A Swiss delegation of 55 people has arrived in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, ahead of the opening of the World Social Forum in the city which begins on Sunday.
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The delegation, which includes representatives of non-governmental organisations, parliamentarians and trade unionists, has already heard from local fishermen and farmers how they are suffering from over-fishing, climate change and from land grabbing.
The Swiss will take part in at least five workshops, and several representatives will address the forum, including those from the Swiss section of Amnesty International, Peace Women across the Globe and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
The forum, which considers itself an anti-globalisation movement, is an annual event that promotes solidarity, democracy and a fairer world. Many view it as being a counterpoint to the Geneva-based World Economic Forum.
The World Social Forum usually holds its meeting in January to coincide with the WEF’s annual meeting in the Swiss alpine resort of Davos, in the hope that the media will cover both sides’ efforts to solve the world’s problems.
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