Arbeitslosenselbsthilfe O l d e n b u r g
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D-26122 Oldenburg (Oldenburg)
European Marches against Unemployment - News and Archives
Org.-Empf. : EuroMarsch-L@sonne.comlink.apc.org Weiterleiter owner-euromarsch-l@mail.comlink.apc.org Betreff : THE OTHER VOICES MARCH/APRIL 1998 (fwd) Datum : Mi 15.04.98, 14:13 (erhalten: 15.04.98) Groesse : 46008 Bytes ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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_________________________________________________________________
THE OTHER VOICES
MONTHLY E-MAIL NEWSLETTER OF THE
INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOR A DIFFERENT EUROPE
ISSUE 10, MARCH/APRIL 1998 _________________________________________________________________
THE OTHER VOICES have re-emerged from a three month hibernation. Apart from the latest news on the Cardiff Counter Summit we bring news on:
- Referenda on the Amsterdam Treaty in Denmark and Ireland
- Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI) European opposition against the MAI growing in strength; European Parliament adopts very critical resolution on MAI
- EU Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan's plans for a Transatlantic Marketplace
- Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM II)
- The P8 Peoples' Summit in Birmingham
- Announcement from the People's Global Action meeting in Geneva
- Calendar of events
| THE OTHER VOICES are distributed by: | | Towards a Different Europe | P.O. Box 54 | 1000 AB Amsterdam | Netherlands
| Tel: +31-20-4708833 | Fax: +31-20-6763931 | E-mail: ander.europa@xs4all.nl
_________________________________________________________________
CARDIFF ALTERNATIVE SUMMIT _________________________________________________________________
Here is the latest update from Reclaim Europe!
One of the basic purposes of the 'Corporate Europe vs People's Europe' approach to the Alternative/Counter Summit is to continue the building up of networks and campaigning that have occured following the Amsterdam Summit last Summer and including the Zapatista Network's activities and those of the Peoples' Global Action that met in Geneva. This would include not only the fightback and strategy development that relates to Europe but what is happening internationally and how to effectively link up with that.
The Welsh-based coalition of groups and NGOs (Cynefin y Werin, or Common Ground) have decided to aim their activities at the general public and the members of their organisation. This 4-days forum will inform and interact with the public on issues like the Arms Trade, Globalisation, Peace, the Environment, International Debt etc in a variety of ways; The Tabernacle in the centre town will host about eight 3-hours slots from Tuesday 9th to Friday 12th, each on a specific theme. A mixture of workshops, meetings, street events, films, slides etc. will be used.
To carry on the active campaigning and strategising in Europe it was therefore decided to hold a separate event to the Welsh coalition, and following them to avoid clashing with them. This will take place in the YMCA (+maybe other venues) in Cardiff from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th.
The three day meeting would have a POSITIVE approach hearing what successes have occured in Europe and elsewhere and how to build on these eg
- the unemployment marchers that went to Amsterdam last Summer in France becoming the basis of the occupation of French Unemployment Centres demanding, in a blaze of international publicity, better benefits for the unemployed;
- the building of opposition globally to the Multilateral Agreement on Investment and the consequent potential of stalling the negotiations, to build time for further opposition;
- the success of US unions, environment and consumer groups at stopping Clinton getting Fast Track Authority to spread the socially and economically damaging North American Free Trade Agreement to the rest of Latin America.
So here is what the opposition will look like at Cardiff:
------------------------------------ Tuesday June 9th - Friday June 12th ------------------------------------
--> 'Cynefin y Werin' (Common Ground)
Organised by: A coalition of 20 groups & NGOs working on
issues of peace, justice and solidarity in Wales
Four days aimed at people in Wales to look at issues
which are not included in the EU Summit agenda -
Peace, Justice, Co-operation and Human rights.
A varied programme of speakers, workshops, street activities,
exhibitions and entertainment which seeks to analyse global
problems and to involve local people.
------------------------------------ Friday June 12th - Sunday June 14th ------------------------------------
--> Counter Summit
Organised by: Reclaim Europe!
Two days of debates, criticisms and discussions of the EU
aimed at national and international campaigners (with a
whole range of groups and individuals incl. organisers of
the previous counter summits, Colin Hines, Alan Simpson,
French unemployed...)
