As proposed during the first European PGA conference we ask all paricipants to look at the gender aspects of each thematic area.
The chosen thematic areas and the elaboration given with each thematic area are of course arbitrary and by no means static. Dividing into different areas is, firstly, a way of structuring the content of the conference and, secondly, an attempt to interpret the 'sustained campaigns' suggested in Cochabamba (where the 3rd worldwide conference of the PGA took place) in terms of our European reality. In Leiden we would like to discuss whether there is enough enthusiasm for the formation of permanent PGA organizing and discussion areas.
An important question for the agenda in Leiden: what strategies are needed in order to most effectively strengthen our struggle for radical change of present social relations? In recent years, anti-summit protests have brought millions of people to action. The illusion of the "sacred" market is becoming increasingly shattered. The support for criticism of capitalism, and the institutions that serve it, is seemingly increasing all the time. This means that there are many possibilities for us, but there are also hidden dangers. Authoritarian anti-capitalists, right-wing populists and left-wing reformers are trying to use our movement in order to fulfill their own hunger for power. There are many people who share (parts of) our criticism of capitalism and transnational institutions, but who are not necessarily struggling for non-hierarchical, grassroots alternatives to global capitalism. How do we respond and relate to other political tendencies and processes within the movement against capitalist globalisation ?
There are many important issues for discussion and debate. Under the cloak of the war against terrorism, repression of those who 'don't toe the line' is becoming heavier and more serious. Large parts of society, not coincidentally the poor, are becoming criminalised. The social movements who dare to criticise these developments are quickly connected with 'terrorism'. Many of our friends have already become victims of the witchhunt for those who 'don't toe the line'. People are being beaten up by cops, kicked out of their homes, held back at borders, and locked up; and the end of criminalisation is nowhere near in sight. All the more reason to deliberate about future strategies and tactics.
Another important agenda item is the functioning of the PGA network itself. PGA started in 1998 as a world-wide network. The only formal PGA structure that exists is that of the regional convenors, the network coordinators. They are chosen at the world-wide meetings of the network. There are also several, more or less functioning, regional 'support groups', which have mainly helped convenors organise the conferences but have no formal status. The present structure is far from ideal and we need to discuss improvements, particularly in terms of how we organize in Europe. In September 2001, the decision was taken that the regional PGA networks should be able to operate autonomously, and with this, a regional, in our case European, organisational structure was called for. One of our goals is to advance this process during the up-coming conference. A start was already made during the PGA convenor and Support meeting by starting a number of open technical working groups, which would serve the function of a European Support Group.
Conference location and dates
The conference will take place in Leiden, The Netherlands.
Leiden is the home of the Eurodusnie collective http://eurodusnie.nl.
Eurodusnie has taken on the PGA convenorship together with the Movimento de Resistencia Global from Catalonia. Leiden is a small, relaxed university town. It's only a 15-minute ride from the coast and is close to cities such as Utrecht, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The conference will take place in a number of locations spread throughout the citycenter. Apart from in two squatted autonomous zones or 'Vrijplaatsen', the conference will be held in four regular cultural centres that will let us have the buildings for next-to-nothing. The programme of the PGA conference starts on Saturday the 31st of August and ends on Wednesday the 4th of September. The arrival date is the 30th of August and the date of departure is the 5th of September.
Publicity and finances
The organisers of the 2nd European PGA conference are working on a tight budget. This is probably a familiar story for most participating organisations, and that's why it doesn't cost anything to take part in the conference. We ask that badly-off organisations that can't come because of financial reasons, get in touch with us. We ask those better-off organisations who would like to sponsor a poorer colleague to get in touch as well. We would appreciate it if you would like to help us finance the conference by donating money or by organising benefits, which is also a great way of spreading the word about the conference. Help us to publicise the conference. Make posters and flyers, and place an announcement in alternative newspapers in your area.
Getting involved in the preparation
We welcome peoples' analysis, suggestions and contributions for debate. For the purpose of preparing the different parts of the conferenceprogram we have created seven mailinglists, one mailinglist for the each of the seven thematic areas. If you want to get involved please let us know at infopgaconferentie (a) eurodusnie.nl (subject: “getting involved”) We are curently working on a conference-website that enables people to publish their discussionpapers themselves. The webaddress is http://www.pgaconference.org.
