What’s most remarkable about the massive “movement of movements” that is meeting, demonstrating and partying — with the full support of the socialist government — in Porto Alegre, Brazil, is how much agreement there is.

African writer Samir Amin calls it “the convergence of difference.” Marxists, liberation theologists, Ghandists, human rights activists, feminists and anarchists are putting aside ideological differences to focus on changing the world. Indian feminist Vandana Shiva describes a shift “to a world of compassion and caring from a world of greed and theft.”

You might be wondering what, exactly, the movement of movements is.

Clearly organized international forces now appear at a variety of conferences, seminars and panels. Each of these movements has been meeting internationally for years. They can be at non-governmental organization (NGO) conferences associated with United Nations meetings, or part of the protests against global summits.

The genius of the World Social Forum is to bring them all together in one place. And what a place. Most of the energy and excitement is coming from the people’s movements of Brazil and Argentina. They are in the streets and the meeting halls. Their spirit in face of terrible hardship will probably be the most memorable aspect of this conference.

This year’s forum is exploring alternatives to neo-liberalism. Delegates here discuss the agendas of the people of the world, not the agenda of the masters of the universe. The mood is perhaps best summed up by Jerry Mander, from the International Forum on Globalization in the United States, “It is time to move from expose and oppose to propose.”

The emerging focus is on peace, democracy, sustainability and equity.


One of several women who
marched the corridors in
opposition to fundamantalism.

What is most inspiring is that the South — above all Brazil and India — is leading. There is almost a total absence of in-fighting or partisanship. The energy and enthusiasm is incredible. It feels as if another world is not only possible, but is in the making.

What is most disappointing is that, despite the desire for participatory democracy expressed by almost everyone; neither women nor youth are well represented on panels. Yet they have massive representation among the delegates. On most panels, there is one woman among six or seven people. What’s more, with the exception of the women and the Indian men, feminist or anti-racist theory or practice informs none of the speeches.

There is no sense that the anti-globalization movement is in retreat. On the contrary, the U.S. war against Afghanistan is spurring a deeper sense of commitment and urgency. The common conclusion is that neo-liberalism is facing its worst crisis of legitimacy in years, as a result of the collapse of a business empire and a nation’s economics — Enron and Argentina. The increase in militarism and repression comes from desperation, not strength.

According to No Logo author Naomi Klein, “This movement of movements is an escape hatch between George Bush and Osama Bin Laden.”

Judy Rebick

Judy Rebick

Judy Rebick is one of Canada’s best-known feminists. She was the founding publisher of rabble.ca , wrote our advice column auntie.com and was co-host of one of our first podcasts called Reel Women....