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Why a World Social Forum? What results can come from such a large gathering?

Reported by Jorge Julio Mejía ,SJS Headlines <sjs.headlines@sjcuria.org>

Porto Alegre does not reject globalisation; it questions the type of globalisation ongoing now, and it does so unanimously, in a single voice. It questions the imposition of only one axis of articulation: the market, without rules, without social conscience, in which wealth accumulation is the only goal. It proposes to globalise solidarity, to promote a perspective in which the fulfillment of the

Millennium Development Goals agreed upon by the rich countries of the world forms an important part. It is, however, unfortunately true that the fulfillment of these goals is falling more and by the wayside and drifting imperceptibly into oblivion. One of these goals is the reduction of poverty.

Each night, after a tiring day of participation in the discussions and seminars of their choice, the participants gather to share their experiences and reflections. Jesuits from North-eastern Brazil were preoccupied with increasing desertification. The Indian participants were interested in the theme of exclusion. Those from Latin America were preoccupied with the economies of solidarity. Those from Europe were reflecting on North-South relations. Those coming from Amazonia were interested in the issue of water. Those from Africa and Colombia were worried about the problems of war and peace, with the criminalisation of social protest on the excuse that terrorism must be fought.

Each day we take the train in San Leopoldo and travel 40 minutes to reach the venue of the Forum. Making this journey, one finds ‘Poems of the Metro’ on the walls of the train compartment. This is one of them:

A long time ago

I wanted to weave a blanket

I had neither needle nor wool

Only hope

Today I have needle and wool

But I do not know how to weave a blanket

I only stitch words

And weave my memories

(Irede Inés Maseiro)