Anonymous Comrade submits:

SAT, SEPT 13 - SAY NO TO THE WTO!


NYC Parade and Festival of Resistance to War & Corporate Rule

Gather at 1pm, south steps of Union Square (14th & Broadway) preceded by:

MARCH FOR LABOR RIGHTS AT HOME AND ABROAD!

Gather at noon outside the Park Avenue Country Club, 27th St. & Park Avenue

sidewalk march past Verizon Wireless, meeting up with the main Parade and Festival in Union Square.Downloadable leaflets and more information available at:

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?calid=5 677



Background information on the WTO and its links to militarism around the

world at:

http://www.unitedforpeace.org

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



On September 13, in solidarity with protests at the World Trade

Organization

meeting in Cancun, Mexico, United for Peace and Justice is organizing a

festive \"tour of shame\" parade in NYC to highlight the links between

globalization, war, and immigrant rights. Using music, art, and

performance,

we will stand in solidarity with popular movements in Mexico in saying

no to

the WTO and yes to a world that values peace, human dignity, and

ecological

sustainability over profit.



We'll be visiting three corporations that exemplify the links between

corporate-driven globalization, militarism, and the denial of basic

human

rights to immigrants, working people, and the poor:



* TOMMY HILFIGER ... which uses an exploitative and union-busting

Mexican

sweatshop, Tarrant, to manufacture its denim clothing; workers at this

factory labor 10 hours a day, endure constant verbal and sexual

harassment,

and are forced to meet impossible work quotas

(See http://www.sweatshopwatch.org/Tarrant/tarrant.html )



* EXXON/MOBIL ... a major backer of the WTO and FTAA, a key culprit in

global warming, and a powerful force behind the blood-for-oil foreign

policy

of the Bush Administration

(See http://www.stopexxonmobil.org)



* TACO BELL ... a corporation that exploits its agricultural workers,

promotes a model of corporate agribusiness that is destroying peasant

livelihoods around the world, and used genetically modified corn deemed

unfit for human consumption in its taco shells

(See http://www.ciw-online.org/)



A CALL FOR CREATIVE PARTICIPATION

Join one of our thematic blocks, or organize your own contingent! To

highlight the issues behind the WTO meeting, we are calling for a number

of

themed contingents. Join in or organize a contingent of your own to

highlight your group\'s issue. Anyone who shares our goals of promoting

peace and justice and stopping the WTO is welcome.



The theme contingents, and some costume ideas, are:



1) Military:

*Dress in military attire & boots (camouflage paint on face)

*Make the connections to the oil industry by bringing props, gas tanks,

oil

derricks *Draw a picture of a machine gun on cardboard

*Bring war drums



2)Corporate Fat Cats & Wealthy Aristocrats:

*Pin fake money onto your clothes

*Wear suits &/or top hats

*Paint dollar signs on body and face

*Come as a cat (carry a briefcase)

*Wear ball gowns, rhinestone jewelry &/or feather boas



3)Environmental/Energy and Agricultural/Biotech

*Come dressed as your favorite vegetable, fruit or other plant

*Wear costumes or bring props that symbolize the elements (earth, air,

fire,

water) >> no actual flames please



FESTIVAL OF RESISTANCE: WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK

The parade will proceed to Washington Square Park for a festival of

resistance and community fair, featuring music, dance, theater, and

more.

There will be unlimited tabling space for any progressive or community

group

that wishes to distribute literature and publicize its work.



STAND UP FOR WORKING PEOPLE:

JOIN THE LABOR RIGHTS FEEDER MARCH TO THE PARADE

At the core of the WTO's agenda is a push to boost corporate profits by

undermining basic rights and dignity for working people around the

world.

Help throw a spotlight on labor struggles here in New York City by

joining

the labor rights feeder march.



Gather at noon outside the Park Avenue Country Club, at 27th and Park

Avenue. The wealthy owner of this restaurant is still withholding

$45,000 in

back wages from six immigrant workers, despite having agreed in writing

to

pay them what they are due. The Restaurant Opportunities Center of New

York,

an organization founded by workers displaced by the attack on the World

Trade Center, has been leading the campaign to obtain justice for these

employees.

(See http://www.labornotes.org/archives/2003/08/d.html)



After rallying outside the Park Avenue Country Club, we will march on

the

sidewalk to the Verizon Wireless store on Fifth Avenue and 21st Street.

The

Communications Workers of America are in the midst of a bitter contract

fight with Verizon. Even if this particular round of negotiations is

settled

before September 13, more than 20,000 Verizon Wireless workers will

remain

outside the union, lacking the basic protections that a union contract

brings.



The labor rights feeder march will then join up with the main parade on

the

south steps of Union Square.



GET INVOLVED!

We need lots of help publicizing the September 13 Parade and Festival of

Resistance to War and Corporate Rule. Forward this email alert to your

friends and post it on appropriate listservs.



Print out leaflets from

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?calid=5 677

and distribute them widely.



Join United for Peace and Justice\'s volunteer network and learn how you

can

help out on the day of the protest. Send a blank email to

Volunteers



Join the organizing listserv for the September 13 protest by sending a

blank

email to Subscribe



SUPPORT UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

Your financial help is greatly needed to support the cost of organizing

this

event. Please make a contribution today -- whatever you can give, be it

$10,

$25, or $100, will enable United for Peace and Justice to continue our

work

against militarism and corporate globalization.



Donate online using a secure server at

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/donate

or mail your check or money order to:

United for Peace and Justice

P.O. Box 607

Times Square Station

New York, NY 10108"