World Social Forum activists from some 1000 organizations in 130 countries, met on Jan 27 to Feb 1, 2009 in Belem, Brasil. This kinds of WSF meetings, which generally attract some 100,000 people, will be held every two years in the future instead of annually.
The main slogan of the WSF is “Another World Is Possible.”, which can be based on people power and social justice for all. Now, people have started to sought that “Better World is Possible”, with guarantee of people’s right and duty.
The WSF was initially convened in 2001 in Porto Alegre by local civic organizations, the annual forum traveled to Mumbai, India, in 2004. In 2006 the organizers experimented with a multiple venue — Bamako, Mali; Caracas, Venezuela; and Karachi, Pakistan. The change to the so-called polycentric summit was driven in part by their conviction that the social summit was getting too big and too mainstream and too difficult financially for people in distant countries to attend. But in 2007 they returned to a single venue format in Nairobi. And, 2009 the program has been conducted again in Brasil in Belem city.
This year, the program was really impressive. On the 27th January, it was opened with big rally attending by over 50, 000 people. Most interesting thing is that majority of the people were young and women, which can not be seen now a days in many of the countries. This category of people participation really gives hope that country can be changed rapidly, if they could be mobilized creatively for social building. Even interesting thing is that nobody kept in side, even though heavy rain was there immediate after starting the rally almost for half an hour. All of them continued until the end.
Second was most focused on the thematic program, based on their own interest and objectives. Third day of the program on 29th January was another remarkable day of the event. In the evening President Lula together with other head of the state in the region delivered the speech among the WSF delegates gathered around the world. The program was started at night about 8.35 Pm at the great hall of the Belem. It was attended by tenth of thousand people, among which almost half were women. Some of them were carrying children on the back, but they were listening the speech until the end. People were really soughing as support of the leaders. They were really proud on having labor leaders as the head of the state.
I asked one of the delegates what makes different having labor leader as head of the state? She proudly said that publish services have been increased and general people have access to education, employment and public service such as maternity protection, child care and social security for weaker community in the society. It really give hope to people for the future.
I asked one woman you are in the gathering until so late, who will take care of the family? She answered right after the question that family is ours anytime we can go and take care. But we could not have chance listen to president time to time. Specially, we woman should listen what they say about people fighting for equality. Until and unless, we women could not give more importance for the public affairs, we can not change ourselves and women status. We should have to make public sphere is also ours, regardless of time and event. It is our right and duty as well to take part in the public event and debate on the issues concerning social matter.
The program was completed at 11.15 after Lula’s speech. Then, we were coming back to hotel by taxi. On the way we saw that the vehicle carrying VIP and squatted by police were also stopped on the traffic light. We asked on the local friend why they stop here. The answer was very simple that they are the law makers and should be the first to follow the rules and regulations. If, they do not respect and follow the public rules, why general people should follow that?
I just remember back to my home country and thinking that when the time will come for us our government, policy maker and ruling people will learn all these to make real change in the country situation?
Related Reading: World Social Forum web http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.