INFORMATION ON THE 1st WORLD SOCIAL FORUM - WSF
(25-30/01/2001)
Rio Grande do Sul Government Site related to WSF
Porto Alegre Government Site related to WSF
Le Monde Diplomatique on Brasil Site
Information on Porto Alegre - WSF Host City, Rio Grande do Sul Capital, Brazil:
City description by site Wcams
City's General Data from Porto Alegre Government
City's General Data from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS
Brazilian organizations on WSF Committee:
- ABONG (Brazilian Associations of NGO's)
- ATTAC (Action for the Taxation of Transactions for the Support of Citizens);
- CBJP (Brazilian Committee of Justice and Peace from the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops);
- CIVES (Brazilian Association of Entrepeneus for Citizenship);
CUT (Workers Central);
IBASE (Brazilian Institute of Social and Economic Analysis);
CJG (Center of Global Justice);
MST (Landless Workers Movement).
The Committe had the support of national and international partners, mainly Le Monde Diplomatique, Government of Porto Alegre, Government of Rio Grande do Sul, Electric Energy State Company (CEEE) and Rio Grande do Sul State Bank (Banrisul). Parallel to the WSF there were also the World Parliament Forum, Local Authorities for Social Inclusion and Street Circuit.
During the event there were more than 16.000 persons, 184 international personalities, and more than 4.000 delegates representing 115 countries. Media coverage was made by more than 1.700 professionals. There were dozens of conferences and more than 400 workshops to discuss social issues.
Government of Rio Grande do Sul expenditures with WSF (Governmente Press):
Infrastructure at PUCRS (public support, media area, computers and network, structure built - US$ 200.000,00 |
Cultural Activities - US$ 150.000,00 |
Air Tickets for panelists - US$ 85.000,00 |
Propaganda: US$ 50.000,00 |
Total - US$ 485.000,00 |
|
Government of Porto Alegre expenditures with WSF (Zero Hora - 08/02/2001):
Hotels and reception - US$ 93.165,10 |
Stands - 35.205,00 |
Equipment rent - 308,14 |
Safety - 3.250,00 |
Propaganda - 49.591,25 |
Street Cultural Circuit - 28.000,00 |
Total - : R$ 209.519,48 |
|
IMAGES OF THE DAYS DURING WSF
24/01/2001:
Sunset Theater View : 1
Harmony Park View, where there are located the Indigenous Camp and the Youth Camp, both part of WSF: 1
25/01/2001:
Opening of WSF, at (PUCRS) Events Center. There were more than 3.800 person, representing almost all the countries of the world. You can see people from countries like México, Uruguay, Argentina and India: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Sunset Theater View, being prepared to the shows; and the Harmony Park View, where there are located the Indigenous Camp and the Youth Camp, both part of WSF.
- images of 7:00 PM - walking from the City Center to the Sunset Theater: 1, 2
- images of 8:00 PM - arriving at the Sunset Theater: 1
- images of 8:15 PM - arriving at the Sunset Theater and the sunset: 1, 2
- images of 8:30 PM - sunset and opening of WSF at the Sunset Theater: 1, 2
26/01/2001, before 4:00 PM:
- Sunset Theater View (3:00 PM): 1
- Harmony Park View, where there is located the camp for Indians and Youth: 1
- Administrative Center of Rio Grande do Sul view (pyramid form), PROCERGS (the round building), Parobé School and School of Administration of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul: 1
- Açorianos Garden, with the monument (in a ship form) dedicated to the Portuguese Immigrants (from Açores Island), who established in the area that became the city of Porto Alegre 229 years ago. The 60 couples arrived precisely on 16/3/1772. The original idea was that they would go to lands along Jacuí River, in the direction of Mission Region (Northeast of the state), that became part of the Portuguese Colonial Region, in exchange for the Colônia de Sacramente (Uruguay), according to the Treat of Madrid, signed in 1750 by Portugal and Spain: 1, 2
In the beginning, the place was named Freguesia de São Francisco do Porto dos Casais; however, in 2/6/1773, when José Marcelino de Figueiredo changed the capital from the Province of São Pedro in Viamão to this place, it was already named officially "Porto Alegre".
