World Social Forum debates Brazil to be built

"The New Brazil We Want to Build" was the theme of the debates on Tuesday (Jan. 24) during the World Social Forum (WSF), which is being held in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state capital.

The forum’s guiding document was read by the president of the Union of Black Men and Women of Brazil (Unegro) in Rio Grande do Sul, Elis Regina. The text explained the "gigantic challenge" to be faced, after the electoral defeat of the "monster of fascism."

"It is necessary to guarantee a daily life, to resume and rebuild our dignity as a free, democratic, humanitarian and sovereign nation. Thus, with the election of worker Lula da Silva for his third term of office as president, the gaze of the world turns to Brazil as a reference in confronting inequalities and tracing paths of equalities and peace. This victory has been legitimized by the Brazilian people through our greatest riches: the human and cultural diversity, allied to the greatness of our biodiversity," she said.

Inequalities

As a member of the forum’s International Committee, Oded Grajew spoke about the importance of adopting measures to fight inequality, including the survey of data on social, economic, environmental, political, and ethical indicators.

"What is there in common among the countries that have achieved the best indicators and that make us envious of the quality of life they offer their citizens? All of them, without exception, have chosen the path of reducing inequality. Several of them were very poor countries and reached the following consensus: for any human collective to succeed, it is fundamental that there be a harmonious relationship between people. And what causes disharmony is the sense of injustice and inequality,” he added.

Grajew explained that in order to reduce inequality it is necessary to expand quality public education, implement a progressive tax system, and have a political representation that reflects the diversity of society and promotes actions that seek to reduce gender, race, social, economic, and territorial inequality.

Government

In an interview with Agência Brasil, federal representative and president of the Workers' Party – PT, Gleisi Hoffmann, pointed out that the government's participation in the forum indicates that it will listen to social movements for decision-making.

"The World Social Forum has always been a reference for us, a debate opposing the World Economic Forum, the neoliberalism. Talking about life, talking about the need for the government to be present with effective social policies, with effective social responsibility. [The social movements] will be heard for sure, this is a commitment of the president, he wants to rescue conferences, participation councils, public policy monitoring committees. It's fundamental," she stated.

The forum, which takes place until Saturday (28), is expected to be attended by activists from various social movements, such as indigenous, black, LGBTQIA+, student and union leaders, in addition to the Ministers of Environment, Marina Silva, and Health, Nísia Trindade.