Forward please pass on to those who might be interested --
International Direct Action against Global Capitalism.
email [EMAIL PROTECTED] to let us know what you are doing.
"The collapse of the global marketplace would be a traumatic event with
unimaginable consequences. Yet I find it easier to imagine than the
continuation of the present regime." George Soros, financial speculator.
ACTION PROPOSAL FOR JUNE 18TH
A PROPOSAL FOR: A day of protest, action, and carnival in financial
centres across the globe on 18th June 1999.
....Wherever there is oppression there is resistance..... A proposal has
been made by various groups and movements of activists from Great Britain
to hold an international day of action aimed at the heart of the global
economy: the financial centres, banking districts and multinational
corporation power bases. The suggested date is the 18th June 1999.
Movements involved include Reclaim the Streets (RTS, a popular movement
seeking the liberation of city streets and public spaces using direct
action, and now Western European Convenors of Peoples' Global Action),
Anarchists from Melbourne, Sydney and Darwin, North America, and London
Greenpeace (an anarchist group independent of Greenpeace International,
recently involved in a large successful battle with McDonald's). This
proposal is made in the spirit of strengthening our international networks
and follows from the success of co-ordinated global action during May
16-20th 1998. These days saw actions, protests and demonstrations on all
continents, for example over 30 reclaim the Streets parties in over 20
countries - a combination of illegal carnival, protest and direct action,
catalysed by RTS in London. In Brasilia 50,000 landless peasants were on
the streets, while in Hyderabad, India, 200,000 were protesting. These
events coincided with the 'G8' meeting in Birmingham, Great Britain, and
the third ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Geneva,
Switzerland. The 'G8' consists of the leaders of the eight most
industrialised countries and exists solely to promote economic
globalisation, "free" trade and corporate dominance.
Next year between the 18th-20th June the G8 will meet in Koln, Germany.
The idea is to take action around the globe to coincide with this meeting.
This also links with the proposed tour of Indian farmers/activists in
Europe to campaign against the World Trade Organisation and multinational
corporations. The proposal is to encourage as many movements and groups as
possible to organise their own autonomous protests or actions, on the same
day (June 18th), in the same geographical locations
(financial/corporate/banking/business districts) around the world. Events
could take place at relevant sites, e.g. multinational company offices,
local banks, stock exchanges. Each event would be organised autonomously
and co-ordinated in each city or financial district by a variety of
movements and groups. It is hoped that a whole range of different groups
will take part, including workers, peasants, indigenous peoples, women,
students, the landless, environmentalists, unwaged/unemployed and
others....everyone who recognises that the global capitalist system, based
on the exploitation of people and the planet for the profit of a few, is
at the root of our social and ecological troubles.
The proposal has already been discussed by movements and groups on all
continents, for example the Karnataka State Farmers (KRRS, India), the
Rainbow Keepers (ecologists from ex-USSR states), Processo de
Communidades
Negras (Colombian Black communities movement), Friends of the Earth,
Uruguay (Environmentalists), CTERA (Argentinean teachers Union), Reclaim
the Streets (New York, USA; Prague, Czech Republic; Sydney, Australia),
COMUTRAS (textile workers union, El Salvador), peasant movements in
Mozambique and many more. Plans are already well advanced in London, and
Koln, Germany. Ideas are flowing and enthusiasm is growing. We'd very
much
like to hear what you think. Please subscribe to the
[EMAIL PROTECTED] email list; send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with
the following request:
subscribe J18DISCUSSION Your Name
then you can email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and your message will
automatically go to other interested groups around the world to facilitate
wider discussion of this proposal. Or write to 'June 18th', PO Box 9656,
London, N4 4JY, Great Britain.
OUR RESISTANCE WILL BE AS TRANSNATIONAL AS CAPITAL!
UK JUNE 18TH NEWS
June 18 1999, the simultaneous occupation and transformation of Financial
districts across the globe.
This action - timed to coincide with the first day of the G8 summit of
world leaders in Koln, Germany - is being networked around the world and
hundreds of groups are beginning to organise locally. This Bulletin has
been compiled by some groups in the UK and is just a glimpse of how
planning is going for the day. It should also act as a catalyst and start
the new J18 email discussion list working. June 18th will be an
extraordinary action - the ground is being laid for huge social and
political changes. Radical social movements from all over the world are
beginning to work together; this day could be a landmark in that process.
Never before has there been a time when co-ordinated action across the
planet has been so necessary and so possible. But there is a lot more work
to do if we want to make it truly effective, as well as pivotal in the
escalation and continuation of our struggle. Before the news - for those
who don't know what June 18th is - go to the end of this message where you
can read the action proposal which has been sent out all over the world.
1) THE NEW J18DISCUSSION LIST
This list is now up and running. The old list [EMAIL PROTECTED] is
now defunct. If you want to subscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
with the following request: subscribe J18DISCUSSION Your Name So GET
YOURSELF SUBSCRIBED The function of this list is to enable global
discussion about planning the J18 action. IT WILL ONLY WORK IF WE ALL
PARTICIPATE IN IT. Let's launch the list with a bang - send in news from
your own region, tell everyone how preparations and networking are going.
