World Social Forum 2005

by Stefania Milan

LONDON, Jan 24 (IPS) - The World Social Forum that gets under way this week will bring together a large number of slum dwellers' representatives. "Never again an isolated struggle" is their slogan as they seek common solutions to common problems.

They will meet at an assembly of urban social movements Jan. 27.
The assembly will bring together citizens networks, tenants' unions, members of indigenous populations and housing rights groups to discuss a common agenda for action.

"The time has come to join our struggles," Cesare Ottolini from the International Alliance of Inhabitants (IAI) told IPS. "We want to create a global solidarity ground for urban social movements for confrontation and common initiatives." Together with 30 other citizens associations, the IAI based in Padua in Italy is launching an "appeal for the unity of urban social movements."

The V World Social Forum will take place in Porto Alegre, Brazil from January 25 – 31 2005 (link). The International Alliance of Inhabitants will be taking an active part with a number of initiatives aimed at building a unified, common space for debate, encounter and proposals for inhabitants’ organizations and social movements striving for a different possible world, starting from the defence of housing rights.