Call For Actions Of Resistance And People's Mobilizations Around The
World Against The WTO And Neoliberalism
The fearsome and loathsome World Trade
Organization (WTO) will hold itıs Fifth Ministerial Meeting in Cancun, Mexico,
on September 10 to 14, 2003. They hope
to advance in negotiations on the liberalization of investment, the
privatization of public services, and the total liberalization of agriculture,
among other issues. Everything seems to indicate that the official negotiations
are at a complete stalemate, which gives us an historic opportunity to
precipitate itıs total collapse as an institution especially since this would
be the third straight failed ministerial that, if the proposed agreements
were to be signed, would mean a death sentence for the countryside in all
countries of the world. In Mexico today, official spokespersons for the Mexican
government publicly recognized that reaching agreement in Cancun is highly
unlikely, because of that lack of consensus among governments. Via Campesina
believes that actions of peoples' resistance and mobilizations around the world
are fundamental as we did in Seattle to deliver new and powerful blows to the
WTO and to neoliberalism.
Via Campesina calls on all its member
organizations, friends and allies to redouble their efforts and carry out
actions in every country, such as:
Mobilizations, blocking of highways,
border crossings, ports and airports, to impede the passage of goods,
especially products of multinationals like Nestlé, Coca Cola, Monsanto,
Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, etc.
* Organize fraternal exchanges between
people at international border crossings.
* Hold sit-ins and protests in symbolic
locations.
* Release statements and hold press
conferences, send messages and bring pressures to bear on governments so they
donıt sell out and so they stick to independent negotiating positions in favor
of the sovereignty of peoples.
* Hold vigils and carry out symbolic
acts, open discussions, and educational events.
* Carry out other actions and activities
that may be considered relevant.
For the Via Campesina the main day of
actions should be September 10th, which will probably be the day for
agricultural negotiations in the official meeting of the WTO in Cancun.
Although in any event the protests and actions will be carried out throughout
the week of September 9 to 14. It is
very important to report internationally on the actions carried out in each
country.
In Mexico, the Via Campesina will organize
an independent farmer and indigenous peoples' space in Cancun, where we will be
united, in solidarity, and mobilized, with international delegations and
Mexican peasant and indigenous peoples' organizations, as well as allied organizations
and friends from all over the world. The International
Farmers' Forum will be held on September 8
and 9, with an open program of workshops, discussion roundtables, presentations,
exchanges, etc., supported by a Peasant and Indigenous Peoples' Encampment. On
September 10 we will lead a multitudinous peasant and indigenous peoples' march
and protest, which will end in front of the Convention Center, where the official
negotiations take place. We will also organize and/or participate in other
actions, either alone and/or with other social forces present in Cancun, in
addition to participating in the march of all sectors on September 13.
Throughout the week there will be diverse joint actions with other sectors.
We fully expect to celebrate another
victory for the social movements who are struggling tenaciously against
neoliberalism and international financial institutions and in favor of peoples'
food sovereignty.
Contact Information:
Mexico: National Union of Regional
Autonomous Peasant Organizations
(UNORCA) for information related to the
Forum:
forocampesino@laneta.apc.org For
logistical information and/or to make financial contributions toward the
Farmers' Forum:
International: International Operational
Secretariat, Via Campesina:
viacam@gbm.hn,
and nico.verhagen@t-online.de
Website:
Thanks for informing us about actions and
activities in your country so that we can share and publish these at the
international level. Please send your information to nico.verhagen@t-online.de with copy
to viacam@gbm.hn We will publish this
information at a regular basis on our web site www.viacampesina.org and through our
listserves.
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