Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 11:00:49 -0400
From: Chuck0 <chuck-AT-tao.ca>
Subject: Fwd: guerilla gardening info pack



DATE: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 21:43:16
From: "Abbie Hoffmann" <a16gg-AT-mailcity.com>


Below is the text from the guerilla gardening info pack.  For the
t-shirt graphic go to
 http://www.freerangegraphics.com/clients/a16gg.jpg


Welcome to D.C.  The A16 guerilla gardening collective is proud to hand
over the reigns of leadership of the agrarian revolution into your
willing and capable hands.  In this info packet we have attempted to
provide you with ideas and suggestions we thought would be useful in
this struggle, however we do not presume to dictate the terms.  That is
for you to decide.
	Guerilla gardens are revolutionary infrastructure.  Seizing back
control of our own food supply from multinational corporations is one of
the first steps in eliminating our dependence on those corporations, and
eliminating our dependence is the first step towards freedom.
	If our embryonic revolution is to grow into a mass movement that will
change the course of history it must seize the imaginations of working
people.  We must illustrate viable alternatives to the present madness. 
We must do it creatively enough that they cannot credibly label us as
terrorists, and militantly enough that we cannot be ignored.
	Listed below are a number of scenarios.  Choose the one that appeals to
you, or create your own, organize your affinity group, and do it.

1.   Tree planting canvas
	This action is for individuals or pairs.  It involves going door to
door in the neighborhoods of D.C. with saplings and flyers (See
backpage).  When people answer the door tell them you are offering to
plant them a tree for free if they agree to give it a marker stake and
water it, as young trees need a lot of care to make it through the first
year.  Give them a flyer about the IMF/World Bank effects on global
forests and use it as an opportunity to start conversations, build
community support, and reforest the city one yard at a time.

2.  Community Gardens
	There are plenty of existing community gardens that could use a hand,
so if that is what your group is interested in, give us a call and we'll
try to hook you up with some locals.

3.  Urban Reclamation
	Throughout the city there are abandoned lots just waiting to be
discovered and reclaimed by the people and Mother Earth.   These actions
provide opportunities for us to connect the issues of the environment,
community control, biotechnology and the role of the IMF/World Bank when
we talk to the media and the community members walking by.

4.  Spectacle on the Green 
	This one is going to be the most confrontational and is going to
require a well organized cluster of affinity groups.  The idea is to
liberate a section of greenspace in central D.C.  This idea has the
potential to create a powerful image of the people reclaiming the
capitol city in a creative and beautiful way.  All the details are left
to you for obvious reasons.

In order to get a more comprehensive picture of the events of this week,
to time and place your action strategically, you may wish to have a
representative of your affinity group take part in the action
spokescouncil.  Actions spokes meeting are nightly, 7-9pm at the
convergence space.  If you wish to have assistance in getting media to
accompany your affinity group action, call Emil Zap at 202/907-1178. 
Pick up free maps at the welcome center or at the DC Visitor Center at
Union Station.

On the following page are some of the questions you will probably be
facing from the media and some ideas on how to answer those questions in
a way that communicates what you want, not what they're after.  You
don't need to know lots of facts in order to communicate a
comprehendible message.  There are people available who can talk
specifically to issues such as biotechnology and corporate control of
agriculture, and how the IMF/World Bank plays into all this.  Call Emil
Zap for numbers of "policy people".  If you're interested in getting
more comfortable with talking to media, there are regular trainings
offered at the convergence space.  Many of the questions are
deliberately hostile, cause it's best to prepare for the worst.

  What does gardening have to do with the IMF/World Bank?

The policies of the World Bank and IMF have destroyed sustainable
agricultural communities and replaced them with corporate genetically
modified cash crop agri-business. 

  What does the IMF/World Bank have to do with a bunch of middle class
white kids?

For every person who came here to express their grievances against the
IMF/World Bank there are thousands of indigenous and third world people
who were unable to come to D.C. to explain how the policies of these
institutions have destroyed their homes, stolen their livelihoods, and
devastated their communities. 

  Why have you outside agitators come here to DC to trash our
communities?

This is an expression of communities all around the world who are
demanding that basic decision-making power be restored to their
communities from unelected global financial institutions like the World
Bank and the IMF. 

  What's your alternative to the IMF World Bank?  What would you like to
see in their place?

This sort of thing right here.  A structure that empowers local
communities to produce the things they need to sustain themselves.  Free
organic community gardens are the future.

Major decisions that degrade our local economies, cultures and
ecosystems are being made by unelected undemocratic institutions such as
the IMF, World Bank and WTO for the benefit of transnational
corporations.  We want basic decision-making power to be restored to our
communities, and to communities around the world.

  Do you expect any violence today?

Violence? We're planting sunflowers.

  Are you planning to break any windows?

No, we are going to dismantle the entire corporate system.

  Why are you destroying the city's greenspace?

We're improving the city's greenspace.

  Why are people wearing masks? (if applicable to your affinity group)

To take the focus off the individuals and back to the issues, the issues
of  the World Bank and IMF etc etc

  Biotechnology soundbytes:

As part of the IMF/World Bank's programs, bioengineered crops and the
consequent patenting of seeds are now being imposed as part of a
conscious policy to drive indigenous people from the lands they
traditionally shared to grow food for their communities.

These institutions are taking what does not belong to them-the codes of
life itself-and are posing the most serious threat to the stability of
the earth's ecosystems.


















































          



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