This is the VOA Special English Development Report
Organizers of the World Social Forum have chosen India as themeeting place in two-thousand-four. The conference has taken placein Brazil since it began three years ago. Last year, Indianactivists organized a South Asian Social Forum in Gujarat state.
The number of delegates, observers, and reporters at the WorldSocial Forum has increased each year. Organizers said more thanone-hundred-thousand people gathered in Porto Alegre this year.
The meeting took place in Brazil at the end of January at thesame time as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. That isa yearly meeting of international business and political leaders.
Activists organized the social forum because they wanted aninternational gathering of anti-poverty campaigners. They alsowanted a better way to protest than to march outside the WorldEconomic Forum.
Supporters of free trade argue that such economic policies couldhelp all nations. But the social activists say the rules ofinternational trade and finance do not do enough to help the poor.
This year, Brazil’s new president Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva spoketo both gatherings. In Porto Alegre, the former labor organizerspoke of hungry children and his promise to feed everyone in Brazil.In Davos, Mister Da Silva asked the leaders to help end severepoverty in the southern part of the world.
Organizers of the social forum say it is designed to buildfriendships among activists. Delegates discussed ideas and projectsin small groups. They could hear speakers translated into French,English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Organizers chose as the central idea for this year’s meeting,”Another World is Possible.” For six days people discussedeverything from ways to increase women’s rights to methods toprotect water quality.
Ethnic minorities called for an end to racism and for protectionof native languages and cultures. Israeli and Palestinian activistsmet to develop a joint peace declaration. At the same time, though,other Jewish campaigners said there was an anti-Israel andanti-Jewish atmosphere in Porto Alegre.
On the last day, there was a protest march against war in Iraqand against the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas.
Some say the World Social Forum is less an event than a process.Organizers say the desired result is free and open debate of ideas,not choosing a leader or approving a final declaration.
This Development Report was written by Onka Dekker.