[mgj-discuss] meeting notes from July 7

[joenathan]

[hey yall, sorry i took so long]

MGJ - Mobilization for Global Justice general meeting
July 7, 2004
at St. Stephen's - 9 or 10 people - I forgot to ask
permission to name names, sorry.

Agenda (although order is approximate): Calendar,
outreach, trainings for RNC/DNC, other events, etc.
i attempted accuracy and clarity in these notes, but i
might have failed.  Corrections welcomed.

4 demands of the MGJ to the so called World Bank and
International Monetary Fund: 
*Open the meetings!
**Cancel the debt!
***End "structural adjustments"
****End environmentally destructive actions

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Calendar:

-July: 22nd: a number of groups called for an
International day of Action around the WB/IMF
most actions are planned in Europe and Asia
Timing is because of 1) exact 60th anniversary of the 
[illegitimate, ed.] signing of the Bretton Woods
treaty and 2) the following week is the likely world
bank 'review' of the Extractive Industry Review [
http://www.eireview.info/ ].  Discussion included
explanation of the EI Review, a very good report
showing how the World Bank's ways of measuring
"increasing" things such as  renewables actually masks
a reduction.  The World Bank Board has waited 4 years
to draft a response.
Purpose of day of action is to create public pressure,
to show that the Board meeting (which will probably
have negative results) will be heavily publicized.
Discussion turns to having an action in DC.  Suggested
that we erect an oil rig and extract some resources at
the Bank.  We can get NGO names on PR.  We can
embarrass the WB.  It is also a creative prop to fact
sheets, signs, etc. and doesn't necessarilyl take a
lot of work.
50 Years is willing to bottomline any press, esp for
an AM action.  May be able to supply some labor for
construction.  
Transport from shop to site is a logistical question.
Needs for the 22nd: Transport, helping hands, bamboo
or similar material, twine or rope, flier -> 50 years
will bottomline flier.
I will send the needs email.
8:45 announced beginning on 22nd, to actully start by
9.
Construction proposed on Saturday, the 17th.  Will ask
about the Doghouse.  Two other houses volunteered.  

People at the meeting will commit to coordinating for
the 17th over the phone.

-July: 20th: Haiti action may occur, not sure who is
sponsoring.  Keep date open?
More July: Boston social forum and DNC
-August: RNC: discussion of a loose MGJ contingent had
previously been tabled to August.
Early august: reportback from America's Social Forum
in Quito, Ecuador
-September: Jubilee may do a teach in around the 21st,
which may be a day of action for the Countdown to
Freedom from Debt Campaign.
-October: Fall meetings, eh?  Some protest to maintain
threat/security requirements?  Regional mobilization?
2 international meetings have called for Days of
Action re: fall meetings.  Near in time to
columbus/Indigenous Day and Us-Mex. border actions.
Buzz of decentralized (localized) and rolling actions.
 Many local educational opportunities and local
targets in many localities.  also the election is the
next month.  Tabled for later in meeting.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-
Trainings:

we're doing this for/with the Dc Coalition to protest
the conventions.
 
Basic health & safety.  
shouldn't be too much of a problem thinks a present
(and under the weather! thanks for coming!!) medic. 
3-5 people who may be able to be trainers.  2-4 hours
depending on comprehensiveness.  20 attendees?  sure. 
proposed calendar of possible dates to take to groups
to pick dates.

Affinity Groups:
could probably do a training.  5 or 6 ppl not too
small, 15 to 20 is not too many.  80% likely this can
be provided.

Know Yr Rights:
couple of hours.  could be combined iwth Basic health.

Needs: place, $ (small) for supplies and publicity. 
Medics need MGJ to do the logistics.  SOA Watch could
help with August trainings probly.

Generally: Reading materials and resources to print
and distribute can be found on RNCnotWelcome.org and
actionMedical.net
MGJ could do that

Dates possible:  Aug 7-8 (sat-sun).  Jon and Morrigan
can bottomline this.  contact us if you want to help. 
phipco at riseup and jonjon7s at yahoo
Aug 14-15 (sat -sun) SOAW ppl can help with this
weekend.
Thinking two trainings: one: 2 hours Medical and 2
hours Know Yr Rights: two : 4 hours Civil Disobedience

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Outreach:

Missionstatements  and meeting schedules:  templates
available.  Morrigan can also drop off or have a pick
up of hard copies.  Tons of free card stock.  Nice
handouts to always have around.  phipco at riseup

Factsheet templates:  Matt needs to resend these to
the list?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Fall meetings:

October 1: Jubilee wants to picket G7 finance
ministers meeting day before WBIMF.  Location to be
determined.

Fall meetings are the big meetings.
At Sea Island, G8 using words like '100% debt drop'.
What do we want to do?

Tax the Bank?  A local action!  And there is the
coalition on it.
By the way, if they set up a trust fund, it could be
done without letting Williams controlling it.
Multi day multi location progression exemplifying the
issue?
DC Housing issues: Zach was liaising with DC groups,
and they were excited
How do we proceed?
-having a plan to approach possible partners
-be flexible.  better to build coalition and have that
inform the plan rather than craft it
-coalition already working on this? Hopefully by next
meeting there will be an update.  Soren's working on
this.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Next MGJ meeting:

July 21st.  Don't plan on overloading agenda because
of 22nd.
7 PM
at St. Stephen's
will try to have coalition present.  may have to be
August 4th (following meeting).

Basav will facilitate the next meeting.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Announcements:

11/19 to 11/21 : Ft. Benning, Georgia.  Close the
School of Assassins!

Weekend before the DNC is the Boston Social Forum.

13th: PBS airing "Thirst" on Point of View series. 
11pm, WETA, Morrigan plans a viewing of the tape on
the 18th. 


		
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers!
http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail