Check here daily for pictures that capture the spirit of the World Social Forum activities in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

February 5, 2002 Thousands of the 51,100 participants in the second-annual World Social Forum concluded the six-day conference ready to build on the slogan "Another World is Possible." Activists called for efforts to block the U.S.-proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas, which would be the world's biggest common market. They see the trade zone plan as an attempt to impose U.S. domination throughout the hemisphere by economic integration. Organizer Sergio Haddad listed economic and political meetings targeted for protests this year, including a food summit in Rome, the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the Group of 8 meeting in Calgary, Alberta. Yesterday, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan told the World Economic Forum in New York not to underestimate the Porto Alegre counter-summit. "Its title, 'World Social Forum,' is intended as a criticism of yours, implying that you are interested 'only' in economics, or in profit, and that you do not care about the social effects of your economic activities. And that criticism resonates around the world." Anan continued, "it is up to you to prove it wrong, with actions that translate into concrete results for the downtrodden, exploited and excluded."

February 3, 2002, Porto Alegre, Brazil From the first day of the World Social Forum here, armed local police have been highly visible at the entrances to the Forum site, at most upscale hotels throughout Porto Alegre and at 100 yard intervals for about 1/2 mile in both directions from the University grounds. Unarmed security guards are also visible throughout the facility. In addition to sidearms and occasional bulletproof vests worn by the police, all the security personnel are in touch with walkie-talkies. I often wondered who we were being protected against. This is not a gathering of wealthy, powerful men and women like those attending the World Economic Forum in New York City. This morning my question was answered. At 9:30 am, five armed men entered the main foyer of the Forum meeting facility, donned masks and rushed into the local on-site bank that has been doing a brisk business in cash advances and foreign exchange. They escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. According to one policeman who was on the scene, the bank robbers were confronted by the local police as they ran past the registration booths of the Forum, a shootout ensued and one robber was killed. The other four escaped and are still at-large. There were no other reported casualties. This was only a slight inconvenience to most conference participants. In fact, most people with whom I spoke were not even aware of the incident, even though they had walked by the blood stained pavement encircled by the all too familiar crime scene tape. For me though, it gave deeper meaning to the spiked fences that surround most of the homes and business in Porto Alegre. It brought into focus the weapons and blood featured on magazine covers prominently displayed on newsstands around the city. It was a reminder that the people in this region must regularly deal with death either from deprivation or because of their political beliefs and actions. It is, perhaps, reflective of the resignation here that the blood on the streets of neighboring Argentina may someday soon stain the streets of Brazil. Jim Hickman, delegate, State of the World Forum The plight of a suffering planet is portrayed by this man/tree who appeals for some respite from the ecological disasters that face us. Diversity is the hallmark of the World Social Forum Delegation from the Commission on Globalization. From Left to right, back row: Marcello Palazzi, President of the Progressio Foundation (Holland); Maria Ivanova, Yale University (Bulgaria); Mark Ritchie, President of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (USA); Tom Spencer, Executive director of the European Centre for Public Affairs (UK) From left to right, front row: Dan Fleshler, Strategy XXSI (USA); Susan Davis, consultant to the International Labor Organization (NYC); and Jim Garrison, President of the State of the World Forum (USA)   February 2, 2002, Porto Alegre, Brazil This second full day of the World Social Forum marked a departure from the celebratory atmosphere of the past 36 hours. Though still upbeat in tone, this was a day of serious debate with a focus on such issues as ecological sustainability, local community political action, intellectual property and AIDS. This was most evident by the absence of the previous day�s crowds in the hallways during sessions; the lines of people waiting to crush into already packed auditoriums; and the dozens of delegates sitting on the floor outside meeting rooms listening on wireless headsets to translations of the debates. Today I dressed more appropriately for the event. Wearing my newly acquired MST(Landless Workers Movement) hat and carrying the Che Guevara bag I purchased from a Bolivian vendor, I was frequently approached by young and middle-aged activists eager to discuss the promise of socialism and communism. It gave me pause to reflect on the 25 years during which I was intimately involved in US-Soviet citizen action. Though I smiled compassionately and listened attentively, in my broken Portuguese I couldn't communicate the chasm between philosophical ideals and practical politics. The failure of Soviet communism, to many of these people, is just a questionable history lesson; without the experience of living in the midst of such an economic debacle, many of the new socialists cannot conceive of how much of human behavior was misunderstood by Marx and Lenin. Furthermore, I realized that the options facing these community leaders are vastly different from the economic and political landscape of the 70's and 