Simply a question of taking back, together, the future of our world.
An international movement for democratic control of financial markets and their institutions
For a convergence of resistance to neo-liberalism
The Mouvement International ATTAC was created at an international meeting in Paris, on December 11-12, 1998, instigated by an invitation of the French association ATTAC (1). About ten countries from Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe were represented, together with several networks or coordination groups (2). This was only a preliminary work meeting, with determined objectives: testing the prospects of collaboration and common actions for 1999, so as to be able to submit accurate proposals to all the concerned movements.
This meeting offered the opportunity of a collective initial contact, which revealed itself to be very positive. Exchanges between delegations were rich and actually allowed us to specify the general framework of our action and to define a number of concrete proposals. The delegations involved in the December 1998 meeting, - on return to their own countries, - were given the opportunity to discuss and to confirm their commitment. Those commitments are what we would like to present in this text, which is being sent to all the organizations, networks and individuals with whom we have been in contact since the foundation of our association.
I. Three objectives
The December 1998 meeting permitted the definition of three major objectives:
1. Launching of the international ATTAC movement - “ international movement for democratic control of financial markets and their institutions ”.
The platform project of the international movement was examined and improved during the meeting itself, and then finalized by a working group in writing during December 1998. Please note that this platform may be signed either by organizations deciding to join this movement, or by those wishing to collaborate on a regular basis with it, but without belonging to it.
2. Extension of pre-engaged political action, that will favor convergence of networks activities, each in its own domain, against neo-liberal politics and their consequences.
Thus, each initiative should give rise to a reinforcement of links between these networks, creating unified and cumulative dynamics in a long term perspective. This was the case at the end of January, 1999, when several networks shared the preparation of "Alter Davos". This dynamic should be strengthened at the international conference to be held in Paris from 24 to 26 June, 1999. We will be actively involved in this conference.
3. The strongly felt need, by everybody present, for more collective discussions and more efficient circulation of information.
This is both the question of making progress in our own understanding of quickly evolving international situations, as well as specifying the alternatives informing and supplying social movements with some tools.
II. The international movement
The December 1998 meeting noted the current international dynamics. In several different countries (3), organizations similar to ATTAC-France are being set up, each of them with its own national characteristics. A regular collaboration is also being looked into with other movements which fight neo-liberal politics and their social and environmental consequences.
The creation of the "international movement for democratic control of financial markets and their institutions" wants to respond to that dynamic. Referring to the platform, it forms a network, with neither "hierarchical" structures nor a geographical "center". Pluralist, it is enriched by the variety of its components and makes the common action easier without limiting it in any way, nor dictating their freedom of contribution. It aims to reinforce, to link and to coordinate, at an international level, the contribution of all of its partners who see themselves as fitting within the structure of its platform. In the same way, it wishes to reinforce its cooperation with all the other networks whose objectives converge with its own.
Our international movement must be able to join numerous and various partners, in a number of countries and regions in the world: leagues and coalitions, unions, solidarity committees, associations and NGOs, networks of organizations and people, press and research institutes... Such a task cannot be taken over by a central secretariat (which would require heavy financial resources and would also be opposed to our democratic logic) nor by usual communication means (which require too much time and cost too much).
Therefore, for these practical reasons, we must turn to the electronic mail and the InterNet. We do know that some of our partners are not directly connected to the InterNet. We will do our best to send them standard postal mails; but in the present state of things, those dispatches cannot be made on a regular basis. A solution would be that in every participating country, our partners who are connected to the InterNet share with those who are not the benefit of their communication abilities.
III. The convergence of networks.
The question of taxation of capital and of democratic control of financial markets is of new importance since the crisis began in July, 1997. But, as a survey of the situation confirmed during the December meeting, the oppositions to neo-liberal politics are concentrated on different targets, and different countries and regions of the world often do not share the same priorities,: IMF structural adjustment plan, weight of public or private debt, international agreements like NAFTA or IMA, WTO, unequal North-South exchanges, etc...
It is not the ambition of our international movement to replace that diversity. We wish to collaborate with existing networks in order to favor the convergence of popular and democratic mobilizations. Indeed, thanks to such a convergence, we will be able to show a capacity of resistance and of alternatives to the neo-liberal "globalization". The 24-25-26 June conference appears to be an important step in that direction.
IV. Collective reflection and active information.
To inform more widely and to elaborate more collectively: that double requirement became strongly evident during the December 1998 meeting. We must indeed make progress in analysis (for example, on the evolution of international financial structures) as well as in the definition of alternatives. We must also contribute to a better information for the public and to give better tools to social movements. During the meeting, a whole series of themes were mentioned which would be worth discussing in the near future, and to which we will come back later.
