From Caracas our correspondent Belen de los Santos talks exclusively with Atul Chandra, researcher of the Tricontinental Institute about the meeting of Social Movements that is taking place at the ALBA House prior to the ALBA Summit to be held tomorrow Saturday 14th. teleSUR
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00:00what we were talking about when discussing the importance of the ALBA mechanism and the 20 years
00:05and the idea of what comes now, right? That idea of being able to think up a mechanism that does
00:12not shy away from that tension between government or state entities and the social movements,
00:18but that quite the contrary, tries to build mechanisms in which they can have direct action.
00:24Also, I wanted to ask you, one of the main things that the speakers have been saying,
00:30social leaders from all over the world, was the importance of gathering around to really having
00:36a comprehensive understanding of the geopolitical scenario that is here, that the geopolitical
00:41analysis is very important. It is key to then think of strategies, of mechanisms of cooperation
00:48to see where the social movements need to be heading. What do you think in this regard?
00:53No, absolutely, 100%. I mean, until and unless we know our subject, we have a nuanced understanding
01:00of the issues and what are those systematic challenges we are facing because of something,
01:07and that's not something only internal. I mean, geostrategic, geopolitics plays a huge role,
01:15and I think you're correct, absolutely correct. I mean, you have to factor that in, you have to
01:21read, learn about it, you have to understand the international politics, how it works,
01:26how imperialism works, how it affects, and for example, we know countries which, I mean,
01:33which has been, I would say, have been very social, I mean, which believes in social principles,
01:40which, I mean, which believes in socialism, which believes in giving what people they deserve,
01:47but they have been forced. For example, we know countries in Asia, for example, Sri Lanka,
01:52we know countries in Pakistan, countries like Pakistan, for example, the IMF, the International
01:58Monetary Organizations have been forcing them for structural changes. They are forcing them to cut
02:04the state budget. They are forcing them to take, I mean, how does the state then even deliver?
02:10For example, and I'm talking about basic necessities of life in any civilized society,
02:17for example, education, for example, health. So I think these are the, I mean, I would say the
02:22context where if you cut the budgets and the state are unable to do what they promised or they
02:29want to do, it will take a huge toll. You're literally pushing your population at the brink
02:36of collapse, you're literally pushing them into poverty, into, I would say, problems, which then
02:43is going to erupt. I mean, there will be all sort of other issues which will be coming up.
02:49Thank you so much, Adil, for joining us here in Telus for English, and let us have a better
02:54understanding of the importance, the relevance, not only of the 20-year anniversary, but also
02:59of this mechanism that is the Social Movement Council. Thank you so much. Thank you.