Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 18:55:12 -0700 From: "Ian Murray" <seamus2001 at home.com> Subject: Next World Social Forum
May 1, 2001, Palo Alto
Dear Activists,
You are invited to join the North American Mobilization Committee for the next World Social Forum/s 2002 and to attend our first meeting-
At Presentation Center, Santa Cruz Mountains, near San Jose, California Friday, June 8th 3:30 pm- Sunday, June 10th 4:00 pm 2001
"Another World is Possible" was the theme of the First World Social Forum held in Porto, Alegre, Brazil, January 2001 (http://www.worldsocialforum.org). More than four thousand delegates from 117 countries, came together in opposition to corporate globalization, environmental devastation, injustice, militarization, and the neo-liberal policies enforced by the World Bank, IMF and the WTO , as well as the need to mobilize, to protest oppression, and take action to nurture alternative solutions. An extremely diverse range of people participated in innumerable, simultaneous events, including a parliamentary forum, an indigenous camp, a youth camp, four simultaneous plenary sessions, over 400 workshops, cultural events, tree plantings, a march "for life" which included over 10,000 people, a live televised dialogue between Porto Alegre and Davos, Switzerland (the World Economic Forum). Although 1,800 journalists came, there was little mainstream mention of the World Social Forum in the US press. (only 39 people from North America went!)
"a Call for Mobilization" from Porto Alegre was signed by over 160 groups and included : ...Equality between women and men is central to our struggle... We call on all movements to be in solidarity with African peoples, with indigenous peoples in their historic struggle against genocide and ethnocide and in defense of their rights, natural resources, culture, autonomy, land, and territory... Life and health must be recognized as fundamental rights which must not be subordinated to economic policies...The debt of the South has been repaid several times over. We demand its unconditional cancellation and the reparation of historical, social, and ecological debts...
We oppose all forms of privatisation of natural resources and public services... We demand the right to organise and negotiate for unions....We support the mobilizations against the creation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, an initiative which means the recolonization of Latin America and the destruction of fundamental social, economic, cultural and environmental human rights.
The IMF, the World Bank, the WTO, NATO and other military alliances .... have no legitimacy in the eyes of the people...We call for democratic agrarian reform. Land, water and seeds must be in the hands of the peasants...We demand that the use of transgenics and the patenting of life be abolished...
We totally refuse war as a way to solve coflicts and we oppose the arms race and the arms trade. We call for an end to the repression and criminalization of social protest. We reject US military intervention in Latin America through the Plan Colombia...
We call for a strengthening of alliances... We recognize that we are now in a better position to undertake the struggle for a different world, a world without misery, hunger, discrimination and violence, with quality of life, equity, respect and peace.
We commit ourselves to support all the struggles of our common agenda to mobilize opposition to neoliberalism. Among our priorities for the coming months, we will mobilize globally against the: * World Economic Forum, Cancun, Mexico, 26 and 27 February,*Free Trade Area of the Americas, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 6-7 April and Quebec City, Canada, 17-22 April,*Asian Development Bank, Honolulu, May,*G8 Summit, Genova, Italy, 15-22 July, *IMF and World Bank Annual Meeting, Washington DC, USA, 28 September - 4 October, * World Trade Organisation, 5-9 November (Qatar) http://attac.org/fra/asso/doc/doc502sign.htm
The North American Mobilization Committee for the Next World Social Forum is open to all who wish to participate in and help organize the next World Social Forum to be held in Porto, Alegre, Brazil in 2002 (at the same time as the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, January 31- February 5, 2002) or to help organize a World Social Forum along the same theme, here in North America, for those who cannot get to Brazil. (An Int'l Committee Meeting will also be held in Sao Paolo, Brazil June 9-11). You can participate by coming to meetings, joining the e-mail list, going to Brazil, organizing here in North America, sending suggestions for a site to host a North American WSF, themes, speakers, workshops, panels, direct actions, improvements in communications and processes, or contributing your time, money, energy. Another meeting will be held October 1st in Washington DC, during the mobilization against the IMF/World Bank. Enclosed is a statement of principles issued by the Brazilian Organizing Committee, a form to join the North American WSF committee and register for the first June meeting. I hope that you will join us! Please register quickly as space for the first meeting is limited.
Sincerely, Carol Brouillet
North American Mobilization Committee for the Next World Social Forum
First Name:
Last Name:
Organization:
Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
Website:
Will you be attending the World Social Forum, January 30- February 5, 2002?
Do you want to be on the World Social Forum Committee e-mail list?
Would you want to fly with a group, leaving the 29th, returning the 6th?
Do you wish to speak or give a workshop?
What would you like to see happen at the next World Social Forum?
Is it alright to include this information in a printed directory for the committee members?
Is it alright to include this information in an online directory?
How can you contribute to the Committee's work?
Can you suggest other people to be invited to join the committee?
Will you be able to come to the June 8-10th meeting at Presentation Center? October 1st in Washington, D.C.?
(details- arrivals beginning at 3:30pm Friday, finishing 4pm Sunday approximately- if you send flight info- you will be picked up at the airport (or train/bus station). More details will be sent later.)
Food Preferences-(Y/N) vegan- vegetarian- Can eat chicken fish- meat- Any other needs-
Is there someone you wish to share a room with?
Are you? Male Female Ethnic Background? Smoker- Yes No
Costs (includes meals)- Double room- $150- Single Room $200 Scholarships available, but you must request a scholarship form. Donations always appreciated to help those who need assistance.
Write checks to- Global Exchange Mail to- Carol Brouillet,4060 Verdosa Drive,Palo Alto, CA 94306 Questions? Telephone- Carol at 650-857-0927 Fax-650-857-0419 Email cbrouillet at igc.org, http://www.communitycurrency.org