Fifth World Social Forum concludes in Brazil
1/2/2005 14:49
The 5th World Social Forum (WSF) ended Monday at the southern
Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, with more than 350 proposals for a better world
and protests against US imperialism.
The six-day forum focused on
anti-globalization and anti- poverty issues, including the safeguarding of world
peace, eradication of poverty, protection of the disadvantaged, the development
mode of world economy and other global challenges.
Proposals raised at the
forum are so diverse, ranging from the creation of working groups to debate the
rights of women, to the proposal for daily exercise.
Thousands of activists
against the spread of American influence joined a final demonstration in Porto
Alegre to the close the forum, chanting slogans against US-style liberalized
trade and the occupation of Iraq.
The fifth WSF, believed to the biggest
international conference so far, drew 150,000 participants and more than 6,800
journalists from 135 countries. Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva
and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez also attended the forum.
The WSF was
initiated by non-governmental activists who oppose the trend of economic
globalization. The annual forum is designed to counter the Davos summit of
political, financial and business heavyweights. The two meetings are held almost
simultaneously every year.
Unlike previous WSFs, which were held at one
location, the organizing committee said the WSF 2006 will simultaneously take
place in several places of the world. Venezuela and Morocco have expressed
interest in hosting the coming WSF.
Xinhua
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