Dakar. The Italian press and media do not speak of Senegal and the eleventh edition of the WSF, 10 years after the first meeting in Porto Alegre. It seems, ours, a country opaque, more concerned that the ferment to the devolution that run a world in crisis and yet open to great hopes. This is the case, after Latin America, Africa, from where I am writing to bring the huge impression proved to the running of Sunday, February 6.
The opening event of the World Social Forum was held in the Senegalese capital between the Obelisk Square in the heart of the medina, a stone's throw from the Grand Mosque, Diop University, one of the most prestigious of black Africa. 60 thousand participants representing over 130 countries and a few thousand accredited associations.
Overwhelming the African presence: in the Senegalese head, obviously, followed by a large and lively representation Moroccan. Net prevalence of women of all ages and young people: a reflection not so much buoyancy population of the Maghreb and black Africa, as the pan-Arab and pan-African revival in progress.
To signify the opening to the future, the march was symbolically driven by a hundred children in a private elementary school in Dakar, each with a colored balloon, accompanied by a dozen young nuns who seemed to suggest "another church can" . From other continents, the dense presence of Brazilians and Venezuelans followers of the controversial populist President Chavez.
Many cooperation organizations, including Oxfam International and Caritas in the first place, and the Italian Mani Tese. Among other Italian associations, as well as Uisp Arci and, most significantly the Delegation of the CGIL, with a strong presence of migrants from every continent. From Asia with some consistency the only Indian presence.
When completed, the final meeting was opened by Bolivian President Morales. The collective enthusiasm for the recent revolution of Tunisia to the Egyptian people and the support pledged to overthrow the corrupt and pro-Western dictatorship of Mubarak, was palpable. Scathing irony against the Senegalese President Wade, the megalomaniacal autocrat who has upset the desired pluralistic heritage and protected by the "Father of the Nation," the poet Leopold Senghor.
No visible tension, however, for the expulsions suffered by migrants in Morocco and Algeria for the presence, immediately behind the Moroccan trade union, and representatives of the Saharawi people, victims of colonial occupation in Morocco aimed at predicting the phosphates in the region is rich .
Many groups groaning for peace between northern Senegal and southern region of Casamance, where there are separatist armed formations. Equally palpable salient themes impressed by the Africans to "their" event, one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa's recent history. These are issues of everyday life, not derived from ideological approaches, and feel as urgent for the safety and recovery of the continent.
Out civil liberties and rights of man and citizen with a strong gender, women being the true pillar of the African survival, but still weighed down by a deep-seated, millennia of male domination and patriarchal. Afterwards, the advocacy of basic social rights - education, housing, drinking water, protection of motherhood and childhood - and the themes of sustainable development.
The European presence was highlighted in particular the issue of migrants' rights and environment problems. The Forum, as has already been to Latin America, could be an opportunity for the spread of participatory democracy movements in Africa, capable of changing the balance of political forces and governments.
Declining in the West, democracy in its substantive sense, a matter of social justice, labor rights, access to free information and a volunteer organized popular participation, seems to know a new life and opportunity for regeneration, just in emerging countries, especially those who ride together and undergo the processes of globalization. 
The opening event of the World Social Forum was held in the Senegalese capital between the Obelisk Square in the heart of the medina, a stone's throw from the Grand Mosque, Diop University, one of the most prestigious of black Africa. 60 thousand participants representing over 130 countries and a few thousand accredited associations.
Overwhelming the African presence: in the Senegalese head, obviously, followed by a large and lively representation Moroccan. Net prevalence of women of all ages and young people: a reflection not so much buoyancy population of the Maghreb and black Africa, as the pan-Arab and pan-African revival in progress.
To signify the opening to the future, the march was symbolically driven by a hundred children in a private elementary school in Dakar, each with a colored balloon, accompanied by a dozen young nuns who seemed to suggest "another church can" . From other continents, the dense presence of Brazilians and Venezuelans followers of the controversial populist President Chavez.
Many cooperation organizations, including Oxfam International and Caritas in the first place, and the Italian Mani Tese. Among other Italian associations, as well as Uisp Arci and, most significantly the Delegation of the CGIL, with a strong presence of migrants from every continent. From Asia with some consistency the only Indian presence.
When completed, the final meeting was opened by Bolivian President Morales. The collective enthusiasm for the recent revolution of Tunisia to the Egyptian people and the support pledged to overthrow the corrupt and pro-Western dictatorship of Mubarak, was palpable. Scathing irony against the Senegalese President Wade, the megalomaniacal autocrat who has upset the desired pluralistic heritage and protected by the "Father of the Nation," the poet Leopold Senghor.
No visible tension, however, for the expulsions suffered by migrants in Morocco and Algeria for the presence, immediately behind the Moroccan trade union, and representatives of the Saharawi people, victims of colonial occupation in Morocco aimed at predicting the phosphates in the region is rich .
Many groups groaning for peace between northern Senegal and southern region of Casamance, where there are separatist armed formations. Equally palpable salient themes impressed by the Africans to "their" event, one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa's recent history. These are issues of everyday life, not derived from ideological approaches, and feel as urgent for the safety and recovery of the continent.
Out civil liberties and rights of man and citizen with a strong gender, women being the true pillar of the African survival, but still weighed down by a deep-seated, millennia of male domination and patriarchal. Afterwards, the advocacy of basic social rights - education, housing, drinking water, protection of motherhood and childhood - and the themes of sustainable development.
The European presence was highlighted in particular the issue of migrants' rights and environment problems. The Forum, as has already been to Latin America, could be an opportunity for the spread of participatory democracy movements in Africa, capable of changing the balance of political forces and governments.
Declining in the West, democracy in its substantive sense, a matter of social justice, labor rights, access to free information and a volunteer organized popular participation, seems to know a new life and opportunity for regeneration, just in emerging countries, especially those who ride together and undergo the processes of globalization.
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