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The Forum brought together ordinary citizens to listen to speakers and issues that are the traditional domain of the five star hotels of elite cities. The remarkably tolerant and tangible nature of debate could have been a great learning opportunity for our noisy and irrelevant politicians.
The city of Karachi can be truly proud for hosting the World Social Forum 2006. To bring together 15-20,000 people including a few thousand foreigners, arranging their boarding, lodging and logistics, and organizing some four hundred events in a span of five days is no mean achievement. The Forum brought together ordinary citizens to listen to speakers and issues that are the traditional domain of the five star hotels of elite cities. The remarkably tolerant and tangible nature of debate could have been a great learning opportunity for our noisy and irrelevant politicians. While one could make no prediction about running into a new world order sometimes soon, the need to do so could not have been better highlighted by this Forum.
The organizers must be complimented for the thought and effort that went behind holding of this mega event. It is not easy to organize World Forums on such a large scale in a country where the presence of foreigners and the gathering of people beyond the magical figure of four is seen with some level of suspicion. It was therefore natural to make some organizational errors. It is best that we discuss and learn from them, so as to do a still better job next time.
The participants’ first need on such events is that of information. Information relating to timings, events, venues, topics, speakers etc.
As a participant, one felt the information need was very inadequately catered for. Newspapers, brochures, closed circuit TVs, display boards and prominently dressed volunteers could have been used to fill this gap. In many cases, I found volunteers themselves asking the participants on the location or nature of the next programme.
The Registration process could have been quicker, and completed in one go. We had to register on one day and then line up again next day to collect the bags and the programme. The number of counters could have been easily increased. It was also strange that a participant had to line up in a queue to fill a form and then line up again in another queue to collect the card. This un-called-for extra step could have been easily avoided.
The programme brochure which appeared a day behind schedule was much too user unfriendly to be of any help to any one. One could see almost every one who had a copy of this brochure, still asking others on when and where an event was to take place. No one could read the map on the last page as the font size was too small. I actually saw some participants using magnifying glasses to determine the correct enclosure numbers.
There were simply no waste baskets or drums kept any where in the entire WSF complex. Imagine 20,000 persons throwing empty mineral water bottles, cigarette cases, paper plates, tea cups, plastic bags, left over food items, extra paper leaflets and other packing materials for five consecutive days with no arrangement for collection or cleaning the place. By the evening of the third day, we were walking over crumpled plastic bottles, and heaps of torn papers, bags, plates and packets, in sharp contradiction to the fiery speeches to prevent environmental degradation.
There were not enough large scale prominently displayed boards, arrows, or signs to indicate venues and directions. In some cases (like E2001), one had to go behind the venue to discover its number. In many cases the louder loudspeaker from amongst the two adjoining tented locations would completely drown out the one that operated at lesser decibels. Most programs started far behind schedule, and there was no way to figure out those which had been completely dropped for one reason or another. There was no way to inform participants of the on-going or last minute changes. Making loudspeaker announcements for the beginning of various events was not such a good idea, as it disrupted the already on-going programmes.
The main stadium had adequate space and the right décor to match the mood of the occasion. The entrances to the stadium were however unmarked and unsafe. Besides climbing steps made of loose bricks, one also had to pass over an open gutter and heaps of left over plastic bags before entering the stadium. The ropes holding the ‘shamianas’ were protruding well onto the already narrow walkways. For thousands of people to walk from one end to another avoiding, jumping, bending or stumbling across these protruding ropes was neither convenient nor safe.
We need to thank all those who made this event happen. No mistakes would be made if one chose to do nothing. Yes indeed "a new world is possible" – provided we are willing to make a start by first cleaning our own street.
