– Sustainable development is among the thematic pillars of the World Social Forum III, which is expected to draw 100,000 people from more than 100 countries to the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, Jan 23-28. One of the 31 panels scheduled during the Forum, promoted by social organisations, intellectuals and leftist groups, will discuss how to advance social controls and democratic management of biodiversity and water and energy rights.

The environmental and social issues related to freshwater are central to the World Social Forum, where events are slated for debate on how to prevent the privatisation of this resource and protect people's right to freshwater access. A related topic of discussion at the Forum will be “Just, Democratic and Sustainable Cities”.