BSF principles
In 2001 the World Social Forum was held for the first time in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The WSF functioned as an open meeting place where grassroots social movements, networks, NGOs and other civil society organizations opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism. This multitude came together to discuss how to achieve global social justice and to prevent further environmental destruction, and to network for effective action so to make “another world possible”. Since 2001, world, regional and local Social Forums have taken the form of a permanent process seeking and building alternatives.
The BSF is guided by the Charter of Principles of the World Social Forum, where is stated: “The WSF defines itself as an "open meeting place", one which is "plural, diversified, non-confessional, non-governmental and non-party". “The alternatives proposed at the World Social Forum stand in opposition to a process of globalization commanded by the large multinational corporations and by the governments and international institutions at the service of those corporations interests, with the complicity of national governments”. (Points 1, 4 and 8, see: WSF principles)
We like to underline the principles of this charter again. We critique the increasing influence of political parties, governments and big corporations at Social Forums on world, regional, and local levels. We critique the tendency in which more money means a louder voice, where decisions are made in hierarchical style and behind closed doors. In the context of an authoritarian regime we do not believe this is the right foundation for the 'other world' in the here and now. The BSF is horizontally and self-organized; everyone is asked to take part in running the workshops, participating in discussions, solving problems and decision-making.