A CALL TO SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
to PROTEST the G20 Summit in Seoul
20 COUNTRIES ALONE CANNOT DEFINE THE DESTINY OF THE ENTIRE WORLD
For System Change and an End to Business as usual, Let's build another world!
THE PEOPLE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THE CRISIS.
Join the People's Week of Collective Actions in Seoul, November 6 to 12, 2010
Background
The financial earthquake that hit at the end of 2008 -- the most recent expression of the grave systemic crisis of the neo-liberal capitalist model (also manifested by the climate, food prices, energy and employment crises, plus relentless poverty) -- continues to spread throughout the world, showing its tragic face to the peoples in both the rich and poor countries of the planet.
Global powers reacted immediately to the crisis, coordinating their efforts to save the system, which, as the crisis clearly shows, is responsible for growing inequality and poverty in the world. The leaders of the most powerful countries united in the G8 decided to give a new configuration to the G20 by inviting the Heads of State of this select group of large and 'emerging' economies to join them and Finance ministers at G20 summits. Claiming to be the premier forum for global economic governance, the revamped and strengthened version of the G20 seeks to establish itself as the centre of global power, turning its back on the other 172 countries in the United Nations that, coincidentally, just happen to be, for the most part, the world's poorest.
The inclusion of "emerging" countries of the Global South is not a sign of the G8 altruistically consulting and joining hands with the developing countries, but rather a change in its tactics. The G8 decided to include these developing countries in its exclusive club in order to 1) effectively prevent South-South alliances from developing further and stifle criticisms of the neo-liberal model, 2) shore up the G8's dwindling legitimacy and 3) gain access to foreign exchange reserves accumulating in the "emerging" countries. By acquiring access to foreign exchange reserves in global south countries, the ‘old’ powers of the G-8 were able to temporarily salvage the financial system from collapse and revive the ailing International Monetary Fund and other International Financial Institutions. In turn, these reinvigorated IFIs have since gone on the offensive again with their structural adjustment programs, this time not only in the South, but also in the North.
Inclusion however does not mean equal participation. As can be seen, the real decision-making powers remain with the former G8 and their corporations. Furthermore, expansion does not also translate into legitimacy. The G20 is just as equally illegitimate and undemocratic as the G8. It is a non-elected and non-representative body that does not and should not represent nor decide on the economic and political directions of the entire world.
And just like the G8, the G20’s real aim is not to solve the crisis, but rather to revive the neo-liberal regime. The G20’s “active” measures to supposedly save all the world’s economies betray its true agenda and interests. Ideas initially introduced in its debates (namely the proposals for financial transaction taxes and measures to control tax havens) have been replaced by a push for fiscal austerity policies, further trade and investment liberalization and the fostering of new business and even more financial speculation through the promotion of false market solutions for the climate crisis, namely carbon trading. Even its financial reforms impose no real democratic control and accountability over the operations of banks or multinational corporations.
Against all the evidence of a failed economic model, which not only has plunged millions of people worldwide into poverty (including many of the people living in G20 countries) but also continues to contribute daily to the destruction of the very basis of life on the planet, the G20 governments continue to promote business as usual.
To make matters worse, the G20 --- which originally emerged to contain the crisis --- now aims to transform itself into the political space with the power to define the course of the world economy and governance, continuously broadening its agenda to include issues such as climate change, subsidies to fossil fuels and even development aid, while doing little of real substance in these areas. And with the World Trade Organization (WTO) bogged down in stalled negotiations, it is evident that countries are focusing their efforts more and more on the G20, which has increasingly become the centre of debate and decisions on issues of the global economy.
