In March 2007 750  delegates from all four corners of Burkina and from other countries came together at Loumbila for three days to discuss and share experiences  on the topic “Burkina Faso in the throes of globalisation”. The Forum was a success and we vowed to plan a second edition.

Time has now come to invite you to the second Social Forum in Burkina to discuss

Regional integration and food sovereignty 

27-29 March 2008 in Ouahigoya
 

and to help each other invent a  possible new world and find the means to make it a reality.

Alone we can do nothing, but together we can achieve a great deal. There are 16 countries in the “sub-region” of West Africa and 13 of them rank as LDCs (Least Developed Countries)!

It is necessary to devise a form of regional integration, which is not merely a “creation of a large market”, but which puts people at the centre in a structure that is more cohesive than the fragmentation the former colonial powers seek to uphold.

The agricultural policy must be reviewed in order to achieve food sovereignty: every country must have the right to produce and consume its own food, without being assaulted, and without assaulting another country by distorting markets, dumping and subsidising.  There must be support for and protection of our agriculture, production must be increased and industrial food processing developed and agriculture must be distanced from the bare and square logic of merchandising the world!

During the Forum each participant will be able to gather information, exchange experiences, contribute to action and thereby strengthening  initiatives which best take true sustainable development into account. A range of different activities will be organised to enable all participants to find the frame that suits them best to express their views: conferences, workshops,  forum of organisations, farmers’ conference, marches, exhibitions, promotion of local products, meetings with the local inhabitants, cultural events …

The list of participating associations is getting longer and longer. Therefore you can be sure of being able to join us. The more solidarity we can bring together; the stronger our voice will be in defending the interests of our people.

If you wish to propose topics or speakers which are relevant to this years general theme or if there are issues of special concern to you, do not hesitate to mention them – allowance will be made in the programme to give everybody an opportunity to express themselves (women and the young in particular).

The funds available are not sufficient to pay for travel, but food and board will be provided on the spot at low cost, 2.500 CFA francs per person (and starting at 50€ for participants from the North or others, who wish to contribute financially to the forum).

You will find us at our forum web site, www.forumsocialburkina.info  where you may also read the reports from the first forum and find all the necessary details for participation. A registration form will soon be available on line.

You can also download the information sheet here

It contains all the useful contacts and addresses.

We hope to see you there. This announcement is instead of a formal invitation. Do not expect another one!

Pr Pierre Nakoulima, President of the National Organising Committee

Mr Amidou Ouattara, President of local co-ordination in Ouahigoya

Father Jacques Lacour, in charge if the Information Committee

E-mail contacts: 

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Koudougou, February 20^th, 2008