Chico Whitaker

Chico Whitaker

"Brazilian catholic social-justice advocate and architect Francisco “Chico” Whitaker Ferreira joined the opposition movement against his country’s military regime in 1964. In 1966 the military forced him into exile with his wife Stella and their four children. Until his return in 1982, he lived and worked in France and Chile as a researcher and advisor for UNESCO, among other organizations. Whitaker has founded many successful electoral reform movements including the "Plenaries for popular participation" which presented 122 amendments to the Brazilian constitution, with 12 million signatures. He also sits as the Commission for Justice & Peace representative on the National Committee of the Movement Against Electoral Corruption. In 2000 he co-founded the World Social Forum, which has been held every year since that date, and in 2005 attracted 150,000 participants. In 2006, Whitaker received the Right Livelihood Award, an annual prize given since 1980 to support people who not only dedicate themselves to social justice and the environment, but who live according to those principles. The prize was awarded in December by the Swedish parliament. He is the author of two books about the World Social Forum."


 * Advisory Board, WikiLeaks

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