Our demands
We, social movements and organizations, must halt the G20's agenda and undemocratic process, while continuing to build from below socially and ecologically sustainable and democratic alternatives. We demand:
- a change in the economic model, which implies putting an end to neo-liberalism and moving towards a new model based on systemic change and for the benefit and well-being of all peoples in the world (rather than corporate profits), including the adoption of bold economic strategies to create decent jobs, as well as a new international financial architecture;
- a halt to market based “solutions” for climate change and the anti-democratic Copenhagen Accord (a clear step backwards from the positive aspects of the Kyoto Protocol), and the immediate adoption of profound changes to our current system of production, distribution and consumption;
- an end to a global food system based on price speculation by agribusiness corporations and its replacement by a system of food production and distribution that supports small farmers and promotes food sovereignty;
- a suspension of trade negotiations at the WTO and of bi-regional or bilateral free trade and investment regimes until a new international agreement has been reached on trade and investment rules based on truly just and sustainable development for all.
Movements fighting for democratic alternatives and social and climate justice must unite to demand real change and denounce the G20 as a threat to the people of the world and an emerging target for disputing global power.
The Time to Mobilize is Now!
Join the People's Week of Collective Actions in Seoul, November 6 to 12, 2010
The Korean People's G20 Response Action - a broad coalition of Korean labour unions, social movement organizations and progressive NGOs formed in order to respond to the G20 Seoul Summit - is calling upon international social movements to join the People's Week of Collective Actions in Seoul from November 6th to 12th, 2010. During this week of action, the main activities will be:
- Opening and closing ceremonies (November 6 and 12, respectively)
- National Workers' Rally (November 7th)
- International People's Conference in Seoul (November 7th to 10th)
- Press Conference to announce the Seoul Declaration protesting the G20
- Mass Rally and March (November 11th)
We call on social movements and organizations from around the world to unite forces in solidarity with friends and comrades in Korea during the People's Week of Collective Action in Seoul.
For this, we strongly urge everyone to:
· send representatives to participate in the coalition activities in Seoul during the G20 Summit in November;
· organize a solidarity action in your own country to highlight what's happening in Seoul during the G20;
· meet with government officials in your own country prior to the Seoul G20 to raise critical issues and gather intelligence.
EVERYONE TO SEOUL TO STOP THE CORPORATE AGENDA: END BUSINESS AS USUAL AND WORK TOWARDS SYSTEM CHANGE!!
List of signatories
Regional and International Networks
Asian Peasant Coalition
Africa Europe Faith & Justice Network( AEFJN)
Agriculture and Trade Working Group of the Hemispheric Social Alliance
Agribusiness Action Initiatives in Latin America
Asian Pacific Research Network
Focus on the Global South
Hemispheric Social Alliance
International Gender and Trade Network (IGTN)
Jubilee South Americas
La Via Campesina
Latin American Network on Debt, Development and Rights (Latindadd)
NouSud
Plataforma Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo (PIDHDD)
Social Watch
Seattle to Brussels Network (S2B)
World March of Women
National organizations, networks and movements
21st Century Korean University Student Association
Action for Energy Justice
Agenda de Mujeres de Desamparados - ACAMUDE
Alianza Social Continental Capítulo Perú
Alianza Social Continental Centroamerica
All Nepal Peasants Federation
All Together
Alliance for Responsible Trade (ART)
Alliance of Progressive Labour (APL)
Alternative Forum of University Students
ATTAC Argentina
ATTAC Austria
ATTAC Catalunya
ATTAC France
ATTAC Germany
ATTAC Japan
ATTAC Norway
ATTAC Québec
ATTAC Spain
ATTAC Vlaanderen
Basic Income Korean Network
Bharatiya Krishak Samaj
Bia´lii, Asesoría e Investigación, A.C
Brazilian Network for the Integration of the People (Rebrip)
