Report from the World Social Forum

I have just returned from the World Social Forum in Mumbai (Bombay), India. It was attended by around 80,000 people from around the world (132 countries). We were there for the purpose of exploring what it will take to create a peaceful, just and democratic world, where governments and institutions so far have badly failed to do so.

It is arguably the most important gathering of civil society (non-governmental) of our time to improve the condition of humanity, yet the majority of US citizens are unaware that it even exists, let alone participate in it – yet another sad refection of the priority of the media in this country.

The Forum has been held in Brazil every year for the previous three years of its existence, the brainstorm of a Brazilian and a Frenchman over coffee. Clearly they hit upon an idea whose time is overdue: the people of the world – the “other super power” – taking responsibility for doing what we can to create the world that we want. The slogan of the Forum, “Another World Is Possible,” rang out in the speeches, workshops and banners so that it was deeply imprinted on our hearts and minds, giving us hope amid the grim evidence.

When you combine the immensity of the Forum with the intensity and chaos of India, you have a wild and potent brew indeed! The six days of the event, and in particular the four primary workshop/conference days, were a breathtaking zoo of non-stop crowds, noise, marches and performances with little separating one from the other. Through all of this we sensed a palpable evolution taking place in our collective consciousness to have such a truly global perspective and experience present.

300 separate three-hour workshops were given per day (100 in each of three shifts) – a staggering volume of offerings. The workshops were put on by individuals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all over the world. Everyone was able to pick and choose what they wanted to attend as they were happening. The larger panels often had figures internationally known within a particular movement (such as Vandana Shiva, Walden Bello and Joseph Stiglitz) and would often be attended by one or two thousand people. The workshops, in contrast, would typically be attended by anywhere from 5 to 100 people, being thus more intimate and encouraging personal participation.

The Forum cost only $50 per person for the whole thing, a sign that it was truly an event by and for the people – all of us. All workshops were contributed by those groups organizing them, a gift to help educate us all on the important issues. The central theme was globalization and how to counter its many negative impacts, Other focuses, often related to this, included: social inequities (brought home by the massive squalid slums of Mumbai), achieving peace, access to resources and food, rights of women, children, indigenous peoples and workers, achieving true democracy (including in the developed world!), and transforming the caste system of India. Of course, there was strong consensus, frustration and anger at the problems that current US policy is causing in virtually every country.

The finale included a speech from the former president of India, a videotaped speech by Nelson Mandela, and music performances by a delicious mixture of groups from Brazil, Zambia and India. It turns out that the Brazilian Minister of Culture is an amazing musician and poet who looks much like Bobby McFerrin – you gotta figure they’re doing something right in Brazil!

I will do a presentation on the Forum on March 12, 2004 in San Francisco with photos and some of the remarkable materials that were present at the Forum. This is part of the Favors presentation series, and will take place at the Dakin Center, 3220 Sacramento (at Presidio) at 7:00 pm.

Keeping the faith: another world IS possible…

Vinit Allen Director

Sustainable World Coalition

www.swcoalition.org

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