Workshops/discussions to advance campaigning, international
* Fri 12th (eve): Introductory speakers & campaign updates
* Sat 13th: `The EU and the consequences of its present agenda'
Speakers panel on 4 broad themes: Employment, social welfare,
the environment and implications for the rest of the world;
followed by workshops/discussions.
* Sun 14th: `Alternatives to the present EU & campaign strategies'
Themed workshops followed by closing plenary
------------------ Saturday June 13th ------------------
--> (1:30pm) Panel discussion on Globalisation (with invites) &
launch of Green Party European Election candidates
(with press conference)
Organised by: Green Party
--> (3:00pm) Cardiff Eurosummit Demonstration
Organised by: Cardiff Euro Summit Demonstration Committee
'No to a big business Europe - Yes to jobs, public services
and democracy'
Focussing on Welfare cuts, employment, equality, environment
and social exclusion/racism.
10,000 expected
------------------ Sunday June 14th ------------------
--> Animal Rights demonstration
Organised by: Uncaged
--> Press conference
Organised by: Cardiff Euro Summit Demonstration Committee
--> 20.00 p.m.
People's vigil for peace and justice on the Jubilee 2000 theme
Organised by: a coalition of churches and other organisations
Main theme: cancelling 3rd world debt
Speakers including Glenys Kinnock MEP
5,000 expected
------------------ Monday June 15th ------------------
--> Official EU Summit begins
--> Surprise, surprise...
------------------ Tuesday June 16th ------------------
--> Car Free Day! - Mass cycle blockade, actions...
Organised by: Direct Action groups
--> Official Summit ends
--> Party!!
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STOP PRESS
The 'People's Europe' media event organised by European Dialogue with the backing of the Foreign Office is no longer taking place in Cardiff.
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We need help urgently!! contact Reclaim Europe! : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Please get in touch if you can offer help/time with: research, networking, press work, computing ,admin., donations, transport, computer equipment, touring or even just stuffing envelopes (mainly in Cardiff or in London) Printer needed in London & Cardiff - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For more information and/or to get involved, please contact Reclaim Europe! :
......................................................................
Reclaim Europe! 1 B Waterlow Rd, London N19 5NJ Tel: +44-171-272 9333 Fax: +44-171-561 0800
E-mail: europ@globalnet.co.uk / europ@astra.global.net.uk (both please) Web site: http://www.geocities.com/Rainforest/5581/
Reclaim Europe! is an umbrella organisation for the coordination of environmental, human and animal rights campaigns and events at the Eurosummit/June 98 in Cardiff
_________________________________________________________________
Denmark: Court Case and Referendum on EU Treaty _________________________________________________________________
Now that the general elections in Denmark are over, chances are high that the Treaty of Amsterdam will start to dominate the political debate in Denmark again. Earlier this month, a case was brought before the high court, questioning whether the Maastricht Treaty and other EU treaties that Danish governments have signed on to are in line with the Danish constitution. The Danish constitution (article 20) only allows transfer of sovereignty to a clearly defined extent. The 10 Danish citizens that have started the court case claim that the reality of European unification has gone much further.
The Danish high court will examine how much power has in fact been transferred to the EU. Danish EU sceptics are looking forward to the case, as it is likely to stand in sharp contrast with the claims by Danish politicians that the EU treaties have not meant a significant loss of Danish sovereignty. The final judgement, which is expected at the end of March, might set conditions on how much further unification can go without violating the constitution.
The second big event this spring is of course the referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty, which is scheduled for May 28th. A Danish 'NO' would prevent the treaty from turning into effect for all 15 EU member states. Opinion polls now show 45% on the YES side, while 30% will vote against. These figures resemble those of a few months before the 1992 'NO' vote to the Maastricht treaty.
The Danish June Movement, one of the winners of the 1992 referendum, has now published a Danish translation of the Amsterdam Treaty (as the government had no plans to distribute it to the voters). The June Movement is opposed to the Amsterdam Treaty, which it sees as a big step towards building an undemocratic European state.
