From evera at igc.apc.org Wed Jul 9 17:15:16 1997 From: evera at igc.apc.org (Eduardo Vera) Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 01:15:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [asia-apec 401] 2nd Delegation Zapatista Weavers Struggle Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970709060846.44e7560c@pop.igc.org> 2nd Delegation Zapatista Weavers Struggle Press Release For Immediate Release July 8, 1997 Contact: Eduardo Vera (512) 454-8097 email: evera@igc.apc.org Austin Delegation to Chiapas The Committee in Solidarity with Chiapas is inviting the Austin Community and other people in the United States to participate in the second delegation to Chiapas to support the Zapatista women and their weaving cooperative. Support to the Zapatista women is an ongoing project of the National Commission for Democracy in Mexico. The sale from the first delegation last March has been very successful and the proceeds will be now used to bring more Zapatista textiles to support the indigenous struggle in Chiapas. The women's Cooperative's sales are one of the few avenues they have to bring in money to support their families because they are prevented from leaving their communities by threat of rape and harassment from the Mexican military. The Delegation will visit Chiapas on August 20-27, 1997. It will include visits to Zapatista Centers of Resistance and the Women's Cooperative. To join the Delegation call Carol Hayman at 477-3099 or call 454-8097. Donations to support this project can be sent to Comite de Solidaridad con Chiapas y Mexico, P. O. Box 906, Austin, TX 78767. Seeds, medical supplies, school supplies, and other donations can be dropped off at Ruta Maya, Fourth and Lavaca or Resistencia Book Store, 2210B South First St., where the Committee meets every Saturday at 4pm. Please come by to show your support and learn more about the struggle. Place Your Order for a Zapatista Weaving Now! The delegation will be buying more textiles from the Zapatista women weavers in August. You can place an order for a hand-woven cotton brocade cushion cover in advance. At our last sale we ran out of these beautiful items very quickly. If we know beforehand approximately how many we need the women can make them for us. The traditional colors are red or red and black on a white background. Other colors, black, blue, green, or purple on white may be available. Please tell us your color preference. We may not be able to send you the color you request, but you won't be disappointed - all the weaving is of the finest. Please send a check or money order for $30 plus $4 postage and packing to: Comite de Solidaridad con Chiapas y Mexico P. O. Box 906 Austin, TX 78767 Include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. ====================== Check web sites for women in Chiapas and other information: http://www.igc.org/ncdm/index.html http://www.igc.org/ncdm/sisters.htm http://www.igc.org/ncdm/women.html http://spin.com.mx/~floresu/FZLN/ http://www.peak.org/~joshua/fzln/ http://www.ezln.org/ For weekly news on Chiapas, Mexico and Border Issues tune to Radio Tierra y Libertad, a weekly program produced by the Comite, and aired on KOOP Radio, 91.7 FM Sundays at 4 PM. Wednesdays, Pesadilla, Musica y Cultura, 11 am to 1 pm on KOOP Radio, 91.7 FM. San Marcos 105.9 FM KIND Sundays 10 am to 12 noon. El despertador de Aztlan. ======================================= This notice is a service of Comite de Solidaridad con Chiapas y Mexico PO Box 906 Austin, Texas, 78767 (512) 454-8097 to subscribe or unsubscribe from this list please Email: evera@igc.apc.org ======================================== From playfair at mail.asta.rwth-aachen.de Fri Jul 11 00:29:36 1997 From: playfair at mail.asta.rwth-aachen.de (Play Fair Europe!) Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 17:29:36 +0200 Subject: [asia-apec 402] Meeting on the WTO in Spain - Detailed description Message-ID: Please, find enclosed a detailed description of the meeting on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which will take place in Spain from the 4th to the 8th of August. If you are interested in this meeting, please contact us as soon as possible, since it is already quite late. Greetings, Rosa Ruano * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * (we apologize for eventual cross-posting) MEETING ON THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO) - Spain, 4th to 8th of August 1997 In case you have read the message named "1998 WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva", please quit section 1 of this message. Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Objectives of the meeting 3. Contents of the meeting 3.1. Proposals for international action 3.2. Coordination of WTO-related activities at international level 3.3. Exchange of information 4. Participation fee 5. Travel 6. Practical details Appendix: Information about the network Play Fair Europe! 1. INTRODUCTION The second WTO Ministerial Conference will take place in Geneva in 1998, according to all rumours in the first half of the year (either in May or in June). It will be combined with an official commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the multilateral trading system. Both these events should "celebrate the past while preparing the way for the future" (WTO FOCUS, no. 16, February 1996). This is in our opinion a fine opportunity to expose to the public what the WTO is and which function it has, what interests it defends, the extent of its power and its social and environmental impact. More important than this, it is a really strategic moment to express opposition to the destructive effects that the global market and the WTO have on rural societies, dignity in labour, the environment, cultural diversity and self-determination. Finally, it is a great moment for networking among the growing amount of organisations working on or concerned with the WTO. This meeting has the aim of advancing in the process of coordination and collaboration between organisations on the topic of the WTO, and to plan different international actions aimed to make a good use of the second Ministerial Conference. The date and venue of the meeting has been strategically chosen to take place right after the Second Intercontinental Encuentro (Gathering) for Humanity and against Neo-liberalism, which takes place this summer in Spain. The Encuentro, the continuation of the one organised last summer by the zapatista communities in Chiapas, will bring together up to 4.000 people in a week of discussions, with the aim of creating a worldwide network for humanity and against neo-liberalism. There will be a good potential of people interested in taking action on the WTO in the second Encuentro. However, the Encuentro has been structured along six rather general and broad topics and will take place in five different places, which means that it will not really offer a good setting for a focussed discussion on the WTO. We hence took the initiative to organise a smaller, more focussed meeting right after the encuentro. This meeting will take place in El Indiano, a community of the Sindicato de Obreros del Campo, from the 4th to the 8th of August. The topics of the meeting will be of two kinds: on the one hand there will be discussions on concrete action proposals, and on the other more general discussions on the strategy or strategies (confrontation, lobby, strong demands, rejection...) to follow towards the WTO within an eventual common platform for action. 