08 Resources Worldwide resistance round-up inspired by How do you fit a telephone directory onto an A5 sheet of The Basement: 24 Lever St Manchester M1; 0161 237 1832; paper? We gave up, so this is a short list of the groups http://shortcutz.nologic.org/thebasement/ Peoples’Global Action that are most likely to be able to direct you on to other Sumac: 245 Gladstone st, Notts. NG7 6HX. 0845 458 9595; groups and campaigns, and who publish stuff in English. If www.veggies.org.uk/sumac it seems a bit London biased, that's because it's where Cowley Club: 12 London Rd, Brighton - 01273 696104; we're based. Other groups around the country will be able [email protected]. www.cowleyclub.org.uk to tell you lots more about what's going on near them. Kebele: 14 Robertson Rd, Bristol BS5 6JY. International Network ‘Hub Points’ tel: 0117 9399 469 www.kebele.org People’s Global Action: www.agp.org Ace: 17 Westmontgomery Pl., Edinburgh, EH7 5HA. www.autonomous.org.uk PGA - European Actions and announcements: [email protected]?subject=subscribe Aspire: Locations around Leeds. email: [email protected] www.a-spire.org.uk PGA - European Process list: [email protected]?subject=subscribe 1in12: 21 Albion St. Bradford. tel: 01274 734160 www.1in12.go-legend.net Indymedia sites: www.indymedia.org.uk Lancaster Resorce Centre: 78a Penny St. Lancs LA1 1XN. Reclaim the Streets: www.reclaimthestreets.net tel: 01524 383 012; www.eco-action.org/lancaster/ A-infos int: anarchist info service www.ainfos.net 217 swansea: 217 High St. Swansea. tel: 01792 642404 Znet: comprehensive activist resource site www.zmag.org Colchester social centre: 87 East Hill, Colchester, Essex. Anarchist Yellow Pages directory of anarchist groups tel: 0798 6565 4583 worldwide http://flag.blackened.net/agony/ayp/index.html The Commonplace, (Leeds Social Centre): 23-25 wharf street, Earth First! Journal: voices of ecological resistance leeds. LS2 7EQ www.thecommonplace.org.uk 0113 246 8640 PO Box 3023, Tuscon, Arizona AZ 85702, USA email: Global Resistance 2005: A call to action [email protected] www.earthfirstjournal.org Groups and networks Throughout 2005 the institutions of global resistance to the April 2005 International Dissent network: www.dissent.net UK based capitalism will continue to meet, attempting to Monetary Fund Meeting (Washington DC), G8 Indymedia: www.indymedia.org.uk manage and bring stability to a system that Summit (UK in July), Free Trade of the Americas SchNEWS: weekly activist news sheet - creates war, famine and destroyed ecologies, Agreement (FTAA) meeting (in Argentina in c/o On-the-fiddle, PO Box 2600 Brighton BN2 0EF. ism-london: www.ism-london.org.uk whilst removing any sense of humanity from all November) and the World Trade Organisation email: [email protected] www.schnews.org.uk Risingtide: www.risingtide.org.uk Reclaim the future: www.gn.apc.org/rts of our lives. (WTO) Ministerial (in Hong Kong in December). Earth First Action Update! Subscription Newsletter of Over recent years, meetings of these It is a call for people to support and Queeruption: www.queeruption.org actions, contacts for groups and current campaigns c/o institutions have been fiercely resisted by the participate in these mobilisations, to show both Manchester EF! Dept 29, 22a Beswick St, Manchester M4 7HS Rhythms of resistance: www.rhythmsofresistance.org.uk world's people. This resistance has also provided political and practical solidarity with those tel: 0161 226 6814 email: [email protected] Scrap the bid: www.enrager.net/features/olympics much-needed spaces for more localised, day-to- actively resisting the summits, and to organise Social Centres Network: squatted and autonomously run Wombles: www.wombles.org.uk (also PGA info point) day struggles to converge and realise the actions coinciding with these events in villages, social and resource centres c/o LARC, 62 Fieldgate St, London Zapatista support group: c/o LARC possibilities that can be unleashed when we towns and cities worldwide. E1 1ES email: [email protected] Noborders: www.noborders.org begin to co-operate. From these mobilisations Moreover, it is a call for this resistance and email list: [email protected] has emerged a global 'movement of movements' these expressions of solidarity to co-ordinate and The Agitator! comprehensive annual booklet with contacts This brief round-up of resistance has been put together that is in many ways unprecedented. co-operate amongst themselves, to open up spaces most radical, anarchist and direct action groups, publications to highlight the grassroots network Peoples' Global In 2005, across 4 continents, resistance to in which we can learn from one another, from and centres worldwide send £1.30 to The Agitator, c/o PO ox Action. We - a few people working from a small these summits will continue, attempting to learn our differences as much as our commonalities. 2474, London N8 0HW. 'infopoint' resource centre in London - are not claiming from and build upon our collective experiences PGA organised all or any of the actions and events listed Eroding Empire: gig, event, action and contact listings within, only that we have been inspired by our as a global movement and bring us closer to Let 2005 be the year in which our resistance www.eroding.org.uk involvement in the PGA network to listen to, and 'make creating this other possible world that is so often becomes truly global! Autonomous spaces and virtual places visible' locally, people taking action globally... talked about. 