The 2nd National Assembly of the Brazilian Network for a Solidarity Socio-Economy (RBSES), held in Guarapari, Brazil, from May 30 to June 6, 2004, was a great success. We all left it with our hearts brimful of enthusiasm, determination and fondness. We are grateful to all the individuals and organisations who made it possible for us to hold the 2nd Assembly. We will shortly be circulating the Letter from Guarapari and the documents we produced there.

During the Assembly, the 150 participants discussed and approved the RBSES Charter of Principles, which follows below.

CHARTER OF PRINCIPLES

1. The Brazilian Network for a Solidarity Socio-Economy is a framework for interlinking among organisations and self-managed enterprises and individuals engaged in promoting association-building practices for the solidarity exchange of goods, services, information, knowledge, affection and mutual support among their members.

2. The Network identifies itself as an autonomous, solidarity agent among the various actors that are working to construct an economy based on the values of democracy, cooperation, reciprocity, respect for diversity, ecological sustainability, social justice, equity, complementarity, solidarity and amorosity.

3. The Network seeks to promote Culture and Socio-Economy of Solidarity as a new way of organising human economy and society, from the local to the global level. All forms of organization of Solidarity Socio-Economy should preserve their autonomy from party politics and religious organisations.

4. The Network underlines the central role that women and men have to play in solidarity socioeconomy systems, enjoying the same rights of participation, decision-making and implementation, composing in solidarity the diversity that constitutes us as humankind, abolishing all forms of oppression, domination, prejudice and exclusion, especially those that have subjugated women throughout history.

5. The Network conceives human work, knowledge, ethical sensitivity and creativity as the central values of society and seeks to foster practical means of living and working that incorporate human time and energy towards fulfilling all human potentials freely and ethically.

6. The Network acts to promote social, political, cultural and environmental rights, particularly the economic rights of working people. The Network's economic activities are directed to enabling all to share in solidarity in owning, controlling and managing productive goods and resources, knowledge, technology and the benefits generated by the action of producing, trading and consuming.

7. The Network identifies itself as a framework for promoting the restoration and valorisation of the cultures, traditions and wisdoms of traditional peoples, and of their solidarity, reciprocal economies.

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