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Next April 20-22, 2001, Quebec City has the dubious honour of hosting the Summit of the Americas, which brings together the 34 heads of state of North, South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean (except Cuba). Besides the usual scare-mongering about security and terrorism, and empty rhetoric about democracy and human rights, the stated purpose of the Summit will be to put the final touches on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) agreement. The Summit of the Americas meeting will be the largest police and security operation in Canadian history, all while the 34 leaders and an entourage of big business elites, technocrats and corporate media enjoy their cocktail parties, gala dinners and public relations spectacles.
The FTAA extends the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) to the entire hemisphere, and is to be implemented by no later than 2005. The FTAA is also an extension of the reach of capitalist globalization, aiming to submit health care, education, as well as environmental and labour standards to the so-called logic of the free-market. Negotiated behind closed doors, and imposed unilaterally, the FTAA process is yet another example of the kind of economic violence that aims to suppress the gains of popular struggles of the past, and reinforce the power of cash and cops over our lives.
The demonstrations against the WTO in Seattle announced to the world the existence of an anti-capitalist resistance movement in Canada and the United States. The same spirit prevailed last April in Washington during the IMF and World Bank meetings, and in Windsor last June during the general assembly of the Organization of American States (which initiated the FTAA process). On each occasion, thousands took to the streets to refuse the free market fundamentalism of governments and business. These demonstrations did not emerge from nowhere, but were the result of many years of collective struggles against colonialism, poverty, police brutality and injustices of all kinds.
Next April in Quebec City, the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (La Convergence des luttes anti- capitalistes, or CLAC, in French) will participate in a large-scale grassroots mobilization against the FTAA. The CLAC, which is based in Montreal, is organizing a Carnival Against Capitalism (which will include teach- ins, conferences, workshops, concerts, cabarets, street theatre, direct actions, protests and more) . We are hoping to facilitate a convergence in Quebec City of a vast array of people who aim to create a world free of oppression.
The CLAC believes it is possible to radically and creatively oppose imperialism and the capitalist system while at the same time maintaining the spirit of openness that is necessary to develop a diverse and pluralistic resistance movement. The mobilization against the Summit of the Americas is being organized within the framework of a long-term struggle, in the North and South, against capitalist globalization. For its part, the CLAC is committed to participating in the globalization of genuine solidarity between peoples, with the goal of collectively resisting the same root causes of exploitation.
No matter where you live, there are several ways to get involved with the CLAC as we struggle against the FTAA and mobilize against the Summit of the Americas:
If you want more information about the CLAC, the FTAA or the Summit of the Americas, get in touch. We can provide you with detailed information. As well, don't hesitate to pass on information about your local struggles, and your perspectives on the FTAA.
If you want to support the actions and/or principles of the CLAC while mobilizing against the FTAA, get in touch with us as well. We are hoping to help contribute to a worldwide anti-capitalist resistance that is creative,effective and as large as possible. Perhaps we can coordinate actions against the FTAA and the Summit of the Americas throughout the hemisphere.
If you want to organize an information session on the FTAA or the CLAC, send us your requests. We can help prepare workshops, discussions and debates.
If you live in Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes or the northeastern United States, members of the CLAC can visit to help with your local mobilization and awareness raising efforts. The CLAC is currently planning organizing visits to these areas, in conjunction with local grassroots groups.
However you want to be involved, do get in touch. You can contact the CLAC by e-mail , by phone (514-526-8946 - temporary number) or by post (La CLAC, 2035 St-Laurent Boulevard, 2nd floor, Montreal (Quebec) CANADA, H2X 2T3).
Send your comments and stories of police brutality to: ruitsdawtah@Hotmail.com
This page created November 30, 2000