56a Infoshop: 56 Crampton Street, SE17 London This call is a result of a meeting at the IMF/World Bank: April 16th, Washington DC USA [email protected] LARC: London Action Resource Centre Caracol Intergalaktika, International youth G8: July 2nd-8th, Scotland PGA info point: 62 Fieldgate Street, London E1 1ES, UK camp of the 5th World Social Forum (Porto FTAA: November, Argentina Bridge 5 Mill (MERCi): 22a Beswick st. Mancs, M4 7RH 0161 email: [email protected] web: http://www.londonarc.org Alegre, Brazil) of people involved in building WTO: December, Hong Kong 273 1736; www.bridge-5.org 02 Dissent Network Info points 07 Resist the 2005 G8 Summit environmentalists and all those committed to a The idea of PGA infopoints came from the Leiden struggles and triumphs. This year, the G8 will attempt to meet at sustainable, socially just world, can work conference of 2003. It was decided there that the “We are inspired by the principles, structures, Gleneagles, Scotland. Resiatance to the 2005 together over the linked issues of oil, war, most practical way to keep the European and achievements of social movements summit and the world system it represents is climate change, and use the G8 summit in the network alive and kicking was for local groups throughout the world and through popular being planned by groups and networks from UK to expose the hypocrisy of the government's and spaces happy with the PGA hallmarks to set education hope to share these dreams, lessons, around the UK, Europe and beyond. Actions on green rhetoric. up points of contact where information about and experiences with local organizers and issues of work, migration, war and ecology are We are building a network of groups and PGA could be propelled, with any luck, into their communities. Through salons, fundraisers, being planned. individuals around the country and worldwide communities. They are currently sprinkled actions, and other encounters, we will open Here are a few of the events which have who can share their inspiration and ideas for around the UK, Europe and - as of January 2005 pathways of communication to strengthen our already been confirmed: concrete plans for action around energy, climate - North America. For a hopefully soon-to-be-updated global resistance. For starters in early 2005 we are: 4 July: Mass Direct Action at Faslane Nuclear change and oil. Existing ideas for action include list, see www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/ * Facilitating a PGA workshop at the National Submarine base - a day of action against the a Critical Mass to Scotland, a mass ‘call in sick’ pgaeurope/infopoints.htm Conference on Organized Resistance in Washington, D.C. armed wing of Global Capitalism day for those working in the oil industry and (Feb 6th). 6 July: Mass Blockades of the G8 Summit & much calling for synchronised mass and decentralised NY joins PGA! * Hosting a salon bringing together Palestinian and much more! actions on energy profiteers in Scotland and “We are popular educators, anti-war and Acehnese solidarity organizers to share strategy and 8 July: Day of action against Climate Change - around the globe.” Palestinian solidarity organizers, prison struggle (February 13th). Direct Action to tackle the root causes of the (NB. On March 14th, there will be a pre-G8 climate justice abolitionists, and anarchist academics - in short, * Throwing a benefit party for the Via Campesina biggest threat to life on earth. counter-summit. Then on March 15th, Environment and we are rebels - who are working together as... Tsunami Relief Campaign For more info: www.dissent.org.uk Development Ministers meeting in London will be met by a Encuentro: a Peoples' Global Action infopoint in New (March 26th).” pots & pans noise demo ('cos the climate's going to pot!) York City. International Call to Action vs. Contact Email: [email protected] “New York City may have Wall Street, News from Canada Root Causes of Climate Change, 8th hundreds of corporate headquarters, and the A new infopoint is being set up in Montreal PGA, July 2005 Resist the World Bank & IMF, largest police force in the world, but it is also Canada, to act as a support group to reinforce the “Any claim to tackle climate change whilst Washington, 15th April 2005 home to diverse communities, beautiful cultures links between CLAC ('Anti-Capitalist fighting wars for control of the planet's “The April 2005 meetings of the International of resistance, and a legacy of radical struggle. We Convergence' - http://clac.taktic.org) and other dwindling carbon-based energy reserves is as Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank will live here in this major metropolis of the North regional/international movements. hypocritical as it is ridiculous. We reject any represent the 5th anniversary of major with all of its resources (both material and 'CLAC groups and their supporters already do market-led techno-fixes to the climate crisis by demonstrations against these institutions in the cultural) and it is from here that we join PGA. lots of work that are within the axes of struggle an unelected global elite. Oil fuels capitalism - US. Again we will gather in the streets of D.C. on “We hope to contribute to PGA by facilitating of the PGA network, and also give life to a local there cannot be an end to global warming A16 to show that our resistance to these links