[Peace] Anti-War Conference -- MOntreal, Canada

[Pauline Bartolone]

>
>This information is re-distributed by Rights Action.  If you want on/
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>[www.rightsaction.org]
>
>If you are interested in this Conference, please respond to the contact
>information below.
>
>*******
>
>CONCORDIA STUDENT UNION
>
>TO ORGANIZE NATIONAL ANTI-WAR CONFERENCE
>
>IN MONTREAL, MARCH 1st – 3rd, 2002.
>
>*please forward*
>
>Dear friends,
>
>The US led war against "terrorism" and the people of Afganistan has
>entered its fourth month and shows no sign of abating.  Flushed with the
>successes of a massive high altitude bombing campaign, the US is now
>setting the stage for an expanded "anti-terrorism war", promising more
>death and destruction and a further consolidation of US hegemony on the
>Third World.
>
>This war is also taking shape on the home front as civil rights are
>rapidly being eroded under "anti-terror laws" and as rights to criticize
>and dissent from policies of war, racism, and capitalist globalization
>are being criminalized.
>
>The past few months have witnessed a sporadic effort of antiwar
>demonstrations and anti-war coalitions have sprung up in numerous
>cities.  Yet the lack of political analysis and of a coordination,
>amongst other factors, has prevented this would-be-movement from taking
>on a more consistent and effective form.
>
>At this juncture, the anti-war efforts of dissidents in North America
>must be intensified. There is a pressing need for the education of the
>general public and organizing of established organizations to stop the
>war.
>
>In the November 2001 by-elections, Concordia students overwhelmingly
>supported a motion calling for their union to take active steps in
>organizing against the war.  Under the direction of its members, the
>Concordia Student Union is undertaking to meet the needs of members by
>contributing to the effort against the war by providing a forum for
>activists and organizations around the country.
>
>From Friday March 1st to Sunday, March 3rd, anti-war activists will
>gather, share information, describe their experiences and take active
>steps to organize against the war, in a conference at Concordia
>University, in Montreal, Quebec.
>
>With a $20,000 budget from the CSU, plus whatever other monies that can
>fundraise from other groups, the conference shall have a two fold aim:
>to inform and educate the public about the war;  and, to provide an
>organizational forum for activists to come together and come up with a
>plan of action against the war.  We envision an event with as much
>attendance as possible from Concordia students to all of the educational
>events, and then a system of delegated representatives to the second
>part of the conference, from any and every "civil society" organization
>(unions, student groups, affinity groups, political organizations NGO's
>etc.) that opposes the war to take part in plenary sessions to plan a
>series of co-ordinated activities against the war.
>
>At least 50% of the funding of the conference shall go towards providing
>travel subsidies for groups and delegates travelling to the conference.
>Groups of between 5 and 50 members are entitled to send one delegate,
>groups of 51-500 members two delegates, and groups with 501+ members
>three delegates.  Individual observers are also welcome, but shall not
>have decision making power in the conference.
>
>There will be a sliding scale registration fee for groups and
>individuals, and we will be fundraising from various organizations and
>groups (and specifically trade unions) to increase the budget of the
>conference. (So if you or your organization can help us out with this
>matter, please get in touch!)
>
>The conference will take place over three days at Concordia University
>and will be organized around three central themes:
>
>"The war against "Terrorism"
>“Imperialism and the military industrial complex"
>"War at Home: anti-terrorism legislation, the loss of civil liberties,
>and the crack down on immigration"
>
>The final component would be the plenary sessions, entitled "Organizing
>against the War."
>
>Friday and portions of Saturday will be dedicated to educational
>presentations and discussions for the general public.  The other portion
>of Saturday and all day on Sunday will be based on coming up with an
>action plan and an organizational frame work to building a broader
>anti-war movement within the Canadian state.  With the conclusion of the
>conference it is hoped an agreement on strategy to coordinate and
>compliment each others efforts will result, thus increasing
>effectiveness in opposing the war.
>
>To get involved with the Conference, as a delegate, fundraiser, speaker,
>or organizer, you can leave a message for the anti-war committee at the
>CSU office at:
>
>514-848-7474
>csu at csu.tao.ca
>
>You can also talk to Samer from the committee at 514-262-4564.
>
>In solidarity, the CSU conference committee.
>
>***
>




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