- Where did the idea come from?
- What is the Global Week of Action?
- Who is involved?
- What are the aims of the week?
- What are we calling for?
- Who are we targeting?
- What the Global Week of Action is not
Where did the idea come from?
In November 2003, over 100 trade activists from 50 countries took part in a historic gathering - the International Trade Campaign Conference, in Delhi, India - from which they issued the global call to a Week of Action. Following this there was discussion with international networks before the idea was presented to a seminar of 500 people at the World Social Forum in Mumbai, India, in January 2004. Thousands of key campaigners are already inspired by what the Week could achieve; and hundreds of groups, campaigns and networks all over the world have begun organising.
What is the Global Week of Action?
A Week of Action from 10-16 April 2005, where as many campaigns as possible across the world active on trade and neo-liberalism come together in united action. The idea is for all of the organisations, networks and movements to take action in their own national and regional campaigns. The aim is to challenge the free trade myth and put forward alternatives by delivering the biggest global mobilisation we have seen.
Who is involved?
Anyone and everyone! The Week of Action is an opportunity for all movements and campaigns active on trade or neo-liberalism to join together in united action. It is not led or organised by any one organisation or campaign.
Full list of organisations who have endorsed the call to action
Add your organisation’s endorsement
What are the aims of the week?
- Challenge the free trade myth. The myth, perpetuated by the rich and powerful states that free trade and privatisation is the only answer to global poverty. Governments and key decision-makers across the world have swallowed this myth. Poor countries everywhere are being forced to open their markets to foreign companies and cheap, often subsidised imports; to stop helping vulnerable producers and to privatise essential services. The results are devastating. The myth needs to be exploded once and for all.
- Challenge and influence the agendas of the G8, IMF, WTO, World Bank and governments of North and South. Tell them that we reject their trade policies which harm the poor.
- Propose alternatives to the current system. We need a radical change in direction if there is to be any hope of ending poverty. Poor countries must be able to choose their own economic policies, including trade policies, that work to reduce poverty.
- Show the scale of the global movement. Demonstrate our solidarity and internationalism and to show the strength of the peoples’ resistance and rejection of enforced liberalisation and privatisation.
- Build the movement through co-ordinated campaigning. Support, strengthen and build national trade campaigns and movements.
What are we calling for?
We are united by the ‘call to action’
We call upon all social movements, mass organisations, local and national campaigns and coalitions to join together to organise a Global Week of Action from 10-16 April 2005.
Our message is
- NO to the rich and powerful imposing unjust trade agreements, indiscriminate liberalisation and privatisation and on the poor.
- YES to everyone’s right to food, a livelihood, water, health and education.
Who are we targeting?
Governments of the North and South. Their role in pushing free trade and privatisation on the poor in the following arenas.
- The World Trade Organisation, calling for an alternative system, one that has the needs of the poorest, rather than having free trade at its heart.
- The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, calling on them to stop forcing free trade and privatisation on the poor through ‘advice’ and conditions attached to new loans and debt repayments.
- Regional and bilateral trade agreements – such as the Free trade area of the Americas and the Cotonou agreement. For an end to agreements that put profits before people.
Transnational corporations and their role in pushing free trade and privatisation on the poor.
What the Global Week of Action is not
- It is not a new network or campaign. It is an opportunity for already existing networks and campaigns to take action with others.
- It is not led by any one organisation or group of organisations and there is no steering committee. Any organisation or network can participate.
- It is not one action that everyone must take together. There is flexibility for different campaigns and networks to participate as appropriate.
