WORLD SOCIAL FORUM

Civil Society Summit in Porto Alegre, Brazil
January 31 - February 5, 2002
[ L I N K  World Social Forum web site ]

The World Social Forum is a space for reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, exchange of experiences, and coordination for collective action by civil society organizations and social movements that oppose neoliberalism, and are committed to building a planetary society committed to social justice.

The first edition of the World Social Forum took place in Porto Alegre, in January 2001, during the same period as the World Economic Forum, which occurs in Davos, Switzerland. Since 1971, The World Economic Forum has played a key role in formulating economic policies throughout the world, and it is sponsored by more than 1000 corporations. The World Social Forum, on the other hand, developed as a consequence of a growing international movement in opposition to policies of international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and World Trade Organization (WTO).

Last year, over 18.000 people participated in the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre. From now on, we expect this number will increase, especially because we propose to bring the World Social Forum to other countries. Our goal is to maintain a permanent process of building alternatives to the current economic model, as our slogan suggests-"another world is possible".

Therefore, the World Social Forum provides a space for building economic alternatives, for exchanging experiences and for strengthening South-North alliances between NGOs, unions and social movements. It represents an opportunity for developing concrete projects, to educate the public, and to mobilize civil society internationally.

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM ORGANISING COMMITTEE

+ ABONG - Brazilian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations
+ ATTAC - Association for the Taxation of Financial Transactions for the Aid of Citizens
+ CBJP - Brazilian Justice and Peace Commission, National Council of Bishops (CNBB)
+ CIVES - Brazilian Business Association for Citizenship
+ CUT - Central Trade Union Confederation
+ IBASE - Brazilian Institute for Social and Economic Studies
+ CJG - Centre for Global Justice
+ MST - Movement of Landless Rural Workers

 

ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM

(a) Conferences: These aim to highlight, and to echo, the most worked-out proposals by civil society on WSF themes. We have arranged 24 such conferences (6 for each thematic area);

(b) Special Conferences: these will be opportunities to circulate and debate proposals emerging from the major events leading up to WSF2002 (such as the Havana event on Food Safety and the Porto Alegre World Forum on Education);

(c) Seminars: Their purpose is to identify, develop and explore in depth specific themes which have not yet come to be embodied in clear proposals or social subjects, as well as to permit related public debate and the socialization of strategic thinking from a World Social Forum perspective. Priority will be for be those proposed by the international networks/organizations on the WSF International Council;

(d) Workshops: These are intended to allow groups, coalitions, networks to meet, exchange experiences, interlink, plan and define strategies, always in view of their present and future action.

(e) Large-scale political events: will focus on specific campaigns, such as the Foreign Debt Tribunal and the proposal for an assembly on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA);

(f) Testimonies: These are opportunities for individuals with a distinguished record of activity on behalf of freedom and human dignity to share their experiences, analyses and views. In contrast to 2001 these sessions may be arranged for mornings as well as evenings;

(g) Special forums: as already arranged for Local Authorities and Parliamentarians, one is being considered for trade union confederations and other labour organizations;

(h) There is a proposal for a specific Forum on Peace. It would look at the issue of conflicts and their settlement in an attempt to respond to the scenario emerging after the events of 11 September 2001;

(i) Youth Camp and Indigenous Peoples Camp: as part of their programmes, these will also organize specific programs open to participants in general - will also run their own specific programmes at their venues which will be open to participants in general;

(j) Press conferences: on the lines proposed in the "Methodology" document;

(k) Cultural circuit in Port Alegre.