[mgj-announce] MGJ general Meeting 5/18 7pm - Bio-dem, CAFTA, Tax the Bank and More!

[mgj at riseup.net]

The mobilization for Global Justice is working hard on some great projects for
the summer and fall. The general meetings are the place to get plugged in. 
Coming up we have the big demos at the bio-engineering conference in
Philadelphia, the ongoing tax the bank campaign (that’s right the World Bank
and IMF don’t pay property taxes in DC!), and the ongoing opposition to the
Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

Next General Meeting: Wednesday May 18th
7:00 – 9:00pm St. Stephens Church 16th and Newton St. NW
>From the Columbia Heights Metro walk three blocks north on 14th to Newton and
take a left by the fire station then walk to the corner of 16th and Newton.
Enter the church on the left side (the big red door). (General meetings are
every Wednesday)

Loose agenda:
Intros (3)
roles (notes, time etc) (2)
Intro to MGJ/Consensus (5)
Review of notes from last meeting (3)
Report backs from working groups that met since last general meeting and other
stuff (10)
-	Local to global connections
-	Tax the Bank
-	Bio-dev
-	Fundraising
-	September confusion
-	Strategy retreat
Discussion on the fall meetings of the World Bank and IMF (45)
-	UFPJ, ASNWER and what not
Breakouts (30)
Proposals (10)
Next general meeting/facilitator (s) (2)
Closing

If you wish to add or subtract from the agenda e-mail mgj (at) riseup.net

The Mobilization for Global Justice is committed to making all events safe
spaces that are open, accessible, and accepting of all. We welcome everyone to
participate in making this happen. If you have any special needs, please let us
know.

The Mobilization for Global Justice is a Washington DC based group that works on
issues of global economic and social justice and sustainability. We believe
another world is possible and necessary. We envision a world free of corporate
domination and crushing debt, particularly in communities of color. We act to
expose and change the institutionalized violence wrought by international
financial and trade institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary
Fund, and World Trade Organization.

The Mobilization is committed to nonviolence and recognizes militarism as a tool
used by the global corporate elite to keep money flowing to the privileged few
while restricting the rights of people worldwide. We oppose corporate practice
which places short-term profits ahead of human dignity, sustainable development
and a healthy earth. We stand for the globalization of our rights to speech,
thought, religion, assembly, a clean environment, self-determination, freedom
from fear and persecution and freedom from poverty.

We stand for the rights of women, children, elderly, affordable health care,
strong labor rights and social and economic policies that put people and the
environment before profits. Finally, we are committed to linking the IMF and
World Bank policies to similar ones that are being implemented in Washington DC
which are resulting in decreased access to vital human services for DC's most
needy residents. To that other globalization--the globalization of greed and
obscene concentrations of wealth--we say that Another World Is Possible and
Necessary.

MGJ is a non-hierarchical nonviolent organization of individuals and
organizations that promotes the arts, conducts workshops, facilitates
nonviolent direct actions, educates, organizes, campaigns, empowers, and aims
to rip injustice from its roots.

OUR DEMANDS OF THE WORLD BANK AND IMF:
Open all World Bank and IMF meetings to the media and the public.

Cancel all impoverished country debt to the World Bank and IMF, using the
institutions' own resources.

End all World Bank and IMF policies that hinder people's access to food, clean
water, shelter, health care, education, and right to organize. (Such
"structural adjustment" policies include user fees, privatization, and
so-called economic austerity programs).

Stop all World Bank support for socially and environmentally destructive
projects such as oil, gas, and mining activities, and all support for projects
such as dams that include forced relocation of people.