For more information:
June Movement Skindergade 29 DK-1159 Copenhagen K. Tel: +45-33 93 00 46 Fax: +45-33 93 30 67 E-mail: juninet@inform-bbs.dk
_________________________________________________________________
Ireland: Referendum _________________________________________________________________
On March 24th, the Irish government announced that the Irish referendum on the Amsterdam treaty will be held on Friday 22 May 1998, a week before the Danish referendum, thereby avoiding the influence of a possible Danish NO. According to well-informed sources in Dublin the government considers to combine the referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty with the also scheduled referendum on Northern Ireland. Traditionally the turn-out during previous Irish referenda on EU issues has been low, whereas the Northern Ireland referendum is expected to attract a lot of voters. However, the coupling of two complicated issues on one referendum day has already been criticized. The date for this referendum day would be around May 22nd.
In preparation for the referendum, the Irish government has set up a Referendum Commission to ensure that public funds are spent fairly in this and future Irish referenda. This move is the result of the Irish Supreme Court's judgement in the 1995 McKenna case, when it was decided that the expenditure of public money on one side to achieve a particular result in a referendum is unconstiutional, in that it breaches citizens' rights to equality, fairness and democracy in referenda.
In January, a referendum committee was installed, consisting of Clerks of the Dail and Senate, the Ombudsman, the Comptroller and Auditor-General and presided by a High Court or Supreme Court judge. Apart from controlling public spending on the referendum, this Committee has to draw up two statements: one telling citizens what the referendum is about and the second setting out the arguments for and against the proposition in question. The Commission has been provided with a budget of 2-2,5 milion Irish Pounds to publicise these statements through newspaper, radio and television advertisements and by any other means that it may think appropriate
Interference by the European Commission
Last year Patricia McKenna wrote to the Commission, objecting to its publication of the booklet, "A New Treaty for Europe, A Citizens' Guide to the Amsterdam Treaty", which has an introduction by Jacques Santer and is a very biased and tendentious document, implicitly urging its readers to support the Amsterdam Treaty and vote for it if need be.
She was told at the time that this booklet was being distributed in all the EU States, and that it would be available in Ireland before the Irish referendum began. As officially no Irish referendum on the MAsterdam Treaty had been called for at that moment, Patricia McKenna's lawyers deemed that any attempt to secure an injunction in the Courts against the distribution of this booklet would not succeed at that moment.
Although the European Commission officially has no function in relation to the ratification of new EU treaties (this is a matter exclusively for the Member States, their parliaments and peoples), in February 1998, the local Dublin representative office of the European Commission spread 30,000 copies of a booklet promoting the Amsterdam Treaty with Magill, a widely read Irish monthly magazine. After questions by Patricia McKenna to the Commission's representative office, she was answered that the office had intended to spread a quarter of a million of these booklets inserted in newspapers and a weekly television guide. After a written complaint to the the Commission, Commission Secretary Carlo Trojan promised in a letter that this wouldn't happen.
However, the Commission still tries to influence Irish public opinion. It recently invited two groups of Irish journalists to Brussels, to convince them of the merits of the Amsterdam Treaty. During the visit of the second group of Irish journalists, Europarlementarians Patricia McKenna (I) and Jens-Peter Bonde (DK) turned up at one of the meetings and put forward a critical opinion on the Amsterdam Treaty. Their action resulted in critical articles in some Irish newspapers.
More information, contact:
Anthony Coughlan, The National Platform, Dublin Tel: Dublin +353-1-6081898 / +353-1-8305792 Fax: Dublin +353-1-6712262 E-mail: jcoughlnln@tcd.ie
Patricia McKenna, Green Group, European Parliament Tel: +32-2-2845140/2847140 Fax: +32-2-2849140 E-mail: pmckenna@europarl.eu.int
_________________________________________________________________
Multilateral Agreement on Investment:
NGOs Mount Protests _________________________________________________________________
The Multilateral Agreement on Investment is facing growing opposition in many of the OECD countries. In recent weeks, there has been an upsurge of activities from a broad coalition of consumer, environmental, development and public citizen groups in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia, challenging the rationale and effects of the MAI in their own countries as well as on developing nations.
This is a new and significant development, as previously the concerns about the MAI have come mainly from NGOs and governments in developing countries.
Partly due to this public opposition, the MAI negotiations are facing difficulties. Many countries have tabled a long list of reservations, asking for exemptions from the treaty's obligations for several sectors or activities.
After the February high level meeting at the OECD, there are now doubts that the treaty will be concluded this year as scheduled.
According to a senior official of an international NGO based in Switzerland, who has been following these activities: "It appears that all hell has broken loose in some European Union member countries, with a combination of street protests, NGO critiques, outraged parliamentarians and inter-agency fights within governments on key issues. The word 'war' has even been applied to the situation in both Finland and Sweden. Things are also moving fast in Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK."
