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ATTAC NEWS
90 (Wednesday 18/07/01)
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Content
1- Don’t be put off by Berlusconi
Hereafter you’ll read the Genoa Social Forum and international organizations official declaration concerning the borders situation. The convergence center is opened since yesterday 24 hours a day near the border of Vintimiglia after Nice at the Beausoleil resting area
2- What mechanisms for global democracy?
Silvio Berlusconi has done us a great favour by showing the world how power works, and also how scared the elites are by the power of the people.
3- Global Trade vs. Global Health
Not only the debt burden could be morally wrong, but also unlawful. Most of the debt crisis, ie the heavy pay-backs to banks and other commercial or governmental agencies, is due to two factors. One being the forced liberalization “advised” by the international financial institutions, the second being corruption and money laundering circuits often similar, even the same, that the official financial ones.
4- A brief from Genoa
The demonstrations will start tomorrow with a march in favor of the rights of the migrants, then on the 20th with blockade of the Red zone, and on the 21st with a huge demonstration of more than 4kms long and 100 000 persons at least. Like the GSF is saying they are 8 and we are 6 000 000 000!
5- Red card for the red zone
Just before the official start of the Red Zone ATTAC organized a football match in a Piazza within the forbidden zone to denounce the city militarization.
6- WTO Tidbits
Planning an agenda for Doha still awaits consensus; public opinion on pharmaceutical patents inflects US policy in dispute with Brazil; the ILO accepts to take a leading part on the social dimension of globalization; and civil society organisations make radical demands of the EU. |
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ATTAC NEWS
89 (Wednesday 11/07/01)
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Content
1- Invitation from ATTAC Italia
No need to RSVP just to be here, in Genoa. Here is the presentation of the different events and general advices.
2- ATTAC will fly and some other news
Already things are starting to be set as far as demonstrations, places to be and to stay, conferences and so on. The Italian movements have built a wide coordination that is helping to show unity on front of the G8. At the border there will be also a convergence center to help everyone to pass it and arrive in Genoa on time.
3- Genoa - Unlawful debt or financial crime against human development.
Not only the debt burden could be morally wrong, but also unlawful. Most of the debt crisis, ie the heavy pay-backs to banks and other commercial or governmental agencies, is due to two factors. One being the forced liberalization “advised” by the international financial institutions, the second being corruption and money laundering circuits often similar, even the same, that the official financial ones.
4- From July the 19th till the 21st, in Genoa, face to G-7, general mobilisation!
There is a time to discuss and talk, think, build proposals and this time will happen in Genoa. But there is also a time to mobilize and be in the streets, a time to show our determination, our strength, but also our imagination and our coordination, well this time too will happen in Genoa.
5- Know your rights
For those of you that are planning to come to Genoa, please read this to be informed on your rights.
6- Another world is possible
So far about sixty Members of the European Parliament have committed themselves to set up an international parliamentary network. It was launched at Porto Alegre, at the end of the first parliamentary world forum last January and it is slowly taking shape.
7- WTO Tidbits
India lists its do's and don'ts for Doha, while the EU begs to differ from US proposals. Meanwhile, Italy's Berlusconi gets pre-Genoa jitters - and in Columbia, tragedy momentarily gives way to farce. |
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ATTAC NEWS
88 (Wednesday 04/07/01)
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Content
1- World Bank Nervous over Growth of Bond Boycott
The World Bank Bonds Boycott marked its one-year anniversary in April 2001 with an announcement that nearly 30 entities throughout the U.S., including city governments, trade unions, churches and investment firms, have committed not to buy World Bank bonds. Officials at the World Bank are getting the jitters. At the same time we learned that during the mobilizations against the G8 meeting, symbolic actions will occur in the city. (More details soon)
2- Genoa Social Forum, alternatives and resistance
As we come closer to the events, information are starting to be more accurate. The GSF will start July 15 in Genoa, the city that is supposed to welcome the G8 Summit July 20 and 21. We will discuss and work on alternatives and proposals: another world is possible as we like to say when the only politics made are corporate driven ones.
