In a speech addressed to the members of social movements from almost 40 countries, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis, echoed several of the ideas proposed at the previous meeting held in 2014 in Rome, which are also included in the recent publication “Laudato Si”, known as the “green encyclical” for the environmental nature of its contents. This time, in an hour-long speech, the Pope reproduced several of the analyses, demands and criticism developed by the social movements in the past decades. Read more

The second day of activities at the World Meeting of Social Movements focused on the issues of housing and dignified work. In the afternoon, several parallel workshops were held based on three questions: What do we denounce to all human beings? What do we want from governments and international organizations? What do we commit to as social movements? See gallery

After a series of testimonies by different participants of the meeting, Bolivian President Evo Morales, together with leaders of the movements present, officially launched the meeting in a rainy Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Amid the applauses of a practically full Coliseo Municipal Santa Rosita, Morales highlighted the importance of a meeting such as this one, and the challenges involved due to its potentially ambitious proposals. Read more

Real World Radio is in Santa Cruz de la Sierra covering the 2nd World Meeting of Social Movements. The images included in this photo gallery correspond to the opening ceremony of the event. The meeting will take place from July 6-9. See gallery

The World Meeting of Social Movements was launched today in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, with representatives of over 150 social movements from Latin America and other regions of the world. The event will last three days. Under the slogan Land, Roof and Work, the event began with an activity attended by numerous delegations which represented the liberation of different social sectors from the oppression of multinational companies and massive media. Watch video

The first panel of the World Meeting of Social Movements focused on the issue of land. João Pedro Stédile of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) of Brazil, Silvia Ribeiro of the ETC Group and Rodolfo Machaca of the Peasant Workers Union Confederation of Bolivia were in charge of the analyses and reflections shared by the movements. Watch video

With his critiques and statements on injustice among human beings and his positions in favour of the poor, of workers and of all those excluded, Pope Francis, from the outset of his Pontificate, has pleasantly surprised militants of people’s movements around the world, in contrast with his two predecessors. Read more

A little less than a year after the first meeting in Rome, peoples´ movements and Pope Francis will meet again on July 9 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, with Bolivian President Evo Morales as a host. Read more