Since not everyone has access to the internet, we are asking people who do, if they will do their best to ensure that this invitation is spread in as many different ways as possible in their areas. We invite each group or collective that subscribes to PGA's principles to become active in preparing the second European PGA conference. We can only make this a success together!
Taking part in the conference
There are three parts to the application process: the invitation that you are reading now, the questionnaire and the application form. We are asking that the questionnaire and the application form be sent in by the 1st of August at the latest.
More information
General information about the conference: infopgaconference(a)eurodusnie.nl
Applications: aanmeldingpgaconferentie(a)eurodusnie.nl
Responses to the questionnaire: mrginternacional(a)gmx.net
PGA conference website: http://www.pgaconference.org
Transfer account for donations: 8406240 c.o. WEGGEEF WINKEL post office
box 2228 2301 CE Leiden The Netherlands
Address: PGA Workgroup/Eurodusnie
Postbus 2228
2301 CE Leiden
The Netherlands
Telephone/Fax : +31 (0)71 5173019
Peoples' Global Action (PGA)
From the 23rd to the 25th of February 1998, movements from all continents met in Geneva and launched a worldwide co-ordination of resistance against the global market, a new alliance of struggle and mutual support called the Peoples' Global Action against "Free" Trade and the World Trade Organisation (PGA). This new platform will serve as a global instrument for communication and co-ordination for all those fighting against the destruction of humanity and the planet by the global market, building up local alternatives. The first worldwide co-ordination of local struggles during the WTO ministerial conference in Geneva in May 1998 was a huge success: many different demonstrations, actions and Global Street Parties took place on all five continents from the 16th to the 20th of May.
The defining documents of the PGA are its five hallmarks, its organisational principles and its manifesto.
At the conference in Bangalore, India in August 1999 the hallmarks and the organisational principles were amended to reflect discussions about clarifying differences to right-wing anti-globalizers. A new second hallmark was added.
HALLMARKS:
- A very clear rejection of capitalism, imperialism and feudalism; all trade agreements, institutions and governments that promote destructive globalisation;
- We reject all forms and systems of domination and discrimination including, but not limited to, patriarchy, racism and religious fundamentalism of all creeds. We embrace the full dignity of all human beings.
- A confrontational attitude, since we do not think that lobbying can have a major impact in such biased and undemocratic organisations, in which transnational capital is the only real policy-maker;
- A call to direct action and civil disobedience, support for social movements' struggles, advocating forms of resistance which maximize respect for life and oppressed peoples' rights, as well as the construction of local alternatives to global capitalism;
- An organisational philosophy based on decentralisation and autonomy.
For more information on the worldwide PGA network: http://www.agp.org
Application Form European PGA conference 
Deadline for applications 1 of August 2002
The conference hosts need to know how many people will attend the conference. It is vital for us to know as soon as possible and we can not guarantee for example sleepingplaces to people who didn't fill in the applicationform with questionnaire in time.
My organisation/collective/group is interested in taking part in the Second European Conference of the People's Global Action network:
1. Name of the organisation/collective or group:
2. Give a short description (no more than one page) of the objectives, manner of operation and field of action of your organisation/collective or group:
3a. Names of persons that will be taking part in the conference:
Name: email:
Name: email:
Name: email:
3b Are there children accompanying you at the conference, how old are they and would you like to participate in the crèchepool'.
4. Postal address of the organisation/collective or group:
Address:
Zip code:
Town:
Country:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
5. Do you have any physical disabilities we should take into account or for which we should take measures ?
6a) What languages are you master of?
Language: good/average/bad
Language: good/average/bad
Language: good/average/bad
6b) Would you like to do some translating ?
Before the conference yes/no
During the conference yes/no
7. Would you like to help out with organising the conference ?
(Just) before the conference yes/no
During the conference yes/no
8. Are there any financial problems that could hinder your attendance of the conference ? If so, how could we help you overcome these problems ?
9. Can you or your organisation/collective or group help finance the conference ?
General remarks
Dogs
Please do not take any dogs with you. The conference is being held in a city and that's not an ideal place for a dog. The conferencerooms are off limits for dogs.
Children
There will be a crèchepool organised during the conference so you can take your child(ren) along.