What crazy ideas are you having? What kind of groups are getting involved
in your area? What problems are occurring? etc.
2) SOME NEWS FROM THE UK
20,000 lovely little folding leaflets have been printed and are being
rapidly distributed. (Contact us if you want some sent to you - they are
very specific to the UK action however.) We have been holding monthly
co-ordination meetings in London (the next one is Sunday 13th December at
51 Argyle St from 12-3pm.). Representatives from all UK groups are
welcome. These have been well attended by a variety of different groups
including Reclaim the Streets, London Animal Action, London
Greenpeace/Mclibel, Zapatista Support groups, Genetic Engineering Network
and Green Student Network. We still need to expand the network by a long
way and involve many more sectors - women, workers, students etc. Local
groups throughout the UK are responding to the action - Edinburgh
Autonomous Centre is going to do a local action the week before J18,
Bristol and London and Sheffield groups are planning to hold a large J18
gathering/conference in the new year. Sheffield's is on January 18th @ 8pm
at the Grapes Pub, Trippet Lane. Other dates and venues to be announced.
Groups as diverse as The Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Church Action
on Poverty, Sexual Freedom Coalition, Class War, National Union of Students,
Striking Tameside Care Workers and Earth First! are discussing making the
action part of their campaigning next year, and we were pleased to welcome
the Liverpool Dockers on board last month to add to the diversity which is
the key component to this day of action. Workshops have been held at
various gatherings including the Anarchist Bookfair and Third World First
conference, Earth First! gathering and the Bradford Mayday reunion.
3) SOME INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The proposal for action is being networked all over the place - it has
been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian, Punjabi, Dutch
and some indigenous Mexican Languages. Answers are coming back from all
sorts of people ranging from indigenous groups to street reclaimers in
Bombay, Sydney, Tel Aviv, New York, Prague and more - from Radical
French
Unemployed activists to international hacktivist groups, from the Peoples'
Global Action network to the Anti-MAI network. Someone told a wonderfully
inspiring story of how a J18 proposal email had travelled from the UK -
via New York, Colorado, several other US cities down to Mexico city then
to Chiapas and back to them personally - with a note reading "wow this
action looks exciting - have you heard about it?". The power of global
electronic networking can be amazing. Much more work needs doing. Many
people feel that the day will only reach its full potential if groups in
Europe and the USA and the large social movements from the South (e.g..
Zapatistas in Mexico/KRRS in India/Movimento Sem Terra in Brazil) act
together.
4)SOME PUBLICITY IDEAS From London
The UK leaflets are doing the rounds - but there have been some other
publicity ideas:
Stickers for ATM Cash machines
Rubber stamping bank notes
Posters made by screen printing onto pages of the Financial Times
Regional meetings/workshops There are also plans to publish a programme
with action map of the City of London (Location of key targets, stock
exchanges, Bank HQ's, Transnational Company HQ's, which will be given
out before the day.)
5)SOME ACTION IDEAS for the London event:
There have been many ideas flowing around - some of which can't of course
be talked about on email - but here is a taster: giving out free food to
city workers at lunch time Phone in Sick day get cycle couriers to strike
prevent company directors getting to work lots more custard pies (The head
of the World Trade Organisation was pied in London a few weeks ago)
Laughing all the way to the bank Permaculture gardens springing up in
unusual places critical mass bike demo Pirate radio workshops in squatted
office blocks leafletting/agitprop handed out Pickets and actions on HQ's,
exchanges, banks etc. Throwing around lots of fake money Everyone brings a
corporate share and burns it collectively Sound system in balloon floating
above the City !
More brainstorming and dreaming is necessary....... A dream list will be
put together by the end of the month, which will be used to inspire ideas
for actions. If you have any ideas to add to the dream/wish list email
them to the discussion list.
6) J18 WEB SITE
A special J18 web site has been designed and its url is
www.gn.apc.org/june18.
We hope that local groups will put up their own pages on it.
7)THE TRANSNATIONAL CARAVAN
An amazing action which is related to June 18 is the Transnational Caravan
(working title) - organised by groups involved with the Peoples' Global
Action. This is an action tour of Europe by 500 radical Indian activists,
which begins in May and ends at the G8 in Koln on June 18th. The idea is
to bring issues affecting the South to the doorsteps of the companies and
institutions responsible in the North. If you would like to help with this
or find out more email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
8)WHAT NEXT
Let's have more dialogue and more news - June 18th has enormous potential
- SPREAD the idea NETWORK, ORGANISE local meetings, CHOOSE your
favourite
Transnational Corporation or bank and find out as much as possible about
them so that you can PLAN your action, and most of all DREAM DREAM
DREAM.............. IMAGINE WHAT IS POSSIBLE....... Proletarian
revolutions will be festivals or nothing, for festivity is the very
keynote of the life they announce.
Mustapha Khayati
