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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 who are building alternatives to neo-liberalist policies. The defining documents of the PGA are its five hallmarks, its organisational principles and its manifesto. At the conference in Bangalore, India in August 1999 the hallmarks and the organisational principles were amended to reflect discussions about clarifying differences to right-wing anti-globalizers. A new second hallmark was added. HALLMARKS 1. A very clear rejection of the WTO and other trade liberalisation agreements (like APEC, the EU, NAFTA, etc.) as active promoters of a socially and environmentally destructive globalisation; 2. We reject all forms and systems of domination and discrimination including, but not limited to, patriarchy, racism and religious fundamentalism of all creeds. We embrace the full dignity of all human beings. 3. A confrontational attitude, since we do not think that lobbying can have a major impact in such biased and undemocratic organisations, in which transnational capital is the only real policy-maker; 4. A call to non-violent civil disobedience and the construction of local alternatives by local people, as answers to the action of governments and corporations; 5. An organisational philosophy based on decentralisation and autonomy.
CONTACT ADDRESS Peoples' Global Action e-mail: [email protected]
MEMBERS Current and former members of the PGA convenors' committee and conference hosts: Seis Federaciones del Tropico: 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 Garefunas of Honduras. Central Sandinista de Trabajadores (CST) / Federacion 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. Confederacion de Nacionalidades Indigenas 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. Confederacion de Trabajadores de la Educacion de la Republica 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. Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW): ex-convenors One of the most successful unions defending public service, they have mobilized and trained the rank and file to become a force opposing globalization in general and in solidarity with indigenous, immigrants and southern movements. Reclaim the Streets (RTS): ex-convenors. From the defense and reclaiming of public space (the now famous Street Parties) and radical ecology, RTS has sought broader alliances with Dockers and militant trades unions. A pillar of PGA, their initiative of June 18 (occupation of the City of London) was an inspiration for the current anti-globalisation movement. Ya Basta: Convenors for Western Europe. One of the strongest links in the Zapatista support network, they are also very active in the struggle against NATO imperialism in the Balkans and for the rights of illegal immigrants and against GMOs. They have participated massively in the recent mobilizations against globalization in Prague and Nice. Rainbow Warriors: acting convenors for Eastern Europe - a network of radical ecologists in the ex-USSR, who are among other things the main militant, street opposition to nuclear power in Ukraine and Russia and consequently operate under conditions of extreme repression. The Anti-Capitalist Convergence of Montreal - Quebec (Convergence des luttes anti-capitalistes-CLAC): current temporary co-convenors North America. Tampa Bay Action Group (TBAG): Florida, USA - current temporary co-convenors North America. |
updated: 05.23.01 North American Caravan Tour North American Meeting Flyers
Coordinated by For information on Boston organizing for the tour, please contact the BEAN office @ 617.623.2453 or email [email protected] Memorial Day Potluck and Reception Our travelers will be welcomed in Boston with a festive potluck picnic celebration.
Luncheon at Cultural Survival (MAP) Contact: Cultural Survival @ 617.441.5400 UMass Boston Africana Studies Meeting (MAP) Contact: Ines Maturana @ 617.287.7762 St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church (MAP) (in Spanish with English translation).
Roxbury Community School (Alternative School for Teens) (MAP) Contact: Antonio Benson @ 617-635-7734. Northeastern University Site of the Northeastern Sit-In to save the African American Institute!
This organizing tour brings together speakers who represent some of the most proactive grass roots organizations in Latin America which have begun to create non-violent alternatives to capitalism and speakers representing Black, Latino, and working class organizations who are fighting against the criminalization of poor communities and communities of color here in the US. Discussion will focus on:
Help build for the joint Latin American and North American direct actions to stop Plan Colombia and to stop the criminalization of people in poor, working class, and communities of color in North and Latin america! In every city where there is opposition to Plan Colombia and the criminalization of communities of color and working class communities, there will be direct actions exposing that the war on drugs is nothing but a war on peoples' movements. The PGA North American meeting in Amherst on June 1st-3rd will partly be an organizing meeting and will allow all those who want to build the tour time and space to create a working group to coordinate the tour, and to develop a long term strategy towards further organizing this movement.
Proceso de Comunidades Negras PCN (Colombia) PCN have played a key role in the creation of the Afro-American network and in its involvement in international processes of coordinated resistance. The Black Communities Process (PCN) is one of the most important and creative autonomous movements of Colombia and Latin America. The PCN's struggle has been based on the recognition of cultural, ethnic (the right to their own identity) and collective territorial rights and seeks to challenge Western modernization and development efforts for the vast rainforest region of the Colombian Pacific coast. The Colombian Pacific Coast is rich in natural resources (gold, timber, biodiversity, water, fish, etc) and of interest to both legal and illicit capitalist development. The Afrocolombian communities1 collective land rights are an obstacle to globalization. As a result, these communities have been the targets of an intensified campaign of systematic violence and terror leading to their massive forced displacement. Afro Colombian people are the most affected among the 2 million forced internally displaced people in Colombia. As they leave behind their ancestral territories, these become available for extraction and exploitation by global interests. The Black Peoples Process resists becoming symbols of an active and peaceful struggle facing a devastating process that has turned them into the main victims of genocide. As of May 2000, military and paramilitary violence against the Afro Colombian communities increased dramatically. Over 76 lives have been lost from May to December 2000.
