Carnival of resistance
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COMMENTS 
John Samuel reports from the World Social Forum in Porto Algre, Brazil, a global meet that presents the counterpoint to the World Economic Forum at Davos. The myth that there is no alternative to globalisation is being busted here by 150,000 participants from across the world
Bush is a bad word in Porto Algre. In this the third week of January 2003, Porto Algre is not just a city in Brazil. It is the world. More than 100,000 people from across the world are in Porto Algre, spelling out the antithesis of neo-liberal globalisation. They are marching, singing, dancing, talking and walking resistance and change. Indeed, resistance too is getting globalised. More than ever. Resistance is cutting across barriers of language and continent. Hundreds of thousands of people joining hands, clebrating diversity, pluralism and protest. Che Guevara is alive again here on the streets of Porto Algre -- as the guiding spirit in this carnival of resistance.
Marking the inaugural march of the World Social Forum, more than 150,000 people were out on the streets of Porto Algre, celebrating the carnival of resistance against unjust and exploitative globalisation and the militarism of the bullying Bush. With so many thousands chanting and singing songs of resistance, out here in Brazil it is easy to reaffirm the belief that another world IS possible.
Porto Algre is a city with a difference. It is in many ways a world-class city in a developing world. But it is different because it has shown that development and growth based on the principles of justice and equity is possible. During its more than 230-year history, Potro Algre has been the city of democracy and participation. It is a city where quality of life and equity go hand-in-hand. It is a city that has spearheaded innovative and transforming practices like participatory democracy, including participatory planning and budgeting, environmental protection and the advancing of human rights.
But Porto Algre is on the world map today because its active citizens' forums and trade unions dared to host the first World Social Forum in 2001, as a counterpoint to the World Economic Forum at Davos. The World Economic Forum is where the rulers of the world, the chief executives of TNCs and the powerful countries of the world meet. The World Economic Forum is not an official forum of governments. But it has turned out to be the forum that determines the discourse of the neo-liberal movers and shakers of the world. Ministers and corporate leaders from the developing world consider it almost the mecca of new ideas and trends. Everyone worth their name in politics and economics considers it a great privilege to be at Davos, where the Bill Gates and Bill Clintons of the world call the shots.
The people of Porto Algre dared to challenge this hegomony. They have seen the symptoms of discontent against unjust globalisation in Seattle, where thousands of people marched against the WTO regime. That was the beginning of the World Social Forum in 2001, the first assertion that there is indeed an alternative. Porto Algre is a living example of such an alternative. That is how the myth of TINA(There Is No Alternative to market globalisation) was busted. Thus the official slogan of World Social Forum is `Another world is possible'.
During the last two years, the idea of the World Social Forum captured the imaginations of millions across the world. As a result, this year the European Social Forum was held in Florence and the Asian Social Forum was held in Hyderabad early this year. Over 150,000 people from Latin America and the rest of the world are participating in this third edition of the World Social Forum. Around 1,750 workshops, seminars and discussions on human rights, economy of solidarity, fair trade, democracy, gender justice etc are happening simultaneously at eight different venues. It is a carnival of people, speaking different languages, wearing different costumes, carrying hundreds of flags in so many different colours. But there is something that unites all of them: the urge to create a more just and equal world; the passionate belief that we cannot afford to be apologetic or silent spectators to the militarism of the Bushes and Blairs of the world. What do all these people want? Food for every hungry child, shelter for every homeless person, a clean and green earth for everybody. Is that really too much to ask for?
On January 24, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the newly-elected president of Brazil and the hero of the leftist workers movement (Workers Party-PT) addressed the Social Forum. President Lula is emerging as the new hope of Latin America. Everywhere people are chanting: "Lula...Lula…ho… ho… Lula..Lula." There is a new hope here amongst young Latin Americans, just as there is in India. Everyone is convinced that for a new dream, a new movement, we need a new leadership.
InfoChange News & Features, January 2003