Call to Creativity: Sept 13th!
by wheatpaster
Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2003 at 5:54 AM
starbuxsux@heartofdarkness.org
On September 13th at 1pm on Carlow College campus, Pittsburgh will bring attention to the WTO and their attrocities against human rights as loudly, colorfully, and creatively as possible! Think up some street theater, throw on a costume, or go Van Gogh on some posterboard and be there!!
On September 13th, Pittsburgh will bring attention to their attrocities against human rights as loudly, colorfully, and creatively as possible! The World Trade Organization wants to operate in secrecy, creating and enforcing cruel international laws which cripple third world nations. Activists will need to be twice as crafty. We urge every organization or affinity that opposes the aforementioned injustices to create and perform an action on this date, using theater, costume, puppetry, song, music, drumming, performance art (acting, dancing), and any other creative methods to educate the public about the urgency of opposing war and free trade, and/or to disrupt business as usual by forcing people to think about the effect their lives have on the lives of others in the global south and poor communities at home. Dress as an oppressive corporate lackey! Form a funeral procession! In solidarity with cities around the world, the WTO will see your vision for autonomous creative resistence!
WHAT: Concert, Rally, and "Creative Tour of Greed" in Oakland. Part of a global day of resistance in solidarity with the protests at the Cancun WTO Ministerial.
WHEN: 1pm, Saturday, September 13
WHERE: St. Agnes Church, Fifth Ave. near Craft, Oakland. See map.
WHY: From September 10 to 14, the World Trade Organization (WTO) will hold its Fifth Ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico. Pushed by multinational corporations, the United States, the European Union, and other developed countries are seeking to launch a new round of "free trade" negotiations and expand corporate globalization - further eroding human rights, workers' rights, environmental protections, and democracy - in the interest of corporate control.
Popular movements in Mexico and their international allies will mark these meetings with massive demonstrations to demand a world that puts democracy and human dignity ahead of corporate profits. Solidarity actions around the world will focus on September 13 as a Worldwide Day of Action Against Corporate Globalization and War.
Join us in Pittsburgh on Saturday, September 13 for a concert and rally followed by a creative "tour of greed" through Oakland with puppets, signs and costumes. The event begins at Carlow College's St. Agnes Church featuring the music of Ouve��a four piece band that leans heavy on groove, jazz, rock, and funk��and speakers from labor and community groups who oppose the WTO. Then join us for a colorful parade of resistance to war and corporate rule as we pay a visit to corporations in our own backyard that exemplify the links between corporate globalization, militarism, and the denial of basic human rights to immigrants, working people, and the poor. We will stand in solidarity with popular movements in Mexico in saying no to the WTO and yes to a world that values human dignity and ecological sustainability over profit.
WHO: This local call is sponsored by Pittsburgh Organizing Group and the Thomas Merton Center.
editorial note: formatting changed at posters request
Bucket drums, bucket drums!
by PL@
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 5:51 AM
If you have a drum, bring it!!
Info on Tour of Greed
by wheatpaster
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 7:26 AM
starbuxsux@heartofdarkness.org
On S13, we are bringing attention to specific corporations in our own backyard who are abusing the WTO, NAFTA, and other international bodies for their own gain.
The organizers from POG have no permit, but the Tour of Greed plans to remain on the sidewalk and not take the streets. This decision was concensed to by those who saw what happened on August 24th and agreed this is not the right climate for taking to the streets. We will get the message out in a different way this time: colorfully and creatively, and hitting the corporations where it really hurts: their profit margin!
There is a planned route for Saturday, but it will not be released until right before the march begins. While POG only plans to do a little street theater and encourage people never to economically support such corporations, and these stores are not expected to be in a position of physical danger, there is something to be said for the element of surprise.
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by [[[
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 11:55 AM
"This decision was concensed to by those who saw what happened on August 24th and agreed this is not the right climate for taking to the streets."
I don't think I consensed to that or that your statement reflects others positions. The position of many in pog wasn't that it would be impossible to take to the streets. A lot of us saw it as possible and worthwhile. It didn't make sense though for THIS particular situation (having nothing to do with the climate in general- the climate in general has convinced a lot of us that it is more important then ever to take to the streets). The people within pog who are organizing this event seemed to be aiming for a different type of event that would be incompatible with a likely confrontation.
Most critically many in pog didn't have the time or what seemed like the interest in putting on a street taking event. Those are the reasons that people agreed to not have a street march.