[Scpg] [starhawk] Our report on organizing for Cancun Mexico on September 10-15.

[Phat Wolf]

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>From: Wesley Roe and Marjorie Lakin Erickson <lakinroe at silcom.com>
>To: scpg at arashi.com, ccpg at arashi.com, sdpg at arashi.com
>Subject: [Scpg] [starhawk] Our report on organizing for Cancun Mexico on 
>September 10-15.
>Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 21:09:31 -0700
>
>The next ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization will take 
>place in Cancun, Mexico on September 10-15.  From the 8th on, a huge 
>mobilization will greet the meeting with creative protest and visions of 
>alternatives.  The governments involved in the WTO are going into this 
>meeting with strong disagreements on key areas such as agriculture.  Many 
>of the key elements that derailed the Seattle ministerial are in 
>place‹strong internal divisions, heavy opposition, and, we hope‹a powerful 
>presence of resistance in the streets.  Below is our report on some of the 
>preliminary organizing we did last week in Cancun and Mexico City.
>
>If you can come to Cancun, do!  Internationals are needed and wanted, and 
>it will be an incredible opportunity to meet and work with people from the 
>global south, from students to campesinos.
>
>If you can¹t come to Cancun, consider donating some money to help students 
>and campesinos from Mexico come.  Cancun was chosen because it is isolated, 
>expensive and inaccessible.  Students and campesinos, the major groups 
>mobilizing, have little money but much courage and determination.  Many 
>would like to come, but can¹t afford to.  With support and solidarity from 
>the north, however, we can mount a large and effective mobilization that 
>can derail the meeting.
>
>And if this ministerial fails it will be the third failure in a row, 
>dealing a potentially fatal blow to the organization.  The struggle for 
>global justice will still continue on many fronts, but the tide will have 
>turned.
>
>You¹ll find information on how to donate money at the end of this report, 
>as well as information on the organizing and the actions.  Thanks for your 
>support, Starhawk.
>
>
>Cancun Report:
>
>
>Lisa Fithian and Starhawk from RANT went to Mexico from July 27 ­ August 
>7th where we met with organizers and local activists in Cancun and with 
>campesino organizers in Felipe Carillo Puerto, three hours south.  We went 
>to Mexico City on Aug. 1st and spent the weekend with students at an 
>encampment focused on the WTO and then attend a three day gathering meeting 
>of Via Campesino.  We also met with lawyers coordinating the legal support 
>for the September mobilization.    Our primary interest was plans for 
>nonviolent direct action.  Here is a quick summary of what we learned:
>
>In Cancun itself:
>
>Cancun is a new city that was created as a tourist center for the Mexican 
>economy.  As such there is no history of social movements or many activist 
>based organizations.  And thus few organizers have much direct action 
>experience.
>
>The Comite de Bienvenida or the Welcoming Committee in Cancun is focusing 
>on logistics - finding spaces for camping and the forums as well as food.   
>They are also working with the global network of NGO¹s called Our World is 
>Not for Sale in organizing the forums, fair trade fair, etc.  There is more 
>than enough work for what is basically a small group of people and they 
>have been having trouble locking down specifics.  They are negotiating with 
>the city but there are only so many places for up to 10,000 people to camp.
>
>Another local Cancun group, more youth and arts is emerging and they are 
>focused on organizing youth and beginning to do outreach and mobilization 
>in the local community. They are very interested in bring a cultural 
>component to the streets in the form of puppets, drum processions and so 
>on.  They have a base that hang in the Parque las Palapas which is the 
>cultural center of Cancun City
>
>Puente de Cancun is a small group of internationals sponsored by Global 
>Exchange that is 1) providing info bulletins to the world, 2) organizing 
>the media convergence and 3) serving as a link to internationals.
>
>We felt that a convergence space for organizing and supporting the street 
>actions is needed, and Mike, who was working with the Puente, was very, 
>very helpful to us, and is looking into housing/convergence space.    We 
>are fundraising to help cover the costs and people can make donations to 
>RANT in order to secure one.  More info below.
>
>Two of the students from Mexico City are also going down to Cancun this 
>week and will be on the ground organizing from now on.  They both have a 
>good bit of direct action experience which is great.
>
>Finally on Cancun ­ the criminalization campaign has begun.  There were 
>daily articles about foreign instigators, over 200,000 coming, about folks 
>bringing explosives and so on.  The usual.   But this all has a chilling 
>effect.  Also two years ago at the WEF protests the police were pretty 
>brutal so there is a memory of that and some desire on the part of the 
>Comite not to see direct actions.   All of this is evolving however as it 
>is clear that there are different sectors with different visions and 
>plansŠ..
>
>
>Students:
>
>The student activists we worked with are great and inspiring and 
>experienced, sophisticated organizers.  Over the weekend encampment, they 
>formed a new group, Alianza Global S-9/Global Alliance S-9, to be a 
>coordinating body for all the groups planning street actions particularly 
>on the 9th.
>
>They came from numerous groups and several cities and have some clear ideas 
>about what they would like to see happen.  While many want to go it is very 
>expensive since the whole trip will be about 10 days with bus travel and 
>all.   The students are hoping that international activist will contribute 
>to help reduce the individual cost thereby allowing more to go.
>
>They are writing a letter and where people can send money, but short of 
>that RANT is also willing to help get money where it needs to go.  (Info 
>below)
>
>
>
>Campesinos:
>
>Via Campesino and its related Mexican compesino organizations, (UNORCA 
>being one of the main ones) are planning to mobilize 5-10,000 people. 
>Again, numbers depend partly on money.   They are organizing their own 
>forums on the 8th and 9th and then planning a day of action on the 10th 
>which is the opening day of the Ministerial and the day focused on 
>agriculture.
>
>They are planning actions across the hemisphere to disrupt international 
>commerce as well as a plan to march to the Convention Center to deliver a 
>declaration.  Their intention is to get inside to read it.
>
>They will march on September 10 and probably support whatever actions take 
>place on September 9 although it seems unlikely that they will take a major 
>role in them.  The student made a proposal to them and they have a big 
>meeting soon to make a final determination on their plans.
>
>
>
>The rough calendar:
>
>8/30     Festival in Cancun, Student trainings in Mexico Citu
>9/1     Convergence Center opens we hope
>9/2    Alternative Media-Tech Convergence
>9/4     Student busses leave Guadalajara.
>9/5    Student busses leave Mexico City.
>9/6    Training Weekend, evening assemblies/spokes begin
>9/8    Students arrive in Cancun, evening Assembly to plan actions.  
>Compesino Forums
>begins
>9/9     WTO delegates begin to arrive.  Proposed action day.  Actions will 
>depend on
>numbers and logistics, but some powerful ideas are in the works.  Compesino
>forums begin, NGO Opening Forum.
>9/10    Ministerial Opens, focus on agriculture.  March and possible 
>actions by Via
>Campesino.
>Alternative Trade Fair ­ through the 12th  out on the island
>9/ 11    Zapatista Encuentro
>Dia de la lutoÐmemorials for victims of war and violence, anniversary of 
>the coup
>in Chile as well as 9-11 in U.S.,  Street processions, offrendas, 
>cacerolazo
>(beating pots and pansÐa South American political tradition), and a Chilean 
>pena
>at night are suggestions.
>9/12    Services under discussion at ministerial: suggestion to be in the 
>streets of Cancun
>City offering services to peopleÐfree food, water, medical care, etc.
>9/13    Mass March against War and Free Trade.
>9/ 14    Ministerial Closes, possible Fiesta on the beaches?
>9/15    Mexican Independence Day
>
>
>Other aspects:
>
>Legal:  Legal support is being organized by a Mexican human rights 
>organization.  We met with their representatives who seem to have a great 
>plan.   They will aid internationals who have problems with immigration and 
>provide support for the actions, and they seem to have this base well 
>covered.  A legal Handbook is almost complete that will be translated into 
>English and put on line on the Comite¹s webpage.
>
>Medical: Various teams of street medics are coming down from the U.S. and 
>we believe that this, too, will be well covered.
>
>Housing:  Campsites for the major moblizations of campesinos and students 
>are still being negotiated.  We have people looking for houses to rent for 
>groups of internationals and for a convergence space, but don_t yet have 
>anything confirmed.
>
>Visas:   The Mexican government is requiring a special visa for accredited 
>journalists and delegates who will be entering the Conference Center area, 
>but we have been told that unaccredited people should just come on a 
>regular tourist visa.  Passports are required for those flying into Mexico.
>
>Weather ­ hot, hot, hot, oppressive or rain, rain, rain.  Come prepared!  
>Mosquitos also can be a problem, so some good nontoxic bug juice could come 
>in handy.
>
>Theft:   Theft is a big problem in Cancun and Mexico City.  We recommend an 
>under-your-shirt money belt for your passport and cash and a wary eye when 
>on busses, the subway, or in crowds.  Don¹t¹ bring anything of real value 
>or consider insuring it.  The Puente House was just broken into and 
>computer equipment etc stolen.
>
>There are cheap internet café¹s everywhere!
>
>What¹s Needed from Internationals:   Being there! Cancun is hard to get to 
>for a lot of Mexicans, and internationals are needed and welcome in order 
>to get the numbers we need for a large-scale mobilization.  Internationals 
>present will also change the dynamic with the police the Mexicans believe.
>
>Fundraising:   Funding is needed to bring more students and campesinos to 
>the actions.  Anyone who can¹t come is be encouraged to make as big or as 
>small a donation as possible.  RANT will help get the money to Mexican 
>student organizations or convergence space.
>
>$100 will sponsor one student¹s travel costs to Cancun.  We also need money 
>for supplies for the permaculture projects, art supplies, flyers, etc.  
>Even small amounts can help.
>
>Tax deductible donations can be made to:
>Daughters/Sisters Foundation (Make check out to Daughters/Sisters, earmark 
>it RANT/CANCUN)
>PO Box 4492
>Rolling Bay, WA 98061
>EIN: 91-188-5041A
>
>OR if you do not need a tax-deduction send money directly to:
>
>Lisa Fithian
>1405 Hillmont St.
>Austin, TX 78704
>
>Checks made out to RANT and what you want it to go for on the memo 
>line!!!!!
>
>
>Action Support and Coordination: Experienced people who can help coordinate 
>actions, run communications, and volunteer as legal observers or to help 
>staff the legal office will be extremely useful.  Spanish may be a 
>requirement for some roles.
>
>A few links:
>Comite de Bienvenida   www.cancuncommittee.org
>Indymedia Cancun:   http://chiapas.mediosindependientes.org/
>Mexican Space / NGO¹s    http://www.rmalc.org.mx/
>Fair Trade Symposium:  
>http://laneta.apc.org/pipermail/acancun-l/2003June/000176.html
>The WTO official web-site (http://www.wto.org/)
>
>
>
>Contacts:
>
>Puente de Cancun:--bridge to internationals/organizing media convergence
>998 887 9326
>noomc at buz.org
>
>Juventude Global‹local Cancun youth/cultural organizing
>Hector Rodriguez      (52) 998 896 1822
>
>Student organizing:
>Alianza Global S-9   ags9 @yahoo.com
>
>Everardo 0445551536067
>kapitalbailable at hotmail.com
>
>Legal
>
>Comision de Derechos Humanos y Abogados
>C/0Wolf
>Cancundh at hotmail.com
>
>Juan Antonio Vega
>5523 9992
>redtdt at redtdt.org
>cancunddhh at hotmail.com
>
>
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