Participants at International Fisherfolk Convention have rejected imperialism; social injustice and discrimination among the nations and demanded to restore the basic rights of the fishermen of Pakistan and rest of the world.
The convention was organised by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) at Jamote Jetty, Ibrahim Hydri on Saturday during the first day of World Social Forum, 2006.
A large number of foreign delegates, representatives of international fisherfolk organisations, human rights activists, social workers, fisheries experts, intellectuals, writers and more than ten thousand fishermen from various parts of Pakistan participated in the convention.
PFF Chairman Mohammed Ali Shah, Thomas Kocherry of World Forum of Fisher People India, Gusta Masiha of France CIRD, Husnain Iftikhar of delegates to the European Commission in Pakistan, K Lognathan from Tamil Nado India, Tiago Vier from Brazil, Feroz Mehdi from Canada, Alexis Fossi from France, Anita Rampal from India, Nimlika from Sri Lanka, Karamat Ali of Piler, Fatima Naqvi of Oxfam, Mohammed Sohbi from Morako and others spoke on the occasion.
The speakers said that the world was changing but a better, peaceful, prosperous and equitable world order was only possible if deprived, disadvantaged and progressive sections of society forge unity and strive for a viable alternative to the current world order that is both repressive and divisive.
Thomas Kocherry of World Forum of Fisher People said, "sea is our mother and it has been evacuated from the fish resources. Exploited forms of fishing, marine pollution and commercialisation in the fisheries sector have caused the devastation in fishing resources. Today we are in the context of globalisation."
He said economic exploitation continued through multi-national corporations (MNCs) and transitional corporations (TNCs). The rich and the ruling class of the newly freed 3rd world countries generally sided with the MNCs for their own advantage, against the interest of the common people. Again the natives and the indigenous peoples are the worst hit.
As a result, according to a UN study, today the 20 percent Northern minority of humankind has 82.7 percent of world gross national product, 81.2 percent of world trade, 94.6 percent of all commercial lending, 80.5 percent of all domestic investment, 80.6 percent of all domestic savings and 94.0 percent of all research and development. It is in this context that we should understand the globalisation today, he added.
Gusta Masiha speaking on the occasion said that people everywhere in the world who are fighting for their rights are faced by the same problems. Hence, there is a need to join hands in order to initiate the struggle against the problems.
The WSF representative from Brazil, Moeema Miranda, said: "WSF offers opportunities to bring together popular forces from varied constituencies to develop constructive alternatives that will defend the majority of world population from attack on fundamental human rights and lead them to move on to break power concentrations and extend domains of justice and freedom.
Mohammed Ali Shah, Chairman PFF, said that the livelihood of fishermen every where in the globe is under threat. Some richest peoples sitting into the economical forums with the help of international financial organisation want to control the world.
They have causes acute poverty among the developing countries by introducing such policies, which are inhuman and against the wishes of communities. This situation also lies with fishing communities in the whole world. They are agreed to stand with this movement of change.
The speakers said that they were very pleased to see them among the fishermen of Pakistan and are blissful over organising this international fisherfolk convention by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum on the eve of WSF, 2006.