The Asian Social Forum was a left-wing conference held by members of the alter-globalization

Alter-globalization

Alter-globalization is the name of a social movement that supports global cooperation and interaction, but which opposes the negative effects of economic globalization, feeling that it often works to the detriment of, or does not...

 movement (also known as the Global Justice Movement

Global Justice Movement

The Global Justice Movement is a network or constellation of globalized social movements opposing what is often known as the “corporate globalization” and promoting equal distribution of economic resources.-Movement of movements:...

). It aims to allow social movements, trade unions, NGOs, refugees, peace

Peace

Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...

 and anti-imperialist groups, anti-racist movements, environmental movements, networks of the excluded and community campaigns mainly from the Asian region to come together and discuss themes linked to major Asian and global political issues. It emerged from the World Social Forum

World Social Forum

The World Social Forum is an annual meeting of civil society organizations, first held in Brazil, which offers a self-conscious effort to develop an alternative future through the championing of counter-hegemonic globalization...

.

The conference was held between 2-7 January 2003 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. It was held at 90 or more venues. And was attended by 8,000 delegates.

From 2006, the World Social Forum is "polycentric," occurring in various parts of the world,http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/quadro_frc.php?cd_forum=9 continuing the same concept but without the title "Asian Social Forum." The Karachi Social Forum was held between 24-29 March 2006.

Issues

The different groups involved have so far identified the following issues

• dalit rights
• water rights
• housing rights
• communalism
  Communalism
  Communalism is a term with three distinct meanings according to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary'.'These include "a theory of government or a system of government in which independent communes participate in a federation". "the principles and practice of communal ownership"...
  
  
• free software
  Free software
  Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
  
  
• freedom of information
  Freedom of information
  Freedom of information refers to the protection of the right to freedom of expression with regards to the Internet and information technology . Freedom of information may also concern censorship in an information technology context, i.e...
  
  
• 2002 Gujarat violence
  2002 Gujarat violence
  The 2002 Gujarat violence describes the Godhra train burning and resulting communal riots between Hindus and Muslims. On 27 February 2002 at Godhra City in the state of Gujarat, the Sabarmati Express train was attacked by a large Muslim mob in a conspiracy. But some authentic sources deny the claim...
  
  
• women's rights
  Women's rights
  Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
  
  

External links

• World Social Forum of India
• 8,000 at Asian Social Forum, YURI PRASAD, Socialist Worker
  Socialist Worker
  Socialist Worker is the name of several socialist/communist newspapers associated with the International Socialist Tendency...
  
  , 11 January 2003, issue 1833