80's. Where once the "American Dream" was alive throughout the developing world (especially in the Soviet Union), now the US stands as the epitome of a promised land gone fallow. It is also striking in this regard that the image of Che Guevara, a revolutionary hero struck down in the midst of his campaign, can be seen in nearly every exhibition here (t-shirts, posters, handbags, and lapel pins). While Fidel Castro, his partner in the revolutionary quest who transitioned from the Bolivian jungles to the corridors of political power, has gone from 60's idol to a failed and forgotten bureaucrat. Will these lessons of political history be lost on this passionate workers' movement that is sweeping through the Southern hemisphere or will it be enriched by wisdom to be gleaned from the mistakes of its predecessors? This, in my opinion, is a principal challenge for the years ahead. Jim Hickman, delegate, State of the World Forum The overflow crowds watch the proceedings on a large video screen outside the main auditorium Brazilian Indian from a jungle village selling his crafts outside the main building Demonstration supporting women's rights and protesting spousal abuse and silencing of women's voices At noon on Feb 2, a large pro-Palestine demonstration was held in the main entrance foyer. It attracted so many sympathizers that entry to the conference was seriously disrupted for an hour. The crush of the crowd inside the auditorium is avoided by those willing to listen to the discussion through wireless headsets in the adjoining hallway The communications room, outfitted with 45 PC's with Internet access keeps the connection with the rest of the world. Feb 1, 2002 The first full day of the World Social Forum opened with ceremonial blessings for the earth and thanks for the Earth Spirits that bring forth life and abundance. The general mood of the 40,000 people in attendance is one of optimism for the future, as reflected in the overall theme, "An Alternative World is Possible". At the same time, very strong criticisms are being voiced about the current global governance regimes with the United States identified as the most virulent oppressor. From the northern hemisphere, Italy and France have sent the largest delegations with both governments underwriting participation by over a thousand citizens. In the morning plenary sessions, overflow crowds packed the meeting halls to hear experts discuss International Trade, Transnational Corporations, Financial Capital Control, Labor, and Third World Debt. The varieties of cultural experience that has come together in this gathering was reflected in more than 100 afternoon seminars. These ranged from traditional wisdom in "Health for All, Medicinal Plants and Alternative therapies", modern philosophy in "The Realms of Globalization: a View from Clinical Psychoanalysis", and new economics in "People's Capitalism", to education in "The Professor as Educator of Peace and Non-Violence", regional conflict in "Is Peace possible in Columbia", and genetics in "GMOs: Strategies for international Resistance. With an exhibition hall full of booths promoting organizations from all over the world and the outdoor open spaces replete with artisans displaying their crafts (including the requisite T-Shirts with images of Che, Marx, and the current workers' favorite Brazilian Presidential candidate Lulu) there is a festive, yet serious atmosphere that carries a promise of a better world to come. Jim Hickman, Sate of the World Forum, delegate to the World Social Forum
Lori Wallach, Director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch and a member of the Commission on Globalization, was surrounded by the Brazilian press after her eloquent comments on the inequities of the current trade mechanisms. Mark Ritchie, President of the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, is interviewed by an Agence-France Press reporter about his role in the Commission on Globalization and its presence at the Forum.
Oded: As a new element in the World Social Forum program, two days of workshops are scheduled to address the ethics of business in a globalized world. Two of the founding organizations of the Forum, the Ethos Institute and Ibase, are here represented by Oded Grajew and Joao Sucupira who lead a discussion on the ethical and social responsibility of corporate behavior. Juan Somavia, director general of the International Labor Organization, has spent several days in Porto Alegre meeting with labor leaders discussing the new ILO initiative on "Decent Work". Here he consults with fellow Commissioner and adviser, Susan Davis, following a passionate World Social Forum seminar about "Decent Employment: Defending Workers Rights Against Globalization."     Maria Ivanova, a Bulgarian graduate student from Yale University who sits on the Commission on Globalization, is interviewed by Simon Romero from the NY Times. Political cartoons are posted throughout the large gathering hallways.
More Images from Feb 01
January 31, 2002 The opening of the 2nd World Social Forum began with a 10 km march through the streets of Porto Alegre from the central downtown market to an amphitheater on the edge of town. About 10,000 people waved flags and banners, danced to a Latin beat, and shouted political slogans along the way. Spectators on the sidewalks and in the cars and buses stopped by the parade showed varying degrees of delight and displeasure. At the amphitheater rock bands blasted the airwaves, TV crews filmed the spectacle, and the enthusiastic crowd was upbeat all the way. The 60's happenings are the ancestors of the 21st century's political fest. Here are a few glimpses of the messages and the messengers.
January 28     Although smooth, the lines and waiting still take their toll. Despite thousands of participants streaming in to register, the first day's process begins smoothly. The first day of registration begins with Forum posters festooning the site.