Febrero 2, 2003: revista Guaracabuya, Internet. Febrero 3, 2003: Agencia CubDest. Febr. 15, 2003: Libertad Digital, Madrid. 

 Brazilian President Lula, during a speech before participants in the event, acknowledged that his goal is to promote leftism and socialism in the entire world

The Third Worldw Social Forum of Porto Alegre (January 23-28, 2003) was denoted as one of the largest and most powerful revolutionary "catalyst" in History, a new Leviathan whose most influential activists have as a goal the expansion of socialism at a worldwide level. The catalyst concept of the First WSF to restore the "historical role of the socialist left" was used by Hungarian Marxist philosopher István Mészáros, who had an crucial part in the Third WSF wherein he promoted his book "The XXI Century: Socialism or Barbarity?" The numbers alone are astounding, doubling those of the Second WSF which took place last year: 100 thousand activists representing 5.717 non-governmental organizations from 156 countries, and approximately 1300 seminars, conferences and workshops, the subjects of which on the most part dealt with the "deconstruction" of Christian civilization fundamentals.

The Brazilian sociologist Emir Sader, a member of the international counsel of the Worldwide Social Forum, stated that in 2003 the "Latin American left" has a unique historical opportunity to promote social transformations in the continent, aided by the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil and Lucio Gutiérrez in Ecuador, and by the prospect of leftist electoral triumphs in other regional countries. According to Sader, one of the most influential and radical leaders of the anti-establishment movement, "2003 promises to be the most important year for the continent since 1973" when with the downfall of Chilean Marxist Allende, "a turn towards the right was consolidated, upon the failure of the last leftist experiments".

Brazilian President Lula da Silva himself, in an improvised speech before tens of thousands of participants in the WSF who gave him ovations, confessed his goal of promoting leftism and worldwide socialism: "I have a clear picture of how much our victory represents to the hope, not only of Brazil, but also to leftists in the entire world and especially to the left in Latin America". He added that he was "conscious of the expectations that socialists worldwide have in the success of our government" and revealed a worrying interventionist-internationalist fervor: "I hope to contribute in the victory of other comrades in elections in other countries worldwide."

After condemning the so-called North American "blockade" against the Cuban regime, and without a word in reference to the cause of the Cuban drama, that it is the brutal internal "blockade" imposed by communism on the island-prison for the past 40 years, President Lula concluded in an almost messianic tone: "The Worldwide Social Forum is the most important political event which has taken place in modern history. And I have no doubt that it will contribute, in a decisive manner, so that we can transform the history of humanity".

However, thank God not everything is turning up roses for members of the Third WSF and its well-known ally, President Lula. For example, the international disgrace of the "Bolivian Revolution" of President Chavez, in Venezuela, has been a nightmare for leftists. Lula himself admitted with uncustomary frankness, suggesting that if Chávez falls from power, he could be next: "Tomorrow it could be me..."

Following are articles, transcribed interviews and unedited testimonies from participants in the Third WSF, which reveal their goals, plans and strategies, their most guarded secrets, their difficulties and their "Achilles' Heel".

Important:

The series of articles regarding the Third WSF, which begins today, has as its objective the analysis of some of the aspects which most stood out in said event, without claiming to examine the entire event. Those analysis, judgments and conclusions which are reached are not meant to indiscriminently encompass all of the 100 thousand participants, but those which are more representative, dynamic and influential, who during the event, assumed a revolutionary posture. The documented base used included interviews, transcripts of conferences, seminars and workshops, official news distributed by the organization committee of the Third WSF, papers handed out by participants and information from the press.

Next article in the series:

* Worldwide Social Forum: the "networks", their goals and strategies

- Tactics denominated as "Lilliputians" and "invisible" give an appearance of spontaneity to what is in reality a huge anti-establishment articulation

- Short and mid-term objectives for Europe, United States, Latin America and India

Some of the subjects which will also be raised:

* Worldwide Social Forum and Venezuela

* Movement Without Land: radical, cool headed and mystical

* Communist Cuba in the Worldwide Social Forum

* Worldwide Social Forum: the "volunteerism" dilemma