http://www.habitants.org/article/archive/149 en_GB eZpublish version 2.2.9 - customized by OpenContent Gabriele Francescotto gabriele.francescotto@opencontent.it http://fr.habitants.org/article/view/1030/ WSF, January 2004 We met as social and working class urban leaders of Africa, Asia, Europe, United States, Latin America and Caribbean, at the IV World Social Forum (Mumbai, India,16 - 22 January 2004). We consider to be of vital importance to emphasize that during the World Social Forum, the plurality and cultural diversity we aspire to clearly materialized, because all Asian ethnic groups showed up through songs and music until they “Indianised” all those who were present. The voiceless people who demand peace along with all their social, economic, political and cultural rights became actually visible. We consider that it is urgent to oppose the pervasive effects of exclusion, poverty, environmental degradation, exploitation, violence, problems of transportation, public services, housing and urban governance, which the neo-liberal globalisation has produced in our countries. After having revised all our experience in building society, we conclude that we have created inclusive, productive, sustainable and democratic processes. For these reasons we declare In order to protect our right to be builders and users of cities, and to build and strengthen solidarity links, we confirm our will to act in coordination on a straight line and in mutual cooperation, from the local up to the global level. Thus, we take into account previous history, dynamics and initiatives that developed and are still developing in this area in various parts of the world, and which have produced declarations and have created principles we make our own. We also take into account principles contained in the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (art.11) and in the Human Rights Universal Declaration (art.25). On these bases we confirm our resolution to unite our experiences in building the International Alliance of Inhabitants, in order to strengthen the strategies of the social movement which enables the transition to another possible world. To do so, we pledge to promote the development of new kinds of associations of inhabitants-militants, our legs well standing in our own region, our head fully aware of the international challenge of the cities. On this basis we commit ourselves to support three world campaigns: Zero Eviction! Social production of habitat. Participatory Budget 1. Zero Eviction Campaign! · The real estate cap 02.04.2004 - 19:53