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It was a day that represented so much for so many, and seemed to come alive with those expectations. The opening of the World Social Forum yesterday was a day replete with all the energy of one of the Amazon's famous storms combined with the energy of tens of thousands of activists from across Brazil and the rest of the world who descended on the port city of Belem, where the Amazon meets the Atlantic. It's a hot and sweaty city of over a million, bulging with many impoverished areas and many warnings by citizens about the rampant violence and other crime. Seemingly unequipped to handle an event that drew over 100,000 people to this fairly remote part of the world, many of the city's services have suffered in response to a sudden surge in people - from accommodation to transportation.

 After spending a surprising two hours on public transportation to travel a short way through lovely Belém to UFPA, I make my way to UNI-Alter's workshop on activist research. The room is filled to the brim with students, most of them Québecois-es, and here, we're talking about how to make the link between social movements and universities. While some ask the question, how can we, as academics, get out of the institution, others stress that universities should be seen as tools.. that as institutions, universities can give us the legitimacy to spread ideas--that it's the mean not the end.  

first day of the forum, it's noonish and we've had to abandon the program. things are indeed not happening exactly when or where they're planned to. walking up and down the main street of UFRA.. so many people, so much stuff for sale. i'll put this in writing so that it's recorded somewhere : i'm going to make a commitment, for when i go to another WSF, to learn the language that will be most used. listening to the indigenous leaders' speeches for pan-amazonia day.. hearing about imperialism, capitalism, water, petrol, globalisation and resistencia and i so wish i could understand.

last night, after supper, sitting, working in the common room, and talking about canadian mining companies in the congo a belgian friend from the hotel walks in and we all start talking about écosociété's "noir canada".. it's really extraordinary to be in a space where these issues can be discussed night or day, and where they work better than small talk to meet and befriend strangers.