3- WTO Tidbits
China's path to WTO entry is cleared of obstacles, while tensions develop between China, Japan and the US at the APEC forum. Meanwhile in the West, the EU Plan for Sustainable Development (a contribution to the RIO+10 summit in September) gets seriously watered down - although, at the TACD, US and EU consumers make joint demands on governments. At the WTO, reform of the Dispute Settlement Body looks to go ahead with less opposition than expected.
4- Tobin Tax on the agenda of the ECOFIN Council agenda for Liege
In answer to the appeal put forward by the ONGs, particularly 11.11.11, ATTAC and the Belgian action networks against financial speculation, we are hoping that tens of thousands of people will demonstrate peacefully in favour of the Tobin tax at Liege in September 2001 at the time of the ECOFIN Council. The Member States should not block the initiative of the Belgian Presidency but should on the contrary seize this opportunity to jointly promote within the heart of the international institutions the establishment of a tax on financial transactions.
5- Belgian presidency of the European Union
It is at least the moment and ATTAC's responsibility, with the Belgian presidency of the EC, with ECOFIN meeting in Liege in September and especially European summit of the chiefs of state and government in December to Laeken-Bruxelles, to get together the maximum of citizens and political organisations favouring another Europe, a social, ecological, democratic and united Europe.
6- Police Brutality
The participants at the Asia-Pacific solidarity conference had therefore become hostages of the Indonesian crisis. The Islamic militia justified the attack on the globalization seminar in the name of anti-communism. It also claimed we desired to disrupt the meeting of the MPR (the assembly of people who are granted the exclusive power to render a president destitute) set to take place in two months; next august! |
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ATTAC NEWS
87 (Wednesday 27/06/01)
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Content
1- After the events at Gothenburg
We printed one wrong fact last week: the demonstrator was not shot in the back but from the front. All around Europe discussions have tried to explain the facts, to evaluate consequences. All around Europe actions when demonstrating are viewed as peaceful, especially for Genoa. However there are differences on analyzing the events, and drawing conclusions from them. Non-violence is not quite the issue, since we want it to reinforce our messages and our calls, but the police reactions and legal violence, is. Here is the declaration made by ATTAC France concerning Gothenburg.
2- I was at Gothenburg
Here is Susan George’s point of view concerning Gothenburg. In fact it was published in French at the same time as Christophe Aguiton’s piece published in English last week. The two points of view started a very useful and interesting week with exchanges of views by readers of the French newsletter. Like it was explained there is no two different views on violence: every one is favoring non violence, but there is a variety of differences on perceiving the events.
3- The violence at Gothenburg and Barcelona
The problem of violence is central since Genoa is approaching and we all want to make it a full success with 100 000 peaceful demonstrators in the streets of the Italian city. This is why the views expressed here are important, although personal.
4- Genoa – Resisting as women
To acquiesce to the political economy put forth by, among others, the G7, is to accept the massive lay-offs, unemployment, and the exploitation of women, workers and children in the poorest countries. It means accepting that the world, with its cities, its countryside, its men and women, its languages and cultures, submit to the law of the market.
5- Culture and knowledge are not for sale
Even before the communication invasion took our ways of life by storm, grassroots organizations had begun to understand how communications can be used as strategic tools for favorable action in a more democratic and pluralistic society. This was the idea that led to the creation of the Communication Forum, which took place during the second People’s Summit in Quebec, Canada, the third week of April, prior to the presidential summit in which the Free Trade of the Americas Area (FTAA) agreements were discussed.
6- WTO Tidbits
Developing countries' adjustment difficulties are recognised by a WTO committee - while a transnational company airs its views on state rughts to refuse investments; a US production slowdown and its world-wide consequences are predicted; the US wants changes in the trade dispute settlement system; the Ministerial Declaration on the Evironment gets mired in disputes; and a debate begins on the merits of including investments in WTO rulings.