Information and elaboration of goals : ATTAC-France is all the more sensitive to these fields of activity, given that several newspapers took part in its foundation and that it created a scientific committee. There is also a question of stating a capacity of counter-evaluation, in face of the prevailing rhetoric.
In this perspective, links are now being established in different countries, with publications, academics or non-academic institutions that want to help social movements through research and knowledge. The international network that we are setting up and the use of the Internet should make that task easier.
We will return to the themes that have been discussed during the December, 1998 meeting. You will find attached a summary of the work already done by ATTAC-France's scientific committee.
The December 1998 meeting opened some perspectives. From now on, the future of the "international movement for democratic control of financial markets and their institutions" depends on all of us.
The international ATTAC Group from France
(1) The Association for a Taxation of Financial Transactions and for Assistance to Citizens. ATTAC was created in June, 1998 by press media, unions, associations and individuals. You may also consult our web site: <http://attac.org>.
(2) Present at the 11-12 December 1998 meeting were delegations from Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, Philippines, Senegal, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Finland, and France,...as well as "Action Mondiale des Peuples", "Coordination against IMA", "Forum pour les alternatives", "Reseau Saprin". As a result of communication delays or logistical hitches, Malaya, Morocco, Russia, and one of the Philippine representatives could not take part as planned in the meeting.
(3). This is more particularly the case in Belgium, in Brazil, in Canada and in Quebec, in South Korea, in Spain, in Italy, in Switzerland....
This document includes two appendix:
- the e-mail <transattac@attac.org>
- the Attac's scientific committee <cs@attac.org>
APPENDIX ‘A’: transattac@attac.org
A specific e-mail address has been established for the global communications of our international movement.
This address will permit us to work together, yet it is not accessible to everyone; only those who have registered will be able to send to, or receive mail from <transattac@attac.org> All mail received at this address is immediately forwarded to all registered users. Intended for the network as a whole, this address will ensure rapid and economicall delivery. Moreover, it assures that our communications remain democratically and transparently visible.
In addition, e-mail addresses of those in partnership with the movement can be provided via our address. Dialogue between two or more targeted groups can thus be arranged while mail to those not concerned, avoided.
To facilitate the operation of this means of communication, it would be helpful if, in each country (or at the international networks associated with ATTAC), there was a dedicated e-mail address which could serve to collectively relay mail.
For example, in France, ATTAC’s international working group’s collective address is <interattac@attac.org> This address receives mail from anyone (it is not necessary to be a registered member) and can distribute it automatically to all members of a working group (providing, of course, they have electronic mail), as well as to ATTAC’s Secretariat in the organization’s office. Besides its practical effectiveness, this system has the advantage of making information available directly, and democratically, to all those concerned.
Furthermore, members of the international working group, in executing their particular responsibilities (notably, in connection with a certain group of countries...), each have their own e-mail address to facilitate contact with only those directly affiliated.
And finally, a wide spectrum of information and communication networks has been put in place by ATTAC-France. Certain electronic addresses are intended to allow an open exchange of information (in distinction to <transattac@attac.org> which is reserved for internal communication in the effective performance of our work). Web sites in several different languages exist on the Internet site with hyperlinks being created between different national sites of members of the international ATTAC movement. More information on this subject will be made available at a later date.
APPENDIX ‘B’: The Scientific Council
Cs@attac.org
The purpose of the scientific council is to produce and disseminate information on the nature of financial transactions in order to promote and direct all levels of action with the view to reclaiming, by citizens, the power that finance exercises over world politics, economics, and society and culture.
The scientific council is a positive feeding ground for individuals who intervene in their role as participants at public meetings and other demonstrations. Files on a particular theme can be built on the basis of a particular demonstration. Their accumulation would eventually constitute an important documentary account.
Long-term, in-depth studies will focus on the clarification and establishment of positions, and foster efforts that bring together the organizations that constitute the platform of convergence. This is a concerted and permanent process and an international action.co-ordination.
The task forces are in place. They have begun their work from an intellectual perspective which must now be developed into concrete proposals for action in the field and their eventual presentation, in the form of draft legislation, to Parliament.
The synergy of the task forces is their ability to join together to achieve more, as a group, than each can do on its own. The local committees are directly related to their own work.
To date, the following groups have been formed:
· Taxation of the currency markets
· Laundering of money and fiscal heavens
· Pension funds
· Appropriation of life by private interests
This list is not exhaustive and other groups are in formation.
Platform of the International Movement ATTAC