Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Spain
11-13 September 2008
For the second time in its history, the Spanish town of Rivas-Vaciamadrid gives a very warm and fraternal welcome to over 3,000 delegates from every corner of the world who will over the course of three days participate in the world’s largest debate on migrations. The Third World Social Forum on Migration (FSMM III), which has its roots in Porto Alegre 2005, returns to our city filled with ideas and reflections which set out to forge a better, fairer and more solidarity based world. Rivas considers this multitudinous event as an extraordinary happening for those of us who have been preparing the Forum in detail over the course of many months.
The displacements and travels of those who are looking for a better life present one of the largest challenges we are facing today. It is true that in many cases these voyages cause intolerable drama. Intolerable is the wall of water constructed by an armoured Europe in the Mediterranean Sea against Africa; intolerable is the border of desert which swallows thousands of central- Americans in their attempt to reach their promised paradise north of the Rio Grande; intolerable is the cement wall which condemns Palestinians to live outside their own land.
These are only a few examples. Stories of grave tragedies, sure, which often continue in the country of arrival. However, opposing these calamities and catastrophes, the migrations can also provide a sea of opportunities which can help us advance the construction of more diverse, culturally rich and solidarity-based societies and countries. This forum presents us with a great opportunity to do so. We shall not miss this chance.
Download the programme here.
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