[mgj-discuss] FW: Meeting notes from 4-26

[basav at igc.org]

Meeting notes from Edmund.

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Some Sanity somesanite1 at yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 23:28:19 -0700 (PDT)
To: basav at igc.org, mgj-announce at lists.mutualaid.org,
mgj-discuss at lists.mutualaid.org
Subject: Meeting notes from 4-26


    Heres what I got, I know I missed a good bit here and there.    Edmund
       
      Report Backs and evaluations:
       
      “We gave the delegates a night of hell from 7:30 – 8:00”
      There was a good demonstration today against a charter  school
operator.
      The pill bottles worked well (with messages about imf &  wb
healthcare policies).
      There was a small protest at a g-7 meeting.
      “birds versus banks” went well and is up on indymedia.
      The world bank promised 37 billion or so in debt relief to  poorest
countries – OVER 40 YEARS.
      People liked not having a mobilization, particularly that  folks
aren’t worn out and can, for instance show up to this meeting.
      More lead time and twice as many or more people would have  been a
big help.
      We need to train more new organizers.
      Need video cameras at all the actions. There should be more  events
accessible to non-arrestables.
      It was good that people who came had to take more initiative  than
just showing up and holding a sign.
      More of a focus on ecology would have been good, considering  that it
was Earth Day.
      The training sessions were helpful – especially the know  your rights
and affinity group trainings.
       
      Where from here?
       
      I’d like to pose a question: should we focus on capacity  building or
events organizing?
      Where are we in terms of the strategic plan we consensed on  a few
months ago?
      We shouldn’t do big strategic planning right now. (several  agree)
      We’re holding to the spirit if not the letter of the plan  (popular
education and direct action) This weekend fits that mold well.
      Doing lots of small actions worked well for DAWN – in terms  of
education even for DAWN members.
      We should put up a toll booth by the world bank, and also  send
letters to WB employees informing them of a $500 limit on their healthcare 
spending. Also privatize the sidewalk.
      Reiterate that the IMF is worse than the World Bank and  should be
talked about more rather than vise versa.
      We should have picnics in the summer with an educational  component
for people who don’t or can’t come to meetings.
      We could use SHAC (Animal Rights) tactics of economic  isolation on
the hotels that put up IMF and WB delegates.
      Put the IMF and WB up for sale on EBAY. All can and should  try it.
      Actions need research and fact sheets and this takes a lot  of time
outside of meetings.
      Picnic discussion: Some felt a need for a reduced meeting  schedule,
others thought this would make it hard to remember when to come.  Important
to have regular meetings because this makes them accessible. Picnics  could
be in addition to or replacing meetings. Proposals needed. Please bring  to
next meeting.
      In general, ideas need to be turned into proposals.
      The consensus process needs to be reviewed. If you can’t  help with
something, you should stand aside so and not say you’re for it and  then
not help. 
      PROPOSAL – CONSENSED: We’ll ask Nadine about scheduling  puppet
inventory and repair days on Sunday May 21st, May 28th,  and June 4th –
hopefully at least 2 will be ok.
          Talked about an action in response to the IFC anniversary  (July
24th). The IFC is part of the IMF and loans money to big  corporations on
very friendly terms, effectively subsidizing them. Idea for a  satirical
Global Corporate Welfare Bank and Trust Company. This all could be  tied in
to days of action against the G8 which is in St. Petersburg around July 
15th. A common theme could be climate change and petroleum. People  were
into these ideas but time was up and discussion will resume on the topic 
next week.
       
       
    

		
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