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE MEETING 1. To plan international activities and publications in relationship with the Second Ministerial Conference of the WTO in 1998. 2. To discuss the strategy to follow within the Peoples' Summit on Trade, Money and Finance and, eventually, in a new international platform for action on the WTO. 3. To promote the incorporation of the WTO on the agenda of organisations and networks not yet active on the issue. 4. To discuss ways in which organisations active on the WTO in different regions of the world can support each other. 3. CONTENTS OF THE MEETING What we write in this section are only the topics that Play Fair Europe! is bringing forward for this meeting. However, the first day of the meeting we will discuss the agenda with the participants, and see whether they also bring in their own issues and proposals. The participants will also decide how we should talk about the issues. There are practical topics (the proposals for international action) on which it seems better to work in small groups, while some others (the discussion on the coordination of WTO-related activities) have more of a fundamental nature and should hence in our opinion be discussed by the whole group. 3.1. Proposals for international action We hope that many of the participants of the meeting will bring their own proposals for actions on the WTO that they would like to realise at international level, in cooperation with other organisations. We in Play Fair Europe! have some concrete proposals that we have been spreading around in the last weeks. These are: 1. Leaflet(s) on the WTO 2. Book on trade liberalisation and the WTO 3. Roundtables & publications on globalisation 4. Peoples' Conference on Alternatives to the WTO 5. Actions during the Ministerial Conference In case you have not received the message with the description of all these actions, please get in touch with us in They are only examples, and there will be more proposals on the table in the meeting (for example, a proposal for an international day of action on the World Food Day, put forward by the Norwegian GATT/WTO campaign). 3.2. Coordination of WTO-related activities at international level Right now there are (as far as we in Play Fair Europe! know) two international platforms of civil society specifically created to work on the WTO: the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the Peoples' Summit on Trade, Money and Finance. Besides that there is a number of international networks working on the WTO as part of their activities (like the ICFTU, the Alliance for a Responsible and United World, the Third World Network, etc.), and other networks on which the WTO is one of the main issues (like La V?a Campesina, IFOAM, GRAIN, etc). The ICTSD works only as a link between a group of NGOs and (mainly) the WTO, but its mandate does not consist of taking any position, let alone campaigning. The Peoples' Summit is still rather undefined in its programme of work, and until now it is restricted to the areas of food, agriculture and biological diversity. It is basically an idea that has been supported by several individuals and organisations. Hence, in our opinion there is still not a real tool for the facilitation of a continued collaboration on the WTO that we could use after the meeting. The Peoples' Summit might be one, but then it should be defined in this way. Anyhow, before doing so, we think that we need some more discussion on whether we need a tool for international collaboration - maybe the collaboration can work on an informal basis. And even before talking about this, we should define which kind of collaboration do we want to have: - in terms of its scope (restricted to only certain topics, like the Peoples' Summit is right now, or encompassing all WTO-related issues?) - in terms of its nature (only information sharing, or common confrontative actions, or a platform of demands? Or a combination of these?) We hence want to talk about these issues during the meeting, to see whether there is common ground (at least among some of the participants) to build a tool for working together on the WTO at international level. We expect that many of the initiators of the Peoples' Summit will be present in the meeting, so that we can discuss its nature and eventually define it more accurately. 3.3. Exchange of information An important component of the meeting will be the exchange of information and the getting-to-know-each-other among the persons and organisations attending it. We will hence propose to allocate an appropriate amount of time for it. 4. PARTICIPATION FEE The only costs involved in this meeting are the food costs, which will be divided among the participants. They will be about 10 US $ per day. 5. TRAVEL We are organizing a bus from Amsterdam to Spain for the Encuentro and the post-Encuentro meeting on the WTO, but we still do not know the price neither the itinerary. If you are interested, please contact us and we will send you this information as soon as possible. 6. PRACTICAL DETAILS If you want to come to the meeting you should arrive to Sevilla if possible on the 3rd of August. The meeting will take place in a rural community in Cadiz, called El Indiano, one and a half hours away from Sevilla. If you cannot get directly to Sevilla, there are trains connecting Madrid and Sevilla several times a day - we do not have the timetable here, but any travel agency should have it actually, and if not, send us an email and we will send it to you. You can get from Sevilla to El Indiano as follows: You should get to the Bus Station in El Prado de San Sebastian (Estacion de Autobuses del Prado de San Sebastian), and ask for the bus enterprise called "Casal". They have a regular bus from Sevilla to Puerto Serrano at following times: Monday to Saturday: 8:30, 13:30, 19:00 Sunday and other non-working days: 8:00, 17:30 This bus arrives one and a half hours later to Puerto Serrano. From Puerto Serrano to El Indiano there is about 1 Km walk (about 15 to 20 minutes), which will be clearly signalised. The bus costs 660 pesetas, about 5 dollars, and there are no non-working days in Andalucia in the first half of August. The meeting will take place in cosy, but not "luxorious" conditions: we will stay in a building without beds, which means that everybody should bring her/his sleeping bag and matress. We will cook ourselves, and have nice parties around the fire. APPENDIX: INFORMATION ABOUT THE NETWORK PLAY FAIR EUROPE! The Network Play Fair Europe! was created in October 1995 as the result of a two-weeks seminar called Autumn University On North-South Issues "Play Fair Europe!". The 80 participants of this event decided to create a network in order to coordinate the work of the