With the worsening global financial and economic climate, the Regional Forum on the Economic and Financial Crisis gave a timely discussion of its causes and impact to the poor in Asia. The forum was held in the Santhi Hotel Ballroom in Bali, Indonesia last May 4, 2009. This was attended by more than 150 participants from the different sectors of Indonesia, as well as civil society leaders from other countries like Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

The event was opened with the welcome remarks from Mr. Don Marut, the Executive Director of INFID. The first input was given by the Dr. A Prasetyantoko, a Lecturer from Atma Jaya Catholic University, whose discussion traced the root causes of the crisis. This was followed by the in-depth discussion of the failure of the neo-Liberal traditions in relation to the global crisis presented by Mr. Antonio Tujan, Jr., the International Director of IBON Foundation. The discussion then proceeded with the effects of the financial crisis on selected Asian nations as presented by Ms. Maita Gomez, Policy Officer for Aid Effectiveness of IBON Foundation . Mr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, the Regional Policy Coordinator of Action Aid, also gave his input of what he presented as the “Triple Crisis” covering the economic, food, climate and the ADB. Finally, after the discussions of the causes and effects of the crisis, Mr. Sonny Africa of Resist! gave his call of what the people can and must do to respond to the crisis. The informative presentations of the speakers were complemented by the insightful comments and questions from the audience during the open forum discussions.

After the preliminary regional analysis of the financial crisis in Asia, a workshop followed in the afternoon. Workshop groups were divided among the different sectors of peasants, women, workers, indigenous peoples, migrants, urban poor, and education. One group was also allotted for the alternative development strategies for civil society. Participants selected which workshop group to join wherein they shared their perspectives on the impacts and their responses to the crisis from their own countries. From the discussions in the workshop, the participants presented their key advocacy points that can be carried out at the regional level in line with the global CSO campaigns on the financial crisis and rethinking global financial architecture.

The event was organized by Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA), the Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN), IBON Foundation, the Institute for National and Democratic Studies - Indonesia (INDIES), the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID), and RESIST! (A global campaign againt globalization and war).

The event was also supported by the following organizations: Asian Peasant Coalition (APC), International Association of Peoples' Lawyers (IAPL), Water and Energy User's Federation (WAFED), Himalayan and Peninsular Hydroecological Network (HYPEN), Water for the People Network (WPN), National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL), Indonesian Women Coalition, E-net for Justice, GCAP Indonesia, UPLINK, FMN, Migrant Care, UPC/UPLINK, BanglaPraxis, SPHP, Solidarity Workshop (International), Parivartan, Roots for Equity, Green Movement of Sri Lanka, Alliance of Indigenous People of Nusantara/Indonesia, VOICE, Forum on Women’s NGOs in Kyrgyzstan, ATKI Jakarta, Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE), and the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD).

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