Just a few days after completion of the March round of negotiations in Paris, the Chairman of the OECD's MAI negotiation group, Dutchman Frans Engering, said at a public debate hosted by the Evert Vermeer Stichting that he will advise OECD governments not to sign the MAI by the end of April. He added that this would mean an extension of the deadline with at least a year, until the next OECD Ministerial.
At the moment it is unsure how the process will continue. A 'political agreement' with unclear status and range, to be signed at the April 1998 Ministerial, belongs to the possibilities. Therefore the coalition of NGOs opposed to the MAI will continue its efforts to prevent signing of any agreement on investments at the OECD in April.
The coalition of 565 environmental, development, labour, consumer, church and women's organisations from 67 countries demands the OECD countries' governments to:
** suspend the MAI negotiations and extend the 1998 deadline to allow time for public input and participation;
** increase transparency in the negotiations by releasing the MAI texts and organising public meetings and hearings in both member and non-member countries;
** Renegotiate the terms of withdrawal to enable countries to more easily and rapidly withdraw from the MAI when they deem it in the interest of their citizens. Developing countries which have not been a party to the negotiations must not be pressured to join the MAI.
These demands were supported by numerous actions, a.o. during an 'International Week of Action' on 7-17 February 1998.
On 12 February 1998 Dutch activists occupied the entrance of Mr Engering's office in the Hague. The protesters constructed a 'factory' of cardboard boxes in the main hall of the building, to indicate that investments would be out of control under the MAI.
After an hour, the activists met with Mr Engering and the chief negotiator for the Netherlands, Marinus Sikkel. In the presence of several media personnel, the protesters made the point that trying to finish an agreement by the deadline of the end of April 1998 is 'undemocratic and dangerous'. They said that since criticisms against the MAI from civil society are growing day by day, more and more parliaments are demanding a thorough analysis of its impacts.
The activists demanded that to allow time for serious impact assesments of the MAI and for a genuine public debate to emerge, the MAI negotiations should be postponed for at least another year. They also called for a far more open and accessible negotiation procedure, with full information made available and public participation.
Mr Engering told the protesters that such decisions could only be taken by the governments and also declined the request that he postpone the deadline for the treaty's conclusion.
In London, a demonstration was organised by several NGOs on 13 February 1998 in front of the Department of Trade and Industry whilst other actions were taken by local activists including in Oxford, Brighton and Essex.
In France the MAI has become a very controversial issue, hitting newspaper pages day after day in February. On February 16th, during a High Level Negotiating Round, French film makers and activists organised a big public meeting at the Odeon in Paris.
More actions are announced for the week preceding the OECD Ministerial (April 20-26). See the calendar at the end of these OTHER VOICES.
On March 11th, the European Parliament adopted with an overwhelming majority (437 pro, 8 con, with 62 abstentions) a very critical resolution on the MAI, drafted by Green MEP Wolfgang Kreissl-Doerfler. The EP demands a process of open dialogue and consultation on these matters as an integral part of the MAI process, and an explicit commitment to transparency in the negotiations, adding that the opinion of the European Parliament must inform the negotiating position of the European Commission, on behalf of the European Union.
Furthermore the European Parliament calls on the parliaments and governments of the Member States not to accept the MAI as it stands.
The full text of the EP resolution will be made available via the OTHER VOICES web site, to be launched very soon...
_________________________________________________________________
ACTION ALERT
European Commission Launches Plan for Transatlantic Trade
and Investment Deregulation
_________________________________________________________________
The European Commission has launched a proposal to start negotiations with the US on creating a New Transatlantic Marketplace (NTM). The NTM would expand the EU's single market to include the US before 2010, creating the world's largest free trade area for goods, services, intellectual property and investment. It would introduce economic deregulation similar to what is proposed in the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI). Later this month the EU's Council of Ministers will decide and then negotiations could start at the EU-US Summit in London, May 18th. The time to act against this latest manifestation of EU "free" trade fundamentalism is therefore NOW!
