The 5th World Social Forum held in Porto Alegre, Brazil from January 26-31,2005
There were 28 members in the OMI-JPIC delegation: 7 lay co-workers (2 women and 5 men) and 21 OMI – both young and old.
We began our trek to Porto Alegre from Sao Paolo on the 25th January – a bus ride of about 20 hours. It was a long ride yet the spirit was high since for most people it was the first experience of the WSF.
The 5th WSF was spread out within the radius of about 7 kilometers along the main river port (Porto) along a big Rio. January is the height of summer and the day temperature went between 32-36 degrees centigrade. It was hot and the sun burned!!! But the river fresh wind made the heat tolerable.
The organizers claimed that there were about 120 - 140 thousands people coming from the 5 continents. We are all in search for another world – different from the neo-liberalism where the market forces reign supreme. Thus, in our hearts the question whether another world is possible keeps us alive and attune to the growing social movement that refuses to give in to an economic system that continues to widen the gap between the have’s and the have’s not.
By comparison to the 4th World Social Forum, the 5th WSF belonged to the youth. It is very encouraging that the protest movement and the search for alternative are participated by the young people. About 80% of the participants of the 5th WSF are young. In Mumbai, the 4th WSF about 80% of the participants were the poor. The 4th WSF was characterized by the poor articulating their agenda for empowerment. On the other hand, the 5th WSF belongs to the young who march side by side with the poor in search for alternative.
One important feature in the 5th WSF is an attempt for the Catholic participants and groups to join hands and witness in a very special way by celebrating our active presence and participation in the social movement. Caritas Internationalis with some religious organizations and institutes took the lead in endeavor. The OMI-JPIC was one of the prominent organizers of the Catholic Day at the 5th WSF.
Many in our delegation were amazed by the enthusiasm of the crowd. This enthusiasm reached its peak during the visits of President Lula of Brazil and President Chavez of Venezuela. The two popular leaders came to join in the search for alternative. To us visiting Brazil for the 5th WSF, we were amazed by the all out support given by our men both young and old to President Lula. It was a 100% for President Lula!
The experience of the WSF, though very taxing for people of advancing age, remains powerful electricity that jolts anyone. One is simply overwhelmed by the tens of thousands pressing on you, the parades and marches combined with dances and songs,, the countless assemblies that discuss and debate the pressing issues confronting the poor, the nightly varied cultural presentations, and the throng of people moving like waves as they walked endlessly back and forth along the 7 kilometers stretch of “aplaya”.
The powerful experience both in Mumbai and Porto Alegre is the feeling that we are NOT alone in this search and struggle… Wherever we turned, we found so much kindredness, friendship and hospitality among the thousands who were there. In the final analysis, is this not the beginning of that another world…? Isn’t it that another world begins with a relationship among men and women across borders and frontiers that is more humane and friendly?
We leave Brazil, strong in our resolve and belief that another world is, indeed, possible!
We thank the OMI Brazilian Province through Frs Miguel Pipolo (Provincial) and Antonio Mesquita (Treasurer) for being our host. We also thank Bro. Lindomar Dantas de Abreu for his labor as the coordinator of our participation in the 5th WSF. We also thank our usual generous benefactor for the financial assistance that has made our participation in the WSF possible across borders and frontiers.
God bless…
Jun Mercado, OMI
Director –
GS-JPIC
Rome, Italy
February 22, 2005
