Based on the right to resistance as a principle, choice and culture, inspired from its confrontation of both the American and Zionist occupation, in appreciation of its great sacrifices, human heritage, and achievements in defending the right to liberation, freedom, independence, and to contribute to the elimination of the illusion of peoples’ oppression and humiliation;
Based on the experiences of Anti-Imperialism, Solidarity between Peoples defending their legitimate rights and supporting the vulnerable in facing occupation and invasion. Also based on alternative experiences of refusing the intellectual and cultural stereotyping, refusal of marginalization and wasting rights together with the experiences of production-solidarity networks, and the reorganization of land and local administrations. And as a complement of the Beirut Conference to Support Resistance in 2006, the Cairo Conference, the Calcutta Conference, the New Delhi Conference, the International Citizens’ Tribunal in Brussels in 2008, the Durban, Mexico, and Colombia Conferences;
Within the sphere of international social forums, the Porto Allegri Charter, the Alternative Globalization Campaign, the Anti-war Movement, the movements against Israeli Occupation, in support of the Palestinian people and the ” Right to Return”.
“The Beirut International Forum for Resistance, Anti-Imperialism, Solidarity between Peoples, and Alternatives” will be held in Beirut on 16 to 18 January 2009, in order to:
– Coordinate the elaboration of mechanisms to support the resistance and expand it to the greatest extent possible, which would allow the popular movement everywhere to defend the right to resistance, especially resisting the American and Zionist occupation.
– Work on establishing practical alternatives through solidarity among peoples facing the policies that abandon rights by some International Organizations (World Bank, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund……) and also the non-equal partnership agreements.
– Seek to promote and develop alternative policies and visions of Anti-Imperialism, the strategies of occupation, wars and militarization, hegemony and superiority, capitalist marginalization and the destruction of the environment, the squandering of natural and cultural resources, dependency in the management of the international order, through the Security Council and unfair international institutions.
The above shall be based on rich discussions ongoing for a while, in most forums and conferences, on the necessity to move a step forward on the common track, and based on an initial assessment seeking to overcome some obstacles hindering efficiency and influence, based on the following principles:
A- The slogan of “Another world is possible” adopted by the various forces and movements should encompass support to the Resistance which is confronting, on the front lines, the American and Zionist occupation and is defending the rights of peoples to freedom, the burden of imperialist and hegemonic invasion, and the return of colonialism.
B- The development and dissemination of the anti-neoliberal globalization movement and moving towards a world with more solidarity and humanity supposes a non-reliance on the hegemony of big industrial powers, seeking to build another axis between the peoples of the North and those of the South (Latin America, the Arab Islamic region, Asia, Africa) to reach equal relations on the political and economic levels.
C- The Imperial march on the world countries by occupying its territories, looting its wealth and resources, attempting to terrify and subjugate its peoples by means of war, “fighting Terrorism”, and “security companies”, and by dissemination of poverty, hunger, destruction of natural environment, and dumping them in debts. All these policies should be confronted Anti-Imperialism and Peoples’ solidarity networks and by supporting resistance in the countries of the world.
In that regard, dialogue forums and conferences seem to be insufficient alone for ceasing occupation, imperialistic invasion, and the defense of natural and acquired rights. The forces of resistance, social and political forces, and civil society organizations can establish among each other mechanisms and visions and practical alternatives to be achieved at local, national, regional and international levels, without abandoning their intellectual and political beliefs, while preserving their total independence, for the Forum is not a framework for action on the front, but it is a joint endeavor on activities that are agreed upon.
Hence, the Beirut International Forum for Resistance, Anti-Imperialism, Solidarity between Peoples and Alternatives invites participants to take part in one of the following six workshops:
1- Workshop on Supporting Resistance and Liberation:
This workshop seeks to open horizons that are not enough developed yet in the current political literature, on the right to resistance as a value in it self, a necessary condition for any balance on the international scene today. It also tackles the topic of resistance against American and Zionist occupation, defending the rights of peoples to freedom and liberation, and contributing in protecting other vulnerable peoples from occupation. It talks about objective solidarity between resistance movements. Also, it seeks to finds integration with this resistance, based on its achievements and the objective conditions it provides, helping rebuild more equitable and humane political, social, economic and cultural systems.
2- Workshop on Anti- Imperialism and Solidarity between Peoples:
This workshop aims to focus on the objectives of Imperialism and its dark chapter in the history of mankind. And to reveal its drive to wage wars, impose sanctions, control resources, exploit markets, subjugate peoples, invade countries, and militarize economies, force globalization and neo-liberalism.
Also, this workshop is a call for political powers, organizations, and people all over the world to build broad-based united Anti-Imperialism struggles, and to launch international, national, and local initiatives facing its policies. And to organize peoples’ solidarity actions to build a political, economical, and developmental alternative samples.
3- Workshop on Supporting Political Alternatives:
It’s an open workshop for the anti-war forces, security and oppressive policies, the rejection of occupation and imperial invasion policies, and what is called “fighting terrorism”, marginalization, the violation of rights and the neo-liberal globalization. It seeks to promote joint action to produce visions and alternatives for the Greater Middle East policies, the Union for the Mediterranean, the ECA between Northern and Southern America, and other regional gatherings resulting from invasion strategies.
4- The Parliamentarians Workshop:
It’s a workshop between parliamentarians and members of elected councils for the European Union, the South America Parliamentarians Union, the Arab Parliamentarians Union, and Parliamentarians from the countries of the South, seeking to establish an equitable south-south partnership, in addition to an equitable south-north partnership. It also tackles other topics of interest to parliamentarians in their parliaments such as the removal of the terrorist label from legitimate resistance movements, the implementation of the decision of the European Parliament to cease work on the Euro-Israeli Partnership, the implementation of the decision of the Court in The Hague to remove the separation wall in Palestine, in addition to other decisions seeking the restoration of some rights.
5- Workshop on solidarity between local communities and sectors:
It’s a workshop on the creation of south-south and south-north joint mechanisms, on the rehabilitation of local communities, twinning, the reorganization of local administrations, the training of the youth and the unemployed. It also tackles building common solidarity in restoring respect to the environment, to the earth, water, the right to food security, trade, maritime fishing, in addition to joint action for other rights.
6- Workshop on defending legal and civic rights:
It’s a workshop to discuss the continuation of the international citizens’ tribunal and the Peoples’ Tribunal, along with restoring consideration to victims of American and Zionist crimes, war crimes, crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and the prosecution of criminals, in addition to filing individual complaints in European courts. Moreover, it tackles holding international institutions responsible for policies of famine, poverty and illegal debts of the Third World, the prosecution of international security companies accompanying occupation, and big companies responsible for destroying the environment and squandering food resources.
This global vision is subject to dialogue and improvement through practical proposals. Also, workshops are open for the participation and contribution of all forces and parties based on an agenda including all the workshops that is under preparation and publication, and that will be subject to discussion and improvement before the forum.
The Consultative Center for Studies and Documentation in Beirut
The International Campaign against American and Zionist Occupation (the Cairo Conference)
The International Forum Against Imperialism (the Calcutta- India Conference)
The Stop War campaign (London)
The National Gathering to Support the Choice of Resistance (Lebanon)
