Globalization
Protests:
Events You Do Not Want to
Miss
Starting this Week in Washington and Moving
Across the Country in the Coming Weeks
Wednesday, April 12th
NOON Rally and Lobby Day against World Trade
Organization (WTO) Expansion to China
The same corporate
interests who sought to expand WTO's agenda by launching a Millennium Round
now seek to expand WTO's membership: China is the target. The U.S. Congress
faces a vote on granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR.) The
corporate coalition is eager to lock in permanent unconditional access for the
goods they seek to produce in China for sale in the US. Activists from the
exiled China democracy movement, international labor unions, environmental and
human rights organizations will flood D.C. in opposition to PNTR. In contrast
to the 300 business lobbyists who conducted a pro-PNTR lobby day last week,
approximately 10,000 PNTR opponents are expected.
East Front of the
U.S. Capitol
Thursday, April 13th
9:00 A.M. Hill Drop of "Propaganda Tour Survival Kit" (Photo Opportunity)
10:30 A.M. Press Conference: The Congressional
Delegation to China Needs a "Propaganda Tour Survival Kit"
Human rights and democracy, animal protection, labor and environmental
leaders will reveal the contents of a "propaganda survival kit" they will
distribute to Members of Congress leaving for China the next morning on an
Administration "tour." The kits include items, such as a Tibetan flag and a
bible, the possession of which have been grounds for arrest by the Beijing
regime as well as a union card, personalized handcuffs, and the hourly wages
of a Chinese worker. The "survival kits" are an accompaniment to a letter
released last week which demands that the Members use the trip to do
independent investigation rather than be the passive subject of a propaganda
tour; the itinerary of the tour is controlled by the Chinese government. The
letter urges the delegation to insist on being allowed to see imprisoned
journalists, religious and labor leaders and to report on the whereabouts of
the 10 year old Buddhist leader, the Panchen Lama. Events are planned in the
Members districts for when they return so that they can brief their
constituents about what they were able to learn.
Location on Capitol
Hill TBA
7:15 P.M. Workers' Freedom Lights
the Way, Candlelight Vigil for Exploited Workers
Thousands
of union members, anti-sweatshop activists, students and others will
participate in the event highlighting the starvation wages and hazardous
working conditions that typify the foreign operations of many US-based
corporations. Under these conditions, foreign investment and trade becomes a
lose-lose proposition for workers in the US and abroad. Members of Congress,
human right activists and United Steelworkers president, George Becker will
speak.
Lafayette Park
Friday, April 14th
9:00 A.M. Departure of Congressional Delegation to China, Andrews Air Force Base
10:00 A.M. International Forum on
Globalization Presents a Teach-In, Beyond Seattle
The
International Forum on Globalization is an alliance of over sixty researchers
and activists from twenty countries, united to conduct public education on the
social, political, cultural, and environmental consequences of the accelerated
shift to a global economy. Speaking will be leading scholars and activists
from around the world. They will discuss the "Triple Threat" of economic
globalization-WTO, IMF, World Bank- institutions which promote a model of
development that allows multinational corporations to make huge profits at the
expense of the environment and the poor.
Foundry United Methodist
Church
1500 16th Street, NW
Sunday April 16th
12:00 DE-FUND THE FUND, BANKRUPT THE BANK, DUMP THE
DEBT! Rally and March
Join
emcee Michael Moore (of Roger & Me) and speakers and musicians from around
the world in a mass rally and march to protest the policies of the
International Monetary Fund and World Bank Endorsers include: Public Citizen,
AFL-CIO, Friends of the Earth, the 50 Years Is Enough Network, ACT-UP
Philadelphia, United Students Against Sweatshops, and hundreds more. These
groups obtained a permit so as to provide an alternative venue for interested
people who will not be involved in the civil disobedience activities also
occurring that day.
At the Ellipse (17th St. and E St., immediately
behind the White House)
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