The Transatlantic Marketplace is the child of Commission Vice-President Sir Leon Brittan, known as a hardline free trade protagonist. After having worked since 1995 on so-called mutual recognition agreements between the EU and the US, creating a free trade zone step by step, Brittan feels the time is now rigth for a more ambitious approach. The NTM would dismantle all limits on trade in services and all tariffs on goods. All technical and non-tariff barriers to trade would be scrapped through mutual recognition of standards. Government procurement, intellectual property and investment would be fully deregulated.
The European Commission claims an EU-US free trade zone would boost economic growth by as much as 0.1% per year. The initiative is also a strategic move to push deregulation elsewhere, such as in the WTO where the EU wants a new round of global trade negotiations to start next year, dubbed the Millenium Round. Another reason for the new deregulaton offensive by the Commission is probably the crisis in the negotiations on the Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI) witin OECD. Opening up a new front - the Transatlantic Marketplace - is hoped to smoothen the path within the OECD as well. The EU claims that agriculture and the media sector will not be covered by the NTM agreement, whereas the US government in its first reactions says agriculture is a crucial part of a free trade agreement.
With or without agriculture included, the proposal is a serious threath to jobs, health and the environment on both sides of the Atlantic. The Transatlantic Marketplace will lead to a downwards pressure on environment and consumer protection. The US government, for instance, is quite explicit in its desire to get around European barriers to genetically manipulated products. The experience with the single market and the North American free trade zone NAFTA is that trade and investment deregulation results in a flood wave of mergers, faster automation and centralisation of production and distribution centres, causing massive job losses and increased long distance transport of goods. Both within Europe and North America, these free trade treaties have increased the social and environmental crisis. The main beneficiaries have been large transnational corporations who see the last barriers to their own growth and economic control wither away. Constructing a free trade zone covering the EU and US will only make things worse, also because it further undermines the possibilities for democratically elected governments to regulate the economy.
The Transatlantic Marketplace is a dangerous idea that should be stopped before it is too late. The proposal from the European Commission has been discussed by the EU's ministers of foreign affairs at their summit in Brussels March 30-31. The foreign ministers will again discuss the NTM plans at their meeting in April, and the issue could be discussed at the summit between U.S. President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and European Commission officials in London on May 18.
Make sure your government knows what you think about this issue!!!
For more information, contact: Olivier Hoedeman Towards a Different Europe E-mail: paxaran@antenna.nl
_________________________________________________________________
ASIA EUROPE MEETING (ASEM II)
ASEM and the crisis: People's realities, people's responses
_________________________________________________________________
Economic crisis in South East and East Asia has dominated the news for months. As currencies and businesses collapse, millions of jobs disappear and speculators hunt for new economies to exploit, the International Monetary Fund flies in with a 'rescue package' - yet more financial liberalisation.
It is in this climate that heads of government will gather in London in April for the second Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM II).
But will the officials from 15 European Union (EU) and 10 Asian states be looking for real alternatives to the free market? Will they be ready to expand the dialogue beyond trade and investment? And will they listen to people's organisations which have long warned of the disastrous social and environmental impact of their economic policies?
To propose real alternatives to the current economic model, the Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR) is convening a people's conference (London, March 31 - April 1)to coincide with ASEM. The conference will have a strong focus on the Asian financial crisis and will examine the impact of Asia-Europe trade and investment on human and workers' rights, child labour, gender, security and the environment. People's organisations will present their research findings and put forward alternatives for future relations between the two regions - a future that puts people at the heart of economics.
This conference is organised by: The Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR), in conjunction with Focus on the Global South, the Transnational Institute, Asia House, One World Action and other European and Asian NGOs, together with support from The Royal Commonwealth Society.
DAY ONE: In order to present governments and business with alternatives for future economic and political relations between Asia and Europe, the first day of the conference will focus on the Asian economic crisis, examining its causes, the role of the international financial institutions and the impact on civilian populations, with special reference to vulnerable groups including migrant and industrial workers, farmers and women. It will also assess how the crisis is affecting human rights and processes of democratisation in the region.
Invited speakers include: - Walden Bello, Focus on the Global South, Thailand - Kitazawa Yoko or Inoue Reiko, Pacific Asia Resource Centre, Japan - Martin Khor, Third World Network, Malaysia - George Soros, The Open Society - Irene Fernandez, Tenaganita, Malaysia - Nicola Bullard, Focus on the Global South, Thailand - Duncan Green, Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD), UK - Rory Mungoven, Amnesty International, UK - A speaker from Forum Asia, Thailand
DAY TWO: On the second day, the focus will be on trade and investment relations from a people's perspective, looking at agricultural trade and food security, the role of foreign direct investment and transnational corporations and the impact on workers' rights, child labour and the environment, and reviewing security issues.
