Janus’s first opportunity to participate in the World Social Forum was excellent. Janus co-founders Marcus Diogo and Raul Monteiro attended the forum and co-sponsored the final assembly and two seminars, which were attended by nearly 100 people each, with GEAN (Global Economic Alternatives Network – www.altecon.org).

Raul Monteiro opened the final Assembly with a zen exercise and then demonstrated how Janus employs bodywork in the Agrarian Reform Settlements. The feedback from the participants from Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Italy, Peru, Spain, the United States, and other countries was excellent.

Pasqualino Colombaro, coordinator of the GEAN and practitioner of Aikido, thanked Janus for this contribution and strengthened our message of the importance for all activists to hold their inner center when working and further supporting and recommending this practice.

Ongoing cooperation between Janus and GEAN include direct contacts and talks allowing more trustworthy bonds between countries.

Janus also met with met with João Pedro Stédile, the main leader of the National Direction Board of the MST (Movement of Without Land Workers – www.mst.org.br) and furthered preparation for a video-conference forum to be held with Arnold and Amy Mindell, founders of Process Oriented Psychology www.aamindell.net) October 6, 2009.

Marcus Diogo was active supporting distribution of the Portuguese translation of Arny Mindell’s groundbreaking work, The Leader as Martial Artist, and engaged in one of his passions, the distribution of free software.