7- Stop Sale !
In New Guinea thousands of protesters have stopped IMF and WB policies and reforms. |
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ATTAC NEWS
86 (Wednesday 20/06/01)
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Content
1- The violence at Gothenburg
In Gothenburg besides the tens of thousand peaceful demonstrators and the successful mobilizations, a handful of persons disturbed the city violently crushing windows in particular. For the first time in Europe the police shot demonstrators. One of them was hit in the back and is in a critical state, others were injured. The debate on violence therefore started. This is one of the opinions.
2- From Gothenburg During the counter-summit hundreds of different groups gathered together. This was also a time for all the ATTACs in Europe to organize a meeting.
3- Hunger Strike ATTAC Tunisia ATTAC Tunisia, RAID in Tunisia, has problems since its creation with the Tunisian Government. Last year its president was jailed. Now they have started a hunger strike to protest against the fact that Tunisia by holding back their passport, are keeping them in fact in a “civil jail”.
4- WTO Tidbits The dismantling of Pakistani state aid to agriculture for the sake of a loan is highlighted this week. The saga of the launch of a new Round goes on; the EU-US dispute on tax concessions to US firms abroad goes to the DSB; more on the US versus Australia/New Zealand dispute on lamb imports; the launch of a World Trade University (!); and an international opinion poll on globalisation.
5- After Dirty Air, Dirty Money The new US government is obviously helping Tax Havens and of course money laundering systems despite their previous stand in international organizations in particular. This new situation is not a mistake but a real stand toward an international financial architecture without rules and laws.
6- Tobin Tax A reunion will be held next week in the European Parliament to discuss the currency transaction tax and the opportunities offered during the Belgium Presidency of the Union.
7- Why We Must Open the Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Boards In this analysis the secrecy of the international financial institutions meetings and decision making process is opposed to national regulations and even development. |
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ATTAC NEWS
85 (Wednesday 13/06/01)
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Content
1- Good Havens! – ATTAC may put the writing on the wall.
A point of view from a Jersey person on the situation made public by ATTAC demonstrating in the island last Saturday. All is not good even in a haven, especially for the locals as the industry, the housing, culture and agriculture seemed to have failed I a big void made of secret deposits and foreign money.
2- Good Havens! – To conclude for now. After a day of mobilizations in Andorra but also in Jersey, ATTAC France Secretary general conclude this day of actions showing its importance as a start but also as a part of a broader campaign. One of the results of the day is the creation of ATTAC Jersey, more than a symbol, the consequence of a drastic difference between the official speeches and the day to day reality of the population.
3- Demands of the IMF & World Bank: 2001. The following demands are being circulated for endorsement in advance of the mobilization at the IMF/World Bank annual meetings in Washington, DC in September/October 2001.
4- Genoa – Don’t miss the bus. This July a red London bus will be traveling from Leeds via London and Paris to Italy for the G8 summit in Genoa. Its mission - to call the leaders of the G8 countries to sign a *New Deal* on debt in Genoa as part of the Drop The Debt campaign (a successor to Jubilee 2000).
5- Africa and International Trade. From the 24 – 28 of May, 2001, we the under mentioned civil society organisations from West, Eastern, Southern, Northern Africa, and the Middle East met in Accra, Ghana. Our objective was to discuss the pressing challenges facing the people in African and other developing countries in the global economic system, and to develop a framework of activities for civil society organisations to confront these challenges.
6- WTO Tidbits. Dissension within the EU, on textiles, and on the launch of a new Round at Doha; the US favour Quad discussions on a new Round - on conditions! No agreement in sight on the Doha agenda. Developing countries demand an impact study before proceeding with services liberalisation; some among them favour a safeguard mechanism capable of being activated in emergency situations
7- ATTAC Finland. The founding event of Attac Finland in the house of the Finnish-Swedish Workers' Institute of Helsinki on May 19-20, 2001, marked the end of a long "incubation period". |
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ATTAC NEWS
84 (Wednesday 06/06/01)
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Content
1- Our World is not for Sale – WTO: Shrink or Sink.
In order to prepare mobilizations around the WTO ministerial in Qatar next November, organizations have issued a call. We invite you to sign it.
2- Good Havens ! – For Justice in International Finance. On June 9th, ATTAC from all over Europe but also unions, will organize a day of mobilization around Tax Havens and thus actions will take place in Jersey and in Andorra. More than a day, a campaign has started “2001. Europe: Tobin Now!” already in France but also in Belgium and elsewhere. From Brussels a call was issued that we would like you to sign (feel free to pass it around in order to gather more signatories).
3- Good Havens! – Judgment over Clearing. An ATTAC group in the European institutions is trying to look into the clearing process. A book published in French put into light what is going on really in international finance.
4- Good Havens! Jersey – Close-up on a tax haven. Jersey is a tax haven. The question is more about how it is organized. That is what this article is trying to explain.
5- Crisis in Turkey. As the Turkish government is negotiating with the World Bank, but also with the US Treasury Department, the conditions for a multi-billions loan, here is a little presentation of the situation. In fact Turkey will undergo radical reforms that will lead in particular to reforms in the agricultural sector, i.e. several tens of thousands peasants laying-off. The Turkish financial crisis, as all the other market attacks on countries will lead obviously to a lean state, a recipe for further privatization and the taking over of the country.
6- The World Belongs to us. Christophe Aguiton is presenting the situation of the world movements against corporate globalization. We have witnessed in the last two years worldwide evolutions in different countries that are leading to a new sense of international resistance and to the uprising a global proposals. World leaders are getting more and more nervous about demonstrators as they grow more and more in number but also in efficiency. Facing the challenges of corporate globalization citizens seem to be the only ones able to propose new ways and solutions.
7- Genoa - Seven Weeks to Go. Drop the Debt is preparing in the UK the Genoa mobilizations that will occur July 19, 20 and 21 during the G8 meeting. You’ll read a presentation of their aims and goals.
8- Debt and Development. A very wide coalition of unions, NGOs and diverse movements re-started a debt campaign in France. Of course their first public appearance will be during the G8 Genoa summit. Here is their reference document. |
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Debt
and Development n°1
First Quarter 2001 |
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ATTAC NEWS
83 (Wednesday 30/05/01)
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Content
1- Funny Things The reality of corporate globalization is giving us a chance to laugh at our own expenses. At the same time the virtual world of magic and wonder of video games will allow the kids of suburban blocks to demonstrate in their room listening to one of the top ten rap music published by one of the major, let’s say Universal Music which just bought MP3.com, the standard for free music on the net. Isn’t this cool?
2- WTO Tidbits This week's Tidbits contains information on the GATS "Necessity test", on the pro's and con's of GMO labelling, on a dispute concerning lamb imports which opposes New Zealand and Australia to the US - and on what is intended as an epilogue to the EU-US banana dispute.
3- GATS & Democracy: an Australian viewpoint The GATS is a major assault on democratic processes around the world. Whereas the barriers to free trade in manufactured goods are largely tariffs, the barriers to trade in services are government laws and regulations. Existing laws and regulations will be open to challenge by any of our trading partners as 'being unnecessarily trade restrictive', and future laws and regulations will have to be framed in the 'least trade restrictive' way possible.
4- The Festival of Resistance in Ljublajna, Slovenia In two weeks Valdimir Putin and W Junior aka George Bush will meet in Slovenia. This event prepared with much enthusiasm by the government will be also an opportunity for some other type of demonstrations.
5- The Right to Life for all People Humanity is sharing some of the Earth wealth like water, air and so on. Nonetheless corporations are inventing new ways to make inequalities growth one of the main source of profit for themselves. It is time for us to realize our wealth and strike back. Life is not for sale and is not a simple gift, it is a right. This article analyzes this process |
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ATTAC NEWS
82 (Wednesday 22/05/01)
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Content
1- Barcelona to Genoa The World Bank canceled its meeting in Barcelona and movements all over Europe are preparing for the G8 Summit in Genoa. You’ll read from the Newsletter team a little update on both.
2- Revolt Against World Bank Rule In Pakistan movements are starting to fight back the rulings imposed to the country by international financial institutions. You’ll read the presentation of the situation written by one of them, Prise.
3- WTO Tidbits In this issue of the WTO tidbits you’ll find among other information, expressed concern about international regulation on GMOs and other agriculture products. Qatar is also setting strict rules for people to come in the country at the WTO ministerial time.
4- Good Havens - The great mutation of capitalism Jorge Beinstein explain how the tax havens, the money laundering and the mafias are changing capitalism. Part of the Casino economy is due to their activities helped by the countries of the “center”, the big economies. The Bush administration withdrew a week ago from the OECD talks around money laundering and tax evasion. The issue is in fact being more and more linked in obvious ways to the politics held by major industrial countries.
5- No to the Nice Treaty ATTAC Ireland is actively involved in the campaign for a “NO” vote in Ireland’s referendum on the Nice Treaty, to be held on June 7th. Speakers from ATTAC have addressed many meetings in Dublin and other parts of Ireland highlighting the dangers to democracy and citizens interests posed by the provisions of the Treaty of Nice. Please help and participate to the campaign.
6- Welcome to Gothenburg in June! The last European Summit under the Swedish government will be held in Gothenburg. ATTAC in Gothenburg is inviting you to join them for several days of actions and demonstrations. |
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ATTAC NEWS
81 (Wednesday 15/05/01)
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Content
1- With Harvard Sit-In Victory, a Movement Continues
After twenty-one days inside the President's office at Harvard University, living wage activists have emerged victorious. Here's why their sit-in not only shook the campus, but signaled an important win for progressives across the country who are fighting globalization battles on the home front.
2- Genoa – Mobilizations are on Their Way
An European meeting was held in Genoa May 4 and 5. The mobilizations are starting all over Europe and movements foresee a larger scale demonstration than the one in Prague or Nice. All the details about where to find information.
3- Good Haven$
June 9 in France actions will occur around Tax Havens in Andorra and Jersey. These are actions are part of a campaign around this issue and the Tobin Tax launched for the year 2001.
4- Good Haven$ - Jersey is scared
The Jersey authorities are getting frantic when they have learned that we are planning a demonstration on their island. Police from Scotland and a special law are on the menu on their side. Pleased but surprises by their over-reaction, it seems that already the message is getting somewhere.
5- Tobin Tax – Steps Forward
In Argentina, parliamentarians are putting forward a discussion to implement the Tobin Tax as a regulation tool but also as a way to finance debt relieve. In Europe, the Belgium government that will head Europe after Sweden in July seems to go forward on the feasibility study that we have asked.
6- Plan to Dump Toxic Waste in Africa
Free trade is never fair trade. The new plans for Africa (certainly not development) is to dump 29 million tons in 11 countries. After being the colonies, after being the forgotten continent on the world agenda, Africa would become a trashcan. Certainly some plan to develop economy and well-being of millions of Africans.
7- ATTAC Spain has been created
Although for a year now ATTACs have existed in diverse Provincias like Catalunya, Madrid, Andalucia, Leon and so on… formally the association didn’t exist nationally. A reunion a month ago started ATTAC in Spain. |
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ATTAC NEWS
80 (Wednesday 09/05/01)
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Content
1- We invite you to demonstrate
2- A Prospect on Fair Trade
3- GATS – A week to understand
4- Put a stop to the dismantling of public services
5- WTO Tidbits
6- Fast Track |
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ATTAC NEWS
79 (Wednesday 02/05/01)
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Content
1- Internal Commission Paper On EU-US Trade Disputes
2- WTO Tidbits
3- Good Havens!
4- ADB in Asia : Creating Poverty through Corporate Colonization
5- Labor Notes Conference Report |
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