Invited speakers include:
- Jessica Woodroffe, World Development Movement, UK
- Billy de la Rosa, Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM),
Philippines
- Maggie Burns, researcher on ethical trade and corporate
responsibility, UK
- Celia Mather, researcher on ethical trade and corporate
responsibility, UK
- Gerard Greenfield, Asia Monitor Resource Center (AMRC), Hong Kong
- Andy Rutherford, One World Action, UK
- Victor Karunan, Save the Children Fund, Thailand
- Gareth Api Richards, University of Manchester, UK
For more details, contact:
Mari King
CIIR, Unit 3, Canonbury Yard
190a, New North Road, London N1 7BJ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44-171-354-0883; Fax: +44-171-359-0017;
E-mail: ciirlon@gn.apc.org
_________________________________________________________________
The P8 Peoples' Summit in Birmingham (May 15-17) _________________________________________________________________
As you may know, leaders of the world's most powerful countries come to Birmingham on May 15 - 17th 1998 for the G8 Summit. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to help set the case for social and environmental change.
The G8 Summit is maybe the most powerful economic summit of the year. It is a self-selected club of the rich but their decisions affect the whole world, its people and nature. The G8 are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, the USA and, most recently, Russia. This is the first summit in Britain since 1991.
Every year since 1984, a citizens event (originally called The Other Economic Summit) has taken place alongside the G8 Summit, to raise key social and ecological campaign issues, to challenge the right of the G8 to take decisions that affect the world, and to present alternatives. These events have had a very real effect, helping to alter the agenda of the G8 Summit, changing where the G8 Summits have met and at times stealing the media limelight from the official G8 event.
Around four thousand journalists are expected to come to Birmingham. On one important issue alone within the Peoples Summit, the agony caused by third world debt, the Jubilee 2000 campaign aim to attract 50,000 people for a mass action.
.................................................................
PEOPLES SUMMIT Programme 15-17th May 1998 .................................................................
--> Friday 15th May 1998
- Sustainable Consumption conference
Sustainable consumption is becoming one of the defining
dilemmas of the millennium. An all day conference will
explore the issues in recognition of the central challenge
that changing "consumption" patterns now plays in the
transition to a just and sustainable society.
--> Saturday 16th May 1998
- Peoples Tribunal on the G8 and Globalisation
A calling to account of the G8 and a questioning of the
legitimacy of the G8s disproportionate economic and
political impact.
- The P8 Summit
Shadowing the G8 agenda this forum will offer visionary yet
practical ways forward around the issues of global
institutional and economic governance.
- Make a Chain to Break the Chains of Debt
The Jubilee 2000 Coalition is organising a series of events
that will culminate in the formation of a human chain around
the G8 Summit venue to focus attention on the ongoing debt
crisis in developing countries.
--> Sunday 17th May 1998
- Peoples Summit Rally
Participants in the Peoples Summit will come together on the
Sunday to listen to key-note speakers and issue the Peoples
Summit communiqué.
--> All three days 15th-17th May 9198
- People Power Site
An illustration of the ways in which communities can
transform themselves using the tools of the new economics
focusing on turning a piece of degraded ground into a
blooming organic garden over the week-end of the Peoples
Summit.
- Peoples Space
A forum within which organisations can hold their own workshop
or other event. The Peoples Space programme will receive the
same billing on the publicity as the main Peoples Summit
programme.
