Africa: Will Africa get the next WSF?

The World Social Forum (WSF), sometimes described as the "carnival of the oppressed", is about to get underway in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. While WSF participants debate the problems facing the international community another issue is also likely to come up for discussion, however: Africa's prospects of hosting the forum next year. "Brazil and India are worthy hosts of the forum, with both countries being characteristic of many of the socio-economic problems that the WSF aims to address," Ayesha Kajee, a senior researcher at the Johannesburg-based South African Institute of International Affairs, told IPS. "The value of the WSF initiative is that it encourages open debate, exchange of ideas and sharing of best practice from around the world. Hosting the forum in Africa could spur innovative new ideas and re-energise initiatives to reach the Millennium Development Goals," Kajee added.
* WSF LINKS:
- African Social Forum website
http://www.forumsocialafricain.org/english/index.htm
- Activists gather for WSF
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2005/01/26/ap1784820.html
- Original Venue, New and Improved Methodology for Giant Meet
http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=27190
- Terraviva: A publication of the world social forum
http://www.ipsterraviva.net/tv/wsf2005/