different individuals who were present there, and made the choice of not having neither a network office nor network resources, but a really horizontal collaboration between individuals and groups from all over Europe. Play Fair Europe! was thus conceived solely as a tool for collaboration and coordination of the different organisations involved in the network, in order to boost further activities at the European level for the sensibilization of youths in the field of North-South relations and sustainability. The groups that form part of the network are of different nature. Some are called Play Fair Europe! too, like the ones in Amsterdam and Aachen. These have been formed after the first Autumn University, by people inspired by this event. Others existed already before the Autumn University and have come in contact with the network in one of its events, and decided to use the network too as a tool for collaboration. The main international projects of Play Fair Europe! as a network have been a meeting in Madrid during the EU Summit (December 1995), the seminar "Brave New World" parallel to the 4th ITCPGR in Leipzig (June 1996) and The Hunger Gathering, an activists forum of 330 people parallel to the World Food Summit (organised in collaboration with A SEED). For the next year, almost all the energies of PFE! will be concentrated on the WTO. The main area in which we are going to be active (beyond the roundtables and the peoples' conference in Geneva) is awareness-raising. We will start with a second Autumn University designed to prepare a whole cadre of WTO activists, a basis of multiplicators for the sensibilisation and awareness-raising work in Europe. This Autumn Univeristy, called "Surviving in a Globalised World", will take place in Aachen from the 27th of September to the 11th of October of 1997. PFE! Aachen was formed right after the first Autumn University. We have been doing local conscientization work, and we have also been active in all the international projects of PFE!. We are a relatively small group of people, all students (at least in theory), quite dedicated to the idea of social ecology and very engaged in solidarity work with a strong political content. ******************************************************************* Play Fair Europe! e.V. Tel: +49-241-80 37 92 Turmstr. 3 Fax: +49-241-88 88 394 52072 Aachen, Germany email: playfair@asta.rwth-aachen.de From aditjond at psychology.newcastle.edu.au Sun Jul 13 12:47:09 1997 From: aditjond at psychology.newcastle.edu.au (George J. Aditjondro) Date: Sun, 13 Jul 1997 14:47:09 +1100 Subject: [asia-apec 403] Re: Meeting on the WTO in Spain - Detailed description Message-ID: Dear Rosa Ruano; At the time of the next WTO meeting in Spain, I will be just 'next door' in Oporto, teaching a summer course on Indonesia for Portuguese (speaking) participants, and would be interested to attend the NGO meeting on WTO in Spain. I am interested in particular, with the combined European-American-Japanese campaign against the special deal between South Korea's Kia Motors and President Suharto's youngest son, Tommy Suharto, in promoting the so-called Timor car in Indonesia. It is a US$ 1 billion tax break, or, should we say, bribe, for the Suharto family, which I have been opposing against, since last year. I am contactable through the following email addresses in Oporto, and hope to hear from you soon. Prof. A. Barbedo de Magelhaes and Madalena Veiga Since tomorrow morning I am already leaving for Oporto, please send your reply to those addresses. Muchas gracias, George J. Aditjondro -------------------------------------- >Please, find enclosed a detailed description of the meeting on the World >Trade Organisation (WTO) which will take place in Spain from the 4th to the >8th of August. If you are interested in this meeting, please contact us as >soon as possible, since it is already quite late. > >Greetings, > >Rosa Ruano > > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > > >(we apologize for eventual cross-posting) > >MEETING ON THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO) - Spain, 4th to 8th of >August 1997 > >In case you have read the message named "1998 WTO Ministerial Conference in >Geneva", please quit section 1 of this message. > >Contents: > >1. Introduction >2. Objectives of the meeting >3. Contents of the meeting > 3.1. Proposals for international action > 3.2. Coordination of WTO-related activities at international level > 3.3. Exchange of information >4. Participation fee >5. Travel >6. Practical details >Appendix: Information about the network Play Fair Europe! > > >1. INTRODUCTION > >The second WTO Ministerial Conference will take place in Geneva in 1998, >according to all rumours in the first half of the year (either in May or in >June). It will be combined with an official commemoration of the 50th >anniversary of the multilateral trading system. Both these events should >"celebrate the past while preparing the way for the future" (WTO FOCUS, no. >16, February 1996). > >This is in our opinion a fine opportunity to expose to the public what the >WTO is and which function it has, what interests it defends, the extent of >its power and its social and environmental impact. More important than >this, it is a really strategic moment to express opposition to the >destructive effects that the global market and the WTO have on rural >societies, dignity in labour, the environment, cultural diversity and >self-determination. Finally, it is a great moment for networking among the >growing amount of organisations working on or concerned with the WTO. > >This meeting has the aim of advancing in the process of coordination and >collaboration between organisations on the topic of the WTO, and to plan >different international actions aimed to make a good use of the second >Ministerial Conference. > >The date and venue of the meeting has been strategically chosen to take >place right after the Second Intercontinental Encuentro (Gathering) for >Humanity and against Neo-liberalism, which takes place this summer in >Spain. The Encuentro, the continuation of the one organised last summer by >the zapatista communities in Chiapas, will bring together up to 4.000 >people in a week of discussions, with the aim of creating a worldwide >network for humanity and against neo-liberalism. > >There will be a good potential of people interested in taking action on the >WTO in the second Encuentro. However, the Encuentro has been structured >along six rather general and broad topics and will take place in five >different places, which means that it will not really offer a good setting >for a focussed discussion on the WTO. We hence took the initiative to >organise a smaller, more focussed meeting right after the encuentro. This >meeting will take place in El Indiano, a community of the Sindicato de >Obreros del Campo, from the 4th to the 8th of August. > >The topics of the meeting will be of two kinds: on the one hand there will >be discussions on concrete action proposals, and on the other more general >discussions on the strategy or strategies (confrontation, lobby, strong >demands, rejection...) to