Challenges increase as WSF turns ten

By d-sector Team
05 Apr 2010

Social activists all over the world are celebrating completion of ten years of the World Social Forum (WSF) that was launched in June 2000, at the Alternative Social Summit in Geneva, and had its first meeting from 25 January to 30 January 2001 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

To continue with its tradition of de-centralisation of the movement, in its tenth year the WSF will have series of events spread over 12 months, with activities being held throughout the world.

The idea for the WSF germinated out of the desire to organise a meeting of anti-globalization social movements, parallel to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, an annual meeting point for the beneficiaries of the capitalist model of economic growth and development. The WSF was conceived as providing alternatives to the guidelines of the WEF.

Since 2001, UNESCO has been a regular participant in the WSF and views it as a "prime opportunity for dialogue and a laboratory of ideas for the renewal of public policies" through "critical reflection on the future of societies we want to create and for elaborating proposals in search of solidarity, justice, peace and human rights".

In terms of popularity and participation, the WSF has been going from strength to strength since 2001. However, in the last ten years, the world and its many concerns have changed and the WSF has far greater challenges before it, but lesser political and media impact.

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