Croeso mawr iawn/welcome.

Diolch am yr anrhydedd o fod yn Lysgennad i Social Forum Cymru/Thank you for giving me the honour of being ambassador for Social Forum Cymru.

I went to the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre in Brazil which brought together over 50,000 people to discuss peace, justice, human rights and how we could work together on an international level. It is not an organisation as such, it is more of a world process, set up as an alternative to the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland where the rich and powerful discuss liberalisation and globalisation. The WSF in contrast is an open meeting place for debating ideas, experiences and opinions. The “Call of the World Social Movements” which was agreed on in Porto Alegre set out our common aims under the inspirational slogan “Another World is Possible” – a world where the economy serves the people and not the other way around. A world where we respect human rights, language and culture, where exists sustainable communities, and available water for all. We have been working together for that other world ever since.

Last year it was decided not to hold a World Social Forum every year but every two years, and in between to organise a decentralised Social Forum in every continent. Social Forums have already been held this year in Bamako (Africa), Caracas, (Venezuela), Karachi, (Pakistan) and Greece. There have been many positive developments already – for example the Bamako forum proclaimed that “Africa will change the Social Forum and the Social Forum will change Africa”. African civil society and social movements have launched an on line debate among themselves to prepare for next year’s World Social Forum in Nairobi and have clear priorities and an action programme for Africa.

I am very proud that Wales is part of this progressive worldwide movement for peace and justice. We have a lot to contribute from our own unique experience as a small country which has not yet been allowed to fulfil its potential on the world stage but which has a strong history of peace, justice and internationalism. Our input from this event into the World Social Forum in Nairobi next January will carry on that tradition. Wales will help change the WSF and in return WSF will change Wales.

There are far too many events organised over the next two days to mention. We have wonderful participants such as Milan Rai, Moazzam Begg and Bernat Joan I Mari MEP from Catalonia, but most important of all we have you – the people who have come to share ideas and look for new ways of working together. People are the Social Forum and I’m confident that our Wales Declaration will inspire and enthuse people throughout the world too as we've been inspired in the last four days.

Diolch yn fawr.