between local and global struggles, network. Nonetheless, it doesn't seem to have without an end to the system that causes it. institutions and their greed only grows. bringing together activists and organizations links, shared between our struggles, on a larger Nuclear power is not an alternative, as it is Each day people around the world people are that can benefit and learn from each other's level. The role of the support group would be to massively wasteful and inextricably linked to coming together to construct a better, more just increase communication and coordination the most destructive weapons on the face of the world. Not only are they demonstrating in the between activist actions that are in agreement earth. We believe that anti-capitalist streets, but they are actively reclaiming their with the PGA principles in North America and communities. In South Africa, citizens too poor all over the world, but also to reinforce the to afford the privatized water have dismantled presence and identity of PGA as a network of water meters and connected homes to water struggles; (some ideas: a radio documentary, services. In Argentina unemployed workers are pamphlets, articles, web page, workshops) and to taking over the factories they used to work in participate actively in the organization of the and running them as a collectives. People network (new alliances, translation, throughout the Global South are working fundraising, participating in organizing everyday to take back their rights to water, debates). health, land, a clean environment and self- Many new initiatives are taking shape in determination. Come to Washington to protest Canada over coming months, including the WB/IMF and to celebrate the other, more just CATAPULT in Ottawa [www.catapultcollective.org, world that is under construction due to the daily [email protected]], and Toronto activists both resistance of millions of people worldwide!” wanting to reinforce their involvement. Mali: G8 Counter-conference held in 2003 Visit www.globalizethis.org E-mail: [email protected] Montreal PGA Infopoint [email protected] 06 Snapshot of actions What is PGA? 03 blockaded the surrounding streets. Peoples' Global Action (PGA) is a network for the WTO ministerial meeting in Switzerland. The second day activists, anti-arms organisations, spreading information and coordinating actions A 2nd international conference took place in students and the public, angry, both about the items on sale, between grassroots movements around the world Bangalore, India in 1999, and the 3rd in the well-known human rights abusing countries invited, and who are actively fighting the destruction of Cochabamba, Bolivia in 2001. There have been the devastation caused by weapons and munitions, humanity and the planet by capitalism, and regional conferences in Latin America, North attempted to "Shut DSEI by any means possible". This was building local alternatives to economic America, Europe and South Asia and six caravans the day that bargaining at the DSEi arms fair began in globalisation. of movements. There have also been several earnest, press and public were kept out.” Watch out for Inspired partly by the international Zapatista conferences on the issue of gender. DSEI September 2005... encuentros in 1996-97, grassroots movements from all continents gathered in Geneva in February A network in Europe Beyond the ESF in London 1998, for the first global PGA conference. This Leiden brought together an inspiring collection The European Social Forum took place in London from marked the launch of a worldwide network of of groups working on a diversity of issues, from October 13th-17th 2004. From the start of the organizing resistance to the global market, 'free' trade and environmental and social justice groups Tokyo: global anti-war demonstrations phase there was a clash between the so-called verticals the World Trade Organisation (WTO). From Genoa (ecologists of Chios Island, EF! UK and Groen (mainly SWP and Greater LA) and the horizontals (many anti- to Birmingham, many of the groups and Front Nederlands) to anti-military groups (CAAT Global Anti-War protests mark first hierarchical groups). The latter eventually decided to organize movements involved with PGA have been a UK and 12th Grade Army Refusers Israel), from Gulf War anniversary their own events, under the general banner of “Autonomous driving force behind recent global 'anti-capitalist' workers' groups (Barcelona CGT and Massive opposition to war was demonstrated in 38 countries Spaces”, which were organized by individuals, grassroots mobilisations. Sindikalisterna, a Swedish anarcho-syndicalist worldwide 12 years after the Gulf war. Up to 500,000 people organizations and collectives. There were discussions, The first conference brought together over 300 union) to international Solidarity groups, rallied in Washington DC on January 18 2004 to say no to war workshops, films, actions and entertainment and more. For activists from over 71 countries. Later that year, connecting us with Bangladesh, Colombia, West with Iraq. Speakers at the event evoked the memory of more information on the programmes, check this Indymedia hundreds of coordinated demonstrations, actions Papua, Turkey... as well as free Martin Luther King in calling for a world without violence. archive: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2004/esf/ and street parties took place on all five continents