Protest the World Economic Forum in NYC, January 31-February 4, 2002
The World Economic Forum is an annual gathering of the world's richest and most powerful CEO's and politicians. This year it is meeting in New York City. In its mission statement, the WEF claims that it is committed to "improving the state of the world" In reality, they have come to make their plans to increase mass layoffs, to slash education and health services, to reduce wages and working conditions, to degrade the environment, to wage war on civilians and to assault the civil rights of all who dare to oppose them.
This year the WEF says their meeting will focus on finding ways to "reverse the global economic downturn, eradicate poverty, promote security and enhance cultural understanding." Translation: They'll be looking to rescue failing corporate giants, exploit working people, clamp down on dissent, and puree the diverse communities of our world into a single, American-style consumer culture.=20
It is obscene that Pataki and Giuliani are shelling out millions of dollars for the WEF at the same time they plan drastic cutbacks to public services. It's an insult to the community solidarity New Yorkers showed in the wake of Sept.11.
The WEF is in for a surprise: The movement for global justice is alive and well and growing, and ready to stand in the way of their five-day corporate cocktail party! We call on anti-globalization, student, immigrant, community and union organizations and all working people to join with us=A0 to protest the World Economic Forum and to pose our positive alternative to their destructive plans.
WE DEMAND:
DUMP THE DEBT-- Wipe out the debt that is strangling the world economy. Cancel international, municipal and personal debt. Human needs come first.
REBUILD NEW YORK, REBUILD THE WORLD --Take the money that now goes to pay the debt, fuel the military and bloat the rich, and use it to fund democratically-controlled projects to build the housing, schools, hospitals and transportation needed in New York and in every nation of the world. This will create tens of millions of jobs and wipe out unemployment.
STOP DESTROYING THE EARTH - Corporate greed is destroying species, deforesting whole nations and wasting resources at a pace unseen in human history. In their place we get growing deserts, pollution, new strains of disease, and Frankenfoods. Restore the environment!
STOP FUELING TERRORISM, STOP THE WAR MACHINE -- Terror networks like al-Qaeda were built by the US government and its allies. US terrorist training camps like the School of the Americas are in full operation and they continue to create new=A0 networks of terror. Stop all arms production and supplies, stop all military aid and action. Stop the cycle of terror.
NO APARTHEID FOR IMMIGRANTS! HANDS OFF OUR CIVIL RIGHTS! -- An attack on the civil rights of immigrants is an attack on the civil rights of us all. No Military Tribunals! No racial profiling! Free all the detainees! General amnesty for all immigrants! We need our rights if we are to fight for a new world free from the tyranny of corporate greed.
We're calling for five days of mass rallies, of creative, passionate, and diverse actions against the WEF. Join us in building a coalition that's as diverse as New York City itself. ALL are welcome as we tell the "Masters of the Universe" that they don't have the answers to our problems. Join us in the streets as we visualize solutions that build a better world where the people are in control. Your ideas, your bodies, and your creative energy are all needed!
JOIN US FOR MASS PROTESTS AGAINST THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM