Civil Society Activities
A Proposal for a Civil Society Delegation to Doha from IATP.
First day of the WTO MEETING in QATAR FRIDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2001, 11.30 am PICKET THE QATAR EMBASSY 1 South Audley Street, London W1 Nearest tube New Bond St on the Central and Jubilee lines
Join Labor Unions, Women’s Groups, Environmentalists, Youth Activists, and Civil Society Organizations in Beirut for “THE WORLD FORUM ON THE WTO,” Beirut, Lebanon - 6 to 8 November 2001. 3 days of meetings, workshops, teach-ins, and cultural events organized by: The Arab NGO Network for Development, the Lebanese Platform on the WTO.
There is now an operational web-site providing info on the major public rally etc. in November in Sydney (Australia), protesting against the WTO-Qatar meeting. The URL of the web-site is: http://www.sydneyrally.org/
Exciting news! Many countries around the world are planning local actions during the WTO New Round in Doha, Qatar this Nov. 9-13. In Canada, the Common Front on the WTO (CFWTO) is launching a cross-country campaign building toward a DAY of ACTION on Nov. 9 as part of an international WEEK of ACTION Nov. 8-13. Following the protests in Seattle and the mass demonstrations that have taken place at various sites since then, this is an important moment to show opposition in our own communities. Outlined below are the different parts of the campaign to get involved with.
QUEBEC TO QATAR CARAVANS The ‘Quebec to Qatar’ cross-country caravans will both be launched on Oct. 2 from Regina, Saskatchewan and St. Johns, Newfoundland to arrive in Ottawa on Nov. 9. Broad public forums will be held the same time as each caravan launch and in Toronto Nov. 2. Please look over the route mapped out below and start thinking about activities that can be organized in your community during a caravan stop (such as rallies, workshops, town hall meetings, public forums, MP visits, outside video screenings, tour of key corporations and critical mass rides). The caravan will include national leaders, local activists and leaders from the South (Latin America, the Middle East and Africa).
TO INDICATE INTEREST IN A CARAVAN STOP: Email: caravan@wtoaction.org Register on line: http://wtoaction.org/registration/
QUEBEC TO QATAR’ CARAVANS: Preliminary Route with SUGGESTED Stops
WEST CARAVAN LAUNCH: Oct. 2 Regina, Saskatchewan with Public Forum
Oct. 2-5 NORTHERN-MID SASKATCHEWAN: Saskatoon…
Oct. 5-8 NORTHERN-MID ALBERTA: Edmonton… Red Deer… Jasper
Oct. 8-18 BRITISH COLUMBIA: Prince George… South to Vancouver… Over to Vancouver Island… Southern BC
Oct. 18-20: SOUTHERN ALBERTA: Calgary… Lethbridge… Medicine Hat
Oct. 21-23 SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN: Swift Current… Moose Jaw…
Oct. 24-27 MANITOBA: Brandon… Winnipeg
Oct. 28-Nov. 9 NORTHERN ONTARIO: Thunder Bay… North Bay… Sudbury
Nov. 2: Convergence in Toronto with Public Forum
EAST CARAVAN LAUNCH: Oct. 2 St. Johns, Newfoundland with Public Forum
Oct. 4-9 NEWFOUNDLAND
Oct. 10-15 NOVA SCOTIA
Oct. 16-22 NEW BRUNSWICK and PEI
Oct. 23- 31 QUEBEC
Nov. 2- Nov. 9 SOUTHERN ONTARIO
Nov. 2: Convergence in Toronto with Public Forum
POLITICAL ACTION There will be a week of intense LOBBYING of key MPs Oct. 9-12 to keep the pressure on government leading up to Qatar (exactly a month before the Qatar meeting). The key piece to the campaign will be a ‘travel permit’ with a list of demands that we’ll be asking thousands to sign.
CORPORATE RESEARCH Research is being done on the key corporations behind the WTO agenda. These corporations will be exposed through the fall campaign and could serve as potential action sites on Nov. 9.
MATERIAL Materials for the campaign will include the Travel Permit, WTO video, Corporate card game, Corporate profile stickers, Buttons/ Posters and an Information kit. Materials will be available by early September.
Join the campaign! PLEASE FORWARD this note to people and organizations you think would be interested. Also, let people know that they can sign onto the CFWTO mailing list through our website: http://wtoaction.org/cfwto
After what happened in Genoa and the G8 leaders commitment to launch a New Round at the WTO, we must let them know that barricading the WTO meeting will not quell public opposition to their agenda. They can run, but they can’t hide!
Anna Dashtgard, Organizer for the Common Front on the WTO (CFWTO) Phone: 416-53-cfwto (532-3986) Fax: 416-532-6191 Email: cfwto@sympatico.ca Website: http://www.wtoaction.org/cfwto