follow towards the WTO within an eventual common >platform for action. > > >2. OBJECTIVES OF THE MEETING > >1. To plan international activities and publications in relationship with >the Second Ministerial Conference of the WTO in 1998. > >2. To discuss the strategy to follow within the Peoples' Summit on Trade, >Money and Finance and, eventually, in a new international platform for >action on the WTO. > >3. To promote the incorporation of the WTO on the agenda of organisations >and networks not yet active on the issue. > >4. To discuss ways in which organisations active on the WTO in different >regions of the world can support each other. > > > >3. CONTENTS OF THE MEETING > >What we write in this section are only the topics that Play Fair Europe! is >bringing forward for this meeting. However, the first day of the meeting we >will discuss the agenda with the participants, and see whether they also >bring in their own issues and proposals. > >The participants will also decide how we should talk about the issues. >There are practical topics (the proposals for international action) on >which it seems better to work in small groups, while some others (the >discussion on the coordination of WTO-related activities) have more of a >fundamental nature and should hence in our opinion be discussed by the >whole group. > > > > 3.1. Proposals for international action > > We hope that many of the participants of the meeting will bring their own >proposals for actions on the WTO that they would like to realise at >international level, in cooperation with other organisations. We in Play >Fair Europe! have some concrete proposals that we have been spreading >around in the last weeks. These are: > >1. Leaflet(s) on the WTO >2. Book on trade liberalisation and the WTO >3. Roundtables & publications on globalisation >4. Peoples' Conference on Alternatives to the WTO >5. Actions during the Ministerial Conference > > In case you have not received the message with the description of all >these actions, please get in touch with us in > >They are only examples, and there will be more proposals on the table in >the meeting (for example, a proposal for an international day of action on >the World Food Day, put forward by the Norwegian GATT/WTO campaign). > > > > 3.2. Coordination of WTO-related activities at international level > > Right now there are (as far as we in Play Fair Europe! know) two >international platforms of civil society specifically created to work on >the WTO: the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development >(ICTSD) and the Peoples' Summit on Trade, Money and Finance. Besides that >there is a number of international networks working on the WTO as part of >their activities (like the ICFTU, the Alliance for a Responsible and United >World, the Third World Network, etc.), and other networks on which the WTO >is one of the main issues (like La V?a Campesina, IFOAM, GRAIN, etc). > > The ICTSD works only as a link between a group of NGOs and (mainly) the >WTO, but its mandate does not consist of taking any position, let alone >campaigning. The Peoples' Summit is still rather undefined in its programme >of work, and until now it is restricted to the areas of food, agriculture >and biological diversity. It is basically an idea that has been supported >by several individuals and organisations. > > Hence, in our opinion there is still not a real tool for the facilitation >of a continued collaboration on the WTO that we could use after the >meeting. The Peoples' Summit might be one, but then it should be defined in >this way. Anyhow, before doing so, we think that we need some more >discussion on whether we need a tool for international collaboration - >maybe the collaboration can work on an informal basis. And even before >talking about this, we should define which kind of collaboration do we want >to have: > > - in terms of its scope (restricted to only certain topics, like the >Peoples' Summit is right now, or encompassing all WTO-related issues?) > > - in terms of its nature (only information sharing, or common >confrontative actions, or a platform of demands? Or a combination of >these?) > > We hence want to talk about these issues during the meeting, to see >whether there is common ground (at least among some of the participants) to >build a tool for working together on the WTO at international level. > > We expect that many of the initiators of the Peoples' Summit will be >present in the meeting, so that we can discuss its nature and eventually >define it more accurately. > > > > 3.3. Exchange of information > > An important component of the meeting will be the exchange of information >and the getting-to-know-each-other among the persons and organisations >attending it. We will hence propose to allocate an appropriate amount of >time for it. > > > >4. PARTICIPATION FEE > > The only costs involved in this meeting are the food costs, which will be >divided among the participants. They will be about 10 US $ per day. > > > >5. TRAVEL > > > We are organizing a bus from Amsterdam to Spain for the Encuentro and the >post-Encuentro meeting on the WTO, but we still do not know the price >neither the itinerary. If you are interested, please contact us and we will >send you this information as soon as possible. > > >6. PRACTICAL DETAILS > > If you want to come to the meeting you should arrive to Sevilla if >possible on the 3rd of August. The meeting will take place in a rural >community in Cadiz, called El Indiano, one and a half hours away from >Sevilla. If you cannot get directly to Sevilla, there are trains connecting >Madrid and Sevilla several times a day - we do not have the timetable here, >but any travel agency should have it actually, and if not, send us an email >and we will send it to you. You can get from Sevilla to El Indiano as >follows: > > You should get to the Bus Station in El Prado de San Sebastian (Estacion >de Autobuses del Prado de San Sebastian), and ask for the bus enterprise >called "Casal". They have a regular bus from Sevilla to Puerto Serrano at >following times: > >Monday to Saturday: 8:30, 13:30, 19:00 >Sunday and other non-working days: 8:00, 17:30 > > This bus arrives one and a half hours later to Puerto Serrano. From Puerto >Serrano to El Indiano there is about 1 Km walk (about 15 to 20 minutes), >which will be clearly signalised. The bus costs 660 pesetas, about 5 >dollars, and there are no non-working days in Andalucia in the first half >of August. > > The meeting will take place in cosy, but not "luxorious" conditions: we >will stay in a building without beds, which means that everybody should >bring her/his sleeping bag and matress. We will cook ourselves, and have >nice parties around the fire. > > > APPENDIX: INFORMATION ABOUT THE NETWORK PLAY FAIR EUROPE! > > > The Network Play Fair Europe! was created in October 1995 as the result of >a two-weeks seminar called Autumn University On North-South Issues "Play >Fair Europe!". The 80 participants of this event decided to create a >network in order to coordinate the work of the different individuals who >were present there, and made the choice