Brazil Says It Has a Lot to Contribute to World Social Forum

The Brazilian government wants to discuss its policies at the American venue of this year’s regionalized edition of the World Social Forum, which will take place in Caracas, capital of Venezuela, from January 24-29.

This information comes from the head of the presidential office staff, minister Luiz Dulci. According to Dulci, ministers and technical staff representatives of the Brazilian government will discuss programs in various areas, such as environment, agrarian reform, culture, the struggle against racism, women’s rights, and youth policy.

"The Brazilian government has a series of practical projects that are of great interest to other countries on the continent and, most of all, to social movements," Dulci noted.

Dulci said that one of the themes that will be debated is the policy to combat deforestation in the Amazon.

"They are very eager to discover how Brazil managed to reverse the perverse tendency that had prevailed for many years. Deforestation did nothing but increase with each passing year, and now, for the first time, deforestation has begun to decline," the Minister underscored.

Another item on the Forum’s agenda is the policy in support of family farming. "The rural workers’ and peasants’ movements and indigenous movements in various countries, such as Bolivia and Peru, have a deep interest in this," he remarked.

The Minister affirmed that Brazilian technical personnel will also present the model of autonomous indigenous schools.

"They are bilingual schools, in which Indian youth learn in their own tongue but also, in our case, study Portuguese. In their case, they would study Spanish," Dulci explained.

The issue of combating racism will also be discussed. "We made a lot of progress in 2005 in bringing benefits to Brazilian "quilombola" communities (formed by descendants of runaway slaves). Many of them received potable water, electricity – through the Light for All program -, and schools," he pointed out.

The World Social Forum is the chief event organized by civil society to discuss the struggle on behalf of democratizing politics and economics.

Four of the first five editions took place in Brazil, in Porto Alegre. In 2004 the meeting was held in Mumbai, India. This year’s format will be different, and the Forum will be split among three continents: Africa, America, and Asia.

Agência Brasil

Tags:

You May Also Like

Lula Can’t Start Brazil’s Economy

2003 was a lost year in Brazil as the country’s Finance Minister and Central ...

Brazil’s Biggest Street Party Overseas Ready to Roll in NY

Differently from many of the ethnic communities around the New York City area, expat ...

Was US Nun Killer Suspect in Brazil Innocented in Exchange for US$ 60,000?

Brazilian Public Prosecutors in Brazil's northern state of Pará will conduct a civil inquiry to ...

Europe Ends Ban on Brazilian and South American Beef

After Europe's food experts concluded that Brazil's as well as its neighbors' health regulations ...

Brazil’s Auto Industry Breaks Production and Export Records

Brazil’s automobile industry set production and export records for the month of April. Foreign ...

Isn’t Ever Enough?

The present battle for power and positions stems from the fragmented nature of Brazil’s ...

Thanks to Russia and the US Brazilian Beef Exports Grow 18%

Brazil exported a total of US$ 3.3 billion in beef from January to September ...

Brazil Lula and US Obama Engage in Soccer Diplomacy

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and United States President Barack Obama took ...

Brazil's Bosisio frigate

Brazil and US Join in War Games Off Argentina’s Coast

Until next Friday naval units from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Spain and the United States ...

Brazil Cites Own Constitution to Recognize Bolivia’s Right to Nationalize Oil

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s press secretary released a statement in which ...