Larzac Festival Against WTO - France 8-10th August 03

The next meeting of the WTO will be held in Cancun, Mexico, 10 - 14 September 2003. On the agenda : the handover of public services, agricultural trade and natural resources to a handful of multinationals. The list of the damage caused by the WTO never ceases to lengthen.

In the countries of the South, farmers are no longer able to live from their labour. They are forced off the land only to add to ever-growing shantytowns and to waves of migrant workers. Public services are sold on orders from the IMF and the World Bank. Access to health care and to education worsens constantly. Hunger is an everyday reality suffered by 850 million men, women and children.

In the countries of the North, corporate relocation and economic restructuring feed massive unemployment. Capitalism poses a constant threat to social rights. The working week lengthens, social security is under attack, large segments of the population lead a precarious and uncertain existence, inequality increases. Repression and criminalisation become the main instruments for maintaining social order. The WTO intensifies competition between the citizens of the world. War is used as an imperialist tool of economic, social and cultural domination.

Throughout the world the environment is devastated. The general interest and the common possessions of humanity (water, land, biodiversity, seed and other natural resources) are privatised.

DON'T LET THEM DO IT !
WE, THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD,
WILL DECIDE OUR OWN FUTURE, NOT THE WTO !

Come to the Larzac plateau in August to stop the WTO. During three days of festivities, music and reflection we will aim to develop concrete ways of fighting for a better world. The stakes are high; our response must be equal to the task at hand. The choice of the Larzac is no accident. The plateau symbolises the mobilisation of political activists 30 years ago in support of the decade long struggle of Larzac farmers against the extension of the local military camp. A huge effort will be needed if we are to succeed.

OTHER WORLDS ARE POSSIBLE

Tomorrow, it will be too late…

The Larzac is soon to welcome another of the gigantic gatherings that have been a regular feature of its recent history. Thirty years after the first (in 1973, in support of the farmers' struggle against the extension of the local military camp), three years after the last (in 2000, in support of the 10 people facing trial for the dismantling of a nearby McDonald's), tens of thousands of people will again gather on the plateau in response to the call of the farmers' union, the Confédération Paysanne, to fight the WTO.

Thirty years ago, Larzac farmers were already crying in the face of the government of the time, "We are not for sale !" Three years ago, the people of the plateau shouted in the face of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), "The world is not a commodity!" The gathering this summer has been conceived to focus the attention of social movements on the next WTO summit, which will take place in September in Cancun, Mexico. The stakes are high. The WTO is currently paving the way for the privatisation of the planet, with the disastrous and irreversible consequences that this will entail for the whole of humanity.

The WTO's aim? The effective transformation of all human activities, living things and natural resources into commodities, for the sole benefit of multinational companies. The means? The eradication, pure and simple, of any national legislation that acts as an obstacle to the voracious and insatiable appetite of the champions of neo-liberalism, who conceal their activities behind the banner of "free trade". The danger is such that if the WTO succeeds, democracy itself is finished. A democracy that is undoubtedly ailing the world over (and in whose name the Anglo-American alliance recently brought destruction to the people of Iraq), but which constitutes nonetheless the foundation of the well-being of humanity.

Such is the extent of the challenge before us. More than ever, our future, and that of the generations to come, is in our hands. If we do not react today, if we do not do everything we can to stop this infernal machine, tomorrow it will be too late. It is for this reason that we have decided to organise a gathering this coming summer of all those opposed to the commodification of the world. From the Larzac the warning bells must ring to alert public opinion to the danger posed by the WTO. Mobilisation against the WTO's project of democracide is vital.

Cancun must be a second Seattle.

OTHER WORLDS ARE POSSIBLE

Come to the Larzac plateau in August to stop the WTO. During three days of festivities, music and reflection we will aim to develop concrete ways of fighting for a better world.

8th and 9th August - all day
Forums : on the fight to maintain public services, to preserve of the environment, against the privatisation of living things, and more… Stands of political associations involved in the struggle against the WTO and for a better world. Entertainment : music, street theatre, performance art…

Friday 8th August - evening
Documentary film screening under the stars and on giant screens. Musical entertainment for those who prefer.

Saturday 9th August from 6pm ...
Free concert with politically involved artists of international reputation.

Sunday 10th August
Closing : synthesis and upcoming events

All entertainment, films and the main concert on Saturday night are free. This will be possible due to the time and energy donated by volunteers, and also thanks to the financial support of those able to make a donation. Please feel free to contribute financially to the organisation of the gathering.

Getting there :

The gathering will take place in the south of France on the Larzac plateau, about 20km south of the town of Millau and 100km northwest of Montpellier. It will be centred on the village of the Hospitalet.

Car : The A75 motorway crosses the Larzac plateau and runs between Clermont Ferrand in the north and Beziers in the south. Sections of the motorway are still under construction however. When coming from the north, take the N9 highway a few kilometres before Millau. From Montpellier, follow the N109, direction Millau.

Train and bus : There are numerous trains daily from Paris to Montpellier. The TGV takes around 3 ½ hours. There are also slow trains from Beziers to Millau and from Paris direct to Millau (see  http://www.sncf.com). From Montpellier, La Populaire (tel : 04 67 58 75 95) runs a bus service to Millau. Buses leave from the gare routière (bus station), which is next to the train station, and take roughly two hours. Last bus daily is at 6.30pm. Pay on the bus and get off at l'Hospitalet.

Flights from the UK : Ryan air ( http://www.ryanair.ie) flies daily from London Stansted to Montpellier, Nîmes and Rodez (capital of the department of Aveyron). From Nîmes take the train to Montpellier and then the bus to l'Hospitalet (see above). From Rodez La Populaire buses run to Millau and sometimes on to Montpellier (tel: 05 65 68 11 13).
 
Accommodation
 
Free camping space will be provided from Friday 8 August. Food and drink will be available on site. Beyond the camping sites available it will be difficult to find hostel or hotel accommodation at this time of year, though a certain amount of accommodation will be reserved for performing artists, their road crew etc.

The fact that camping and entertainment will be free does not mean that no costs are involved. Please feel free to contribute financially to the organisation of the gathering.