World Social Forum held in Brazil

Under the slogan “Another World is Possible”, some 150 000 attendants from 150 different countries participated in this year’s World Social Forum held from 26- 31 January in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The World Social Forum is an annual event which gathers civil society organizations and movements from all around the world in a democratic debate. It is deliberately scheduled to take place parallel to the World Economic Forum held in Davos to debate on alternative ways of globalization.

The organization of the Social Forum is intended to be as open and horizontal as possible fostering participation of all organizations and movements engaged in ending poverty, fighting for human rights and protecting the environment. During this year’s organization, a consultation via e-mail, fax and phone was held prior to the event to enable participating organizations to propose topics to be discussed during the forum. From these options, eleven thematic areas were selected and around these, a series of seminars, panels and workshops were organized and a total of 325 proposals were made.

The International Alliance Against Hunger also participated in two of these seminars by hosting them on 27 and 28 January 2005 at the invitation of the Brazilian Civil Society Forum for Food and Nutritional Security (FBSAN). One of the seminars focused on the potential role of civil society in influencing government in the implementation of policies and strategies for hunger and poverty reduction. The other seminar provided an opportunity for existing National Alliances to share their success stories with other groups interested in forming or participating in National Alliances.

“The Summit provided a unique opportunity for the International Alliance to establish personal contact with civil society organizations, networks and National Alliances,” said Alliance Coordinator Eva Clayton who is Assistant Director General and Special Advisor to the Director General of FAO. She addressed the seminars to provide an overview of the background and current situation of the International Alliance. The National Alliances from Brazil, the United States of America and Burkina Faso were among those that joined in sharing their success stories with the participants.

For more information on participation of the International Alliance against Hunger in the Social Forum please send an e-mail to iaah@fao.org

To read the results of the Social Forum please visit their website at http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/index.php?cd_language=2