2005 World Social Forum

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Usina do Gasometro, a converted gas plant, was the center of the World Social Forum "territory" in Porto Alegre, Brazil between January 26-31, 2005.		Long registration line on the first day barely moved under a blazing sun.		Information tents stretched over about three miles next to the river.
155,000 people attended the World Social Forum this year from 135 countries and 6,588 organizations.		The Dalit (or Untouchable) delegation. Untouchables have no legal rights in India.		There were many demonstrations.
Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women delegation to the forum with a Brazilian feminist who really gave us lots of help		Radical Women’s booth got a lot of visitors.		Radical Women gets some help from our friends…
Brazilian women helped us out every day – we wouldn’t have been able to keep our booth going without them.		Cuba House was a center of musical & political events.		Latin American feminists discuss hemispheric problems and the struggles of women. Radical Women's representative Guerry Hoddersen was invited to make a statement as a North American feminist.
An Ecuadorian trade unionist & feminist thanked U.S. workers for initiating May Day and remembered that Radical Women had spoken at the Women's Solidarity Conference with Venezuela last year!		More marchers…		Anti-capitalists were everywhere
Flags, flags, flags.		Radical Women’s banner was first carried in Seattle in 1999 during the WTO protests.		A march in support of the Iraqi resistance drew hundreds of supporters…
…including FSP & RW & our banner.				An Iraqi flag flies over the sound truck at the rally in support of the Iraqi resistance.
Guerry Hoddersen & Stephen Durham, NYC Organizer, spoke at the rally.		At the Afro-Brazilian cultural pavilion.		Beautiful life-size dolls made from nylon stockings.
		One face among many in a photo display about Afro-Brazilian communities.		Traditional dancers on their way to perform at the closing rally where Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke
		Chavez called for “transcending capitalism” with socialism at the closing rally..		The Gigantinho Stadium held 20,000 people when Chavez spoke.
“Socialism” was on signs & in people’s hearts that day.		Gays from Pink Triangle denounce the IMF & Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (ALCA).		More marchers…
The final rally in downtown Porto Alegre.		The Public Market is in the background.		One message: No free trade!
PSTU banner, a Trotskyist party in Brazil at the closing rally.		CUT is one of the Brazilian trade union confederations.		World March of Women played an active role at the World Social Forum.
Radical Women's banner at the closing rally. Forum.		Haitian women made their voices heard.		More banners…
		Selling the Freedom Socialist.		Scenes from Porto Alegre after the march.
The beautiful Public Market is about 200 years old.				Life begins to return to normal along the river as forum-goers leave.

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