2003 World Social Forum

From January 23-28, over 100,000 activists from every different background gathered in Porto Alegre, Brazil for the third annual World Social Forum (WSF). A large delegation from Canada took part, with delegates and observers from across the country, including a group from Manitoba.

Initially organized in 2001 in opposition to the World Economic Forum held yearly in Davos, Switzerland by the world's most powerful capitalists and politicians, the WSF has become a meeting place where representatives of different social, political and economic movements can meet, discuss and debate.

This year's WSF was characterized by two main trends. The first was opposition to the planned war against Iraq and the crimes being committed and planned by the American empire. The second was the recognition of both the tremendous gains being made by the people's movements throughout the world and the amount of work that is required to turn these gains into lasting victories. Workshops and panel discussions were organized on issues such as militarization and war, sovereignty, peace and values, and how to stand up to the Americans.

Among the hundreds of speakers who addressed the gathering were Brazilian President "Lula" da Silva and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Lula left the WSF to travel to Davos for the World Economic Forum. He would, he told the vast crowd who gathered to hear him speak, bring the message of Porto Alegre to the world's most powerful, whether they wanted to hear it or not - that another world is possible.

The 2004 WSF will be held in India, to make it easier for the participation of people from Asia and Latin America.