of not having neither a network >office nor network resources, but a really horizontal collaboration between >individuals and groups from all over Europe. Play Fair Europe! was thus >conceived solely as a tool for collaboration and coordination of the >different organisations involved in the network, in order to boost further >activities at the European level for the sensibilization of youths in the >field of North-South relations and sustainability. > > The groups that form part of the network are of different nature. Some are >called Play Fair Europe! too, like the ones in Amsterdam and Aachen. These >have been formed after the first Autumn University, by people inspired by >this event. Others existed already before the Autumn University and have >come in contact with the network in one of its events, and decided to use >the network too as a tool for collaboration. > > The main international projects of Play Fair Europe! as a network have >been a meeting in Madrid during the EU Summit (December 1995), the seminar >"Brave New World" parallel to the 4th ITCPGR in Leipzig (June 1996) and The >Hunger Gathering, an activists forum of 330 people parallel to the World >Food Summit (organised in collaboration with A SEED). > > For the next year, almost all the energies of PFE! will be concentrated on >the WTO. The main area in which we are going to be active (beyond the >roundtables and the peoples' conference in Geneva) is awareness-raising. We >will start with a second Autumn University designed to prepare a whole >cadre of WTO activists, a basis of multiplicators for the sensibilisation >and awareness-raising work in Europe. This Autumn Univeristy, called >"Surviving in a Globalised World", will take place in Aachen from the 27th >of September to the 11th of October of 1997. > > PFE! Aachen was formed right after the first Autumn University. We have >been doing local conscientization work, and we have also been active in all >the international projects of PFE!. We are a relatively small group of >people, all students (at least in theory), quite dedicated to the idea of >social ecology and very engaged in solidarity work with a strong political >content. > > >******************************************************************* > >Play Fair Europe! e.V. Tel: +49-241-80 37 92 >Turmstr. 3 Fax: +49-241-88 88 394 >52072 Aachen, Germany email: playfair@asta.rwth-aachen.de From mknolldc at igc.apc.org Mon Jul 14 23:29:48 1997 From: mknolldc at igc.apc.org (Maryknoll Peace and Justice) Date: Mon, 14 Jul 1997 07:29:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [asia-apec 404] Re: Meeting on the WTO in Spain - Detailed description Message-ID: <199707141429.HAA24640@igc6.igc.org> unsubscribe From gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz Wed Jul 16 07:57:15 1997 From: gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz (Gatt Watchdog) Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 10:57:15 +1200 Subject: [asia-apec 405] Re: NZ Organisations, Unions Back Enquiry Call In-Reply-To: <3BHX0D4w165w@corso.ch.planet.gen.nz> Message-ID: <5TiX0D1w165w@corso.ch.planet.gen.nz> Path: corso!gattwd From: gattwd@corso.ch.planet.gen.nz (Gatt Watchdog) Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive Subject: NZ Organisations, Unions Back Enquiry Call Message-ID: <3BHX0D4w165w@corso.ch.planet.gen.nz> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 97 10:24:49 +1200 Reply-To: gattwd@corso.ch.planet.gen.nz (Gatt Watchdog) Organization: PlaNet Gaia Otautahi Attention: Chief Reporter MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE NZ Organisations, Unions Endorse Anniversary Call For Independent Public SIS Enquiry 14 July 1997 One year after a botched Security Intelligence Service break-in (13 July 1996) at the Christchurch home of GATT Watchdog spokesperson Aziz Choudry, a number of New Zealand organisations and unions are backing a call from Rev Brian Turner, the manager of Trade Aid Importers, for a fully independent public enquiry into the incident. Corso, Christian World Service, the New Zealand Trade Union Federation, Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA), Christchurch Community Law Centre, the Anti-Bases Campaign, the Association of University Staff (AUS) and GATT Watchdog are backing his call. Brian Turner, referring to the recently released report on the case by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Justice Greig says: "The botched SIS break-in has been matched with a botched report. Instead of offering redress to the complainants (Mr Choudry and University of Canterbury lecturer Dr David Small), it implies that they were justifiable targets for investigation and harassment by both the SIS and the Police". Brian Turner believes that the newly established oversight mechanisms put in place in relation to the SIS are inadequate, and that the government should instead allow a fully independent public enquiry to be conducted into last July's events. "Not only should there be a fully independent public enquiry into this incident, but it should have access to all the documentation and reports on the incident - not just the sanitised version released to Mr Choudry and Dr Small". Mr Turner says that the Prime Minister has, in a recent letter to Aziz Choudry, admitted that he has received a report from Justice Greig, but has declined to provide a copy, and would neither confirm nor deny the existence or non-existence of other documentation or communication related to the matter. The groups are also calling for a public assurance from the government that it will uphold the right of free speech and legitimate political dissent. "Given last July's break-in, the events of the following week, and last month's highly unsatisfactory report of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, it is clear that we cannot take such rights for granted." said Brian Turner. Maxine Gay, General Secretary of the NZ Trade Union Federation (TUF) says: "The bungled break-in and its aftermath shows that the Trade Union Federation's concerns were justified when we made our submission on the SIS Amendment Bill in 1996". Leigh Cookson of justice and development agency Corso says: "Corso knows of many cases of the harassment of people and groups working for social justice in countries ruled by repressive regimes. We are appalled to see the same thing occurring here, and the actions taken against Mr Choudry and Dr Small, both of whom are elected Corso officials. The SIS legislation made provision for such harassment. The conclusions of the Inspector-General's report establish the precedent. It is just not good enough for the SIS and the Prime Minister to continue to hide behind smug "neither confirm nor deny" statements about this case and to refuse to be publicly accountable in any way." Professor David Gunby, the University of Canterbury President of AUS has also reaffirmed his organisation's concerns about this incident and backed a call for an enquiry. For further comment please contact: Brian Turner (Manager,Trade Aid Importers) (03) 3853535 (w); (03) 3890234 (h) Leigh Cookson (Corso) 03 3662803 (w); (03) 3812951 (h) Jill Hawkey (National Co-ordinator, Christian World Service) (03) 3669274 (w); Maxine Gay (General Secretary, TUF): (04) 3848963/(04) 2375062 (w) or 025 2769225 (mobile) Murray Horton (CAFCA/Anti-Bases CampaignOrganiser) (03) 3663988 Nick McBride (Legal Resource Worker, Christchurch Community Law Centre) (03) 3666870 (w); (03) 3390393 (h) ===================================================================== GATT Watchdog, Box 1905, Otautahi (Christchurch) 8015, Aotearoa (New Zealand). Ph 64 3 3662803 Fax 64 3 3484763 ===================================================================== From pspd at soback.kornet.nm.kr Wed Jul 23 18:06:35 1997 From: pspd at soback.kornet.nm.kr (YoonKyong Lee) Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 18:06:35 +0900 (KST) Subject: [asia-apec 406] Change of address Message-ID: Greetings from PSPD! I would like to inform you that KHIS has made a change of address. Our new address and numbers are: 5F Anguk BLDG 175-87, Anguk-Dong, Chongno-Gu Seoul 110-734, Korea Tel: 822-723-4255 Fax: 822-723-5055 E-mail: pspd@soback.kornet.nm.kr Please make the appropriate changes in your records, and please share this information with other groups that you are affiliated with. Thank You Yours sincerely, Eun-Young Kim From rmalc at laneta.apc.org Thu Jul 24 06:53:43 1997 From: rmalc at laneta.apc.org (RMALC) Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 15:53:43 -0600 Subject: [asia-apec 407] Mandamientos sobre =?iso-8859-1?Q?globalizaci=F2n?= Message-ID: <199707232037.FAA20471@mail.jca.ax.apc.org> THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF GLOBALIZATION AND CORPORATE RULE For Citizens 1. Thou shalt have not rights to livelihoods, to work, to food, to water, to safe environment. 2. Thou sahalt have no rights to work and livelihoods and to economic security. 3. Thou shalt have no other identity or morality except that of being consumers on the global market place. 4. Thou shalt elect governments but the governments?role shall not be to protect you. They will protect corporations. For Governments 5 Thou shalt give up all functions to protect your citizens and all duties and obligations required of you national constitutions. 6. Thou shalt consider you first duty and obligation to promote the freedom of transnational corporations and take away the freedom of your people. 7. Thou shalt take the environment wealth of your country and citizens and hand it over for free to the transnational corporations. For Corporations and Business 8. If you are small and local, thou shalt disappear and make way for transnational monopolies. 9. If you are global, thou shalt demand absolute rights in every country to walk in and walk out as you find profitable. 10. Thpu shalt destroy the environment and jobs everywhere to maximise your profits and returns on investments which will be the end towards which all governments and citizens must assist you as theirs highest moral duty. FROM: ECOLOGICAL COST OF ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION. SHIVA, V. ET ALL.1997. LOS DIEZ MANDAMIENTOS DE LA GLOBALIZACI?N Y LAS EMPRESAS TRANSNACIONALES Para los ciudadanos 1. No tendr?s derecho a un modo de vida, trabajo, alimento, agua, ni a un medio ambiente seguro 2. No tendr?s derecho al trabajo y modos de vida, ni a la seguridad econ?mica 3. No tendr?s otra identidad ni otra moralidad que la de ser consumidor en el mercado global 4. Deber?s elegir el gobierno, pero el rol del gobierno no debe ser protegerte., sino proteger a las empresas transnacionales Para los gobiernos 5. Deber?s renunciar a todas tus funciones de proteger a tus ciudadanos y todas las tareas y obligaciones requeridas de ti por tus constituciones nacionales 6. Considerar?s como tu primera tarea y obligaci?n promover la libertad de las empresas trasnacionales y quitarle la libertad a tu gente 7. Deber?s tomar la riqueza ambiental de tu pa?s y de tus ciudadanos y entregarla gratuitamente a las empresas trasnacionales Para las empresas y negocios 8. Si eres peque?o y local, deber?s desaparecer y abrir camino a los monopolios trasnacionales 9. Si eres global, deber?s demandar derechos absolutos de entrada y salida en cada pa?s, seg?n lo encuentres redituable 10. Deber?s destruir el medio ambiente y los empleos en todo lugar para maximizar tus ganancias y retorno de inversiones, que ser? el fin de todo gobierno y ciudadano, quienes deber?n tener como m?xima tarea moral ayudarte a conseguirlo Fuente: Los Costos Ecol?gicos de la Globalizaci?n Econ?mica (Ecological Costs of Economic Globalization) de Shiva, V. y otros, 1997 Red Mexicana de Accio'n frente al Libre Comercio Godard 20, Tel/Fax: (52) (5) 355 1177 Guadalupe Victoria, E-mail: rmalc@laneta.apc.org C.P. 07790 Me'xico D.F. MEXICO Pagina Web: http://www.laneta.apc.org/rmalc/rmalcesp.htm From cnic at kiwi.co.jp Sun Jul 27 14:26:26 1997 From: cnic at kiwi.co.jp (Citizens' Nuclear Information Center) Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 14:26:26 +0900 (JST) Subject: [asia-apec 408] The Citizens' International Conference on Sustainable and Peaceful Energy Message-ID: <199707270526.OAA20091@kiwi.co.jp> Dear friends, As all of you might know, the Third Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 3) is to take place in Kyoto from 2nd to 10th December this year. The Japanese government is going to use the opportunity to advocate for nuclear energy as a "clean energy" without carbon emission. The idea is very dangerous in that advocating only for nuclear would hinder serious efforts for energy efficiency and renewable energy and also present an unfavorable precedence for other Asian countries, accelerating nuclear development in Asia. We, Citizens' Nuclear Information Center, set up a study group on the issue of climate change and nuclear and are going to hold the Citizens' International Conference on Sustainable and Peaceful Energy as a counter symposium at the time of the COP 3. Announcement and agenda are following. If you have any interests in the conference, please contact us. With best regards, Mika Ohbayashi ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CITIZENS' INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE AND PEACEFUL ENERGY FUTURE DATE 2 DECEMBER 1997 PLACE Kyoto International Community Center Citizens' Nuclear Information Center and Friends of the Earth Japan will co-host the "Citizens' International Conference for Sustainable and Peaceful Energy Future (title tentative)" at Kyoto International Community Center in Kyoto on 2nd December 1997. The Conference is aimed at offering an opportunity to the public an energy discussion toward a sustainable and peaceful future based on a rational scientific basis. The Conference is to take advantage of the opportunity of the Third Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) from 1 to 10 December, where an unprecedented number of government officials, journalists and NPO activists are expected to gather from around the world. The Citizens' Conference is aimed at reaffirming the lack of innovative and responsible initiatives concerning global environment on the side of many Annex I