IATP at the World Social Forum in Belém

IATP's Alexandra Strickner is reporting from the 9th World Social Forum in Belém, Brazil.

From January 27-February 1, the 9th World Social Forum will take place in Belém, in Pará state, Brazil. The city is one of Brazil's busiest ports, about 60 miles upriver from the Atlantic Ocean. Belém is built on a number of small islands intersected by channels and other rivers.

In 1616, Belém was the first European colony on the Amazon, but didn't become part of the Brazilian nation until 1775. As the gateway to the Amazon, the port and city grew tremendously in size and importance during the 19th century rubber boom, and is now a large city with millions of inhabitants.

More than 100.000 participants are expected to gather in the Amazonian region and participate in the World Social Forum. More than 1,900 registered debates, seminars, workshops and cultural activities will be held at the Federal Rural University of the Amazon (UFRA). With a series of global crises unfolding, this World Social Forum takes place at an important moment in time. 

IATP has been actively co-organizing two discussions: one on alternative solutions to global crises, and the other on joint strategies with key global and regional networks such as the Our World is Not For Sale Network, the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas, Via Campesina, the Climate Justice Network and Friends of the Earth International. The aim of these two discussions is to allow for networks to share key proposals for alternatives and strategies for change, and to discuss possible next steps that will strengthen movements and networks advancing alternatives. On January 28, the “Pan Amazon Day” will be held under the motto of “500 years of Afro-Indigenous and popular resistance, achievements and prospects.” This day will be fully dedicated to the peoples and movements of the Pan-Amazonian region.