Can't vouch for this, but forwarding it anyway. Could be a good way to
start the new millenium!
Nick Blomley
> ------------------------------------------------
> CALL TO ACTION! Call for Organizers
> Peoples Global Action North American Meeting
> ------------------------------------------------
> People s Global Action is an international network
> that was originally inspired by the Zapatista struggle
> that began in Chiapas, Mexico, in 1994. PGA is not an
> organization but a fluid, umbrella network of grassroots
> peoples organizations worldwide that are building
> alternatives to neo-liberalist policies.
> In Sept. PGA held an international meeting of
> continental convenors in Prague, Czech Republic, in
> conjunction with the protests against the IMF and World
> Bank meetings there, as part of the call that PGA put
> out for the Global Day of Action Against Capitalism on
> September 26. Convenors, representing peoples
> grassroots movements around the world, met to discuss
> PGA s goals for the future. From this meeting emerged a
> plan for two sustained global actions: a) building a
> movement to stop Plan Colombia, and b) linking the
> struggles of people to reclaim our water and land
> rights.
> The next international PGA meeting will be in
> Cochabamba, Bolivia, from April 27 through May 1, 2001.
> The intent of this meeting is to further define and
> develop strategies and tactics for the two sustained
> global actions, and to continue building a positive
> resistance to capitalism. Before that meeting, conveners
> in each of PGA s represented continents will hold
> meetings to prepare for Cochabamba, discuss PGA s
> sustained global actions and choose
> convenors for the coming year.
> The North American meeting is being called by the
> Tampa Bay Action Group, of Florida, USA and The Anti-
> Capitalist Convergence of Montreal Quebec (Convergence
> des luttes anti-capitalistes-CLAC- the temporary co-
> conveners for North America. This will probably be a two-
> day meeting in mid to late March in a location that has
> not yet been determined.
> To ensure the most democratic process, we are inviting
> like-minded North American groups to participate in the
> organizing and planning of the meeting. At this early
> stage, a suggested tentative agenda for the meeting
> includes an overview of PGA and detailed investigations
> of the issues surrounding the two sustained global
> actions and a day devoted to networking and
> brainstorming for concrete ideas for direct actions that
> support and further these global actions.
> The goals of the North American meeting is to build
> the PGA network in North America, to plan for the
> Cochabamba meeting, and to prepare for the protests of
> the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas meeting in
> Canada in April 2001.
> Organizations interested in having a voice on the
> organizing committee for the North American PGA meeting
> should subscribe to the list serve for the meeting
> organizing committee by e-mailing [log in to unmask]
> Leave the subject line blank and type subscribe
> pganaoc (without the quote marks) in the BODY of your
> message. Remove any other text (auto signatures, for
> example). For info or problems with the list serve call
> TBAG at 727-896-8224 e-mail [log in to unmask] or
> write La CLAC,2035 St-Laurent Boulevard,2nd floor,
> Montreal (Quebec)Canada, H2X 2T3. 1-514-409-2049 e-mail
> [log in to unmask]
> The organizing committee will use this list serve to
> communicate and will begin to make initial planning
> decisions by Jan 5th, 2000. If your organization is
> interested in attending the PGA meeting in Cochabamba,
> Bolivia, please contact the list serve for further
> information. All groups participating in both the North
> American meeting and wanting to attend the meeting in
> Bolivia must agree to the PGA Hallmarks:
>
>
> The hallmarks of the alliance are:
> 1. A rejection of neo-liberal politics and institutions,
> which promote socially and
> environmentally destructive globalization.
> 2. A rejection of all forms of oppression and
> exploitation such as patriarchy, white supremacy and
> imperialism
> 3. A confrontational attitude toward undemocratic
> organizations in which capital is the only real policy
> maker.
> 4. A call to nonviolent direct action and civil
> disobedience and the construction of local alternatives
> by local people as answers to the actions of governments
> and corporations.
> 5. An organizational philosophy based on
> decentralization, direct democracy and local autonomy.
>
> Current and former members of the PGA convenors'
> committee and conference hosts:
>
> Seis Federaciones del Trspico: one of the most
> active resistance movement in Bolivia right now; they
> participated in the recent battle for water which
> reversed the privatization plans of the government. Will
> host the 3rd PGA conference
> Movimento dos Trahalbadores Rurais Sem Terra
> (MST) Brazil: the most important movement for land
> reform through direct action in the world.
> Organizaciones Negras de Centroamerica (ONECA): Central
> American network of black communities; the secretariat
> is at the organization of the Garmfunas of Honduras.
> Central Sandinista de Trabajadores (CST) /
> Federacisn Nacional del Trabajo (FNT): the CST is part
> of the FNT, a major union federation.
> Movimiento de la Juventud Kuna: the youth
> movement of the Kuna people of Panama, one of the first
> Latin American indigenous peoples to obtain self-
> governance.
> Confederacion Unica Nacional de Afiliados al
> Seguro Social Campesino-Coordinadora Nacional Campesina:
> the main peasant movement in Ecuador strongly involved
> in the take-over of the Parliament in January 2000.
> Movement for National Land and Agricultural
> Reform (MONLAR), Sri Lanka: members of the current PGA
> convenors' committee.
> Aoteoroa Educators: The organization responsible
> for information and education within the Tino
> Rangatirotanga movement, a grassroots movement for Maori
> sovereignty made up countywide autonomous groups &
> tribals.
> Confederacisn de Nacionalidades Indmgenas del
> Ecuador (CONAIE): the backbone of indigenous organizing
> in Ecuador for decades.
> Proceso de Comunidades Negras: the black
> communities' process of Colombia, have played a key role
> in the creation of the Afro-American network and in its
> involvement in international processes of coordinated
> resistance.
> Confederacisn de Trabajadores de la Educacisn de
> la Repzblica Argentina (CTERA): the Argentinean
> teacher's union.
> Comite de Mujeres Trabajadoras de El Salvador:
> union of female textile workers in the export-processing
> zones (maquilas) of El Salvador.
> Karnataka State Farmers' Association (KRRS): the
> largest Indian peasant movement, known for actions such
> as the cremation of Monsanto fields, the dismantlement
> of a seed factory of Cargill and a KFC restaurant, etc.
> National Alliance of Peoples' Movements: Indian
> platform of different movements from different
> backgrounds (anti-dam, fisherfolk, adivasis etc)
> Peasant Movement of the Philippines (KMP):
> probably the largest movement of the country, organized
> large-scale protests against APEC, WTO and WB/IMF.
> Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People
> (MOSOP): members of the first PGA convenors' committee,
> one of the main movements in Africa.
> Foundation for an Independent Aoteoroa: National
> organization for Maori self-determination, has done some
> spectacular actions against the on-going colonization of
> Aoteoroa and against foreign investors.
> Krishok Federation: National peasant federation
> focusing on the problems of small and landless peasants
> and on the impact of imperialist globalization and
> the 'Green Revolution' technologies. They host in August
> the Asian PGA regional conference.
>
|
