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World Social Forum in Brazil
Creating a New Social Order
Ten days with 100,000 people from 156 countries— the third World Social Forum held at the end of January in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, was a living example of its theme, “Another World is Possible.” The overwhelming experience of being there was openness and respect for our human family, with all its many colors, cultures, styles, and ideas.
One of the guiding lights behind the annual event was Mr. Oded Grajew, a businessman active in Brazilian social organizations (especially the Ethos Institute) and the right hand of President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva in his interface with the business community.The Brahma Kumaris (BK) presence at the festivities was prominently announced on T-shirts saying “When I change, the world changes,” worn during the 5-km opening march of about 80,000 Forum participants. A group of 15 BKs marched under a colorful banner created during a pre-Forum peace workshop. In the spirit of unity, the banner comprised many individual squares, each someone’s hand-painted evocation of the personal meaning of peace.
Underlining the theme of the empowerment of the individual was a BK-sponsored panel discussion on "Spirituality in the Creation of a New Society." The event, organized especially for members of the interfaith community, took place at the Kairos tent for inter-religious programs and activities, where BKs also participated in opening and closing sessions as well as an early-morning open-air celebration.
Also hosted:
• Two panel discussions on the subject of education, each drawing an audience of over 100
• Three workshops — on meditation, women, and the media, respectively
• “Forunzinho,” a pre-Forum series of educational activities designed to help develop children’s sense of values.
Two exhibition stands, in the Kairos tent at the Catholic University main site and at the harbor of Guaiba River, also addressed the importance of spirituality and values in the process of social change. For next year’s event, slated for January in Delhi, India, the Brahma Kumaris hope to build on this year’s success.
