Social movements in Kenya, “want to see the WSF being transformed into a space for organising and mobilising against the nefarious forces of international finance capital, neo-liberalism and all its local neo- colonial and comprador collaborators,” writes onyango oloo*.

In this article Nerisha baldevu discusses the Social Forum in Mali. She argues that there are pressing issues which the WSF needs to address.

In this article Mondli hlatshwayo* discusses the World Social Forum in the context of significant changes in Venezuela, and latin America. In Venezuela, the struggle and memory of Simon bolivar is a constant inspiration for current struggles.

At the beginning of 2006 Khanya College, together with social movements and progressive NGos produced this concept paper on how the social justice movement in South Africa will approach the WSF in Nairobi. This is an edited version of the concept paper agreed to by various social movements.

In this article Mondli hlatshwayo* reviews the process of WSF preparation by social movements in South Africa.

Mzi Mngeni* reviews the recent SASF encounter held in Malawi in october 2006. he argues that the event was politically successful, and that the key challenges is for movements in the region to ensure that they build on this success.

Maria van driel* reflects on the discussions and debates on gender and women’s emancipation at SASF.

As part of using the WSF meeting in Nairobi as a space to build unions and social movements, the Southern Africa farm-worker network will be hosting a forum of farm-worker organisations at the WSF. Ighsaan Schroeder* looks at the background and the aims of the forum.