Report on
WASHINGTON, D.C. MEETING TO PLAN
IMF/WORLD BANK PROTEST FOR APRIL 16 - 17, 2000
On Tuesday, January 11, 2000 a group of 62 activists met in Washington at the University of the District of Columbia to begin planning in earnest for a big mobilization around the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, April 16-17, 2000. This is seen as a logical follow-up to the WTO protests in Seattle.
The energy level is high and people from a great array of organizations are coming together to make this happen. We are working toward, and looking forward to, an amazing event on Sunday, April 16 in Washington, DC.
The meeting reviewed the reasons for targeting the IMF and World Bank, and the 13-year history of mobilizations at their meetings. We also talked about the organizing that is already going on around the U.S. and the world. Meetings have taken place in many cities to report back on the events in Seattle. At many of those meetings -- including at least those in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Baltimore, Burlington [VT], Winnipeg, and Washington -- the April mobilizations in Washington have been discussed and greeted with a lot of enthusiasm. Word has gone out internationally, as groups work to bring people from the countries most affected by IMF/World Bank policies (i.e., those in the South -- Africa, Latin America, Asia-Pacific).
Many of the groups that were most active in organizing for Seattle are also working toward April 16 - 17 and several were represented at the meeting. Those that fall into one or both categories include: Direct Action Network, Global Exchange, Rainforest Action Network, Art & Revolution, Ruckus Society, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, and Friends of the Earth. Also many local groups are very interested in working on a shut-down of the meetings.
We discussed the organizing structure that was used for Seattle (working groups, affinity groups, organizing collective, spokescouncil). On the agenda for the next meeting (January 25th) is a discussion about our organizing structure for the April 16 - 17 Mobilization. Other aspects of the Seattle organizing -- action guidelines, solidarity agreements, legal teams, media teams -- were also highlighted as possible models for our organizing and actions.
We noted the need to put out a call of action very soon to get organizations around the country and world committed and stating what kind of support they can offer for this effort.
The heart of the meeting was brainstorming about the kind of action(s) we'd like to see and what working groups we would need to make that happen. We finally broke into the working groups listed below, with the proviso that we will remain flexible as needs and opportunities develop. Included in this list is the tasks each agreed on and the next meeting time/place and contact person. For those reading this outside of Washington, feel free to pass this information on to D.C. activists who would like to get involved.
MEDIA
Work: Developing press kit, identify target media, work on press lists, core group to talk to media, talk to TV bookers. Avoid reinventing wheel by talking to those who did this in Seattle. Identify issue experts and spokespeople on behalf of the organizing coalition.
Next Meeting: Monday 1/24 at 7 p.m, 2100 19th St. NW #702
OUTREACH
Work: Lots of interest in local outreach and interest in other kinds of outreach to students, faith-based groups, labor, etc
Next Meeting: Tues 1/18 at 7 pm, Wilson High School Room 113 - Nebraska Ave. & Chesapeake St. (Tenleytown metro)
LOGISTICS
Work: Arrange for nurses, doctors, water, port-a-potties, transportation (blocks of buses, picking up people at airport). Blocks of rooms at cheap hotels, churches, campgrounds, volunteer for homestays. Need to talk right away with people who handled this in Seattle. Looking for workspace/ office space.
Next Meeting: Mon 1/17 at 7 pm, 1640 Hobart St. NW
FUNDRAISING
Work: Take existing letter from Seattle and adapt. Find a 501c3 to funnel money thru, with suggestion it could be Alliance for Global Justice. In Seattle, lots of sponsoring organizations kicked in between $3k-$10k. Set a minimum co-sponsorship contribution for the April 16 - 17 mobilization of US$1.00.
Next Meeting: 1/20 1 pm (lunch) at Zorba's Dupont Circle - 21st Street
TRAINING/WORKSHOPS
Work: Good to do Ruckus type camp from April 1-8. Talked about puppets, props etc.
Next Meeting: Thursday 1/13, 7 pm, Xando on R/Connecticut NW
COMMUNICATIONS:
Work: Set up website for central info which would be for prep and during meeting. Identify ways to communicate with Jubilee 2000, School Of the Americas Watch, Earth Day, etc. Establish listserv for local and national. "Day of" communications: cell phones, radios etc. Reliable calendar of events.
Next Meeting: 1/18 Tuesday 7 pm at Woodley Café across from Woodley Park Metro station.
PROPAGANDA/MESSAGE:
Work: Develop messages & write documents. Do outreach to organizations (including in South) to develop message. Work with Training, Media, etc. to get messages out.
Next Meeting: Wed 1/19 at 6:00 at CIEL 1367 Conn. Ave #300. South exit of Dupont.
SCENARIO/ACTION:
Work: Week-long of buildup activities and trainings prior to April 16 - 17. Set up in-kind committee to get donated materials (make this a subset of Fundraising).
Next Meeting: Wed 1/19 at Friends of the Earth at noon: 1025 Vermont Ave NW #300. McPherson Square metro.
[Note: No one was present for the Legal Working Group; it will be formed later]
We are interested in getting people outside of Washington involved in appropriate working groups. If you have a contribution to make, please contact the appropriate person or the provisional clearinghouse. We are also exploring possibilities for meetings by conference call in order to include/involve organizers around the country.
For the time being, the Alliance for Global Justice and the 50 Years Is Enough Network have agreed to serve as central contact points for information on the mobilization. We can be reached at wb50years at igc.org (web: www.50years.org) 202/IMF-BANK or 202/544-9355, respectively.
The next meeting of the large group is Tuesday, January 25 at 7 p.m. It will probably be at the same location (UDC), but we have to confirm with the university.