The Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC) is calling out for a regional mobilization against the meeting of the G8 which will be taking place in Kananaskis, Alberta in June 2002.

[Translated from the original French]

To all community groups, unions, women's organizations, student associations and political groups; to everyone who is struggling for social change!

Mobilizing against the G8 Leaders' Summit in June

Next June 26 and 27 in Kananaskis, a small village in the mountains of Alberta, the leaders of the 7 most industrialized countries in the world will be holding their annual meeting. The summit is considered one of the most important of its kind.

This year, the summit takes place at a very particular conjuncture: first of all, for the last three years, we have witnessed an unprecedented rise in grassroots protests against these kinds of economic summits. This global uprising includes rebellions in Ecuador, Bolivia, and recently, in Argentina. It also encompasses the huge demonstrations against the G8 in Genoa, Italy, which resulted in the death of a comrade last July. Moreover, using the pretext of the "war against terrorism", the events of this past September have paved the way to a troubling expansion of all sorts of repressive measures: quasi-fascist laws, a huge increase in the resources of the "forces of order", disinformation campaigns, etc. Finally, the United States is experiencing an economic recession that touches the entire Western world.

The "elected" CEOs of the main capitalist countries of the planet are, therefore, coming together in this repressive context with always the same and firm intention of coordinating their tools of oppression and extending their imperialism. These heads of state behave like vultures that gather to share stolen treasure, to the detriment of 90 percent of the world's population and to the total detriment of the environment.

For us, the G8 meeting is a singular moment to assert loudly and clearly our total refusal of this economic and social order that benefits a small handful of exploiters. The divide between us and them is larger and larger, more and more distant and, as always, totally unacceptable. As was the case in Quebec City last April 2001, we believe it is necessary to do everything we can to ensure the next meeting of the global leaders of capitalism is also the occasion for grassroots and popular movements to be heard. Actually, the next meeting of the G8 must give rise to a peoples' response as strong as during the Summit in Quebec City.

As the CLAC (the Anti-Capitalist Convergence of Montreal), we are now making it our priority to react to this convention of killers. We are hoping to participate in the widest possible mobilization that will reflect the essence of social struggle. Our action plan will be detailed during our next general assembly this March 6.

For the moment, we are organizing for two days of anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist actions on June 26 and 27. The city of Ottawa, the national capital of the host country of the G8 meeting, seems to us to be the best choice in our region. It doesn't lack for important political and economic symbols. As well, its central location has the advantage of concentrating, with the widest solidarity possible, activists throughout the region. Our mobilization capacity regionally is clearly greater for Ottawa than for Alberta.

Of the two days of action, the first aims to encourage different forms of protest and revolt. For the second, the priority is on organizing a large unifying anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist demonstration. However, for us, such an event can only take place with the active involvement of interested groups and persons working together in a non-authoritarian way.

We will take advantage of the next few weeks and months to undertake an extensive campaign of popular education and of mobilization on the issues of the G8 meeting. By doing so, we aim to oppose capitalism, imperialism, patriarchy and all forms of oppression, while asserting our positive vision of mutual aid, direct democracy and solidarity.

As part of our campaign, we will organize our first action this coming April 27 while the G8 Labor Ministers will be in Montreal to prepare for the June meeting.

This letter, therefore, is a callout to everyone. In the face of growing misery and the total disregard of politicians, let us make the upcoming G8 meeting a moment for heightened struggle and the consolidation of our networks of resistance.

In solidarity,

The members of the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC)

Montreal, January 2002

Telephone : 514-409-2049
E-Mail : c...@tao.ca
Web : http://www.tao.ca/~clac