If you wish to know more about the planned mass actions in Buffalo, be sure to visit http://www.a22buffalo.org I will post more general and hopefully less lenghty materials in the future just to let everyone know....
In this email you will find:
1. Update on the webpage 2. Convergence Space 3. Update on Newspaper 4. Why Come to Buffalo? 5. Want to endorse the Buffalo actions? 6. Want do donate money? 7. Contact info
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1. The webpage
www.a22buffalo.org has been updated quite frequently over the past few weeks. Most importantly there is an affinity group registration page for those affinity groups that plan on partaking in actions in Buffalo the weekend of April 20th-22nd. This is so that Buffalo organizers will be to better able to advise affinity groups on where to act in April. To do this we need a rough estimate of how many participants we can expect. Of course names and location will not be asked of, just numbers of participants.
The newspaper is also online for downloading and distribution in addition to other fliers for reproduction.
There is a ride board under the housing section for those that want to coordinate rides.
A housing registration page has been added as well - you can fill this out online or email housing requests to: a22buffalohousing at gofairtrade.net
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2. Convergence Space
A tentative convergence space has been set up and will be open starting April 14th in Buffalo. This space will be an information hub for those coming to Buffalo that are interested in participating in the actions here as well as those that need assistance in crossing the border. The convergence space will be the center of activity where people can find information about housing, affinity group spokescouncil meetings, nonviolence trainings, puppet making, legal training, and more! Also this will most likely serve as the Independent Media Center as there are at least 5 computers with full internet DSL access 24 hours a day. The name, location, and telephone number of the convergence center will be released within the next few weeks.
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3. Newspaper
The Buffalo Activist Network and Buffalo Direct Action Network put together a free multi color newspaper on the FTAA and the destructive effects of global corporate rule and the actions that are happening in Buffalo, NY April 20th - 22nd to stop the FTAA.
This newspaper is 4 pages long and is available for free to activists everywhere. It is a great organizing tool and resource that can be given to folks and left in book stores, record stores, schools, bars, etc.
We have printed 30,000 copies of this newspaper and want to get it out to folks all across the U.S. and Canada. Unfortunately, we are out of copies and can't accept any more orders Please download it in pdf form at www.a22buffalo.org and distribute. We are considering doing a second printing.
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4. Why Come to Buffalo?
This demonstration is being planned in Buffalo because of the city's position on the border of two NAFTA nations. Also, Buffalo is in a critical position as a fallen industrial giant which has been significantly hurt by NAFTA and the corporate welfare policies of its local government. In addition, Buffalo
is a major place of transnational commerce and is also significant because this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Pan-American Exposition. Let's celebrate the anniversary by uniting the People of the Americas with dignity, solidarity, and respect for the Earth. People unable to make the trip to Quebec can come to Buffalo as an alternative. We don't have to look far to see the devastating effects of free trade on Buffalo. One hundred years ago Buffalo was labeled "City of Light"(illuminated by the then powerful 8 watt light-bulb) and was celebrated as the host of the Pan American Exposition. Buffalo, then the eighth largest city, was a huge shipping town, with a prime location situated on the Erie Canal. One hundred years later, we are but a shell of our former selves, ranking the 57th largest US City. We have vast areas of boarded up homes, plentiful abandoned factories, and deserted downtown streets. As Vincent Gallo depicted the city in his cult hit Buffalo 66, many consider Buffalo a drinking town with a football problem. Much of Buffalo's business and money has moved from the city to the suburbs to out of the state. Buffalo used to be one of the biggest steel producing cities in the world: with Bethlehem Steel and Republic Steel. We housed many automobile manufacturing plants: Trico, Ford, Chevrolet, General Motors. Many of the job transfers, plant closings, and neighborhood deterioration's that Buffalo has seen are the direct result of big companies maximizing profits by cutting American jobs and moving them to poor indebted countries (where they pay the workers down to 30 cents/hour). Well paying manufacturing jobs gone, residents have been forced to either move or find low paying jobs in either of the facets Buffalo seems to hold any reliability: temporary or service. This loss is then compounded by loss in benefits and health care. Simply put, few places are more symbolic than Buffalo as an American victim of free trade.
It's time to make Buffalo ours by reclaiming it from these free trade scoundrels! In this hundredth anniversary of the Pan American Exposition, it is brilliant timing to set a new example of what Buffalo represents (that being against free trade and the FTAA!). So come join us in Buffalo on the 22nd of April to stand up for fair trade! We have many things planned like giant paper machie puppetry, stilts, international critical mass bike rides, symbolic bridge crossings/shutdowns/direct action, banner hangings, bands and key speakers. Bring your guerrilla theater props, your gardening tools, all your creative energies, and let's demonstrate to the world that free trade is a devastating economic policy that effects us all! Help us say no to the FTAA, and help us say yes to a more livable way of life ***************************************************************************
5. Want to endorse the "Globalize Liberation" Rally?
If your organization would like to endorse the protests against the FTAA in Buffalo, email: cestpodge at aol.com
List of endorsers so far:
180/mde (Movement for Democracy) AFL-CIO AFL-CIO Buffalo Labor Council AFL-CIO Greater Syracuse Central Labor Council AFL-CIO Rochester Labor Council Ara Albany Ban (Buffalo Activist Network) Bdan (Buffalo Direct Action Network) Clac Coalition for Economic Justice CUSLAR CWA Local 14177 Erie County Green Party Food Not Bombs - Buffalo Food Not Bombs-Hoboken, NJ Global Exchange The Green Party of Monroe County Jobs With Justice LASC (Latin American Solidarity Committee) Latin American Cultural Association LIBERATION COLLECTIVE and K.I.D.S. Metro Justice of Rochester PAED (People Against Economic Disenfranchisement) Public Citizen Rochester Committee on Latin America Rochester Colombia Committee SEAC Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 200-C Sierra Club STARC (Student Alliance to Reform Corporations) WNY Peace Center UBEN (University at Buffalo Environmental Network) Unite
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6. Want to donate money?
BAN expects lots of people to come to Buffalo and take to the streets in April. A mass action such as this requires a lot of organization, mobilization, and money. We are asking you to support us in this project by making a donation to help with the costs of this gathering. All money raised will go toward printing educational materials, paying for speakers, stages, covering office rent, doing media outreach, and other essential items.
Every dollar counts and your donation will be invaluable in helping us speak truth to corporate power.
Please make your tax-deductible check payable to "Riverside Salem UCC / Economic Justice" You can mail it to: Riverside Salem United Church of Christ Box 207 3449 West River Rd. Grand Island, NY 14072
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7. Contact info
The Buffalo Activist Network 51 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14201 buffaloactivist at yahoo.com 716-881-7023 www.a22buffalo.org
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