[mobglob-discuss] COUNTER G8 EVENTS IN CALGARY JUNE 21-28

[Gordon Flett]

COUNTER G8 EVENTS IN CALGARY JUNE 21-28
  
For those of you wanting to participate in the upcoming G6B/G8
activities in Calgary, here is a summary of events to take part in.

UPDATE:  We've secured convergence space in Calgary from june 19-28,
yeahh!

The Calgary MultiCultural Centre (712 - 5 Street SE) will be open to 
welcome activists and familiarize them with Calgary.  It will be open 
from 8:30am to 11:00pm.  Space is available for groups to hold 
meetings, present workshops and put on events.

Calgary Anti-G8 Events Listing

The G6B - People's  Summit
June 21 - 25,  2002
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
     
One People, One Planet, One  Chance....

Offering the people of the world a forum to generate and  discuss ideas
and solutions that will promote social, political, and economic 
activities that are beneficial to people living in all parts of our
world, but  that also reflect full respect for human rights and the
environment.

Panelists will be Discussing Issues Surrounding:

* Global Peace and Security    * Equality    * Trade & Economy    *
Human
Rights    * Environment    * Health    * Education    * Democracy &
Governance
For more information on Topics, Schedules, Speakers,  and Registration
Please Visit our Website  at: http://www.g6bpeoplessummit

June 21-28 
-Convergence Centre open 9:00am-11:30pm at the Calgary Multicultural
Centre 712 5th St. SE 
-a welcome centre/info centre and space for spokescouncils, meetings,
message boards, and some training
-Information Sharing meeting nightly at 5:30 followed by Action
Spokescouncil at 7:00, community debrief June 28
-contact g8-convergence at activist.ca to book space for workshops,
meetings, etc.

June 21, 24 and 25
-"Tools for Troublemakers"
-Times and locations TBA
-Sponsored by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of
Canada Contact: mailto:ddurning at cep.ca

June 21-28 
-Daniel Sponagle Centre for creative mischief open  22 4th St NE 
-a space for art, banner and puppet making as well as the more
boisterous trainings 
-contact vandescl at cadvision.com to book space for workshops etc.

June 22 
-Critical Mass Bike Ride
-4 to 6pm, gather at Eau Claire Market

June 23 
-1pm Community Solidarity March
-meet at Eau Claire Plaza 200 Barclay Parade
-2pm rally at Olympic Plaza 228 8th Ave SE

June 24 
-Wiccan New Moon event at Bowness Park

June 24-26
-United Food and Commercial Workers Union 
-workshops for youth out of Bridgeland Community Hall 919 McDougall Road
NE
-Times TBA

June 24-26
-Canadian Labour Congress Workshops on G8 Issues
-Location Bridgeland Community Hall 919 McDougall Road NE
-Times TBA

June 24-28 
-Indymedia Centres open 
-alberta.indymedia.org or alberta at indymedia.org for more

June 25 
-7pm Torchlit March beginning from Memorial Park and ending in street
party near Stampede Roundup Centre 8-10pm
-organised by Calgary Anti-Capitalist Convergence and Anti-Capitalist
Edmonton 

June 26 
-Snake Marches rallying at 6am and marching at 7am 
-starting from Shaw Millenium Park, Fort Calgary and Eau Claire Market 

June 26 
-Die-In 12 noon, location TBA/please  email mailto:diin at activist.ca for
further info

June 26 
-afternoon 
-People's Picnic, location TBA

Please see http://www.g8.activist.ca for detailed information on all of
these events and where help is needed.

If you would like to book space for a meeting, workshop, music event, 
speaker, etc... please send your request to
mailto:g8-convergence at activist.ca 

If you would like to volunteer at the convergence space (help 
welcome, answer phones, clean up, etc) please send an email to
mailto:g8-volunteer at activist.ca (we figure it will take 925 volunteer
hours to run the convergence space from June 19-28)
  
PLEASE NOTE:  As the space for participation in G8 peoples summit is
limited, please make sure that you register as soon as possible.
Capacity is limited and I think that within next few days all of the
sites will be taken. For registration and more information please visit
the following website: http://www.g6bpeoplessummit.org/

The J26 March
A Global Day of Action!
June 26, 2002
Convergence - 6am (yes, 6am!!)
  
What?
Fight the G8 on three different grounds.  On June 26, 2002, come to one
of three convergence points to openly oppose the G8!  These marches are
unsanctioned and will block traffic in the core of Calgary. A diversity
of tactics will be respected.
  
How?
Through Capitalist Global Economic Systems, the G8 manipulate and
control the lives of many, through exploitation and oppression.  J26
will be a day of global actions. In Calgary, we will disrupt the local
economic system in solidarity with other regional actions. As a result
of the J26 March, downtown Calgary will be gridlocked during the morning
hours.
  
Where?   
1.  Eau Clare Market (2 Street & 2 Avenue SW).  Gather here to oppose
the "G8's Vision of Global Economic Expansion".  
  
OR  2.  Fort Calgary (750 - 9th Avenue SE).  Gather here to oppose the
"Neo-Colonialism in Africa". 
  
OR  3.  Shaw Millennium Park (1220 - 9th Avenue SW).  Gather here to
oppose "G8 War on Terrorism"
  
Bring your drums, banners, instruments, literature, etc..
  
