Leftwing leaders and groups attending the World Social Forum in Brazil have dealt an ultimatum to political and corporate chiefs meeting at the same time in the Swiss resort of Davos: fix this crisis -- or else. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said at the event in Belem on Friday that it was urgent for the rich nations “to resolve this crisis so the poor countries can develop.” But he warned against worrying signs of protectionism, saying: “It's not fair that, now that the rich countries are in crisis, they forget their talk about free trade.” The presidents of Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Paraguay echoed his comments putting the blame for the worldwide turbulence on developed nations, particularly the United States. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez also urged the forum's 100,000 particpants to “go on the offensive” to counter free trade pacts and other US-sponsored neoliberal economic initiatives in Latin America. Unions needed no encouragement. They said capitalism was on the ropes and that government efforts around the world to revive it were misguided. Mass lay-offs were likely to lead to street violence that could presage a fundamental shake-up of society, they said. “It's obvious the effects of this crisis will be large-scale social conflicts,” Martha Martinez, the Americas director for the World Federation of Unions, told trade unionists. Many of the labor, environmental, religious, indigenous and charity groups represented at the World Social Forum felt emboldened by the shifts being felt around the globe.
