Globalization critics
January 29, 2012
Some 200 Brazilian and international groups have wrapped up this year's World Social Forum at Porto Alegre in Brazil. The 2,000 participants called for a joint global agenda to tackle injustice and inequality. This year, sustainable development was the overriding topic of the summit, which was launched in 2001 as a counter-conference to large economic gatherings such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Preparations for the UN Earth Summit
The motto in Porto Alegre was: "Capitalist crisis, social and environmental justice." Delegates also directed this slogan at preparations of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development Rio+20, which takes place in Rio de Janeiro in June.
"The World Social Forum functions like a laboratory for the development of an alternative agenda for the official Rio+20 summit in June," said the coordinator of Greenpeace Brazil, Pedro Torres.
According to Torres, activists hoped their discussions on water, energy and agriculture, for instance, will shed light on the actual state of affairs in Brazil. He argues that while Brazil is trying to portray itself as a sustainable nation, it has failed to address serious issues.
Hydropower plant Belo Monte remains disputed
Greenpeace is particularly critical of Brazil's forestry laws as well as the construction of the hydropower plant Belo Monte in the northern state of Pará.
The Brazilian government says this project - the world's third largest hydropower plant in terms of capacity - will create jobs and help develop the region.
Environmental activists, indigenous rights groups and Brazilian state prosecutors criticize the government for brushing aside important topics and necessary consultations. Moreover, there are no reliable studies on the socio-ecological impact of the plant.
The Brazilian construction company Vale is partly responsible for the building of the site's dam. Only last Friday, Vale was awarded the infamous Public Eye Award as the world's "worst company" in 2012. The news was welcomed at the World Social Forum.
"This went down rather well here because Vale has a vested interest in some crucial issues regarding Brazil's environmental agenda," said Torres.
New Brazilian forestry law under fire
The World Social Forum also discussed the reform of Brazil's forestry laws. Environmental activists say the reform is a step backwards because it scales down permanent nature reserve zones and waters down the penalties for illegal logging.
Torres says Brazil must decide which development model it wants to adopt in future.
"Either Brazil joins the club of the world's six largest economies with all the unsustainable methods of the past two centuries, such as investing in eco-damaging concepts and deforestation, or we change the world by proving that green and clean development is possible."
Call to turn Rio+20 into peoples' summit
The president of the central trade union in the Brazilian state of Rio Grane do Sul, Celso Woyciechowski, told Deutsche Welle that the diverse views expressed in Porto Elegre were vital in "establishing a common position on the decisive issues."
The World Social Forum ended with a call that a peoples' summit be staged alongside the UN environmental conference in Rio in June. Woyciechowski said it was important to accompany Rio+20 step-by-step so that alternative visions for a sustainable future were adopted.
Pedro Torres of Greenpeace the primary aim of the official conference must be to develop concepts for a just world.
"Independent of whether we anticipate a good or poor official declaration, we as civil society must draft our own declaration. This must outline alternatives, point out errors, and put pressure on governments and companies, so that we have a better future - a future that is green and clearn."
Authors: Ericka de Sa, Anna Pellacini / nk, ipj
Editor: Nicole Goebel