Why?
The G8 (group of 8) is an informal partnership of the leaders of the 7
most industrialized nations in the world, and Russia.  These governments
have been responsible for theft and appropriation, suppression of social
movements, and a continued program of neo-colonialism, all under the
guise of economic development. One of the focuses on the agenda at this
year's Summit is NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development).  The
G8 calls it an African initiative, however, NEPAD was devised without
consultation whatsoever with African trade unions, social movements or
community organizations. Numerous groups have clearly rejected NEPAD. 
Among other things they criticize the privatization of public services
that have made things like education, health care and water unaffordable
and inaccessible. Also on the G8 agenda is the so-called "War on
Terrorism."
  
Hit the G8 where it hurts!!
Join us to disrupt the global economy in the Belly of the Beast!!
  
Principles for J26 March:
 * Respect for a diversity of tactics- We acknowledge the freedom and
ability of individuals to choose tactics that are appropriate in their
situation. Resistance takes many forms and people are shaped by
different experiences. Participants are asked to respect others'
tactics. 
* Commitment to economic disruption. 
* Solidarity with all people in progressive movements. 
* Bring awareness through strong messaging to issues surrounding the G8
and corporate globalization. 
* Respect for safety. 
* Consideration of workers. 
* Contribute to the building of sustainable resistance and coalitions. 
* Work together within a diversity of opinion. 
* Clarity and transparency in our planning and actions.

Anti-Capitalist Action Against the G8
'a call to action - calgary, alberta, 'canada''June 21-28, 2002
June 25th - 'Showdown at the Ho-down' anti-G8 march and street party 
June 26th - Affinity Group actions against the G8 

On June 26 and 27, the major economic, political and military powers of
the world are meeting in the foothills of Alberta, Canada.  The G8
leaders, protected from any displays of dissent by the largest
'security' operation in Canada's history, are meeting to plan the
continuance of capitalist and imperialist exploitation. The language
used by the G8 speaks of strengthening global economic growth, building
a new partnership for Africa's development and fighting terrorism.

The global economic growth that the G8 serves to create is based on the 
exploitation of the majority of the world's peoples and the environment,
for the profit and power of a few.  The capitalist system, now
rigorously defended and advanced by the G8, came to dominance through
the enslavement of millions of African people, the genocide of the
indigenous peoples of the Americas, the oppression of women and the
exploitation of workers and the environment.  

Africa has been exploited by the global economy for 500 years through 
slavery, colonialism, Structural Adjustment Programs, neo-colonialism
and imperialism. The wealth of G8 nations is a direct result of these
policies and progams. This year the G8 will present NEPAD (the New
Partnership for Africa's Development) which talks about poverty
alleviation and equal partnerships. This language merely serves the
interests of the G8 as it quells dissent to their neo-colonialist
policies. NEPADs neo-liberal agenda will further entrench the
exploitation of African people while serving the interests of the global
economic elite.  

The 'war on terrorism', being waged by G8 nations, is a continuance of a 
centuries old pattern of state violence to serve the political and
economic interests of an elite. The threat of 'terrorism' is being used
by G8 nations to militarize and oppress the world, under the guise of
defending freedom. Western powers invade and dominate nations of the
global South, from Afghanistan to the Phillipines, Iraq to Columbia.  In
the G8 countries themselves, people of colour are targetted by racist
immigration and 'anti-terrorism' legislation. Borders are becoming more
militarized and new powers have been granted to governments to repress
and control oppressed peoples and political movements.

Here in Canada all levels of government, especially those in 'british 
columbia', 'ontario' and in 'alberta', continue to mount attacks on our 
communities.  Cutbacks to social services, environmental devastation,
attacks on aboriginal communities, increasing poverty and homelessness
are some of the results of these government's economic policies which
only serve the interests of big business and the rich. These are the
local effects of capitalist globalization, which is embodied and
advanced by the IMF, World Bank, the G8, and treaties like the WTO,
NAFTA and FTAA.

Across the world, people are rising up in resistance to capitalist 
globalization. Inspiring movements in the global South, exemplified by
the rebellions of millions in Argentina, Ecuador and Bolivia, lead the
fight back against global capitalism and  imperialism. Hundreds of
thousands took the streets in Genoa, Italy last July in protest against
the G8. The state responded with police brutality, including the murder
of activist Carlo Giuliani.

The Calgay Anti-Capitalist Collective and Anti-Capitalist Edmonton, in 
solidarity with movements worldwide, are calling activists,
organizations and affinity groups from 'b.c.', 'alberta',
'saskatchewan', 'manitoba', 'yukon', 'north west territories', nunavut,
and the northwestern 'united states', to come to Calgary to oppose the
G8 and global capitalism. Calgary is the closest major city to the
Kananaskis Summit, and is home to the corporate headquarters of many
transnational corporations responsible for the exploitation of Africa
and the global South, as well as many other organizations and companies
that support or profit from global and local oppression and
exploitation. We encourage people outside of the region or who cannot
come to Calgary, to plan and take part in solidarity actions in their
communities, using the opening day of the 2002 G8 Summit as a day of 
action against capitalist globalization and war.

June 21-28 Convergence