arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Report on the World Social Forum, Porto Alegre, Brazil 2001

Imagine eleven thousand people from one hundred and twenty-two countries gathering together to come up with solutions to the world’s problems. We gathered in the South, at the same time as the World Economic Forum, January 25-30. Our purpose, however, was quite different; we were not trying to strengthen the existing stranglehold of transnational corporations and national governments; our theme was "Another world is possible.”

After organizing three conferences along the same lines, I couldn’t resist going. Since I am an activist, organizer, journalist, writer and speaker; it was hard to know which hat to wear. There were many simultaneous events, including a gathering of Parliamentarians, 2000 in a youth camp, 700 at the indigenous peoples’ camp, concerts, and over 400 workshops.

On the first day, the number of delegates (4702) far exceeded the 2500 person limit of the auditorium. There were 1509 international delegates, including 349 Europeans and 39 North Americans. There were also 1870 press and over one thousand working staff. We were amazed by the level of support given by the government, including a large press area with several rooms for interviews, and sixty computers available for journalists. Earphones were available for translation in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. A bunch of us, women from the Phillipines and several other countries hurried to get seats in the auditorium before it filled up. It was almost like Piccadilly Circus- it seemed like everyone in the world walked by us, with many cheerful cries of recognition. Finally the whole place was packed, and technical difficulties overcome. The drums began to play. There were short speeches, and welcomes to delegates from each country- Brazil, Cuba, Argentina, Uruguay and Mexico were most warmly greeted. When the United States was named, I was surprised to find myself standing, almost alone, and heard "boo." I tried not to take it personally.

An indigenous woman, costumed and painted, bare breasted, made the most eloquent statement, in dance, movement, gesture and word. There was also drumming, music, a parade of people, including children, marching across the stage, slowly changing from downtrodden to active and participatory while images of the homeless, forgotten, suffering were flashed on two large screens on both sides of the room. In the spirit of Seattle, Prague, Melbourne, Seoul, we were all encouraged to join in a march for life, a march of solidarity. I just followed some children and a three-headed hydra, representing the IMF, World Bank and the WTO onto a bus half filled with kids. They were very friendly and sang beautifully, enthusiastically, songs of solidarity. We spilled out into a crowded square. I saw some people struggling with banners and realized we were just beginning the march. I helped carry a very heavy banner for women's rights most of the way. I had missed the really big marches, most of the demonstrations that I had been in (against the World Bank, NAFTA, U.S. militarism… had only had hundreds of people). I was impressed!!!! Probably 15,000 marched the whole way to an open air concert and a beautiful sunset at a large park by the river.

Over the next four days people had to choose between four simultaneous plenaries (All the speeches are available in four languages on the website http://www.worldsocialforum.org.) and over 400 workshops. There was no formal process for creating "new dialogs over direct actions and new proposals." However anyone could find a room and propose a meeting; testimonials were given; press conferences were held continually; it was impossible to know of all that was happening. A live video-debate occurred between the World Economic Forum in Davos and the World Social Forum. (A complete transcript and video of the dialogue can be found at http://www.madmundo.tv/francais/globaldiv/index.html) There were films, puppet shows, art projects, tree plantings, dancing, and a free concert every evening. There were also complaints that the hierarchical structure of the event did not allow the more radical energy to be expressed.

Even though my workshop was not listed in the program (or anywhere else), I could easily forgive the organizers- they certainly did the best they could, and allowed anyone who proposed a workshop (within the deadline) to give one. They also listed all the proposals, so that we could network and combine workshops- the sheer number of them made that an awesome task, as well as the language barriers. Most people who went to the workshops were Brazilians or Spanish speaking. I discovered that a group was giving an outstanding workshop for four hours, four days a week on "local currency,"(my particular passion and the topic of my workshop) but they called it "social currency"(a term I had never heard before)- a model born in Argentina which over 400,000 people are currently using. I was invited to witness the birth of a new one in Porto Alegre on January 27th with an organic produce cooperative. So, I learned and listened, and I also directed other people interested in the topic to their room.

I also planted trees, enjoyed the music, struggled with Portuguese speaking computers to get an article off to Switzerland before my deadline, saw many old friends, made new friends, traded papers, ideas. I had a fever when I left California, and was afraid that I'd be really sick and, maybe die in Brazil, but I miraculously got well on the 20 hour journey, and felt very glad just to be alive, to be there in such extraordinary company.

At the first plenary that I attended on "the Foundations of Democracy and Political Power," Ahmed Ben Bella, the Algerian liberation leader(and President of Algeria) recounted his experiences with Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Later Lucio Edwin Gutierrez shared his story of how he risked his life to side with the indigenous people of Ecuador in a peaceful uprising which led to a march on the capital, and the resignation of the president. He would have become president, but was outmaneuvered by 3 military officers who got him to step aside for another officer. They threatened to bomb a gathering of twelve thousand people. These stories were extraordinary tales of incredible courage against brutal military force, I was quite awed by them and the conditions which have shaped the social movements throughout the world.

Jose Bove, the infamous farmer who attacked a McDonalds' in France (and won the support of 30,000 French farmers who marched for his release), in solidarity with the MST (Landless Peasant’s Movement) tore up several acres of transgenic soy plants belonging to Monsanto. The MST took over the land, and are planting their own crops, pledging to turn the farm into a model of sustainable agriculture. Bove was briefly arrested, and threatened with deportation, but eventually charges were dropped. Many people gathered to support him and he made the headlines. At the final closing a banner proclaimed "We are all Bove."

There was an incredible richness of accumulated experience from around the world, as well as the experience of the indigenous groups. The local government is not in alignment with the national government. The workers party(PT) has been in control in Porto Alegre now for 12 years. It now has the highest quality of life of any city in Brazil. The street children here do not get shot (like they do in Rio de Janeiro). They have a participatory budget where the local people have say in how the revenues are spent.

The synergy at the Forum was so great that people needed to be reminded to get some sleep. Relationships, networking, flowing ideas, hopes, proposals filled our hours and minds. Cancellation of the debt, reparations, a Tobin Tax were merely first steps on the path towards a “people’s globilization” movement.” Protests were organized against "Plan Colombia," the Free Trade Agreement of the America´s. In North America there will be a mobilization in Quebec, and in the South in Buenos Aires, both in April.

The next World Social Forum will be in Porto Alegre. However, they plan on moving it around in the Southern Hemisphere. At a time when the legitimacy of the major institutions is being seriously doubted, the voices of those deeply involved in the struggles of their people were extremely powerful. The gathering felt like a unique historical event with the waves of various movements coming together to change the direction of the tide. We were filled with hope and energy to continue working for peace, freedom, justice, human rights, land, water, food, a healthy environment. There was a great sense of solidarity that crossed the usual boundaries; the realization of being a part of a much greater global movement, deeply connected to one another, and the aspirations of all Life, not just to survive, but to flourish.

If you've read all this way, I'll add that I am trying to organize the U.S. Mobilization Committee for next year's World Social Forum, if you would like to be involved, please contact me- Carol Brouillet, cbrouillet@igc.org, http://www.communitycurrency.org, 650-857-0927- there is still plenty for us to work on between now and then...