90,000 expected in Belem for 5 day conference

From 27-31 January 2009 the 9th World Social Forum will take place in Belem, the capital of Para state. Authorities estimate that 60,000 Brazilians and 30,000 foreigners will convene to hear discussions on various topics such as global warming, the economic crisis, social disparities and environmental problems in the Amazon, among others. The event will begin on 27 January at approximately 1400 local time with a 3 mi/5 km march from the port in central Belem, to Praca do Operario in the Sao Braz neighbourhood. Hotels in Belem are already overcrowded. The Universidade Federal Rural da Amazonia (UFRA) and the Universidade Federal do Para (UFPA) constructed lodgings for 30,000 visitors and established 10 hospital sites for the event. Approximately 2,200 police officers have been deployed to the area to maintain security. Belem's crime rate increased 21 percent between 2007 and 2008, and police officials have prohibited parties, closed bars and shut down soccer fields for the next five days in an attempt to curb criminal activity.