governments, particularly the Government of Japan, and will demonstrate the better energy scenarios supported by many NPOs and communities all over the world. Given the historic importance and the scale of attention towards the UN conference, the organizers intend to work closely with national and international media to raise crucial aspects of citizen participation to formulate a safe, equitable and sustainable future. The main issues to be addressed at the Citizens' Conference will be: 1. Climate change and nuclear energy 2. Prospects of energy efficiency and a sustainable world 3. Renewable energy and citizens' role The Citizens' Conference focuses on Japanese and Asian alternatives in the context of economic development, security and the environment in the region. It will also focus on stimulating the interaction and mutual learning process between Asian and European non-governmental initiatives and campaigns. We are planning to invite NPO representatives to present their cases at the Conference although financial resources available by the organizers are very limited. Those who are going to attend the COP3 and are interested in the following conference, please respond to the following inquiries and send back to us by the end of August 1997. Sincerely, Mika Ohbayashi, Citizens' Nuclear Information Center (e- mail:cnic-jp@po.iijnet.or.jp) Yuri Onodera, Friends of the Earth Japan (e-mail: QFG03752@niftyserve.or.jp) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Please check appropriate box. ? I would like to take part in, but not present a paper. ? I would like to present a paper on < .> NAME TITLE ORGANIZATION Address Country Phone Fax E-mail Thank you very much for your interest to the Citizens' Conference. CONTACT; *Mika Ohbayashi (Ms.) Energy Issues and Asian Issues Officer Citizens' Nuclear Information Center 3F Kotobuki Bldg., 1-58-15 Higashi-nakano Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164, JAPAN phone 81-3-5330-9520 fax 81-3-5330-9530 e-mail cnic-jp@po.iijnet.or.jp *Yuri Onodera (Mr.) Sustainable Societies Project Coordinator Friends of the Earth Japan 3-17-24-2F, Mejiro Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171, JAPAN phone 81-3-3951-1081 fax 81-3-3951-1084 e-mail QFG03752@niftyserve.or.jp ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TENTATIVE AGENDA OF THE CITIZENS' INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE AND PEACEFUL ENERGY FUTURE DATE 2 DECEMBER 1997 PLACE Kyoto International Community Center 10:00-12:00 PLENARY SESSION I Keynote Address: "Change for a Sustainable and Peaceful Energy Policy" Dr. Ernst U. von Weizsaecker, President Wuppertal Institute (under negotiations) Special Presentation I: "Nuclear Phase Out and Citizens' Role" Dr. Jinzaburo Takagi, Executive Director, Citizens' Nuclear Information Center Special Presentation II: "Sustainable Energy Production and Consumption Policies" Friends of the Earth International 13:00-14:00 PLENARY SESSION II "Nuclear Energy, a Dangerous and Irrational Answer to the Global Environmental Crisis" Presentations from Japan and Europe. The Government of Japan promotes nuclear energy as one of the best solutions to global warming. The session reinforces that nuclear power generation imposes environmental burdens and proliferation risks other than the carbon emissions, and aims at critically analyzing the current policy trends of the Government by using recently conducted scientific studies. 14:30- 16:20 Workshop 1 "Sustainable Energy Future in Asia" Many Asian countries with rapid economic growth are planning to shift their energy production to coal and nuclear energy which will exacerbate the environmental conditions in the region. There are, however, a great deal of environmentally sound and socially appropriate initiatives implemented by both government and NPO sectors throughout the region. The discussion will center on the current status and identify obstacles and potentials for a sustainable and more peaceful energy future in Asia. *At present, we are planning to invite some energy specialists from ROK, China, Philippines, Taiwan and Indonesia. 14:30-16:20 Workshop 2 "Energy Production and Consumption Policy for A Sustainable Future " The discussion will introduce European campaigns to achieve sustainable energy production and consumption policy. A major underlying cause behind today's global environmental crisis is the disproportionally large consumption of Northern affluent societies. Cases will be presented on policies that shift to renewable energy sources and long- term reduction of energy consumption which can contribute to improve quality of life, increased employment and a better environment for future generations. 16:30 - 18:00 PLENARY SESSION II "New Aspects of Energy Future --- Role of Citizens to Create New Perspectives" Decentralized energy systems through renewable energy sources can contribute much to empower local communities not only with energy sufficiency, but also on economic terms, employment and self- determination. Transparent policy formulation and participation by citizens is a crucial factor to insure that development benefits communities and people in the society equally. The session presents the achievement and key-messages from this whole-day discussion to the world audience. 18:30 - 19:00 PRESS CONFERENCE CONTACT; Mika Ohbayashi (Ms.) Energy Issues and Asian Issues Officer Citizens' Nuclear Information Center 3F Kotobuki Bldg., 1-58-15 Higashi-nakano Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164, JAPAN phone 81-3-5330-9520 fax 81-3-5330-9530 e-mail cnic-jp@po.iijnet.or.jp Yuri Onodera (Mr.) Sustainable Societies Project Coordinator Friends of the Earth Japan 3-17-24-2F, Mejiro Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171, JAPAN phone 81-3-3951-1081 fax 81-3-3951-1084 e-mail QFG03752@niftyserve.or.jp +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Project '97: CLIMATE CHANGE AND NUCLEAR ENERGY: CAN NUCLEAR SAVE ASIA? -- TOWARD C0P3 (under a long term project "Energy for a Sustainable and Peaceful Asia") The Third Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) is to take place in Kyoto in December 1997. The conference is mainly to adopt a protocol which enhances the agenda for the developed countries to implement the agreement of the Rio Earth Summit that the emissions of green house gases should be stabilized at the level of 1990 by the year 2000. As the host country for COP3, Japan has to lead the conference to conform to the Berlin Mandate. However, despite a reputation for energy efficiency and new technology, Japan has had little success with its national climate program. Despite the official stance on supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy, in reality, the major energy policy effort has been to promote nuclear energy which, they claim, does not emit carbon and therefore is deemed "clean". The Sub-Committee for Basic Policy of the Advisory Committee on Energy (ACE) which advises the Minister of International Trade and Industry has published a report for COP3 in the end of 1996, stating that a further nuclear capacity expansion of 70 GWe (70 reactors