- Peoples Summit Newspaper and the Peoples Summit Website
For more information, contact: Sara Murphy, Co-ordinator Peoples Summit Secretariat New Economics Foundation 1st Floor Vine Court, 112 -116 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JE, UK. Tel: +44-171-3775696; Fax: +44-171-3775720 E-mail: sara.murphy@neweconomics.org
_________________________________________________________________
A CALL FOR GLOBAL ACTION IN EUROPE _________________________________________________________________
European participants at the Peoples' Global Action Conference (Geneva, 23-25 February) call for decentralised and coordinated actions 26th April - 18th May against undemocratic international economic institutions, corporations and governments promoting economic globalisation:
Together with peoples movements from all continents, we have gathered in Geneva 23rd-25th February to discuss joint actions against WTO (World Trade Organisation), "free" trade and corporate rule. We feel anger when witnessing the devastating social and environmental effects of globalisation promoted by WTO and other similar institutions like the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, regional banks like European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, regional "free" trade agreements like NAFTA, APEC and EU as well as transnational corporations. We have joined with teachers hungerstriking against privatisation of all public education in Argentina, Ogoni and other peoples in Nigeria struggling for their survival against the disastrous impacts of Shell's operation , farmers struggling against globalisation in India, Philippines, Norway, Honduras, France, Spain, Bangladesh, Senegal and other countries, students fighting against the repression of striking workers in Ukraine, dockers from Liverpool and postal workers from Canada, other trade unionists, environmentalists, anti-racists, women's rights activists, peace mobilisers, animal rights activists and other people from all over the world.
We call for decentralised actions all around the world against WTO, in connection with the Ministerial Conference at the 50th anniversary of the free trade agreement GATT/WTO. Peoples Global Action call for protest including non violent civil disobedience and the construction of local alternatives as answers to the action of governments and corporations.
At European level we invite different social sectors to join forces, exchange information and coordinate international actions in Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern Europe. There is a need of mutual strengthening of struggles for social justice and the environment.
For dates of actions, see the Calendar at the end of THE OTHER VOICES.
Contact: Play Fair Europe! Oviedo Pedro Masaveu 1 10 E, 33007 Oviedo, Spain Tel/fax: +34-8-5241121 E-mail: playfair@asta.rwth-aachen.de Web site: http://www.agp.org
_________________________________________________________________
Calendar _________________________________________________________________
As our calendar of events shows, Hot Spring 1998 has really begun!
--> 31 March - 1 April: ASEM and the crisis -- People's realities,
people's responses
See elsewhere in this issue of THE OTHER VOICES
For more information, contact: Mari King
CIIR, Unit 3, Canonbury Yard
190a, New North Road, London N1 7BJ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44-171-354-0883; Fax: +44-171-359-0017;
E-mail: ciirlon@gn.apc.org
--> 10 - 11 April: Youth conference on the Amsterdam Treaty
Youth against the EU in Denmark invites to a European youth
conference on the Amsterdam Treaty, featuring debates on "Why
young people should say no to the Masterdam Treaty", "EU and
education", "EU and the environment", etc.
For more information, contact:
Kamilla Heinze
Tel: +45-20650998; Fax +45-33933067
--> 20-26 April: International Week of Action against the MAI
An action alert will be sent around soon through the OTHER VOICES
mailing list
--> 25 - 26 April: Conference on Alternatives to Globalisation
and European Integration
Parliament Building, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Red-Green Alliance invites for a conference on globalisation
and European integration with a special focus on the Amsterdam
Treaty and the sopcial and democratic consequences of Europea
integration - especially the EMU project.
The conference will also discuss the building of the Euro state,
in the form of strengthening the external borders through
Schengen, and the consequence
Furthermore the conference will discuss the possibilities of
joint/common activities between progressive forces in Europe to
create alternatives to the EMU project and European integration.
The conference takes place in the middle of the campaign leading
up to the Danish referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty, and a few
days before the EU-Summit will decide on the EMU-project.
Working language is English, but translation in French, Italian
and Spanish can be provided. Meals and private accomodation are
provided, but travel costs can't be covered.
For more information, contact:
Inger V. Johansen and Mikkel Warming
Red-Green Alliance
Studiestraede 24, DK-1455 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
Tel: +45-33933324; Fax +45-33320372
--> 28 April: International gathering in Paris "For the definitive
funeral of the MAI and the NTM... Against the neo-liberal agression,
For the humans rights and the rights of the peoples."
What is planned is a half day of forums, debates and cultural
activities in a place close to the OECD, plus a suprise at the end
of the day...
For more information, contact:
Etienne Vernet
Ecoropa
40, rue de Malte, F-75011 Paris, France
Tel: +33-10-43383817, Fax: +33-10-43383788
E-mail: ecoropa@magic.fr
--> 1-3 May 1998: ECOFIN decides which countries will be among the first
group to join EMU
1 May : Broad social mobilisation against Economic and Monetary Union,
EMU, and its economic, social and environmental consequences, parallel
to the extraordinary EU summit and other EU meetings (1st to 3rd May),
where a decision will be taken on the countries that will join the Euro
. Trade unions and movements of unemployed in many countries are already
involved in this initiative.
