November 9, 2001 is an international day of action against the World Trade Organization that will be meeting in Qatar. Montreal's Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC), which helped to mobilize against the Summit of the America's in Quebec City, is planning a series of events, including a teach-in as well as a rally and action on November 9 itself. Below is a schedule of CLAC-organized and affiliated events. All events are free.
[NOTE: The teach-in will include participants of the Common Front against the WTO's "Quebec to Qatar" caravan. Free childcare on site and translation available for French, English and Spanish.]
12-1:30pm
CLAC Workshop - What is Anti-Capitalism?
What does it mean to take an anti-capitalist position? Where does "the" anti-capitalist movement stand after September 11th? How is it and how could it be implicated in building a critical resistance to America's War on Terrorism?
N9 Workshop - What is the WTO and why do we oppose it?
A look at the WTO and its policies — their effects on the environment, public education, and the public sector. How do we continue to build resistance to the WTO and to its policies as we look ahead to N9?
2-3:30pm
PGA - Report on the Peoples' Global Action Network
A look back at the recent gathering in Bolivia of the Peoples' Global Action Network. Concepts and strategies for fighting capitalism in the global community that emerged from that gathering will be presented.
Food Not Lawns - The Globalization of Hunger
A workshop about how 'free trade', patents on life, GMOs, and agricultural dumping create food insecurity worldwide.
AGIR (Action against War, Imperialism and Racism) and Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) - Fighting Racism, Imperialism and War A look into the work that Montreal's AGIR and SPHR have begun. How to get involved and plug-in.
3:30 - 5 pm
N9 Workshop - What is the WTO and why do we oppose it?
A look at the WTO and its policies — into into their effects on the environment, public-education, and the public sector. How do we continue to build resistance to the WTO and to its policies as we look ahead to N9?
6 pm
Free Dinner + Arts and Crafts
A free vegan dinner will be offered to all participants thanks to the Food Not Bombs. Please bring your own tupperware and cutlery if possible. Donations are appreciated. Also, a period of arts and crafts will take place for the making of banners!
Tania Halle, a member of the CLAC, will be on a panel entitled "Indigenous Struggles from Nitassinian to Mexico". She will be joined by Innu elder Anne Charlish.
Newcomers are encouraged to arrive at 6pm for an introduction to CLAC's activities, and how to get involved. On the agenda for the assembly: Last minute plans for N9; Mobilizing against the IMF/WB/G20 in Ottawa on N17; report-back from the People's Global Action (PGA) Conference in Cochabamba, Bolivia; and more. Childcare available. Translation for English-speakers provided.
Rachel Sarrasin of the CLAC was a delegate to the recent Peoples' Global Action conference in Cochabamba, Bolivia. She will be speaking on "Local and Global Resistance". CLAC is a North American convenor for the PGA network. At the PGA Conference in Bolivia, a call-out was made for international actions against the WTO by delegates from Asia, the Pacific region, Latin America, Africa, Europe and North America (see the PGA website at http://www.agp.org).
Rachel's talk will be followed at 4pm by a panel of speakers who are part of the Common Front against the WTO's "Quebec to Qatar" cross-Canada caravan. Speakers include Aleyamma Antony of the World Forum of Fisherfolk in Kerala, India, Jean Harry Clerveau of the Federation of Electrial Worker Unions in Haiti, and Michael C, a journalist with Indymedia in Britain.
Rachel and Tania's talks are part of a week-long series of events at the University of Montreal entitled "Against Apathy and For Uprising" organized by the Anti-Capitalist subcommittee at the university which is a CLAC affinity group.
The CLAC Action Committee is organizing a gathering at Phillips Square (metro McGill) at noon. The demo will be in support of a "rapid occupation" direct action that is part of a day of modest economic disruption. At 4pm, the Montreal N9 Committee, of which CLAC is a part, will be organizing a festive demonstration in downtown Montreal, starting near the old Montreal Forum at the Atwater metro.
The above calendar is not a comprehensive list of N9-related events in Montreal. Info: clac@taktic.org.
CLAC: http://www.quebec2001.net/
Global Action against WTO
List of Actions
The PGA call to action against the WTO
AGP