27 January – To the notes of the song “Gracias a la vida”, the immense multi-coloured throng of the World Social Forum (WSF) 2009 set off this afternoon on the traditional inaugural parade which wound through the streets of Belém along an itinerary of approximately five km from the old port (Estação das docas) as far as the bus station. The route chosen by the WSF organisers was of great significance for the city of Belém and for the Amazon region in general, since it was similar to the itinerary of the well-known and very popular “Cirio” procession which takes place in October and attracts almost two million pilgrims for the Feast of Nossa Senhora de Nazaré, the patron saint of the Amazon region.