over 4,000 people from different backgrounds took part in the Quebec Social Forum over this past weekend. I was one of them. A social forum provides opportunities for amazing encounters with people and ideas; it’s a place where everything is possible. There are workshops on such different issues as globalization, water as a common good and community development. A social forum also allows for renewing ties with other union members and sharing our current and future struggles.

CUPW participates in all social forums. To us, it’s a way to contribute to the debate on building a different world based on justice, solidarity and sharing. As mentioned by one guest speaker, the social forum is a place where we discuss how to “replace the law of the strongest by the force of collective rights.” It’s a great way to express our desire for change and to play an active role in effecting it.

In addition to making financial contributions to the forum, CUPW was involved in organizing and facilitating workshops on Palestine and the campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel, the Canada-Columbia Free Trade Agreement and the need for inter-union work. As part of this last workshop, we showed that there’s only one way to protect a public service, and that’s to get the support of the public and build a united front with all the individuals and groups concerned. In essence, we have to wage a common struggle.

Through local, national and world social forums, we are building another world!

The struggle continues.

 

cupe 1979 / cope 225