New Grassroots Activist Network Grows
Quickly: We Stand for Peace & Justice Statement
How can activists today transform the
structures and cultures that created the invasion of Iraq and that cause
wars and injustices today? One answer is wide-scale activist
networking, online and off.
On March 27, a new grassroots online activist network was launched: The
"We Stand for Peace
& Justice" (WSPJ) statement.
In 9 days, interest in the WSPJ mobilizing statement has grown very
quickly. It has already received over 55,000 signatures from activists in
213 countries and been translated into 12 languages (by volunteers). The
WSPJ statement, originally forwarded for comment to hundreds of activists
and scholars (including Albert, Ali, Barsamian, Chomsky, George, Hayden,
Klein, Monbiot, Roy, Zinn, and many others), expresses a diverse yet
unified human liberation platform. The statement calls for signers to
commit to work for peace & justice causes in diverse ways. There is
potential, through
communication
processes yet to be created by the list
signers, for the growing WSPJ network to empower many individuals to
mobilize in solidarity to support diverse peace & justice concerns.
Update: Today, April 5, Subcomandante Marcos and the EZLN
General Command of 77 comandantes signed onto the WSPJ statement
without conditions, supporting it and offering
friendly criticisms and
proposals in several communiques (at this
link), including proposing that: 1. the
statement be enriched through "reflection of the common people"
and that "international civil society to learn about, discuss,
enrich and sign said statement"; 2. "different bodies which are
created to coordinate efforts and carry out joint actions should
regularly inform the public on the activities they carry out and the
number of signatures that are accumulating"; and, 3. "on May 1,
2003, International Worker's Day, a worldwide report should be given on
the progress of this initiative."
[ WSPJ
Statement |
Essay: We Work for Peace
& Justice ]
