INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR A GLOBAL “CACEROLAZO”
***Cacerolazo: Spanish word for the act of making noise by clanging pots and pans in public spaces.***

IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE RESISTANCE OF THE ARGENTINE PEOPLE AGAINST EXPLOITERS (Multinational Corporations, Banks, Corrupt Governments and Politicians), who will be meeting at the World Economic Forum (Davos) in New York City.


FEBRUARY, SATURDAY 2nd (or SUNDAY 3rd, 2002) – Time and location of the event to be decided in each city.

NEIGHBORS AND CITIZENS OF THE WORLD: LET’S MAKE NOISE WITH OUR POTS AND PANS ALL TOGETHER! ALL THE POTS AND PANS OF THE WORLD SOUNDING AT THE SAME TIME IN A GIGANTIC GLOBAL ‘CACEROLAZO’.

(Proposed locations: Argentine embassies, consulates, multinational corporations or banks)

AND LET’S CRY WITH THE INSURGENT ARGENTINE PEOPLE: “ALL OF THEM MUST GO; NOT ONE SHOULD REMAIN!”


Why ARGENTINA?

· Argentina is not the example of a poor country but of a destroyed country. Argentina is the ultimate example of how transnational capitalism works: like a “neutron bomb,” it destroys anything that is alive.
· Part of the population of the country that once was the “barn of the world,” with immense natural resources, hope and final destiny of millions of poor immigrants from around the world, is now starving. 15 out of 36 million Argentines live below the poverty line. 5 million live in extreme poverty.
· ARGENTINA IS A GLOBAL MIRROR OF NEOLIBERAL CAPITALISM; ARGENTINA IS YOUR OWN FUTURE. ARGENTINA IS A GLOBAL STAGE.
· The current Argentine crisis is the culmination of 25 years of a neoliberal economic model imposed with blood by the last military dictatorship (1976-1983; in which 30,000 ‘disappeared’, while hundreds of thousands of people were tortured, imprisoned, and forced to exile), which was supported by the IMF and the government of the United States.
· But Argentina has also been, in the last years, and particularly after the popular insurgency of December 19th and 20th, 2001 (which forced the pseudodemocratic government of president De la Rua to resign), an example of a society, a people, a citizenship that said ENOUGH!: Enough of being victims! After several CACEROLAZOS, an irreversible rupture with the established order has taken place.
· The Argentine people are organizing themselves on a territorial basis, in self-managed, democratic and horizontal assemblies of neighbors. A profound and accelerated change in political culture is taking place across wide sectors of the population.
· Many activities of solidarity with the Argentine people have taken place or are being organized in different cities of the world: Barcelona, Bilbao, Paris, Toronto, Montreal, Oviedo (Spain), Berlin, Madrid, London, Porto Alegre, New York.

Why February 2nd, 2002?


· There will be a large demonstration and cacerolazo in New York City on Saturday, February 2nd, against the World Economic Forum. It will be accompanied in the same date by demonstrations and cacerolazos in other cities of the world, particularly in Canada, Europe (specially in Spain) and Latin America. One of the largest events will take place in Porto Alegre, Brazil, alongside the sessions of the World Social Forum.

WHY A CACEROLAZO?

“Cacerolazos” are becoming globalized as a form of protest. They have several advantages:
· It is absolutely non-violent.
· Not only is it legitimate, it is also completely legal.
· It is an absolutely simple and popular method; it does not require expensive technology, special training or skills; ALL THE FAMILY can participate.
· It is festive and creates a carnival atmosphere.

NEIGHBOURS AND CITIZENS OF THE WORLD:
BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE ARGENTINES…. LET’S MAKE NOISE AROUND THE WORLD WITH A GLOBAL CACEROLAZO ON FEBRUARY 2nd/3rd
LET THE ARGENTINE RESISTANCE BE SO GLOBAL AS THE CAPITALISM THAT NOW OPPRESSES ARGENTINA!