- Matriz Garden view, around it there are located the buildings of the Executive Government, the State Parliament, the State Justice, as well as the Public Defense and the Metropolitan Cathedral: 1
- Piratini Palace view, a building dated of 1920, with strong positivist influence: 1
- Civil House view, where now is located the Government General Secretariat. It is the oldest building in the city, having more than 200 years. Its preservation expresses the great concern of Porto Alegre with city's memory: 1
- East view of Porto Alegre, in the direction of neighborhoods like Cidade Baixa, Azenha and Partenon (behind all them), were is located PUC's Events Center, where WSF happens: 1
- Southest view of Porto Alegre, in the direction of neighborhoods like Cidade Baixa and Menino Deus; behind you can see de Police Hill, Glória, Teresópolis and the Bone Hill. You can see how the city is "resting"inside a set of hill surrounding it, all of them with more than 200 meters high: 1, 2, 3
- Administrative Center of Rio Grande do Sul view, behind it you see Santa Tereza Hill: 1
- Prison Island view, used during dictatorship (in the 60's and 70's) to keep political prisoners. The prison was closed after the escape of a prisoner inside a chicken pot. The island is 2 km from the margin. On your right, you can see the building of an Industry of Paper, located in the city of Guaíba, 20 km from Porto Alegre: 1
26/01/2001, after 4:00 PM:
- Harmony Park view, where there is located the camp for Indians and Youth:
- Area and accommodations: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
- Indigenous craft exposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
- Tribute from Indigenous leaders to Danielle Mitterrand: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
- Way to Sunset Theater View, where the shows will happen by night: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
- Way to Gasômetro, to enjoy the sunset: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
OTHER RECENT IMAGES OF PORTO ALEGRE
Porto Alegre does not have the snow of Davos, where the World Economic Forum is happening, but it has a sunset of unbearable beauty. In the following pictures, you can see again a set of images of rare beauty and emotion from some days ago (18/01/2001). Then you can compare which city is the most pretty ir terms of its nature:
End of the day, after a storm: 1, 2
The beginning of a great sunset: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
A succession of pictures, with many colors, until the sun disappears in the horizon line: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
27/01/2001:
- External south view of the Event Theater of WSF: 1, 2
- Presentations during Conferences, organizations stands, people and personalities participation in the event: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
- Mario Quintana Cultural Center, name of an important poet of Porto Alegre, that loved it very much and wrote many poem dedicated to the city, children, to the city where he was born (Alegrete, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), and to life. He lived for many years in this building that used to be the "Magestic Hotel": 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- Cartoons exposed at Mario Quintana Cultural Center (our thanks for the authors who came to the WSF, the use for commercial ends is not authorized): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
- Storm over the city, end of the day: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- A typical Churrascaria of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
28/01/2001:
- Dawn at the Camp - Indigeous People and Youth: 1, 2
- Bento Gonçalves Monument: 1
Bento Gonçalves was the leader of the biggest and most heroic gaucho odyssey - the "Farroupilha Revolution", an attempt to political independence of Rio Grande do Sul from Brazil, between 1835 and 1845. Around 200 rebels (republicans) entered in Porto Alegre throug Azenha Bridge (that use to be in the area of the Monument, at Av. João Pessoa) in the night of 19/9/1835). The legalists (monarchists that were in power, located in Rio de Janeiro) recovered the city only in 15/6/1836. After that, until 1840, the rebels fought for the city. To defend it it was necessary to built a wall around all the area that now constitutes the city center. Where now is located the Portão Garden, aside Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia (a hospital and a typical portuguese building), it was the gate to enter and leave the city. When Porto Alegre became a village (July of 1821) the French biologist August Saint Hilaire wrote that Santa Casa was located in a high and nice place, out of the city confusion. It is from this period the origin of the expression "loyal and valuable Porto Alegre", because the city governmet, despite many problems with the central government decided for the Empire. The rural parts of the state (campanha region) were strongly supporting the rebels. They also had the presence of Giuseppe Garibaldi, a war strategist from Italy. During a journey to Laguna, in the state of Santa Catarina, he met and married a brave woman - Anita Garibaldi, who followed him during the war (see the house where Anita was born). Some years later, Garibaldi went back to Italy to fight for the unification. That is why he is called "the hero of two worlds". The stae was finally pacified, with manu rebel's conditions being accpeted (mainly a "fair" treatment from central government) in 1845. Duque de Caxias was the negotiator and now an important street of Porto Alegre has his name. However, the ideals of the farroupilha rebels are still expressed in some symbols of Rio Grande do Sul, like in the expression "Riograndense Republic"and in the slogan "liberty, equality, humanity".
