The second meeting of the World Social Forum, which occurred between January 31 and February 5, 2002, in Porto Alegre, in many aspects superseded the expectations of its organizers, partners and participants. Not only because of the number of people from all over the world who came to listen and to bring their contributions, but principally in function of the plurality of discussions and the large number of initiatives.
This second World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil, marked a dramatic counterpoint for a world that has been caught in a world of war and death since September 11. For six days starting on January 31, more than 51,000 people from around the globe participated in conferences, workshops, demonstrations, and innumerable informal gatherings and meetings.
