The fifth World Social Forum convened between January 26th and 31st along the riverbank of the Rio Guaiba in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Nearly 150,000 delegates from around the globe came together in a dynamic, participatory and democratic forum designed to create a world that is "fair, fraternal and egalitarian." The WSF is a space that encourages and nurtures the belief that "another world is possible" and that its citizens have the power to challenge the status quo with a vision for a society that truly cares about its members.

The WSF challenges traditional societal frameworks of economic neoliberalism (i.e. free trade), corporate dominance, unregulated capitalism, and imperialism by offering positive and constructive alternatives to these practices. For example, the WSF advocates for the protection of the environment and the conscientious use of natural resources, the development of fair trade, the improvement of worker's rights and benefits, the elimination of racism and discrimination, the eradication of poverty, the provision of health care for all, the right to education, and the construction of free and truly democratic societies. As a result of these philosophies there is an unprecedented rift between the participants of the WSF and those who would prefer to maintain corporate economic dominance, the justification of war, the abuse of natural resources, and the restriction of individual civil rights.

The photos in this album demonstrate that conflict and highlight the current opinion of many around the world towards the U.S. and the policies of its government. For more information on the WSF please visit www.worldsocialforum.org

View photos of WSF 2004 that took place the prior year in Mumbai, India.