This week, the northern Brazilian city of Belém is hosting the World Social Forum, a meeting of leftist groups meant to counter the Davos World Economic Forum currently taking place in Switzerland. 100,000 people from environmental groups, feminist organizations, non-profits, religious organizations, and other groups have flocked to Brazil to discuss global issues, the most important being the environment. It is believed to be the largest anti-globalization meeting in the world.

The six day conference has adopted the slogan “Another World is Possible,” and aims to bring people together from all over the world to discuss issues relating to poverty, the environment, and related topics. President Lula will meet with other regional presidents at the conference this week.

To open the conference, a group of 2,000 indigenous Brazilians held a ceremony with offerings to Mother Earth, followed by a protest demanding protection for the Amazon rainforest.