space/autonomous zone groups, German, Dutch Protests were also held in San Francisco, with estimates Within these events there was also a PGA meeting at against the meeting of the G8 in Birmingham and and French info-shops, UK and Croatian co-ops of crowd size ranging from 200-350,000 people. All age ‘Beyond ESF’ on Friday 15th. In this meeting people discussed and squatting groups from all over. There were groups were in attendance, and people of all colours a new direct action concept of ‘Chain Re-Flaction’, which is >> How is PGA organised? << also anarchist groups like A-infos Israel, attended the convergence. A radical anti-capitalist based on the idea of moving beyond Global Days of Action Croatian Anarchist Federation, Federation PGA is not an organisation and has no breakaway march militantly marched through the financial called by the PGA network. Instead have a local action Anarchiste , "Nihilist Assault Group". AltMedia members. However, PGA aims to be an center smashing windows and graffitting the San Francisco coordinated through the internet. After the action has taken and Culture jamming groups ... Indymedia organised network. There are info points for Chronicle building, the British Consulate, CitiCorp and the place it can be discussed on the web; then another action Centres, the European Newsreel, Art in Action, each region, which are responsible for Immigration & Naturalization Service building. can be organized in another country or continent in the Adbusters group and the Tactical Media Crew. disseminating information; rotating regional same way. This process allows the accumulation of We spent long days and sociable nights convenors who organise international and Love and Destroy! knowledge and experience on a global level. together discussing and planning upcoming regional conferences; an informal support Protests against the G8 in Evian actions ... the anti-NATO actions in Prague, Nov group that has been vital in the fundraising The protests against the G8 Summit in Evian were strong, 2002; anti-WEF actions in Salzburg; anti-DSEi in PGA at World Social Forum and organising of the previous conferences; a clear and powerful. Conferences, actions, debates and The PGA meeting within WSF took place in the Caracol London, 2003. We shared ideas about alternatives website, numerous email lists; and a blockades took place around Lac Leman, starting from May 28 Intergalactica space, which represented the more - Radical Routes (UK co-ops); Recycled Estate, a secretariat. to June 3rd 2003. People converged in several alternative horizontally organized self-managed space and was held in Croatian land co-op ; Free Zones Europe-wide The basis of unity and political analysis is protest villages and took the streets in many creative and the so-called Youthcamp. Even though the meeting was not and the "European Social Consulta"; a massive expressed in the manifesto and hallmarks. determined ways. They illustrated concerns, dissent, anger widely publicized, it was well attended since there were outreach project. We shared information with See www.agp.org for more background on PGA, the and hope, whereas the state displayed desperate efforts to representatives of PGA Latin America, PGA North America talks on "Repression in the EU"; "Support for hallmarks and the manifesto in full. silence them with a massive and often brutal police presence. and PGA Europe. undocumented women"; "The war against Iraq More: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2003/evian/ The initial reports from different parts of the world were "We do not think we can conceive of ‘the and the US economy"; followed up by a realisation that there is a genuine desire to movement’ as a thing, as an entity which "Sustainability and the disappearing Fluff & Spike against DSEi keep networking. However, further discussion concerning the can be defined. Instead, we are computer"; "A radical history of food"; "Using “Action against DSEi started early this morning when one more effective ways of cooperating and exchanging ideas thinking of the movement in terms of the cryptography" and started strategy discussions arms company had their doors D-locked whilst another got and information. Therefore the PGA global list moving of social relations. We are seeing on things like "democratic decision-making", not paintball decoration. Red paint symbolising blood was ([email protected]) will be revived to begin a examples of this everywhere," to mention the feared "PGA process", ie. how to distributed over the main entrance. The CAAT march finished better communication process, especially needed in the - Leeds MayDay group structure this monster network of ours... with speeches and before the next event "Fluffy DSEi" build-up to the coming global conference in Nepal. See over for a report from Belgrade 2004. 