Sleeping
During the conference the majority of people will stay at a special conference-camping-site. There are also several houses where people can sleep. These places are (in the first instance) for people that cannot stay at the camping-site because of medical reasons. People that cannot stay at the camping-site for medical- or any other reasons should send a message as soon as possible, before august 1, to aanmeldingpgaconferentie(a)eurodusnie.nl. The subject of your message should read 'Place to sleep'.
Food and drinks
The food during the conference will be taken care of by the Rampenplan collective. Rampenplan prepares vegetarian meals that consist of vegetable ingredients only. People will be paying by financial capacity.
Accessibility for the physically disabled
All conference locations are easily accessible to people that have a physical disability.
This form should be send to the PGA workgroup of Eurodusnie by one of the following manners:
- By electronic form at the webpage http://www.pgaconference.org
- By printing this form and sending it to PGA-workgroup post office box 2228 2301 CE Leiden Holland.
- By mailing the form to aanmeldingpgaconferentie(a)eurodusnie.nl.
This application form comes accompanied by a list of questions (questionnaire) and the conference call. The questionnaire consists of a number of questions regarding the contents of the conference and the way the PGA network operates. The questionnaire should be sent to our colleagues of Movimento de Resistancia Global at mrginternacional(a)gmx.net or write to:
Comunicaccio-MRG Internacional
Centre de Treball i Documentacio (CTD), C/ Gran de Gracia, 126 principal,
primera 08012 Barcelona, Espana.
Signed,
The PGA workgroup of Eurodusnie
Email: infopgaconferentie(a)eurodusnie.nl
http://www.pgaconference.org
Peoples Global Action (PGA) Europe Questionnaire FROM WHO: The PGA-Europe Global Contacts Working Group FOR WHO: For all those groups, movements, networks and collectives in Europe that participate in PGA, identify with the PGA, have an interest in PGA and/or who agree with the basic PGA organizational principles and hallmarks (See: http://www.agp.org) OBJECTIVES The main goal is to get to know each other better in order to facilitate our communication, coordination and organizing. A secondary goal will be to help facilitate the participation of collectives and movements that identify with PGA-Europe in the European Social Consulta process. There are several concrete objectives that can help us achieve this: · Learn about the state of the PGA network in Europe. Make an up-to-date list and description of collectives that participate or are interested in the European PGA process. · Solicit the opinion of people in the network with respect to the current organization and functioning of the PGA network in Europe, particularly with respect to the European-wide PGA working groups that came out of the last convenor and technical support meeting this past December 17 to 19 in Leiden (Netherlands). We are particularly interested in the following issues: a) Convenor tasks and structure (or lack thereof) of the PGA in Europe, b) Support groups and the need to widen the level of collaboration in the technical work to support the network, c) Sustained PGA campaigns and how to implement them in Europe. For questions about the form and contents of the next European PGA Gathering: see the call and the application form. · Learn about the perspectives, projects and future priorities of the groups affiliated with PGA so that we as convenors can best facilitate the process of convergence through the PGA network around the most high priority issues and themes. · Determine the level of interest and knowledge in the European Social Consulta process on the part of groups that identify with PGA Europe. IMPORTANT NOTE: We realize that some people and collectives might not feel comfortable with sharing information publicly in this way, or with the project of compiling a public database of this sort. We respect everyone's wishes not to participate, and will make sure to check with everyone before publishing anything publicly. However, we want to point out that we only intend to include information that is ALREADY available publicly. We feel that this can be an extremely important and useful tool in order to help build and improve the PGA network in Europe, which we can only do effectively if we know who we are and what kinds of open and public grassroots organizing we do. PROCEDURE FOR THE QUESTIONNAIRE: · Please send your responses to: mrginternacional(a)gmx.net, or to: Comunicaccio-MRG Internacional Centre de Treball i Documentacio (CTD) C/ Gran de Gracia, 126 principal, primera 08012 Barcelona Espana · We would appreciate any responses, from an individual, affinity group or organization, but please specify who signs the response. · It would be interesting to publish information, opinions and proposals on the European section of the PGA website, so we ask that if you do not want your response published, or a part of your response, let us know so we can respect your wishes. · The Questionnaire consists of 4 parts with several questions in each part. You can answer the questions you wish, any or all of them, especially all of those which you think are important to express your opinion about. THE QUESTIONNAIRE 1) About You: Explain everything that you feel is of interest about your collective, including: a) how to get in touch with you (e-mail, telephone, web), b) your relation to the PGA process, c) current areas of work, projects and future priorities. 