The V World Social Forum started as a world diversity expression, polyphony of voices that meet the universal whishes for tolerance, justice, peace and equality. And it closes according to these same wishes. But this Forum had the challenge of being more propositive, to go further in common issues and proposing actions. For so, it was completely self-organized. All the activities were developed by the participant organizations. In the 11 Thematic Terrains, there were panels that accepted proposals that were the result of discussions and the assemblies. So far, there were 352 proposals on the panels. And they are here exposed. They will be published in a way that movements, organizations and people can read and use them.
All these things happened in an unique terrain: the World Social Territory, situated along Guaiba river, where we discussed proposals and shared the moment of being together. With contradictions and conflicts. We celebrate the communitarian life and the common responsibility in an open, public, collective and democratic territory. The Forum´s territory was a laboratory for changing life. It was a place where the initiatives converged. It was also the meeting of the Forum community and the Porto Alegre community, the city whose symbol is the sun set over the Guaiba river which has no owner, it wasn´t built, it belongs to everybody and to nobody in the same way. It was this sun set that, every day, passed through a territory in movement, geography of a transforming world.
At the Forum´s territory we brought into real life many transforming practices. The bio-construction proved that a house can be built from the nature rational order . The solidarity economy, fair when it come to prices and ethical when it comes to consumption, it was there. Challenging practices, such as the use of free software, translators volunteers network and new ways of communication shared, were joined day by day. This demands learning, persistence, work. But for those who want to change things, there is only one way: to try. So we tried, insisted, resisted. Only in this way we can learn and go ahead.
This year, for the first time, the Youth Camp was inside the Forum´s Territory, innovating the communitarian practices and the self-organization and going further in the defense of Human Rights.
This year, the self-organization appeared on every practice, since the first moment. Thus, instead of big events with big lecturers, there was a plural and democratic discussion of a varied themes. Activities that allowed many organizations and people to meet, making networks, planning actions, permitting new meetings. Because the Forum doesn´t start or finish at this terrain. The forum is the moment itself to join movements which struggle, to get together and keep fighting. And new proposals will come in this process.
This Forum has gone to people´s heart and actions. It was in total, 155 thousand participants; 35 thousand were in the Youth camp and 6.880 communicators. People from 135 countries involved in 2.500 activities. People that in a good mood, including solving problems, were a precious help in order to the event happen: 2.800 volunteers working for consciousness and solidarity. Everybody helped to give sense to the Forum ideas, which has spread thought the planet. Millions of people connected to the Forum through many ways of communication.
The Forum lasts for us and for the world, a diversity spectacle which started on the 26th January, 2005 in the afternoon: 200 thousand people walking through Porto Alegre. There were artists on the street in front of a blue planet carried by many hands. The social and popular movements, the unions, the NGOs. And many other faces and nuances. Turbans, indigenous hats. Indians cloths. Blue eyes, fair skins, the expression of the black consciousness. Flags like the rainbow colors. Many people in the heart of the city.
This energy contagious a planet in movement. The movement follows. And this Forum helped many actions that leave the Forum stronger and more organized, with agendas for the whole year. The dialogue and the meeting improve perspectives, open new horizons. In 2006, the World Social Forum will be decentralized, operated in many places of the world. In 2007 it will be in Africa. Self-organized, participative, democratic, made by organizations, entities and people who want to build another world with peace, justice and equality. Follow the movement. Let´s go ahead.
updated on 07/31/2010