of 1000 MWe class) is necessary by 2030 to keep within the target carbon emission level. Although this plan would not work apparently partly because of the increased anti-nuclear publi awareness as shown in the recent referendum at Maki Town, Niigata Prefecture, which resulted in "No" to NPP construction and partly because nuclear energy cannot be a like a trump card for climate change suppression, overlooking MITI's strategy would lead to a disastrous situation that no effective measures would be taken by the government for a effective climate program. In addition, Japan's attitude would affect the rapidly developing Asian countries in the same direction. Presenting an alternative future based on more peaceful and sustainable energy program at the opportunity of COP3 is thus a key necessity to all Asian people. Expanding the nuclear industry will lead to far greater risks of weapons proliferation, especially in East and South-East Asia where a large-scale civil nuclear program itself could, with its military potential, greatly destabilize the already unstable region. and the possibility of a nuclear accident, because of Asia's complicated political situation. Rapid nuclear expansion would also likely lead to catastrophe accidents, because industrial infrastructures are extremely underdeveloped in these countries. Furthermore, the economic burden of establishing a full scale nuclear program is too large for Asian countries to make nuclear energy a realistic option. In addition, after the accidents at the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Co.'s (PNC) facilities, the Monju fast breeder reactor and the Tokai reprocessing plant, the Japanese citizens have become very doubtful about nuclear power as a national policy, and their interests in energy issue have risen. At the time of COP3, the attention of the Asian public and decision makers, including Japanese, will be at its highest, so initiating a citizens' based energy proposal for a sustainable future will be vital. This project is to argue, with strong scientific evidence, that promoting nuclear energy will adversely affect global climate rather than contribute to suppressing climate change as well as to making a proposal for an alternative energy policy for a sustainable and peaceful future. We would use the results of our work to educate the public and decision makers, e.g., members of the Japanese parliament and government, energy specialists, NGO activists and overseas delegations, especially from Asian countries. Sustainable energy like renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, has enormous potential to become the next century's main energy source and has begun lifting off to compete in the industrial market in Japan. We would like to initiate a national energy discussion for sustainable energy with the people addressed above, making full use of the COP3 which will gather public attention on the environment. The project is the start of a long term project for Energy for Sustainable and Peaceful Future in Asia to be launched in April 1997 and this year's project is dedicated to the issue of climate change and nuclear energy, focused on COP3. 1. Organizing the Study Group for Climate Change and Nuclear Energy (SCNE) Until now we have already been successful in gathering a number of influential and competent scientists together with some highly motivated young associates to set up a study group to deal with the issue of climate change and nuclear energy. Some experts who have influence with the public and government officials, have already expressed their willingness to join as advisors and work in close cooperation with us. 2. Conduct Scientific Research SCNE conducts scientific research on energy and climate change. Main Issues to be Addressed in SCNE: 1) How much can nuclear power generation contribute to cutting carbon emissions? --A critical reanalysis of government reports. 2) Nuclear energy and global environment--Nuclear power generation imposes environmental burdens other than the carbon emissions and these burdens should be quantified and their impact on the global environment be assessed. 3) Desirable energy scenario from the viewpoint of sustainability and peace in Asia. The relations between nuclear weapons caused by proliferation and commercial nuclear power plants would also be reviewed. 4) Economics of Nuclear energy: one prevalent argument in favor of nuclear energy is it is economically more favorable than renewable energy or energy efficiency, This is, however, becoming highly questionable even under the current conditions in Japan. Industry is beginning to take a greater interest an alternative energy path for purely economic reasons. The economics of nuclear energy over other energy sources will be thoroughly reanalyzed by taking into account the costs of all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle from mining to waste disposal and decommissioning. 5) Collecting data to create an Energy Data Base. To have a useful discussion on energy issues, reliable information is vital. In Japan, the government releases very little information on the issues. CNIC already has long established connections with the government and industry officials, and uses the connections to collect and gather data to create a comprehensive energy data base which the public can use. 3. Send regular e-mail info-packs to all concerned parties Information will be send at the appropriate time to the appropriate concerned parties. 4. Launch a Web site home page on Climate and Nuclear Energy Open a CNIC/SCNE home page to transmit updated information from SCNE on climate change and nuclear energy arousing public concern and interest toward COP3. Citizens' Nuclear Information Center is a public interest information service formed to provide reliable information on nuclear power and nuclear issues in general. The Center gathers, compiles and analyses data then condenses these analyses into a form usable by the anti nuclear movement and readable by the layman. CITIZENS' NUCLEAR INFORMATION CENTER 1-59-14-302, Higashi-nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164, Japan phone 81-3-5330-9520, fax 81-3-5330-9530, e-mail: CONTACT: Mika Ohbayashi, energy issues and Asian nuclear isses _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Citizens' Nuclear Information Center 3F Kotobuki Bldg.,1-58-15 Higashi-nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164, Japan Phone:+81-3-5330-9520/Facsimile:+81-3-5330-9530 _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/e-mail:cnic@kiwi.co.jp _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/cnic-jp@po.iijnet.or.jp From alarm at HK.Super.NET Sun Jul 27 14:12:59 1997 From: alarm at HK.Super.NET (alarm) Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 13:12:59 +0800 Subject: [asia-apec 409] Re: Mandamientos sobre =?iso-8859-1?Q?globalizaci=F2n?= References: <199707232037.FAA20471@mail.jca.ax.apc.org> Message-ID: <33DAD8DB.D56@hk.super.net> Dear Friends at RMALC, Thank you very much for sending us the 10 Commandments of Globalisation. We'll send you updates on globalisation here in Asia. Bien