The Furious Spinner

Anyone going to the demonstrations in Miami November 16-22? I'd love to be there. As far as I can tell, NAFTA and FTAA just make rich people richer and poor people poorer. Starhawk will have updates once again on her website, like she did when she was in Cancun. Since the mainstream press normally does not cover these creative demonstrations, it's great to get a first person account of what is happening. In Starhawk's latest missive, she asked that this letter be sent out and about in the world.

November 4, 2003

Please forward far and wide! 

Dear Friends,
 
Tens of thousands of people will be in Miami November 16-22 to protest the next Ministerial of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).  Trade ministers from every nation in the hemisphere, except Cuba, will be there negotiating what is essentially an expansion of NAFTA, a policy that has shown itself to be a resounding failure with 10 years of experience to prove it.
 
People throughout the hemisphere will be speaking out loud and clear that the FTAA is a Threat to Democracy, People and the Planet! There are workshops, cultural events, marches and creative direct actions being planned throughout the week. This is a huge logistics challenge, and we need your help!
 
Miami is a pretty conservative city and on the ground support has been difficult to get.  A handful of people and groups have been working very hard to organize housing, publicity, event and meeting spaces and more, but have had to also fend off anti-first amendment right ordinances, police harassment and an intensive media campaign criminalizing our movement.
 
There are still huge pieces out there that need to be pulled together and there has been no money raised to do them. Things like a convergence space, legal support, medical or food. Housing is also a huge issue and public transportation is not great. People and/or churches have not yet opened their doors to house people and the city is clearly not helping one bit. In fact, they have closed Miami Dade Community College for the week, which is right in downtown, so no one can stay there, nor can any event be held there.
 
To support the overall grassroots mobilization including a convergence space, medical, legal, puppet making, publicity and more please send a donation to: United for Peace and Justice.
 
You can also mail a check or money order to:  
United for Peace and Justice/FTAA Fund
P.O. Box 607, Times Square Station,
New York, NY  10108
 
Please designate FTAA in the memo field, as well as any particular aspect of the mobilization you want to support such as the convergence space, art-making, legal, medical or permaculture projects etc.
 
Just about a month ago we derailed the WTO meetings in Cancun, Mexico. That was a huge defeat for the Bush Administration’s plans for global corporate dominance. The FTAA is even more important to them now.  
 
With your help and participation, we just might do it again! Please send a donation today. We have already raised about $8,000 but need another $25,000, so it really is an urgent situation! Thank you.
 
Peace and solidarity,
 
From all of us who believe
that Another World is Possible!
 
P.S.  Latest news...tucked away in Bush's $87 billion dollar spending bill for Iraq is an $8.5 million dollar item for police and security operations against the FTAA protests in Miami! Please donate what you can to make sure our voices are heard!
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All photographs and written material copyright © 2003-2008 by Kim Antieau unless otherwise indicated. May not be used without permission.