Published July 19 -
25, 2000
A Selected List of Organizations
Act Up! Here's How
by
Joshua
Lefkowitz
Direct Action Network
Direct Action Network (DAN) is a
continental organization founded on the principles of decentralized democracy
and nonviolent direct action. The New York City chapter of DAN is involved
with many campaigns, among them labor rights, police brutality and the
prison-industrial complex, the struggle to preserve community gardens,
and the movement against genetically engineered foods. (212-358-3966, www.directactionnetwork.org)
Global Exchange
Solidarity in the fight against
corporate globalization means working internationally for change. Global
Exchange promotes environmental, political, and social justice around the
world, from Cuba to Brazil. September 26 marks a day of protest in concert
with those in Prague, where the IMF and World Bank will be meeting. The
rally will be followed by a grassroots lobbying blitz. (415-255-7296, www.globalexchange.org)
International Forum on Globalization
IFG is a think tank that focuses
on developing alternative strategies to reverse the damage of globalization
and reignite local economies. On September 5, IFG will host a teach-in
in New York City about the role of the United Nations in the global economy.
The teach-in is intended to unmask the corporate takeover of the UN and
put forth a vision for recapturing it. (415-229-9350, www.ifg.org)
The Million Billionaire March
Spearheaded by United for a Fair
Economy (UFE), the Million Billionaire March uses theatrical tactics and
comic doublespeak to explain how money corrupts and controls the political
system. This summer's march will arrive in Philadelphia on July 30 and
in Los Angeles on August 14. Highlights in Philly include auctioning off
the Liberty Bell and linking arms around the Federal Reserve Building to
levitate the interest rate. In L.A., a march is planned for Corporate Need
and Human Greed. (617-423-2148, www.billionairesforbushorgore.com)
New York Biotech Action Network
NYBAN brings together people concerned
about genetically engineered foods and other biotech issues. The struggle
against the corporate manipulation of food is just getting under way in
the U.S. There are four major campaigns: the Food Agenda 2000 Petition
of Organic Consumers Association (OCA), the Franken Foods 15 Campaign,
the Petition to the FDA, and Greenpeace's True Food Campaign. (212-560-7539,
nyban@yahoo.com,
www.greens.org/ny/biotech)
New York City Independent Media
Center
Part of the growing international
indie media movement, IMC offers DIY frontline dispatches and noncorporate
coverage of protests. (212-699-3827, www.indymedia.org)
Rainforest Action Network
RAN aims to protect tropical rainforests
and those who live in and around them. The group is paying particular attention
these days to the connection between the U'wa people in Colombia, Occidental
Petroleum, and Al Gore. (415-398-4404, www.ran.org)
Roadshow
The mission of the Democracy in
Motion caravan is to catalyze local support for mass mobilizations by visiting
community groups nationwide. The show offers performances, activist training
sessions, and grassroots education. This trip, which begins July 18 in
D.C., will travel through the New England area, to Detroit and Chicago,
arriving in Philadelphia on July 29 for the Republican National Convention.
Then it moves west, arriving in Los Angeles on August 13 for the Democratic
National Convention. (www.democracyinmotion.org)
Slam!
Part of the People's Justice 2000
coalition, this is a women-of-color-led organization involved in collective
campaigns against police brutality, the prison-industrial complex, and
the struggle for prisoner rights. SLAM! has also been involved in the fight
to keep City University affordable and open for everyone. (212-772-4261,
212-772-4257)
United Students Against Sweatshops
USAS is the national umbrella for
campus-based anti-sweatshop campaigns that have thus far convinced more
than 50 schools to join the Workers' Rights Consortium—what many say is
the only genuine sweatshop-monitoring organization. (http://www.umich.edu/~sole/usas/,
www.workersrights.org)
Upcoming Global Days of Action
September 11: Melbourne, Australia.
Shut down the World Economic Forum, where conferences and cocktail parties
bring together financial trade ministers and CEOs from Boeing, Citibank,
Exxon-Mobil, Nike, et al. (S11.org) September 26: Prague, Czech Republic.
The 55th annual conference of the IMF and World Bank is expected to attract
a global opposition, as in Seattle and D.C. (S26.org)
Wetlands Preserve
This group hosts weekly "eco-salons"
about the latest news and campaigns relating to the rainforests, human
rights, the North American wilderness, and animal rights. (212-966-4831,
www.wetlands-preserve.org/activismcenter.html)
|
