Social Forum: Young people from everywhere in the world gather in Belém do Para, Brazil, to advocate for a “the other possible world”.
Belém, Brazil – January 31 – Thousands of people are gathering for the World Social Forum, in the city of Belém, Pará State, Northeast Brazil, to discuss the “the possible other world proposal considering life style, believes, religion, ideology, language and nationality.
Young people and social movements from everywhere in the world are going to Amazon to voice their concerns regarding human rights and to question authorities about policies of inclusion.
Environmentalists, blacks, women, indigenous, trade unionists and many other cultural tribes of all ages share experiences and approach each other in a context of harmonious coexistence and reciprocity.
While Arno Bongo claimed the rights of communities living near the highway BR-163, known as Transamazon, which connects the municipalities of Santarém, in Pará, and Cuiabá, in Mato Grosso (1,700 km), and the need to preserve the environment, the youth of Peace Village, alternative community in the Forum, advocate for permaculture.
Luciano Almeida, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, who was dressed as Planet Earth on the march that opened the Forum, told Lusa that the event in the Amazon occurs in a "suggestive" context.
"Everyone agreed to meet here in the forum to shout loudly to the world that we need to change the paradigm and that another world is possible. “We need change, the Earth is suffering," claimed the permacultor.
A 22 year-old university student from Brasilia, Luciana Felizola, is another who believes in agroecology and that it, as well as permaculture, are the only solutions to "save the planet."
This is the first time she has taken part in the forum and says that to create a new world, we must begin with small acts that separate the organic waste, to make green bathroom, "we should think about saying good morning to the people we don’t like. This is the way it starts. "
Ramish Enpel, in turn, came from India to launch a single message: "We want peace." "We want rights for people," said the Indian, a member organization of South Asian People's Initiative.
Besides the major causes such as environmental preservation, the protection of indigenous peoples, maroon, human rights and against violence in the countryside and in cities, and against the war, there are also those unknown causes for many people.
During the march that opened the forum Labey carried two flags of Western Sahara. In his quiet protest walk, he advocated for the emancipation of his country, which is currently annexed by Morocco.
"I came to the Forum to make people aware of our conflict and our fight, we fight against colonialism in Morocco and also against imperialism," he said.
Amid protests and individual events, there is also the collective such as Amnesty International, which is presenting the "Dignity Program."
Fabian Poriqui, member of the organization, says that the global campaign, which will be announced in May, will fight poverty in the countries of the South.
Meanwhile, John David, is fighting for civil union and non-discrimination of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transvestites.
He is a member of Homosexual Movement of Belém and of Citizenship, Pride and Respect (COR). Like him, at least 30 other people carried a large banner with the colors of the rainbow to symbolize the diversity of sexual options.
By 01 February, 120 thousand people from 130 countries will be in Belém to participate in the Social Forum.
It is estimated that in the Youth Camp alone, are camped out about 20 thousand people in the green areas of the Federal Rural University of Amazonia (UFRA).
FO/Lusa, Portugal
SOURCE: http://jn.sapo.pt/PaginaInicial/Interior.aspx?content_id=1125276 - February 1, 2009.
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