Dear friends,
As you may be aware the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is holding its 3rd Ministerial Conference in Seattle, USA in November. Since its creation in 1995 the WTO made over100 judgements, "all of which have been anti-worker, anti-environment and pro-maximum profit". We presume that as an organisation you will be aware of the specific problems the WTO creates in your area.
There is already massive opposition to the WTO and it is expected that Seattle will see a major mobilisation, particularly around Nov. 30th. A huge downtown rally of 100,000 is expected on this day as well as hundreds of activists taking direct action to close off the area in which the conference is taking place.
A call has also gone out for global solidarity actions on that day. As of 19th Oct. actions are planned in 18 countries on and around Nov. 30th. In Dublin a group of us around the Irish Mexico Group, Latin American Solidarity Centre and TCD One World Society have decided to try and build a coalition here to act in solidarity with those in Seattle. We are hoping your organisations will take part in this coalition.
More details of what is planned are over leaf. We would emphasise three things at this stage
1. We are calling for action on the basis of opposition to the WTO but we are leaving it to each organisation to define why it opposes the WTO.
2. Our emphasis is on directly addressing the public and co-ordinating actions for Nov. 30th.
3. At this stage the exact form of what will be done remains open and indeed for Nov. 30th itself we would see it important that each group organises its own actions.
If you are willing to take part we would request you reply to this letter. Please see over the page for more details. Please feel free to copy this letter and pass it on to other organisations
Contact us in any of the following ways
Post: No to WTO, c/o LASC, 5 Merrion Row, Dublin 2 Phone: 6760435 Fax: 6760435 Email: lasc@iol.ie (put WTO at start of subject line)Please note: This list is only at the stage of formation. We would request both ideas and active participation from your organisation. If possible please send a delegate to the next 'No to WTO' meeting on Nov' 1st. At the very least please complete and return the form below.
Saturday 27th November 13:00
Information stalls and rally at the central bank plaza.
We are asking each organisation to bring information for distribution to the public to the Central Bank plaza, Dame Street.
The symbolic significance of the Central Bank is obvious. We have also chosen this location as the plaza has undergone a major re-construction designed to deny the public access. In their own words "We regularly have important visitors and it doesn't exactly give the right impression". Although they have emphasised teenagers meeting on the steps as their 'problem' as many of you will also know the steps have been used in the past as a handy platform for rallies and demonstrations.
Using the plaza will thus demonstrate that we refuse to accept their 'profit before people' ethos. As well as having a stall/posters/etc we are asking each organisation contacted to provide a speaker to explain what you do and what your specific problems with the WTO are.
Part of the intention is to also provide a place at which those of us working on different issues can meet up and perhaps build links for the future.
Tuesday 30th November
Various actions to take place in solidarity with Seattle.
The core idea for Tuesday is for existing organisations and specially formed groups to plan their own actions for the day. We leave it open to you what you consider to be the most appropriate activities and locations for these. Where it's wanted we will co-ordinate information about what is happening. Also if you need extra people for particular projects we will circulate the groups involved to try and find others with the required skills etc.
We leave it open to the future meetings of 'Not to WTO' to which your invited to decide if some central activity would also be a good idea (e.g. a march on the Financial Services Centre).
Suggested actions could include: - street theatre * leafleting particular workplaces * hanging banners off buildings / cranes * pickets/occupations * YOUR IDEA HERE
Organisation name:
Address:
Telephone/Fax:
Email:
Web page:
Contact Person:
(The name and phone number of the person from your organisation we should contact)
We will send a delegate to the next 'No to WTO' meeting, 7pm 1st Nov in LASC
YES / NO / DON'T KNOW (Please circle)
We will have information at the November 27th rally
YES / NO / DON'T KNOW (Please circle)
We are planning out own action for November 30th
YES / NO / DON'T KNOW (Please circle)
If yes and you want this advertised in advance please include details below.