2) About the role of convenors and technical support work for the network: The meeting in Cochabamba made clear that the continental networks have the autonomy to determine their own forms of coordination beyond the agreements reached in the global meetings. Because of that and because we think the coordination among our European networks can be greatly improved, we would like to debate the role of the convenors and all of the tasks related to this role (you can learn more about the role of convenors at www.agp.org). In addition, at the last European Convenor and Support Group meeting in Leiden (Netherlands) from December 17 to 19, we established several European-wide Working Groups to help the co-convenors carry out the technical work of supporting the PGA network in Europe. The Working Groups that are currently operating, include: 1) Communication Tools- website, listserves, etc. (pga-europe-communications(a)groenfront.nl) 2) Finances (pga-europe-finances(a)groenfront.nl) 3) Global Contacts (pga-europe-global(a)groenfront.nl) 4) and the European Gathering (pga-europe-conference(a)groenfront.nl). To inquire about participating in these groups, or forming new ones, you can also send a message to: mrginternacional(a)gmx.net. a) What knowledge do you have about the current structure of the European PGA network? b) What do you think about that structure? c) What proposals do you have regarding this issue? d) What do you think are the main tasks that the convenors should could carry out? e) How do you think the support groups around various specific tasks should function? f) Do you have any proposals about any of these specific areas mentioned above? 3) About Sustained Campaigns and the Calendar for 2002. As we suppose you already know, at the conference in Cochabamba, we agreed to carry out several broad global sustained campaigns, to be further elaborated in each of the distinct territorial spaces (See: http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/en/). a) Campaign against state militarism and paramilitarism: stopwar(a)nadir.org Stop War! b) Campaign for defense and recognition of self-determination and land Tierra sovereignty of all people: tierra(a)nadir.org c) Campaign against all privatizations: nosevende(a)nadir.org d) Campaign on construction of alternative models to the capitalist system, based on education and formation: alter(a)nadir.org During the PGA-Europe Convenor and Support Meeting this past December in Leiden we began a process of translating the global PGA campaigns into our European reality. Through a process of small group discussion and consensus building, we came up with a proposal for five thematic areas to help organize the next European Gathering and possibly build the network around. These are: 1) migration and racism anti racism, migration 2) autonomy and self-organisation squatting, social centres, media/communication 3) economy WTO/IMF/WorldBank, WEF (World Economic Forum), collective provisions, education, public services/privitisation of such services, situation in Argentina, North/South - relations 4) ecology and conservation climate-change, GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms), conservation of nature, animal welfare, biodiversity 5) militarisation and repression peace movement, religious fundamentalism, solidarity movement, Palestina These are proposed as potential broad European campaign areas with the understanding that PGA is a diverse, multithematic network. At the Europe Gathering, debate and discussion between different movements will be a key element. We will also discuss our strategies and the PGA structure. That's why we added the following two discussion - areas for the European Conference: 6) PGA structure organisational structure of the PGA, convenors for the next PGA conference 7) strategies and tactics During the previous meeting in Leiden people were strongly in favor of beginning the Consulta Process in regional contexts as a way to advance collective debate and action from a broad social base. This is an important discussion and should be continued at the next European Regional Gathering. With this in mind, we would like to ask: a) How do you think we should work on sustained PGA campaigns in Europe? b) Do you agree with the proposal for the five thematic campaign areas in Europe? Do you propose any other thematic areas or campaigns? c) How do you think we can connect the sustained PGA campaigns and thematic areas with the networks that are already working on these issues in Europe? d) What should be the role of the European convenors in the process of sustained PGA campaigns and thematic areas? e) What dates and struggles do you think should be priorities in Europe during 2002/2003, especially those we can coordinate at the European level? 4) About the European Social Consulta (see: www.consultaeuropea.org) a) Do you know about the European Social Consulta Project? b) Are you interested in participating in the process? c) Are your members interested in taking part in a regional Promoter Group? d) What ideas do you have about the project, and how groups and collective that identify with PGA Europe can best participate