By IANS,
Belem (Brazil) : The World Social Forum, which was attended by about 100,000 people from around the world, concluded in this Brazilian city with some South American leaders protesting against the global capitalist system, Cuban news agency Prensa Latina has reported.
The six-day anti-globalisation forum was organised to coincide with the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The Brazilian event that ended here Sunday attracted a record number of leaders who held the capitalist system responsible for the current global economic crisis.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government spent about $50 million for organising the forum which was attended by four Latin American presidents – Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Evo Morales of Bolivia, Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Paraguay’s Fernando Lugo.
Representatives of nearly 5,000 social movements were present.
Chavez, who blamed the capitalistic system of the world for being the reason behind the current economic crisis, said: “The forum must be ready to go over to the offensive.”
“It is time for us to see what we can do, so that we can make a reality the slogan – ‘A Better World is Possible’,” said Emir Sader, a Brazilian intellectual.
“Through the years, the movement has been forced to respond to realities that go beyond their initial proposals, hence the new challenges they have ahead,” he noted.
Besides the economic crisis, the participants also discussed issues of terrorism, environment, world peace and the problems of women, landless and indigenous people.