World Social Forum in Brazil

World Social Forum in Belem, Para, in Brazil January 27 to February 1, 2009. Energized by our days of creating our Franciscan solidarity we were ready to share our spirit at the World Social Forum. Carrying our hundreds of banners for peace, which we shared with other marchers, we clearly stated this message for the forum. Indeed this was a very peaceful march of 90,000 participants from around the globe displaying and dramatizing that another world is possible.

Indigenous people were given a pride of place not only on the central stage but throughout the days of the forum. They gave voice to their concerns about their culture and their land rites. Their message was dramatized in song and dance. Often they posed for pictures and sold their crafts and artistic skills.

The forum was organized around 9 tenets, and the hundreds of sessions explained these principles. In many ways the tenets were interrelated. Many of the presentations focus on workshops related to the environment, human rights and transnational corporations.

Our Franciscans sponsored a workshop on eco-justice which featured Leonardo Boff and Francisan Bishop Luiz Ceppio of Barra, as well as witness talks by Sr. Yleana Arnaez on the abuses by transnational corporations and by Sr. Juliana Cutierrez for the rites of indigenous people. The latter were both participants in our solidarity experience. Our speakers charged us with the imminent need to change the perils affecting our planet wherever we live. Liberation and theology were proclaimed as nourishing our Franciscan spirituality and as compelling our advocacy for the poor and vulnerable.