An extraordinary 40,000 people from the broadest imaginable spectrum gathered in Florence for the first ever European Social Forum, united in their shared belief that Another Europe is Possible. Born of Brazil’s World Social Forum, this social movement of movements is thinking beyond the present system of economic globalisation
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© Paolo Cocco / Reuters 2002

With huge energy, young people, intellectuals, environmentalists, social activists, artists, concerned individuals, trade unionists and representatives of hundreds of non-governmental org-anisations suggested that instead of driving the whole process of undemo-cratic and unsustainable economic globalisation, Europe could develop an alternative economic model.

Some envisaged a Europe of the Regions with vibrant local and regional economies, powered by renewable energies, co-operating together in harmony with nature. All agreed that a Europe without weapons was both desirable and possible ñ and no-one supported war in Iraq.

Tarso Genro, Mayor of Porto Alegre in Brazil, the home of the new participatory democracy and the World Social Forum, said: “The Euro-pean Social Forum unites movements, political parties and personalities of the world of culture and art who share the belief that the only road to follow for humanity is not that of the dominant economic system. The participation of the young in Florence, armed with notebooks and pens, smiles and hopes, has been really fantastic. They are practising that better world which is the objective for all of us.”

Remarkably, Romano Prodi, the Italian President of the European Commission, was reported to have said that we have to start listening to these young people. At one of many packed meetings in overflowing halls holding more than 3,000 at the historic Fortezza da Basso, Forum co-founder Vittorio Agnoletto said, “We have an enor-mous responsibility. We have a movement that is the same all over the world. The responsibility we have undertaken is to give an ethical and principled dimension to politics. We are all against war and we should work for the widest unity.”

This growing movement is not anti-globalisation per se. It wants a different kind of globalisation ñ one which respects human and social rights and puts people before profit. On a worldwide scale, it is working to create a culture of co-operation among differ-ent people and countries to counteract the present economic system.
This process is already well under-way, At the beginning of this year the first African Social Forum was held in Mali.
There has been a Latin American Social Forum, an Asian one is planned and 100,000 people are expected in Porto Alegre for the third World Social Forum in January.

The city’s Mayor said, “The elec-tion of Lula as President of Brazil is another great victory of this new vision of the world. We in Brazil are giving life to a new social and political contract. We are following a new way of thinking and acting that affirms democratic values.

“Is it possible to propose a new kind of relation between state and civil society in a democratic way? A new social pact? A new public ethic? Or is this all a democratic Utopia? We in Brazil believe that, yes, this is possible.” At least 40,000 Europeans agree and so, it seemed, did the en-ormous numbers, estimated at around three-quarters of a million, who joined the massive anti-war demonstration at the end of what was a remarkable and, possibly, very important few days.

Winding up the proceedings, co-organiser, Rafaella Bolini, was in no doubt.”This movement can really change the world,” she said. Or as one young Florentine, Piero Piccioli put it. “We are an army of dreamers, that is why we are invincible.”
FURTHER INFORMATION : World Social Forum, Rua General Jardim, 660, 8∞ Andar, Sala 81, Cep 01223 – 010, Sao Paulo, SP Brazil. Tel/Fax: (Brazil 55) (Sao Paulo 11) 3258 8914
WEB SITE : http://www.fse-esf.org EMAIL: info@worldsocialforum.org
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