04 Resent meetings Upcoming meetings 05 European PGA conference, On the downside, some problems of the pictures of rioters (from Genoa and other places), South Asia Convenor: Bhartiya Kisan Union conference were: Eastern European outreach saying that 'Peoples' Global Action is training the (BKU), India Belgrade, July 2004 (not so many activists from Eastern Europe, workers, giving them tips how to block roads and This conference was initially going to take The Drugaciji Svet je Moguc! (DSM!) coalition certainly less then we expected), and some weak deal with police....'" wrote a DSMer. "PGA is, place in Nepal, hosted by ANPA, but due to the was the European convenor of the third points in the logistical preparation of the according to right-wing press, 'behind all outrageous coup d'état and dictatorship recently European PGA conference. While many of the conference. Another problem was the lack of demonstrations in Serbia.' Visibility, heh? But, imposed by the King, the venue had to be shifted groups that made up DSM are still active, the people from ethnic minorities. The constant more seriously, this could turn out to be a very to North India, near the border with Nepal. The coalition itself has now dissolved. Back then, it threat from fascist groups was eased by the dangerous game. We'll see." Latest reports speak of Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers‚ described itself thus: actions of our excellent security, who also had to an uneasy calm in Serbia, but fortunately not the Movements (ICC) has taken on the task of 'DSM is a group of groups, collective of deal with the defacing of the 'queer space' and repression that some predicted. hosting the conference. collectives united under the slogan "Drugaciji 'gender day' posters. The security was renamed See also: A PGA Conference report, pix and comments: We are holding the conference near the Svet je Moguc!". Together, we are striving to the "Emma team", to make it less macho and www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/08/295904.html Nepalese border in order to make it possible for create a new political space unaffiliated with more effective. conference delegates to visit Nepalese political parties or the so-called non- PGA has since its inception been based 4th PGA International Conference: movements after the conference, in case the governmental sector. This new space prefers around actions, and at this conference there 5th-12th October 2005 Haridwar, conditions allow. Nepal is undergoing a very direct political action to generally accepted were significant discussions about, among Uttaranchal, North India interesting pre-revolutionary situation, due to forms of engagement, such as lobbying or others, "No Borders", what to do to oppose the G8 the combined efforts of many different voting.' The objectives that we propose for the global in the UK, how to engage with the London ESF conference are: grassroots movements. Many of these movements www.pgaconference.org/call/en_call.html in October 2004, and how to support the are eager to meet the delegates of the PGA Plenty of good stuff came out of the >> Contributing to the consolidation of regional Venezuelan social movements during the latest PGA processes. conference. Therefore, if the security conditions conference: there were many interesting onslaught on their revolution. allow, ANPA and other movements will organise innovations regarding PGA structures in Europe, >> Planning in-depth exchanges between Vegan and vegetarian food was provided by movements in different regions, in particular a visit to Nepal, and if that is not possible, there as well as a possible reformulation of the global the local Rad collective, a cooperative kitchen could be a solidarity action at the border. We day of action as a 'global estafette', or 'torch of about the construction of decentralised and which needed this work in order to survive and alternative livelihoods and social relations as therefore advise all participants to leave some rebellion'. Also, new infopoints were created, a resist privatisation. Mixed with our own days free after the conference. new collective (Wob Marley) was willing to alternatives to capitalism. "autonomous kitchen", this meant we had a >> Define a plan of action and strategies of Please send applications by e-mail to: organize a winter meeting near-perfect combination of local solidarity and [email protected] before the 2nd September. (http://pgaconference.org/_winter2005/) we struggle, including Global Days of Action against self-sufficiency. And Serbian beer is excellent. Capitalism, especially before and during the (Organisations that need help with travel costs should send supported enthusiastically the plan for a global Workers from 7 local factories met on the PGA before the 20th August.) PGA conference in Nepal, and we tried, with upcoming WTO ministerial site with fellow workers from Greece and conference. some success, the model of a spokescouncil to elsewhere. People attended the striking electricity reach collective decisions. >>Revitalising a collective workers' protest. Rhythms of Resistance samba discussion about the global PGA band and the Roma combined process, alongside the to play music. We visited a consolidation of autonomous group of 200 Kosovan Serb regional processes. refugees, forgotten and >>Promoting gender work within ignored by the UNHCR and each organisation and within PGA unvisited for two years. And as a whole. there was a showing of the >>Creating a PGA women network "Erased" ("rubbed out") from and introducing masculinity work Slovenia. There was an at global level. excellent gender day with participation of a good The convenors of Asia, chosen at number of post-Yugoslavian the last regional conference in feminist and gay and lesbian Bangladesh are: groups. Asian Convenor: All Nepal As for the mainstream Peasants‚ Association (ANPA), press..."Almost all front-pages Nepal South East Asian Convenor: of Serbian dailies were full of Assembly of The Poor, Thailand