Invoking the sentiments of Alan Paton in his book ‘Cry, the Beloved Country’, some African delegates to the World Social Forum 2004 have used the meetings and networking events, to address issues close to home. Their main concerns: the imbalance in the world political and social systems, and the continued exploitation of the Third World by the powers that pull the global strings. For delegates like John Moru – Policy and Research Advocacy Officer with ActionAid, a nongovernmental organization based in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja - the reality, however, is that after Mumbai they return home to face familiar problems. "How fair developed countries have been in their relations with the less developed South, in terms of trade and economic relations, is a sore issue which has sparked debates and demonstrations here in Mumbai," says Moru.