Inauguration protests - Washington DC
January 20, 2001

A mass mobilisation is under way by diverse groups and coalitions to protest during the inauguration of president-elect George W. Bush on Jan. 20, 2001. Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets in Washington, DC, for marches, rallies, demonstrations and counter celebrations. For the latest information and background, check out the following links:

Washington DC Indymedia
 http://www.dc.indymedia.org/

www.inaugurauction.org
www.iacenter.org
www.mumia2000.org
www.now.org
www.votermarch.org
www.countercoup.org

Free radical guide to inauguration protests
 http://www.infoshop.org/news6/free_radical1.html

------------------------------------

Shut Down the World Economic Forum (WEF) - Davos, Switzerland
January 25th - 30th

In January 2001, around 2000 self-titled "Global Leaders" from the fields of industry, politics, science, media and culture will meet in Davos in the Swiss Alps to shape the global future. Meaning, of course, a future of profit maximising for those at the meeting and the impoverishment of millions of people, north and south. Although WEF representatives changed their rhetoric, after the massive Anti-WTO-Protests in Seattle, to talk of "Social Responsibility" and "Bridging the Divide", their goals remain the same.

Following on from years of resistance (protests have been occurring since 1994) and last years biggest ever demonstration, a blockade of the meeting is planned as well as a mass-demo followed by a festival on the 27th.

For background and reports see:

New Davos Indymedia site for protest reports
 http://www.davos.indymedia.org/

The Public Eye on Davos
 http://www.davos2001.ch/other.htm

Anti-WTO Co-ordination, Switzerland
 http://www.bermuda.ch/reitschule/anti-wto/english/index.shtml

---------------------------

World Social Forum - Porto Alegre, Brazil - January 25th - 30th, 2001

Running alongside Davos, but on the other side of the world, a global forum with a different focus will be held in Brazil when progressive scientists, writers and political activists meet to discuss challenging neoliberalism at the World Social Forum.

For info and reports from the forum see:

Brazil Indymedia (reports in english should be available later)
 http://brasil.indymedia.org

World Social Forum Site
 http://www.worldsocialforum.org/

---------------------------

Stop the FTAA - Quebec, Canada - From 15th April, 2001

In April the Organisation of American States (OAS) will meet in Quebec, Canada. The Summit will bring together all the heads of state of North, South and Central America and the Caribbean (except Cuba), as well as an entourage of big business leaders, technocrats and corporate media. The main goal of the Summit will be to discuss and implement the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which is the extension of the North American Free Trade Zone (NAFTA) to the entire hemisphere by no later than 2005. The FTAA extends the reach of capitalist globalisation, aiming to submit health care, education, as well as environmental and labour standards to the so-called logic of the free-market. According to the "Coalition to Shutdown the OAS/FTAA" this would "increase the massive upward flow from the poor to the rich". As activists make preparations to demonstrate the largest security and police operation in Canadian history is gearing up to meet them.

For background and reports see:

CMAQ - Centre for Media Alternatives Quebec
 http://www.cmaq.net
...also available through the url
 http://quebec.indymedia.org/

WTO Action FTAA Site
 http://wtoaction.org/ftaa.phtml

Anti-Capitalist Convergence Site
 http://www.quebec2001.net/enintro.html

Coalition to Shutdown the OAS/FTAA - background info from last year
 http://www.tao.ca/~stopftaa/info.htm