Brazilian Network on Multilateral Financial Institutions (Rede Brasil)
Center for Education and Communication (CEC)
Center for Energy Politics (CEP)
Center of Concern
Centro de Investigación Sobre Inversión y Comercio, CEICOM
Chile Sustentable
Citizen’s Coalition for Economic Justice
Citizen’s Movement for Environmental Justice
Civil Society Network for Financial regulation and taxation on speculative capital
Civil Society Organisation Network in Korea
Coalition of Commemorating Groups for Martyrs and Victims Democratic Movement
Colectivo de Estudio y Vivencia Intercultural Nexos Culturales
Colectivo de Mujeres Acción Política por la Equidad (APE)
Colibri e.V, Beitraege fuer ein Menschenwuerdige Welt
Comisión Nacional de Enlace (CNE)
Common Frontiers
Consejo de Investigaciones e Información en Desarrollo (CIID)
Corea Institute for New Society
Corporate Europe Observatory
Council of Canadians
CRBM-Mani Tese
Democratic Labor Party-Korea (DLP-Korea)
Ditsö
Ecologistas en Acción
Ecuador Decide
Energy & Climate Policy Institute for Just Transition (ECPI)
Fair
Farmers Pharmacy
Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec - FIQ
Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN)
FOCO Foro Ciudadano de Participacion por la Justicia y los Derechos Humanos
Foro de Mujeres Afrodescendientes
Foro de mujeres de Occidente
Global Call to Action Against Poverty Korea (GCAP-Korea)
Green Korea United
IBON Foundation
Imagine Institute
Iniciativa Paraguaya de Integración de los Pueblos
Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS)
Institute for Global Justice
Institute for Global Political Economy
Institute for New World
Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities
Institute of 21st Century Korea Research
Joint Committee with Migrants in Korea (JCMK)
Jubilee South Brasil
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)
Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements
Korea Federation for Environment Movement (KFEM) / FOE Korea
Korea Labor & Social Network on Energy
Korea NGO's Energy Network
Korea Progressive Academy Council
Korean Clerical and Financial Workers Association
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU)
Korean Federation of Medical Groups for Health Rights
Korean Peasants’ League (KPL)
Korean People's Solidarity Against Poverty
Korean Urban Poor Association
Korean Women Peasant Association
Korean Women's Alliance
Korean Women's Association United (KWAU)
La Unidad Ecologica Salvadoreña - UNES
Labour Human Rights Centre
Labour, Health and Human Rights Development Centre
Marcha Mundial de las Mujeres Perú
Migrant Workers Rights Watch, Korea
Movimiento Social Nicaraguense Otro Mundo es Posible
NANUMMUNHWA_ Global Peace Activities
National Association of Professors for Democratic Society (NAPDS)
National Democratic Association of Street Vendors
National Students March
Network for Women Rights
New Community Institute
New Progressive Party-Korea (NPP-Korea)
"No to War, Yes to Peace" Coalition
Observatorio de la Deuda en la Globalización (ODG)
Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU)
People not Profit
People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)
People’s Solidarity for Social Progress (PSSP)
Platform for Alternative Development (PAPDA)
Polaris Institute
Progressive Strategy Council
PUMALAG (Peoples Network against Liberalization of Agriculture)
Red Costarricense de Agendas Locales de Mujeres- REDCALM
Red de Acción Ciudadana Frente al Libre Comercio e Inversiones SINTI TECHAN
Red Mexicana de Acción frente al Libre Comercio (RMALC)
Resistance and Solidarity against Agrochemical TNCs (RESIST Network)
Revolutionary Workers' Front
Serikat Petani Indonesia
Servicio Paz y Justicia Paraguay
Sindicato de Professores de Nova Friburgo e Região
Socialist Party-Korea (SP-Korea)
Solidarité
Solidarity for Street Vendors and Informal Workers
SpecWatch Korea
Students' Alliance against G20
Students Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience
Tanggol Magsasaka (Peasant Network for Land, Justice and Human Rights)
The Committee for a Socialist Workers' party (CSWP)
Transnational Institute (TNI)
Transparency International Korea
War on Want
Workers Institute of Social Science, South Korea
World Development Movement
Youth & Student Alliance for Implementation of June 15 Joint Declaration