the Sugar Conspiracy

Friday, January 28, 2005

World Social Forum 2005 opens in Brazil

The fifth World Social Forum has opened in the southern Brazilian city of Port Alegre. Over 120,000 participants are gearing up for five days of conferences workshops and panel discussions tackling a vast spectrum of issues ranging from environmental conservation to reparations for victims of Latin America's right-wing dictatorships to the war in Iraq.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke at a mass rally to launch an initiative by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. Calling it a matter of international security, Lula called on poor countries to put pressure on rich nations to eradicate global poverty, reduce foreign debt and establish fair trade agreements. He said, "The rich must understand that we will never have a peaceful world unless we tackle poverty."

The World Social Forum was created specifically as a counterweight to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Democracy Now interviews Njoki Njehu, head of 50 Years is Enough network, on the ground in Porto Alegre.

The website for the World Social Forum is here. Another story about it's opening is here. And here.

posted by chris at 1:40 PM
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