The alternative globalisation movement in Poland is preparing itself for protests against the European Economic Forum, which will take place 28-30 April 2004 in Warsaw, and is organising its own, open summits (at least two). The official media started talking about this theme about a month ago, trying to create a nightmare scenario for the event, but it failed to talk about the alternative summit. The protests, prepared by a variety of movements and groups, are also creating a panic in the Warsaw City council, with the Mayor calling for the city itself to be closed down during the Forum. (see: response of Mayor Kaczyński)

What will happen in Warsaw? Known events include:

* a.. Alternative Social-Economic Forum 27-28 April (contact the organisers);
* b.. a public conference on alternatives to globalisation and capitalism, which will take place during 28-30.04.04; (contact the organisers of the freedom movement conference);
* c.. a festival of independent theatre 28.04;
* d.. demonstrations by various groups against neoliberalism, and especially against the European Economic Summit, which will happen on the 29th of April contact with free coalition; press contact; tel: +48 (022) 697 248 526);
* e.. a street party on the 1st May - the Million Marihuana March.

The first reports about the European Economic Forum in Warsaw circulated in November 2003. More about the WEF can be read on Indymedia in Polish and in English .

What are the authorities and the corporate media so afraid of? Of course, demonstrations against the European Economic Summit. While most of the alterglobalists openly declare that they don't plan any violence, nor street fights, but instead the presentation of critical analysis and an alternative summit is their main aim, as illustrations to most of the articles concerned with the summit, all we see is walls of fire. Nobody mentions the fact that simultaneously with the official Forum there will be an independent theatre festival an economic conference for alternatives to neoliberalism [1], [2], (program), as well as other cultural events. This sensationalism camouflages the arguments of opponents to the Forum.

Protests against the European Economic Summit have previously occurred when it took place in Salzburg (Austria). These are similar to actions by alterglobalists in protest against the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Economic Forum. The purpose is to alert public opinion about the non-democratic nature of international meetings by heads of state and chief executives of the biggest corporations, who without any participation by society make fundamental economic and political decisions for the world. The alternative globalisation movement was born the moment when it became obvious that there was an area of political power which completely escapes any influence from ordinary people. A supernational body like the European Economic Forum decides on fundamental affairs of all regions of the world, such as managing debt, market strategy and finance as well as the natural environment.

The Polish alterglobalist movement, analysed on the Polish indymedia from leftist and freedom perspectives, is still relatively weak, and in any case much less developed and influential than the similar movements in other European countries. Nevertheless, here too, groups with not quite the same beliefs have united in order to protest and present alternatives to global capitalism. Organisations and networks like ATTAC Poland; the Coalition of Freedom Groups; Workers' Democracy (Pracownicza Demokracja) the Stop War Initiative; the Poznań Antiwar Coalition and many others, including some small trade unions, most likely will converge to a common demonstration on the 29th of April, together, but without creating a committee. The arrival of many foreign activists is also expected.

To close this article, it's worth pointing out that Poland lacks a public domain openly supporting alterglobalists (exceptions are Jacek Kuroń and Zygmunt Bauman, whose articles you can read in Polish on the newswire); there are no official, commercial media where these points of views can be expressed. In France, at the time of the European Social Forum, most journalists paid attention to the people from various countries and presented, or even discussed their opinions. The Polish media, by contrast, at this moment have carried out a head-on attack against the organisers of the upcoming demonstrations, while all we expect is that the Polish media show maturity by respecting democracy, independence and freedom of speech. On this line of thought, it's worth mentioning Polish independent, free, leftist and socially committed media news services, like  http://www.prawda.pl,  http://www.poprostu.pl  http://www.lewica.pl, and  http://www.recykling.uni.wroc.pl, where you can find more information on alterglobalist actions. The volunteers of the Polish Indymedia will try to report the events happening related to the European Economic Forum and the alternative social actions, but don't forget that Indymedia has no boundary between providers and users of information, so you too can join in, so as to have a better picture of what happens during the WEF, by publishing your own reports: Editorial policy (pl) Other information related to the WEF and the EEF has been published on the newswire: photos of preparations of posters for the protests; photos +video; criticisms of the alternative conference; information on new laws about gathering in a public place; info on protestors' rights as well as a mini economic summit in Warsaw in January this year.

(pl) (en) (fr) If you need help or have questions, you can contact the groups below - kontakt - contact  http://www.wa29.org:

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