[stop-imf] Report on April 16 IMF action planning

[Robert Weissman]

Report from 50 Years is Enough on very important upcoming demonstration:

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 Caf=E9 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@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.