Invitation of The Global Anti-War Movement

An Open Invitation To A General Assembly Of The Global
Anti-War Movement

16 - 21 January 2004

Mumbai, India
http://www.jakartapeacecon.org/

Despite the opposition of the world?s majority, the
United States and its allies went on to invade Iraq in
an illegal war that has so far killed up to 10,000
civilians and soldiers. But while the weapons of mass
destruction have not been found, the Iraqis? resources
have been put on sale as part of a wholesale imposition
of neo-liberal economic policies. State-owned
corporations will be privatized and trade will be
liberalized through massive reductions in tariffs. With
all the official reasons now proven to be lies, it is
clear that this was a war for oil, for market, and for
empire.

Meanwhile, the endless global "war on terror"rages on in
various countries, giving the US a pretext for its
military interventions across the globe and providing
repressive governments an excuse for clamping down on
legitimate dissent. In the face of these distressing
developments, we call on the anti-war movement to come
together and act. We invite everyone to a general
assembly of the global anti-war movement during the
World Social Forum (WSF) 2004 this coming January 16 to
21 in Mumbai, India. Recognizing that confronting a
global warmonger requires an internationally coordinated
strategy, the assembly is envisioned to be the biggest
and most representative meeting of the anti-war movement
yet since the invasion of Iraq. It is intended to be an
occasion for discussing and debating the global
situation as well as for planning and strategizing on
the movement’s plans and priorities. It will have five
component events:

– the Strategy Sessions: open discussions and
debates on the movements’ strategies, plans, and
priorities

– Self-Organized Events: organizations are
encouraged to independently organize conferences,
workshops, seminars, testimonials, debates, and panels
on more specific anti-war issues such as US bases,
nuclear weapons, anti-terrorist bills, regional
conflicts, Palestine, etc.

– Activists’ Meetings: open meetings among anti-
war activists, social movements, NGOs, etc. in attempt
to deepen the links among them and coordinate their
actions

– Closing Conference: for announcing and affirming
the movements’ decisions on its plans and priorities

– Solidarity March: general march to close the WSF
with a specifically anti-war section

This anti-war general assembly is among the many events
during the WSF, the biggest annual gathering of a
growing global peace and justice movement that’s united
against corporate-led globalization and militarization
and united behind the belief that "Another World is
Possible!"

The historic February 15 mobilizations that drew
millions of people around the world, which was first
conceived during the European Social Forum 2002 and
adopted as a common plan of action during the WSF last
January, showed the potential of the global anti-war
movement. This general assembly hopes to further
translate that potential to action, to sustain the
movement’s momentum, and to chart its future direction.

We hope to see you there. In solidarity, (Endorsers as
of October 2003) All Together - Korea Anti-War Coalition
– South Africa Asian Peace Alliance Asian Peace Alliance
– Japan ATTAC - Japan Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
(UK) Campaña por la Desmilitarización de las Américas
(CADA) Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace
(India) Condi - Iraqi National Democratic Coalition
Continental Campaign Against FTAA Central Unica de los
Trabajadores (CUT) (Brazil) Focus on the Global South
GENSUIKIN (Japan Congress Against A- & H-Bombs)
Globalize from Below - Korea Hemispheric Social Alliance
International Association of Peace Messenger Cities
International Civilian Campaign for the Protection of
the Palestinian People Italian Movements of the European
Social Forum Korean Federation of Medical Groups for
Health Rights (KFHR) People’s Plan Study Group (Japan)
Peace Boat (Japan) Red Mexicana de Accion frente al
Libre Comercio Social Movements Network Stop the War
Coalition - UK Stop the War Coalition - Greece The All
India Peace & Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO) The Muslim
Youth Movement of South Africa United for Peace and
Justice - US World Peace Council Youth for Unity and
Voluntary Action (YUVA) (India)