"...Science, technology and social and economic interests are profoundly intertwined today, interacting and mutually influencing one another. Many movements that are struggling for changes now recognize that, unless these issues are taken up by many and various groups of citizens, it will not be possible to deal with the challenges of our times. It is this recognition that underlies the initiative to organize, alongside the next World Social Forum, to be held in Belém, in the state of Pará, Brazil, in January, 2009, a Forum on Science and Democracy..."