News 01

World Social Forum

portuguese version:

link to WSF:

What the World Social Forum is?

The World Social Forum is an open meeting place where social movements, networks, NGOs and other civil society organizations opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, for formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action. Since the first world encounter in 2001, it has taken the form of a permanent world process seeking and building alternatives to neo-liberal policies. This definition is in its Charter of Principles, the WSF’s guiding document. The World Social Forum is also characterized by plurality and diversity, is non-confessional, non-governmental and non-party. It proposes to facilitate decentralized coordination and networking among organizations engaged in concrete action towards building another world, at any level from the local to the international, but it does not intend to be a body representing world civil society. The World Social Forum is not a group nor an organization.

Amazon: WSF 2009 protagonist territory

From January 27th to February 1st 2009, the city of Belem will host the World Social Forum. During six days, the city assumes the position of being the center of planetary citizenship and a global reference for those who don't agree with inequality, injustice, intolerance, environment destruction and prejudice.

Hundreds of self-managed activities – as campings, workshops, seminars, conferences, testimonies, marches, cultural and artistic activities, among others – during this six days will be spaces for exchange, reflection and building of proposals for another possible world.

The World Social Forum 2009 territory is composed by the Para Federal University (UFPA) and the Amazon Federal Rural University (UFRA) in a green area along the Guama river facing the rain forest one mile away on the other bank.

-> visit WSF 2009 website