[mgj-discuss] Call for Autonomous Action At the OAS Summitin Ft. Lauderdale, Florida June 3rd - 9th 2005

[Morrigan]

::A Call for Autonomous Action At the OAS Summit in Ft. Lauderdale, 
Florida June 3rd - 9th 2005::

This is an invitation going out to affinity groups (AGs) and individuals 
that have been involved in resistance to the ongoing trend of capitalist 
expansion and colonial exploitation now known as 'globalization'.

The heads of 34 nations in the western hemisphere will once again be 
meeting in South Florida, this time as the Organization of American 
States (OAS), to discuss further industrializing and privatizing the 
Americas. This is not a call for mass mobilization and confrontation at 
the Summit fences... Yes, there will be riot cops, NGOs, legal teams, 
etc.; the 'Miami Model' is already in full swing as the City of Fort 
Lauderdale has agreed to pass a new anti-protest ordinance, close public 
roads and sink several million dollars into security.  Yes, there are 
marches, rallies and festivals in the works.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::
 But this invitation is more specific. It is likely that direct-action 
oriented participation will be pretty limited, so those of us who can 
attend will need to make our presence count. As we know, several 
well-prepared affinity groups can have a large impact. We are proposing 
that AGs come with one of three ideas in mind:
-Blockades, disruptions and stunts that require small numbers, low risk, 
high visibility and clear message to OAS delegates
-Creative direct actions that can grab the spotlight from the summit and 
highlight local struggles and radical alternatives
-Propaganda brigades to cover the streets with art and information by 
night and to go door-to-door by day in the neighborhoods surrounding the 
summit Resources & accommodations for direct action planning are very 
limited. If you have resources to contribute or specific requests of 
local organizers, please get in touch ASAP.

anacardiaceae collective  561-547-6686
(below is the general call to action from a local coordinating group)

-------------------------------------------------

A CALL TO FAIR TRADE OAS ACTION!!!



PROTEST!!! THE STRUGGLE TO STOP THE FTAA IS NOT OVER!!! The next round 
is in SOUTH FLORIDA, JUNE 3 THROUGH JUNE 9.
Activists in South Florida are now organizing a protest at the upcoming
General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), the
originator of both the FTAA and the proposed Central American Free Trade
Area (CAFTA). Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will be meeting with
1,200 dignitaries in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, arriving on Friday, June
3rd, primarily to discuss "free" trade. We must send a powerful message
rejecting "free" trade and its implications for our human,
environmental,

and economic rights. Our event will include a march to the OAS meeting
convention center, a peaceful protest, a multi-cultural festival and an
OAS "Counter Ministerial." At our counter ministerial, discussions will
be led by the true representatives of the OAS on fair trade, 
environmental protection, and human rights.
Many groups which have endorsed, or whom we are expecting to endorse,
our action include: Ralph Nader's Public Citizen, the South Florida AFL-CIO,
the Florida Green Party, the Sierra Club, the Florida Fair Trade
Coalition, and Pax Christi. South Florida groups expected to attend our
protest event include members of South Florida's Veye Yo, the Haiti
Solidarity Committee, Root Cause, the Bolivarean Circle, Broward Anti-War
Coalition, and the Fort Lauderdale Unitarian Universalist Church.
We wish to coordinate with any state and/or national organizations which
may already have plans to attend or mobilize for this OAS protest event.
Please contact us by April 20th to let us know what actions you and your
organization will take to make this protest heard. You can contact us, 
preferably by email (anti-oas at lists.riseup.net), or by calling Jack at 
305-582-4846 or Rebecca at 305-756-4686. Again, this important 
anti-OAS/FTAA meeting will happen in just one short months. IT IS URGENT 
THAT WE HEAR FROM YOU SOON. WE MUST MOBILIZE NOW!

Sincerely, The Outreach Committee of Alliance For Justice in the Americas
More on the OAS: The OAS, following the lead of multinational
corporations, gave birth to the idea of the first Summit of the Americas 
in the early nineties. A notoriously two-faced hypocritical animal, the 
OAS claims that it is a promoter of "peace, justice and solidarity", but 
has actually turned a blind eye to human rights violations and U.S. 
imperialistic domination throughout South America, Central America, and 
the Caribbean. It has never condemned the forced U.S. domination of 
countries such as Nicaragua, Grenada, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, 
Cuba, and Chile, among others--and most recently Haiti. In addition to 
the OAS' weakness on human rights issues, the OAS has a terrible record 
on environmental issues, which is another cause it claims to promote. 
The OAS has allowed the continuing deforestation of the rainforests at 
alarming rates, and when assigned the Summit of the Americas' non-trade 
part of the agenda, environmental and human rights issues were blatantly 
ignored.

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