Porto Alegre, 1/15/2004 (Agência Brasil – ABr) - Today the Latin American Agenda 21 Forum on Culture in Cities begins in Porto Alegre. The event occurs simultaneously with the World Social Forum in Mumbai. It will begin with a conference by Argentine filmmaker, Fernando Solanas, and end on Sunday with a show by Brazilian singer, Lobão.

Representatives from 260 cities in Argentina, Mexico, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Chile, Columbia and Uruguay, besides Spain, will be present. Brazilians will participate representing cities in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Pará, Sergipe, Pernambuco, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and Paraíba.

Proposals made in Porto Alegre will be presented at a summit in Barcelona in May of the two largest international urban center networks, the International Union of Local Authorities and the World Federation of United Cities. (AB)