- Dawn at the Camp - Indigeous People and Youth: 1, 2
29/01/2001:
- Mythic pictures of gauchos:
People who are born or live in Rio Grande do Sul are called "gauchos" and are originated from a mix of nations and cultures. To the native indians (charruas, minuanos, guaranis e caigangues), were added slaver from some African countries and manu immigrants, like Portuguese, Germans, Italians, Polishes, Russians, Ucranians, Arabs (mainly Lebanese and Palestinian), Jews. From this mix originated a rich and distinct culture, that was taken to manu parts of Brazil by internal immigrants. Among the most typical cultural manifestation are the habit of drinking chimarrão and eating churrasco, the constitution of Centers of Gaucho Tradition (CTG's), the use of some characteristic words and clethes, and some folk dances like "cana verde", "chimarrita" and "pezinho". The gaucho soul is market by the values of freedom, proud and solidarity. The slogan of the "farroupilhas" of "liberty, equality and humanity" is still alive as a principle for the action of government and social organizations. To the original rural economic was added technology. Some local enterprises are Gerdau, VARIG, Ipiranga, Marcopolo, Tramontina, Pólo Petroquímico and others; some multinational located here are GM (General Motors), Dell Computers. Many visitors came for a while but, at the end, decided to stay. Some of these left important contributions to the state, like Aldo Locatelli (originally from Italy, see pictures: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 / 1 / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) and Theo Wiederspahn (an architect from Germany, see pictures: 1, 2)
- Sunset at Harmony Camp and Sunset Theater: 1, 2
- Presentations during Conferences, organizations stands, people and personalities participation in the event preparing the closure in the following day: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
- Night Show at the Sunset Theater: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
30/01/2001:
- Dawn at Harmonia Park Camp: 1, 2
- Organizations's Stands, persons and personalities participation: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
- Closing Section: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
- Stones Mosaic from the Countries represented in the Forum: 1
- Participants dispersion, with the Forum Closure: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
- Panels exposed at Events Center of PUCRS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
To the visitors, participants and promoters of the event, our thanks. We hope you will be back to this nice city in 2002, when the new Forum will be bigger.
Site Responsible: Luis Roque Klering, lecturer at the School of Administration of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, and CNPq (National Council of Research) researcher. PhD in Administration. Main interests: quantitative research, organizational studies, public administration, system and informational technology. Since 1983 develops researches on municipal development. Member of the Technical Committee of Citizenship and Public Administration Program of Getúlio Vargas Foundation, from São Paulo.
The development of this brief document on the WSF started when the author realized, by the radio, that the opening session was delayed. Being close to the place, he went there and got permission to get pictures from the session. After that, impressed by the event, he imposed to himself the obligation to contribute to the diffusion of what was happening. Among the most impressive images, the author calls attention to the camp where Danielle Mitterand was receiving a tribute. Excuses for stands, cartoons, personalities and dozens of facts that are not in the pictures.
The pictures and images were taken in a way that any of hou can take your own conclusions. At the end, an image has the value of a thousand words, and the pictures, specially the last ones, can reveal, in a simple and individual form, how the WSF was important and meaningful.
Webmaster: lrklering@adm.ufrgs.br
