Alliance for Responsible Trade

Elizabeth Peredo Beltrán, Solón Foundation, Summit Organizing Committee

"Integration issues are no longer matters for chancellors alone," Esteban Llanos (President of the Council for the Defense of Rio Pilcomayo, Bolivia) told us with great conviction upon opening a discussion between social representatives about water problems in South America during the thematic session, AGUA, of the Social Summit for the Integration of the Peoples of Cochabamba (December 6-9, 2006).

And it's that feeling of appropriation of processes of change, now generalized among the continent's social organizations, that is stronger everyday, mobilizing initiatives and proposals inspired by the faith that another America and another integration is possible.

This sentiment was reaffirmed by the Social Summit for a Peoples' Integration which, surpassing expectations of the Organizing Committee, brought together more than 5,000 participants, including 1,000 international representatives and over 3,500 national participants from indigenous, women's, workers, peasants, farmers, and organizations which defend water rights, human rights defenders, anti-militarization activists, artists and youth. In addition, the Social Summit convened activists and social movements from North and Central America and Europe who contributed greatly with stories of resistance and proposals. Throughout four days, groups and delegations came together from different regions of the country and continent to share their experiences of resisting the neoliberal model, their struggles and hopes, to express their visions of integration and well-being, and give testimony to the alternative capital accumulated by the social movements and networks of the continent through almost a decade of resistance to the free trade agreements and the fight against neoliberal politics. This is the social humanitarian force that has set out, in these three days, to develop concrete initiatives toward the South American Community of Nations.

The Social Summit for A Peoples' Integration was a deep expression of hope that the winds of social change sweeping the region have sown in the peoples of the continent. Hope not only in the possibility that governments elected by popular movements and progressives will carry out the agendas proposed in their struggles and aspirations, but also in the possibility of a continental transformation that is reflected in the construction of new foundations for integration processes that prioritize the well-being of peoples, respect for human rights, respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, care for nature and the environment...in other words the putting into practice of a commitment to the dignity and sovereignty of our peoples and ending the hegemonic colonizing practices rooted in the North once and for all.

This is why the Social Summit was not proposed as a "Parallel Summit" but rather as a simultaneous civil society event to deepen analysis, debate, and build strategies that contribute to changing the rules of the game that have been imposed by an inhumane model that pillages and puts our resources, sovereignties and rights up for sale. In this context, the Summit and this event mark an important moment in the shaping of history over the last several years. A significant shift is expressed in the discourse and orientation of peoples, a strengthening of proposals and renewed energy from the grassroots for a united Latin America. The Summit has also opened a period of advocacy, deepened proposals, and of great collective responsibility.

The contents and proposals:

As Alejando Villamar, member of RMALC, stated, the Social Summit became a "great popular fiesta" with widespread and diverse participation on the part of organizations, peoples, women, youth, indigenous peoples, artists, and sexual diversity collectives. All actively joined together in the task of constructing proposals, disagreeing, arriving at consensus, designing strategies and forming alliances for the path on which we will move forward. That which the indigenous affirm speaks for us all: "We are not the folklore of democracies, we do not ask only for sectorial rights...we are authors of our own destinies."

The working structure proposed for the Summit was based on Thematic Groups focused on advocacy in order to facilitate work on very concrete agendas. Cultural activists, women, and lesbian, gay, transsexual collectives also issued statements expressing the wealth of diversity of the social movements which participated actively and visibly like never before.

One of the most important outcomes of the Summit is having produced more than 13 thematic statements from the networks and social movements that have resisted neoliberalism for the past decade through diverse currents and issues and that we were able to deepen and enrich analysis in order to generate proposals from the perspective of the South American Community of Nations (SCN). This process began several months ago in the framework of follow up meetings for the SCN Reflection Group with the goal of influencing the SCN process after a preliminary document was released at the Vice-chancellors meeting in Santiago, Chile a week before the Presidential Summit. The Social Summit provided a forum for advancing this work and assuring that the process would not end there by guaranteeing social monitoring and follow up to the process in the future.

Another victory of the Social Summit is that this proactive work enabled the establishment of points of intersection with the Official Summit of the SCN, achieving an unprecedented level of exchange with the official delegations of the Official Summit to address issues of strategic interest for the social movements. This was made possible due to the spirit of the Bolivian government, host of the presidential event, which infused the Summit of the SCN and put into practice the "diplomacy between peoples."

Finally, we must underscore as a significant political act the letter from Evo Morales to the Presidents of the SCN sent on October 2, 2006, utilizing the political capital generated in the struggles of resistance to neoliberalism with the phrase: "I am sure that our peoples are closer than our diplomacy." The letter outlines a design for the South American Community of Nations that will take the lead in proposals for true social transformation. The SCN envisioned by the Bolivian government is centered on the welfare of the people, "to live well and with dignity". It is likely that in the arena of international diplomacy and neoliberal integration processes, this is one of the most advanced documents, concretely reflecting the winds of social change and visions of integration generated in our continent in response to the failure of the FTAA and the hegemonic projects of colonial domination.

The Presidential Summit:

Although we must continue to ensure that the SCN permanently institutionalize spaces for encounter, transparency toward civil society and contact with vital societal forces, the construction of the SCN has been launched. And it began with a declaration that is not only lyrical but contains substance that reflects a different vision of integration.

Despite the visions of some governments, which are dedicated to lowering the profile of a new integration process, the Summit succeeded in producing a statement that speaks of "a new integration model, with its own identity that respects diversity and difference." It is interesting to evaluate the SCN process since the first Cuzco Declaration, in which the establishment and strengthening of a free trade area was proposed: "The deepening of the convergence between MERCOSUR, the Andean Community and Chile through the perfection of a free trade zone..."). Such content is no longer included among the fundamental concepts.

The Cochabamba Declaration of the SCN, at least at the level of discourse, does not place free trade at the center. It speaks of "overcoming asymmetries, promoting harmonious, integral development and respecting sovereignties." It recognizes the multicultural and multiethnic character of the continent and proposes to tackle the issue of migration with an integral focus on respect for human rights and linked to development. Finally, of particular interest to the grassroots, it establishes annual government meetings, biannual chancellor meetings, sector meetings, a Commission of High Officials and the Secretary Pro Tempore with agendas on trade, energy, infrastructure, asymmetries, environment, social agenda, cultural identity, citizen participation, among other issues. In addition, it explicitly states "During interactions with civil society, the acquired experience from the Social Summit of Cochabamba will be taken into special consideration." (Cochabamba Declaration, Placing the Keystone for the South American Union, Dec., 2006)

Future Challenges:

The feeling we take away from the Summit is the hope of the people, a hope that should translate into action; this moment of feeling part of a multitude, which is very much a subject, must translate into constant political action, vigilance, and demands placed on governments regarding the commitments that will permit us to advance towards a continent that belongs to us.

The SCN understands that we expect the contents of the Cochabamba Declaration to be carried out and deepened in order to support the processes of change that are necessary in the region. The SCN understands that we will not accept the continued plundering of our territories and rights in the name of integration. They understand that we expect the new SCN institutions and agenda to take up the voices and protagonism of the peoples, practice transparency and create the mechanisms for guaranteeing effective popular participation in the process. The SCN understands that we await consistent advances in social and environmental policies that respect human rights, the environment and reflect of the culture of South American peoples that respects and protects common goods and property and that our struggle is also against militarization, violence and impunity. Finally, the SCN understands that together we will build this american dream of dignity, unity, and sovereignty.