LONDON, Oct 13 (AFP) - Opponents of market-driven globalisation will gather by the thousands in London from Friday for the European Social Forum, the annual get-together of those at the vanguard of protest against worldwide economic liberalism and environmental damage.
Around 20,000 activists are expected in the British capital from Friday to Sunday for the third such forum, following last year's meeting in Paris and one two years ago in Florence, Italy.
Although the movement's main thrust is opposition to untrammelled economic growth and the associated problems activists believe this brings, the London gathering looks set to be dominated by a separate issue -- the Iraq war.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair strongly backed the US-led conflict to unseat Saddam Hussein in March last year, a move which prompted many anti-globalisation activists to join protests against the war.
"To understand this forum, you have to remember the British context -- Britain, under Blair, is the country most closely allied to the United States, and is deeply implicated in the occupation of Iraq," said Alex Callinicos from activist group Globalise Resistance.
The Forum begins little more than a week after the US-run Iraq Survey Group confirmed that ahead of the conflict, Saddam's regime had possessed no weapons of mass destruction, undermining Blair's primary argument for invasion.
Some non-British activists are worried that the focus on Iraq could push attention away from other equally worthy subjects.
"I'm worried that the British issues are taking too much attention, which is why there are 23 seminars on the war and only one on the European Constitution," said Annie Pourre of French group "Sans" ("Without") which campaigns for those lacking work, housing, or identity papers.
Nonetheless, the scope of the gathering is set to be broad, taking in pretty much each and every left-leaning, anti-big business, pro-environment issue on the global agenda.
It begins with a welcoming event Thursday, when London Mayor Ken Livingstone will be joined by speakers such as Aleida Guevara, daughter of Cuban revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, and Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Northern Ireland.
Among the hundreds of debates, seminars, workshops are ones covering traditional anti-globalisation topics such as workers' rights, climate change, developing nations' debts and sustainable farming.
Other events include one devoted to the Polish-born 19th century orthodox Marxist Rosa Luxemburg, a guide to "feminist self-defence" and a lecture on "how to make your own beauty products from everyday kitchen ingredients".
Even big business will step into the lion's den when Lord Brian Griffiths, vice chairman of investment bank Goldman Sachs, debates "God and Mammon" with representatives of the Christian faith.