[Prairiegreens-action] S26 - notes from Sunday meeting

[chyn at onthejob.net]

We met last Sunday and finalized plans to hold a local action for Sept 26.
The action will include:

	Street THEATER and creative FLIERING during the day in campustown
		The next meeting for planning the day actions:
		this Wed., Sept 13, at 8:30 PM at 409 N Race St

	A TEACH-IN about the IMF and World Bank and
	A POLITICAL FORUM to discuss where the candidates stand on issues
	such as IMF funding, the China trade bill, NAFTA, GATT, etc
		The next meeting for planning the teach-in and forum:
		Monday, Sept 18 7 PM
		806 E. Washington

We still need: wheatpasters, performers, photographers for the day and
night of S26, someone to record the teach-in on minidisc (equipment 
will be provided), someone to download video showing the Prague
protests and show it on a TV/VCR they have access to, and more.  Please
contact Danielle 344-0183 chyn at onthejob.net to help.


MEETING MINUTES:

S26 Planning Meeting
Saturday, September 10, 2000
at the School for Designing a Society

Attending: Meadow Jones, Sehvilla Mann, Paul Mueth, Al Kagan, Danielle
Chynoweth, Robert Dunn, Mike Lehman, Sarah Kanouse, Manni Brun, Sascha
Meinrath, Michael Brun, Jim Buell, Paul Kotheimer, Peter Miller

Meeting convened at 12:10 p.m.

Peter summarized the meeting of September 3; then Danielle summarized a
40-person conference call with activists from across the country who are also
planning S26 activities.  Activities planned for other communities include:
Boston--target Pfizer pharmaceutical for restricting access to AIDS drugs
("Drop the debt, drop the prizes, don't be part of the AIDS crisis");
DC--Teamsters demonstrate against privatization of schools; Campuses--protest
Marriott (a large corporate food service provider not used at UIUC) and
highlight their involvement with prison labor.  

Danielle presented a framework for nationwide protests, presented by Jobs with
Justice (available at http://www.jwj.org/S26/Organizing_Kit/cover.htm).  Here's
a very brief synopsis:

LOCALIZE THE FIGHT FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE focusing on:

1.      Worker solidarity--we fight the same anti-worker tactics, worldwide
2.      IMF/WB enrich the wealthy while impoverishing the poor and destroying
the environment
3.      Defend the right to organize against IMF/WB policies and global
corporations
4.      Make healthcare a basic human right
5.      Help developing nations escape the debt trap
6.      WB megaprojects are bad for people and the environment

After some discussion, the group agreed that we would organize the following:
1) Street/Guerilla theatre focusing on debt (student debt/national debt)
2) Distribution of several flyers designed to pique interest in the IMF/WB
3) A teach-in about the IMF/WB
4) A political forum

The group decided to hold the street theatre in or near Campustown.  The group
decided to flyer both UI and Parkland (at least).  Flyers should include a
focus on sweatshops.

Several people expressed a desire to tie-in the actions/events with local
happenings such as the Alloy Engineering neighborhood problem.  Meadow noted
that several local women's groups are already organized and that women suffer
disproportionately from IMF/WB policies (e.g. the value of the trade in women
exceeds the value of the trade in coca); we should try to work with them.

Sub-groups were formed to execute the plans.  
Theatre/Flyer Group:  Danielle, Paul K., Sehvilla, Sarah, Sascha, Paul M.
Teach in/Forum Group:  Peter, Jim B., Michael, Al, Mike(?), Meadow(?)

Meeting concluded at 1:45 p.m.