Contact:
Movement Against the Europe of Maastricht and Economic Globalisation
Tudescos 4, 3a ext. decha., E-28004 Madrid, Spain
Tel. +34-1-5219346, Fax. +34-1-5717108
E-mail: maast@nodo50.ix.apc.org
--> 2 - 16 May : A Caravan of bicycles will travel from Frankfurt
(Germany) to the WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva.
Theme: Money or Life? Which side are you on?
The Caravan will inform and mobilise people, organise actions and
public activities visiting groups on the way.
Contact:
WIWA Wendland c/o Abraxas
Marschtorstr. 56, D-29451 Dannenberg, Germany
Tel. +49-5862-7460 or +49-5842-247, Fax. +49-5861-2527
E-mail: wiwawend@mail.nadir.org
--> 8 - 12 May : EBRD Action Week
Actions at the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development) offices all around Europe, during their annual
meeting in Kiev/Ukraine and also during the Chernobyl Action Day.
The Bank has been primarily occupied in privatising (shifting
control from government to corporate) whole sectors of nations
economies. The Bank serves as a mechanism that imposes the
Western economic development model in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Bank currently pushes for nuclear power development in the
interest of Western corporations.
Contact:
Za Zemiata (For the earth) - CEE Bankwatch,
PO Box 975, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria
Tel./Fax. +359-2-658216, E-mail: ftearth@bulnet.bg
and also:
Rainbow Keepers
PO Box 322, Kiev 252 187, Ukraine
Tel. +380-44-2634954, Tel./Fax. +380-44-5506068
E-mail: nadia@gluk.apc.org
--> May 15-17: P8, Birmingham
People's Summit (for details on the programme, see elsewhere
in this issue of THE OTHER VOICES)
For more information, contact:
Sara Murphy, Co-ordinator
Peoples Summit Secretariat
New Economics Foundation
1st Floor Vine Court, 112 -116 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JE, UK
Tel: +44-171-3775696; Fax: +44-171-3775720
E-mail: sara.murphy@neweconomics.org
--> 16th May : Global Street Party.
Thousands of people in cities around Europe and other parts
of the world will simultaneously be dancing on the streets
transforming privatised enclosed space into Festivals of
Resistance against the car and fossil fuel industry, economic
globalisation and corporate rule
Contact:
Reclaim the Streets!
PO Box 9656 , London N4 4JY, UK
Tel: +44-171-2814621, e-mail: rts@gn.apc.org
--> 18th May : Global Anti-WTO Day.
Parallel to the 2nd Ministerial Conference in Geneva (May 18-20)
Mass protest in Geneva, Europe and all around the world.
For more information : http://www.agp.org
--> June 1998 : Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Alternative Summit (for details on the programme, see elsewhere
in this issue of THE OTHER VOICES)
Contact:
Reclaim Europe!
1 B Waterlow Rd, London N19 5NJ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44-171-2729333, Fax: +44-171-5610800
E-mail: europ@globalnet.co.uk / europ@astra.global.net.uk (both)
Web site: http://www.geocities.com/Rainforest/5581/
__________________________________________________________________
COLOPHON __________________________________________________________________
THE OTHER VOICES is the focal point for discussion and information exchange within the network of EU-critical groups that emerged out of previous alternative summits, notably those at Madrid (December 1995) and the June 1997 Alternative Summit in Amsterdam.
Currently THE OTHER VOICES is been sent out to more than 500 e-mail addresses.
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--> Deadline for the next OTHER VOICES <--
--> MONDAY 20 APRIL 1998 <--
--> Address: ander.europa@xs4all.nl <--
__________________________________________________________________
This issue of THE OTHER VOICES was compiled by Erik Wesselius.
Completed: March 31st 1997. __________________________________________________________________
Contact:
"Marches europeennes contre le chomage, la precarite et les
exclusions"
104, rue des Couronnes
F-75020 Paris France
Tel : +33 1 44 62 63 44
Fax : +33 1 44 62 63 45
E-mail : marches97@ras.eu.org
URL: http://www.mygale.org/02/ras/marches/
Contact: "AC!", France, Voice/Fax: +33-1-43495037, e-mail:
aguiton@sud.unions.eu.org.
Last Modified: April 17, 1998