Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 16:02:35 -0500
From: Chuck0 <chuck-AT-tao.ca>
Subject: Fwd: (50 Years) report on Washington meeting to plan WB/IMFaction for 



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Fwd: (50 Years) report on Washington meeting to plan
WB/IMFaction for April
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 13:39:26 -0500
From: Doug Henwood <dhenwood-AT-panix.com>
Reply-To: lbo-talk-AT-lists.panix.com
To: lbo-talk-AT-lists.panix.com

From: "50 Years Is Enough Network" <wb50years-AT-igc.org>
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 01:00:34 -0500

Report on

WASHINGTON, D.C. MEETING TO PLAN

IMF/WORLD BANK PROTEST FOR APRIL 16 - 17, 2000

On Tuesday, January 11, 2000 a group of 62 activists met in 
Washington at the University of the District of Columbia to begin 
planning in earnest for a big mobilization around the IMF/World Bank 
Spring Meetings, April 16-17, 2000. This is seen as a logical 
follow-up to the WTO protests in Seattle.

The energy level is high and people from a great array of 
organizations are coming together to make this happen. We are working 
toward, and looking forward to, an amazing event on Sunday, April 16 
in Washington, DC.

The meeting reviewed the reasons for targeting the IMF and World 
Bank, and the 13-year history of mobilizations at their meetings. We 
also talked about the organizing that is already going on around the 
U.S. and the world. Meetings have taken place in many cities to 
report back on the events in Seattle. At many of those meetings -- 
including at least those in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, 
Baltimore, Burlington [VT], Winnipeg, and Washington -- the April 
mobilizations in Washington have been discussed and greeted with a 
lot of enthusiasm. Word has gone out internationally, as groups work 
to bring people from the countries most affected by IMF/World Bank 
policies (i.e., those in the South -- Africa, Latin America, 
Asia-Pacific).

Many of the groups that were most active in organizing for Seattle 
are also working toward April 16 - 17 and several were represented at 
the meeting. Those that fall into one or both categories include: 
Direct Action Network, Global Exchange, Rainforest Action Network, 
Art & Revolution, Ruckus Society, Public Citizen's Global Trade 
Watch, and Friends of the Earth. Also many local groups are very 
interested in working on a shut-down of the meetings.

We discussed the organizing structure that was used for Seattle 
(working groups, affinity groups, organizing collective, 
spokescouncil). On the agenda for the next meeting (January 25th) is 
a discussion about our organizing structure for the April 16 - 17 
Mobilization. Other aspects of the Seattle organizing -- action 
guidelines, solidarity agreements, legal teams, media teams -- were 
also highlighted as possible models for our organizing and actions.

We noted the need to put out a call of action very soon to get 
organizations around the country and world committed and stating what 
kind of support they can offer for this effort.

The heart of the meeting was brainstorming about the kind of 
action(s) we'd like to see and what working groups we would need to 
make that happen. We finally broke into the working groups listed 
below, with the proviso that we will remain flexible as needs and 
opportunities develop. Included in this list is the tasks each agreed 
on and the next meeting time/place and contact person. For those 
reading this outside of Washington, feel free to pass this 
information on to D.C. activists who would like to get involved.

MEDIA

Work: Developing press kit, identify target media, work on press 
lists, core group to talk to media, talk to TV bookers. Avoid 
reinventing wheel by talking to those who did this in Seattle. 
Identify issue experts and spokespeople on behalf of the organizing 
coalition.

Next Meeting: Monday 1/24 at 7 p.m, 2100 19th St. NW #702

OUTREACH

Work: Lots of interest in local outreach and interest in other kinds 
of outreach to students, faith-based groups, labor, etc

Next Meeting: Tues 1/18 at 7 pm, Wilson High School Room 113 - 
Nebraska Ave. & Chesapeake St. (Tenleytown metro)

LOGISTICS

Work: Arrange for nurses, doctors, water, port-a-potties, 
transportation (blocks of buses, picking up people at airport). 
Blocks of rooms at cheap hotels, churches, campgrounds, volunteer for 
homestays. Need to talk right away with people who handled this in 
Seattle. Looking for workspace/ office space.

Next Meeting: Mon 1/17 at 7 pm, 1640 Hobart St. NW

FUNDRAISING

Work: Take existing letter from Seattle and adapt. Find a 501c3 to 
funnel money thru, with suggestion it could be Alliance for Global 
Justice. In Seattle, lots of sponsoring organizations kicked in 
between $3k-$10k. Set a minimum co-sponsorship contribution for the 
April 16 - 17 mobilization of US$1.00.

Next Meeting: 1/20 1 pm (lunch) at Zorba's Dupont Circle - 21st Street

TRAINING/WORKSHOPS

Work: Good to do Ruckus type camp from April 1-8. Talked about 
puppets, props etc.

Next Meeting: Thursday 1/13, 7 pm, Xando on R/Connecticut NW

COMMUNICATIONS:

Work: Set up website for central info which would be for prep and 
during meeting. Identify ways to communicate with Jubilee 2000, 
School Of the Americas Watch, Earth Day, etc. Establish listserv for 
local and national. "Day of" communications: cell phones, radios etc. 
Reliable calendar of events.

Next Meeting: 1/18 Tuesday 7 pm at Woodley Café across from Woodley 
Park Metro station.

PROPAGANDA/MESSAGE:

Work: Develop messages & write documents. Do outreach to 
organizations (including in South) to develop message. Work with 
Training, Media, etc. to get messages out.

Next Meeting: Wed 1/19 at 6:00 at CIEL 1367 Conn. Ave #300. South 
exit of Dupont.

SCENARIO/ACTION:

Work: Week-long of buildup activities and trainings prior to April 16 
- 17. Set up in-kind committee to get donated materials (make this a 
subset of Fundraising).

Next Meeting: Wed 1/19 at Friends of the Earth at noon: 1025 Vermont 
Ave NW #300. McPherson Square metro.

[Note: No one was present for the Legal Working Group; it will be formed
later]

We are interested in getting people outside of Washington involved in 
appropriate working groups. If you have a contribution to make, 
please contact the appropriate person or the provisional 
clearinghouse. We are also exploring possibilities for meetings by 
conference call in order to include/involve organizers around the 
country.

For the time being, the Alliance for Global Justice and the 50 Years 
Is Enough Network have agreed to serve as central contact points for 
information on the mobilization. We can be reached at 
wb50years-AT-igc.org (web: www.50years.org) 202/IMF-BANK or 
202/544-9355, respectively.

The next meeting of the large group is Tuesday, January 25 at 7 p.m. 
It will probably be at the same location (UDC), but we have to 
confirm with the university.