Six Federations of the Cochabamba Tropics (Bolivia) Currently one of the most active resistance movements in Bolivia. Leads the struggle of campesinos in the Cochabamba Tropics against the militarization of the coca-growing Chapare region that accompanies the US-sponsored "war on drugs" coca eradication program. Also participated in the struggle against water privatization in Cochabamba.
Organización Femenina Popular OFP (Colombia) The OFP, Popular Women's Organization is one of the most visible and exemplary women organizations in Colombia. Established in Barrancabermeja, home of the largest oil refinery in Colombia and to the strongest popular social organizations and Unions in the country, the town is the victim of the worse crimes against humanity in Colombia. The May 1998 massacre in Barrancabermeja, one of many against unarmed civilians by military and paramilitary forces, led to the Toronto and Montreal tribunals where Canadian jurors heard evidence of military involvement in this atrocities. The October 2000 Women's Path for Peace rally took place in Barrancabermeja and was hosted by the OFP. This organization has worked for justice and reciprocity from interpersonal to collective, national and international relationships. Their leaders have led Unions, strikes, research projects, political projects, educational and organizational national and international solidarity efforts. They have fallen victims of state and paramilitary terror. Yet, they remain an example of strength and commitment against insurmountable obstacles.
Movimiento de la Juventud Kuna MJK (Panama) The youth movement of the Kuna people of Panama, one of the first Latin American indigenous peoples to obtain self-governance. 1. GOAL: To fortify the viability of the way of Kuna life. 2. GENERAL MISSION: To equip Kuna Youth with the instruments necessary to fulfill the goal. 3. OBJECTIVES ESPECIFICOS
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WHEN: June 1st -June 3rd WHERE: Amherst, Massachussetts, USA Last September, PGA held an international meeting of continental convenors in Prague, Czech Republic. This meeting was held 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 that meeting came the call for a north american PGA meetiing and a call for two sustained global actions:
The suggested agenda for the north american meeting includes an overview of PGA - (why a global network?), discussion as to how and why to further build a network in north america, detailed analysis and dicussion of the the two sustained global actions, networking and brainstorming for concrete ideas for direct actions that support and further these global actions, how to further build the PGA network in North America, how to continue to build the network from the succesful FTAA protests, and planning for the Cochabamba meeting. Those organizations interested in having a voice on the organizing committee for the north american PGA meeting should contact by email [email protected] (please include only the word "subscribe" without quotes in body of the letter), or call 727-896-TBAG or email [email protected]. The two temporary co-conveners for north america are the Tampa Bay Action Group, of Florida, USA and The Anti-Capitalist Convergence of Montreal - Quebec (Convergence des luttes anti-capitalistes-CLAC)-
To register for the north american meeting and the Cochabamba meeting please see attached application form. For questions contact TBAG at 727-896-8224 or e-mail at [email protected]. If your organization is interested in attending or helping to organize the PGA meeting in North America or Cochabamba, Bolivia, please contact the PGA list serve. Any group desiring to participate in the Cochabamba meeting must participate in the north american meeting. All groups participating in both the north american meeting and wanting to attend the meeting in Bolivia must agree to the PGA Hallmarks (see left). For more info on Peoples Global Action go to www.agp.org
APPLICATION FORM The registration fee is $75US. Participants from international unions and NGO's that can afford to are being asked to pay a registration fee of $150 US minimum (more will be gladly accepted). This fee covers the accommodation (dorms or floor space in volunteer homes) June 1st and 2nd, and food during the whole period (June 1-3). The fee will remain the same for people who participate only in part of the meeting and who do not need housing. Please include check with application form - unless asking for a scholarship. Please send this form (together with a one-page description of your organization or movement) and a check made out to Peoples' Global Action (on bottom left side of check please write FOR PGANA MEETING REGISTRATION), and mail to PGANA meeting registration 313 West Haya St., Tampa FL, USA 33603. You can e-mail the application to [email protected]. Registration will not be considered complete until application fee is received or scholarship is awarded. For info, phone 727-896-TBAG (8224) or [email protected].
My organization is interested in taking part in the north american Peoples' Global Action meeting in Amherst MA June 1-3rd: Organization: Please include a brief description (of approximately one page) of the objectives and field of action of your organization. This description is necessary for your application to be processed. If no organization affiliation - please submit your participation in the movement. Delegate: Do you have comments or suggestions for the conference agenda? What topic(s) would you suggest for the roundtables/workgroups? Are you willing to participate actively in the preparation of one Roundtable/workgroup? If yes, on which topic(s)? If your organization needs help with the travel expenses, the convenors' committee will consider whether it will be included in the list of organizations for whom donations will be solicited publicly, and in which level of priority with respect to other organizations. BUT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, YOU SHOULD SEND YOUR APPLICATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Can your organization assist in additional transportation costs for organizations with no money (poverty organizations, etc) also pay for (part of) a ticket for an organization? If yes, please specify what donation you can make: LOGISTICS: What language(s)? Can you assist in Spanish/English translation for the bus tour May 15 - May 31? What days? Can you travel with the entire tour? Information on Tour Participants
Plan Colombia Info
Organizations
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In brief, the Peoples' Global Action Bus Tour 2001 hopes to serve two purposes:
Representatives of groups from Latin America participating in the tour:
The next international PGA meeting will be in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in Sept 2001 where participants will further define and develop strategies and tactics for the two sustained global actions, and discuss how to further continue to locally build, and globally link, positive resistance to capitalism.