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The march was titled 'Our World is Not For Sale'
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By
Yazeed Kamaldien, IOL South Africa Correspondent
JOHANNESBURG,
Sept 2 (IslamOnline) - As leaders from around the world arrived at the
World Summit on Sustainable Development, South Africans marched in Cape
Town and Johannesburg to voice their disapproval of this “talk
show”.
About
four hundred representatives from various non-governmental organizations
marched to the country's parliament buildings in Cape Town Saturday,
August 31.
Organizers
included 16 different NGOs who titled the march 'Our World is Not For
Sale'. The march was organized less than a week ago, following
Johannesburg police attacks and arrests of protesters at the Summit.
Anti-privatization,
homelessness, water cut-offs, evictions, Palestinian freedom and an end
to apartheid debt were some of the issues raised by march participants.
A
representative from the Alternative Information Development Center (www.aidc.org.za),
Jade McClune, said the march had become a necessity.
“We
are marching in solidarity with our comrades who were arrested by police
when they peacefully protested at the Summit,” said McClune. “This
is in defense of our democratic rights, our freedom of expression and
the freedom of assembly. And this is to place our issues on the agenda.
If we didn't take this action, the brutality will continue. We need to
defend our rights.”
“We
decided to march to parliament, even though it was empty, as a symbolic
gesture. Parliament is the base of power and where negative decisions
for South Africa are being made,” he added.
Recent
months in South Africa have witnessed water and electricity cut-offs as
well as evictions from their homes of the poor, unemployed and elderly.
“We
have 50% unemployment in this country. What are we to do? Kill the
people by cutting off their water?” asked McClune, adding, “That's
not a sustainable policy.”
The
national coordinator for Youth For Work (YFW), Anele Mbi, said his
organization was “marching for a new struggle”. He said the
NGO is working to improve the lives of young South Africans.
“We
fought against apartheid. Mandela was released. We've had two [general]
elections. But still things are getting worse. There's no improvement in
this country. Instead of jobs and transformation, there are only more
job losses,” said Mbi.
He
added: “We are here to say no to the Summit. It's a gathering of rich
people. It's just a talk show. They are talking about development, but
they are excluding the very people who are affected by sustainable
development.
“The
World Bank, the IMF and others gathering at the Summit are there for
privatization, not development. They are there to discuss ways to make
profits.
“We
are also marching in solidarity of Palestine where young people are
being killed.”
One
YFW member, Lungiswa Luthuli, 17, said she marched because she
“disliked the Summit”.
“It's
not going to develop us. There have been meetings like this before.
What's the use if its not helping anyone?” she asked.
Another
YFW member, Zama Timbela, 18, added: “We marched against the Summit.
Where are implementations on decisions taken 10 years ago? This Summit
is for colonizers who dominate the United Nations. It's just a waste of
our money.” 
