Alternative summit / Development assistance

» Economics » Development assistance » Topics begins with A » Alternative summit

Page modified: Friday, June 23, 2006 20:50:59

The alternative summit (Spanish Enlazando Alternativas = alternatives link) with the sub-title "Latin America Karibik and Europe found of 10. to 14. May 2006 in Vienna (Austria) instead of. Meeting place was the town hall, which offered place to several thousand participants.

The conference understood itself officially not as "Gegengipfel", but as topic tables addition of the European Union Latin America summit of the state and head of the government (12. May), was stylized however from many media to such. Not insignificant to it the venezolanische president contributed, which gave a combat speech with a meeting at the 13.Mai against the US imperialism.

The alternative summit the preceding and following basis work of different EU-LAC_Projekte among other things daily paper "courier" becomes in a special issue of the Viennese (28 April 2006) and a detailed working document of the Austrian bishop conference represented, in whom the South American church and development aid participated.

Organizer and topic

The conference was organized by numerous NGOs and social organizations of development co-operation between Europe, central and South America. Leading under the strongly represented Christian organizations were the Missio and the Austrian three-king action, while the left groupings were more without uniformity active likewise numerously, but.

The conference was concerned particularly with the possibilities of a more human development of the Subkontinents. For the social and economical background of Latin America of Austria had published bishops in March a study (see 3.Weblink). The participants came predominantly from the civil company of both regions.

The direct cause of the congress - whose initiatives are resumed - was topic tables an addition of the European Union Latin America summit of the European Union, that on Friday 12. May 2006 likewise in Vienna began. Several of the heads of state participated also in meetings of the alternative summit - among other things the new Bolivian president Evo Morales and European politicians. Also numerous bishops and leader from development assistance projects were under that about 3,000 participants.

The congress fees of the European participants (" 5, - per day) partly used for the subsidy of the Latin American participants (under those also land lots and Favela inhabitants were), partly benefit them the current development projects.

Political and cultural

In thematischer tuning to the two summit conferences April the Latin American culture initiative Onda Latina since at the end of, which is continued still to 4 June 2006, runs. Among other things it brings to meetings to literature, dance and boom-ends Mestizo Rockmusik.

Contrary to other alternative summits of globalization critics no demonstrations were intended in Vienna on the part of the organizers, and also the conference ran completely peacefully. although politically quite oppositely - among other things between the Christian and left-wing extreme groupings unite. At the time of a conclusion meeting on Saturday evening (13. May) were the presidents Evo Morales (Bolivia) and Hugo Chavez (Venezuela) the most prominent, however also polarizing guest speakers.

The latter pulled over 2 hours against the "neoliberale and imperialistic Imperium" of the USA to field, which became however with the attack recent linking and their love for the arms in the long run the "paper tiger". Additionally the Ambiente accelerated it as per ORF (4.Weblink): "Spring, the full moon and the Danube in Vienna are done to fall in love."

In questions of the economic and social politics most NGOs and/or the participants in the working groups and discussions represented a policy of the integrativen solidarity. Deviating from it acted (unofficial) a demonstration of 13, groups link, remained however peaceful something about "solidarity with the social movements of Latin America". Those about 1,500 participants kampierten afterwards (Saturday in the afternoon) in the park beside the town hall, in order to listen to the speakers of the alternative summit.