ATTAC, Focus global South, as well as the French sournal Le Monde manque.
The initiative was supported bv tae state sovernment of Rio Grande do Sul (10 million inhabitants) and Ne OUR OOTS Co Porto Alegre (1.3 million inhabitants), oth of them led by the Workers' Party (PT).
On January 25, 2001, the Forum opened with nearly 4,000 participants. Radical speeches governor, former trade union leader Olivo Dutra) and high quality cultural production -presenting the indigenous and Atrican roots of today's struggles terms of the struggle of Black slaves for emancipation - set the tone for a 5-day race against time.
After the opening.
A participants of the FSM met in the city contre Tor a ne acmon stration of around 10,000 neople on the theme "March for life, another world is possible" which ended with an From January 26-29, cach morning taken up by debates which took place simultaneously with attendance of between 400 and 900 people according to the debate. in Prague, the WSF in Porto In total then. I6 debates Acare constituica anotaet devoted the big social step forward for the movethemes and oriented towards mapping out of alternatives. Ta dozen very sugreticant ach afternoon there were by a dozen ( significant WOTKSROOS - nearly 360 of initiatives of mobilisation in them in four days, organised the year 2000 in the course of the movements them- which these movements have selves.
Following this, there were gether. "conference-testímonies" At Bangkok in February Involvins personanacs lkc 2000 (the 10th UN Confer Lula of the PT), ence Trade and Cuautémoc Cardénas (leader Development); Washington of the Mexican PRD) or José in April 2000 (Spring meet• Bové (French Peasants con- of the IMF World In addition, there was a (Evaluation of the UN vorld parliamentary forum Summit on Social develop. (in whích 350 elected repre- ment) we organised common sentatives participated) and a action. world municipal forum led At Okinawa in July 2000 by the new mayor of Porto (G7); Prague in : September Alegre, Tarso Genro. 2000; Brussels, New York and Washington in October TCC W88 850tional youth camp with more (World Women's 1,000 participants as March); Seoul the same Asia-Europe peoples and many activities Conterence); Nice in involving the Morement of December 2000 (EU sumEmit); December The WSF ended 2000 ("From resistances to January 30 with the decision ¡ternatives") we made our to meet again in Port Alegre voices heard. on the same date as the WEF hese actions aIsc owo oc bic After the defeat of the MAI ing up of com(Multilateral Accord on between posieril positions VCOOCT 1998, the defeat of the WTO .movements. Trade in Seattle and the fiasco for unions from the CUT in Brazil, South Korea, CTA in Argentina, COSATU in South Africa. and so on bave been able to learn from cach other Peasant indigenous movements; the World Women's March; networks such as Focus on global south and ATTAC movements of thosc "without" (without papers, homes, jobs, land) have come together in new ecologists and pacifists, trade union letts and the radical left.
We are building coalitions arouna particuar temes so as:
• Cancellation of the third woro deal • Opposition to the neo. liberal offensive in trade;
• Support for the 'Tobin cax' on speculation.
The points of arteement between these movements include:
The necessity of a demo cratic and internationalist alternative neo-liberal capitalist globalisation;
The need to achiere coua ity between women and men;
To deepen the crisis of institutions such the World Bank, the IMF the WiO the Davos Forum. the G7 and the big multinationCancellation of the adjustment policies;
support for an end to the deregulation of trade, Opposition to certain uses of genetically moditied organisms • Rejection of the current property rights in relation to •Opnosition to militarist policies (for example, Plan olombia):
•Support for the right of an endogenous Taxation capital through a Tobin type tax;
Rights for indigenous Agrarian reform • A generalised reduction of working bours;
• The promotion of democratic experiences like the participatory budget prac• A common North/South and East/West struggle.
T ments are all, or almost all. to be found in the declaration that the the WSF in Porto Alegre (see the websites www.forumsocialmundial.org or attac.org).
They were also part of the angkok appeal (Februar 2000) and the declaration of Geneva (June 2000). Such a level of agreement is a very encouraging sign given our different geographic origins, political traditions and experiences of struggle Some big questions remain the subject of debate. Is it necessary "abolish" the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO or can they be reformed?
SHOUEU we light in the countries of the periphery for the suspension of the paynegotiations to this measure? These debates will continue but we can still organise Davos surrounded by barbed wire and protected by nunarcas or police ana soldiers. Porto Alegre open to all who put humanity before profit. In Davos, luxury; in Porto Alegre, dignity Davos the crisis of legitimacy; in Porto Alegre, the alternatives.
Outlook