In anticipation of the upcoming Group of Eight (G8)
Leaders' Meeting in Canada, and with the aim of
reinforcing local anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist
and anti-oppression networks of resistance, activists
based in Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston, Guelph, Montreal
and Quebec City are convening an anti-G8 Consulta and
regional planning Assembly. The Consulta will be
hosted by Ottawa-area activists on the weekend of
February 16-17.

[1st Announcement, January 17, 2002;
please post and forward]

===> Regional Consulta and Assembly
on anti-G8 Organizing

--> WHERE?: OTTAWA
--> WHEN?: February 16&17, 2002
--> WHO?: Affinity groups, organizations, collectives
and individuals in the Northeast region wanting to
share information and work together on shared
political and organizing principles (outlined below)
--> FOR MORE INFO OR TO REGISTER: (613)564-0558 or
otta...@yahoo.ca

In anticipation of the upcoming Group of Eight (G8)
Leaders' Meeting in Canada, and with the aim of
reinforcing local anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist
and anti-oppression networks of resistance, activists
based in Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston, Guelph, Montreal
and Quebec City are convening an anti-G8 Consulta and
regional planning Assembly. The Consulta will be
hosted by Ottawa-area activists on the weekend of
February 16-17.

The Consulta is being called on specific political and
organizing principles. Those principles are:

- an analysis that emphasizes a clear anti-capitalist
and anti-imperialist position against globalization
and war;

- a clear emphasis on anti-oppression organizing and
education;

- a focus on local organizing, as opposed to just
going from one big protest to another;

- trying to make genuine links between
"anti-globalization" issues and local organizing
efforts;

- active support and solidarity for initiatives like
the Ontario Common Front's economic disruption
campaign, or the recent squat project in Montreal;

- a respect for a diversity of tactics, and showing
solidarity with the full scope of resistance in our
communities;

- distrust and skepticism of lobbying efforts,
emphasizing instead grassroots organizing, popular
education and mobilizing;

- organizing in a non-hierarchical, anti-authoritarian
fashion, as well as within the framework of
anti-oppression analysis and action.

Organizations, affinity groups, collectives and
individuals in agreement with the above principles are
encouraged to attend the Consulta. The Consulta is
explicitly aiming to build on the above basis of
unity, and not to fundamentally alter the main
political and organizing principles. However, the
principles will be elaborated and expanded, as part of
public popular education work. The organizers of the
Consulta have also endorsed the principles of the
Peoples' Global Action (PGA) (attached below).

Since the beginnings of the Ontario Common Front
campaign in Toronto, as well as the recent anti-G20
protests in Ottawa, activists in the southern
Ontario/Quebec region have met informally and
discussed how to organize against the G8, while
reinforcing ongoing local organizing efforts. The
Consulta is an opportunity to exchange info about
local organizing, as well as to plan collaboratively
and collectively in the region. Some ideas discussed
at a previous Consulta planning meeting include:

- a major counter-conference on alternatives to
capitalism and imperialism and anti-oppression
organizing, with an emphasis on alternative
institutions and autonomous zones; the conference, to
last anywhere from 4 days to one-week, would take
place anytime between this May to September.

- popular education campaigns across the region,
complementing the popular education being undertaken
locally by some groups.

- a regional mobilization against the G8 -- including
protests and direct actions -- to coincide with
protests in Alberta in June; Ottawa and Kingston are
two suggested sites.

- decentralized and coordinated actions to disrupt
trade corridors as well as other decentralized and
coordinated actions across the region;

- active support for ongoing organizing efforts such
as the Common Front campaign in Ontario, local
projects and actions, as well as ongoing organizing
against war, militarization and racism.

The Consulta is a chance to reinforce radical networks
of resistance in our region that have developed thru
collective actions and encounters over the past few
years.

More detailed info about the Consulta, including the
proposed agenda and logistical info, will be
forthcoming in upcoming announcements. In order to
facilitate broad participation, Consulta organizers
will aim to subsidize the travel of participants from
marginalized, poor and underrepresented groups to the
best of our ability. The Consulta will take place with
translation into English and French.

To register, or for more info, please e-mail
otta...@yahoo.ca or phone 613-564-0558.

In solidarity and struggle,

-- The Ottawa Consulta Outreach Committee

======================

In addition to the political and organizing principles
outlined above, the organizers of the Ottawa Consulta
and Assembly have adopted the hallmarks of the
Peoples' Global Action (PGA) network. More info about
PGA is available at http://www.agp.org.

PGA HALLMARKS:
(as modified and accepted at Cochabamba, Bolivia in
September 2001)

1. A very clear rejection of capitalism, imperialism
and feudalism; all trade agreements, institutions and
governments that promote destructive globalisation.
2. We reject all forms and systems of domination and
discrimination including, but not limited to,
patriarchy, racism and religious fundamentalism of all
creeds. We embrace the full dignity of all human
beings.
3. A confrontational attitude, since we do not think
that lobbying can have a major impact in such biased
and undemocratic organisations, in which transnational
capital is the only real policy-maker;
4. A call to direct action and civil disobedience,
support for social movements' struggles, advocating
forms of resistance which maximize respect for life
and oppressed peoples' rights, as well as the
construction of local alternatives to global
capitalism.
5. An organisational philosophy based on
decentralisation and autonomy.