Imagine a gathering of eleven thousand people from one hundred and twenty-two countries trying 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 theme, 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. Earphones were available for translation in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. 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. 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 sixty computers available for journalists.

         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. 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 from four simultaneous plenaries (All the speeches are available in four languages on the website .) 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 the events which happened. A live video-debate occurred between the World Economic Forum in Davos and the World Social Forum. There were films, puppet shows, art projects, tree plantings, dancing. There were also complaints that the hierarchical structure of the event did not allow the more radical energy to be expressed.

         Jose Bove, in solidarity with the MST (Landless Peasant’s Movement) took some initiative and tore up some 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 again 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

Porto Alegre Call for Mobilisation

        We are part of a movement which has grown since Seattle. We challenge the elite and their undemocratic processes, symbolised by the World Economic Forum in Davos. We came to share our experiences, build our solidarity, and demonstrate our total rejection of the neoliberal policies of globalisation.

        We are women and men, farmers, workers, unemployed, professionals, students, blacks and indigenous peoples, coming from the South and from the North, committed to struggle for peoples' rights, freedom, security, employment and education. We are fighting against the hegemony of finance, the destruction of our cultures, the monopolization of knowledge, mass media, and communication, the degradation of nature, and the destruction of the quality of life by multinational corporations and anti-democratic policies. Participative democratic experiences -- like that of Porto Alegre -- show us that a concrete alternative is possible. We reaffirm the supremacy of human, ecological and social rights over the demands of finance and investors.

        At the same time that we strengthen our movements, we resist the global elite and work for equity, social justice, democracy and security for everyone, without distinction. Our methodology and alternatives stand in stark contrast to the destructive policies of neo-liberalism.

        Globalisation reinforces a sexist and patriarchal system. It increases the feminisation of poverty and exacerbates all forms of violence against women. Equality between women and men is central to our struggle. Without this, another world will never be possible. Neoliberal globalization increases racism, continuing the veritable genocide of centuries of slavery and colonialism which destroyed the bases of black African civilizations. We call on all movements to be in solidarity with African peoples in the continent and outside, in defense of their rights to land, citizenship, freedom, peace, and equality, through the reparation of historical and social debts. Slave trade and slavery are crimes against humanity.

        We express our special recognition and solidarity with indigenous peoples in their historic struggle against genocide and ethnocide and in defense of their rights, natural resources, culture, autonomy, land, and territory.

        Neoliberal globalisation destroys the environment, health and people's living environment. Air, water, land and peoples have become commodities. Life and health must be recognized as fundamental rights which must not be subordinated to economic policies.

        The external debt of the countries of the South has been repaid several times over. Illegitimate, unjust and fraudulent, it functions as an instrument of domination, depriving people of their fundamental human rights with the sole aim of increasing international usury. We demand its unconditional cancellation and the reparation of historical, social, and ecological debts, as immediate steps toward a definitive resolution of the crisis this Debt provokes.

        Financial markets extract resources and wealth from communities and nations, and subject national economies to the whims of speculators. We call for the closure of tax havens and the introduction of taxes on financial transactions.

        Privatisation is a mechanism for transferring public wealth and natural resources to the private sector. We oppose all forms of privatisation of natural resources and public services. We call for the protection of access to resources and public goods necessary for a decent life.

        Multinational corporations organise global production with massive unemployment, low wages and unqualified labour and by refusing to recognise the fundamental worker's rights as defined by the ILO. We demand the genuine recognition of the right to organise and negotiate for unions, and new rights for workers to face the globalisation strategy. While goods and money are free to cross borders, the restrictions on the movement of people exacerbate exploitation and repression. We demand an end to such restrictions.

        We call for a trading system which guarantees full employment, food security, fair terms of trade and local prosperity. Free trade is anything but free. Global trade rules ensure the accelerated accummulation of wealth and power by multinational corporations and the further marginalisation and impoverishment of small farmers, workers and local enterprises. We demand that governments respect their obligations to the international human rights instruments and multilateral environmental agreements. We call on people everywhere to support the mobilizations against the creation of the Free Trade Area in the Americas, an initiative which means the recolonization of Latin America and the destruction of fundamental social, economic, cultural and environmental human rights.

        The IMF, the World Bank and regional banks, the WTO, NATO and other military alliances are some of the multilateral agents of neoliberal globalisation. We call for an end to their interference in national policy. These institutions have no legitimacy in the eyes of the people and we will continue to protest against their measures. Neoliberal globalization has led to the concentration of land ownership and favored corporate agricultural systems which are environmentally and socially destructive. It is based on export oriented growth backed by large scale infrastructure development, such as dams, which displces people from their land and destroys their livelihoods. Their loss must be restored. We call for a democratic agrarian reform. Land, water and seeds must be in the hands of the peasants. We promote sustainable agricultural processes. Seeds and genetic stocks are the heritage of humanity. We demand that the use of transgenics and the patenting of life be abolished.

        Militarism and corporate globalisation reinforce each other to undermine democracy and peace. We totally refuse war as a way to solve coflicts and we oppose the arms race and the arms trade. We call for an end to the repression and criminalisation of social protest. We condemn foreign military intervention in the internal affairs of our countries. We demand the lifting of embargoes and sanctions used as instruments of aggression, and express our solidarity with those who suffer their consequences. We reject US military intervention in Latin America through the Plan Colombia.

        We call for a strenghtening of alliances, and the implementation of common actions, on these principal concerns. We will continue to mobilize on them until the next Forum. We recognize that we are now in a better position to undertake the struggle for a different world, a world without misery, hunger, discrimination and violence, with quality of life, equity, respect and peace.

        We commit ourselves to support all the struggles of our common agenda to mobilise opposition to neoliberalism. Among our priorities for the coming months, we will mobilize globally against the: · World Economic Forum, Cancun, Mexico, 26 and 27 February · Free Trade Area of the Americas, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 6-7 April and Quebec City, Canada, 17-22 April ·Asian Development Bank, Honolulu, May ·G8 Summit, Genova, Italy, 15-22 July · IMF and World Bank Annual Meeting, Washington DC, USA, 28 September - 4 October · World Trade Organisation, 5-9 November (Quatar?)

        On April 17, we will support the international day of struggle against the importation of cheap agricultural products which create economic and social dumping, and the feminist mobilization against globalization in Genova. We support the call for a world day of action against debt, to take place this year on July 20.

        The proposals formulated are part of the alternatives being elaborated by social movements around the world. They are based on the principle that human beings and life are not commodities, and in the commitment to the welfare and human rights of all.

        Our involvement in the World Social Forum has enriched understanding of each of our struggles and we have been strengthened. We call on all peoples around the world to join in this struggle to build a better future. The World Social Forum of Porto Alegre is a way to achieve peoples' sovereignty and a just world. Hundreds of organizations have signed this call.