What is the World Social Forum?

The World Social Forum is an open meeting place where groups and movements of civil society opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism, but engaged in building a planetary society centred on the human person, come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, for formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action . The WSF proposed to debate alternative means to building a globalization in solidarity, which respects universal human rights and those of all men and women of all nations and the environment, and is grounded in democratic international systems and institutions at the service of social justice, equality and the sovereignty of peoples.

The two first editions of the World Social Forum were held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on the same dates as the World Economic Forum was meeting in Davos . By proposing to strengthen an international coalition of the widest range of social movements and organizations, on the principle of respect for differences, autonomy of ideas and forms of endeavour, the WSF ceased to be a single locus of convergence for the struggle against neo-liberal globalization and sought to become a world process. The WSF takes place from January 26-31, 2005

For more information about the World Social Forum see www.forumsocialmundial.org.br.

Why a Reality Tour to Brazil?

In 2003, an unprecedented event took place in Brazil. Ignacio Lula da Silva, a metalworker and union leader, became the first working class President to be elected in Brazilian history. The victory of this left wing candidate was not only a victory for his party the PT (Workers Party) but also for the millions of Brazilians who cast their vote in hope for a brighter future. Many also consider Brazil's historic election also a popular judgment against the neoliberal economic project in Brazil that has caused the increased impoverishment of millions of Brazilians. The neoliberal agenda, pursued in the last two decades and backed and promoted by such supra-national global institutions as the World Bank, IMF and WTO, has pushed forward the mass privatization of state-owned industries, the explosion of low-wage factory zones, the wide-scale pillaging of Brazil's natural resources and the tripling of Brazil's international debt. Despite holding the tenth largest economy in the world, Brazilians have seen the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, with Brazil containing the widest disparity of wealth in the western hemisphere.

Yet Brazilian social movements are among the strongest and most organized in Latin America in challenging the social, racial, and economic injustices of the neoliberal system. Brazilians have led and organized the internationally known World Social Forum in Porto Alegre where hundreds of thousands of participants have shared the Forum's motto of "Another World is Possible".

You will visit the MST (Landless Workers Movement), the largest social movement in Latin America, who has succeeded in organizing hundreds of land recoveries throughout Brazil, pressuring for land reform and providing land titles to more than 250,000 families. You will also learn about the struggle to preserve Brazil's environment and natural resources and how Brazil's thousands of indigenous peoples have been threatened and excluded from having a voice in Brazilian society. Learn about all this while enjoying the beauty of Brazilian music, dance, and breathtaking landscape.

Program Highlights:

• Meet with grassroots activists for over 100 countries by attending and participating in the internationally known World Social Forum in Porto Alegre.
• Meet with representatives from strategic governmental agencies, political parties, and NGOs to examine the social, economic and political framework of contemporary Brazil.
• Learn about Brazil's tragic history of military rule that resulted in the torture and disappearance of thousands of activists.
• Meet with members of the Movimiento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra, Brazil's Landless Workers Movement, the largest social movement in the Americas and learn about their experiences in their struggle for land reform and a more just society.

Cost: $1350 (partial scholarships are available)

Price Includes:

• Double-room hotel ($330 extra for single room), guest house, or dormitory accommodations; two meals per day; transportation to and from all programmed activities; guides and translators; a qualified trip leader; all program activities; and reading materials.

How to Register:

This trip will be as diverse as possible in terms of race, age and life experiences. We strongly urge people of color to apply. In some cases, a limited number of partial scholarships are available for low-income applicants.

Make your reservation online now!

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