Everyone to Seoul to Stop the G20 and the Corporate Agenda! (November 6-12, 2010)

A CALL TO SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
to PROTEST the G20 Summit in Seoul

20 COUNTRIES ALONE CANNOT DEFINE THE DESTINY OF THE ENTIRE WORLD
For System Change and an End to Business as usual, Let's build another world!

THE PEOPLE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THE CRISIS. 

Join the People's Week of Collective Actions in Seoul, November 6 to 12, 2010

Background
The financial earthquake that hit at the end of 2008  -- the most recent expression of the grave systemic crisis of the neo-liberal capitalist model (also manifested by the climate, food prices, energy and employment crises, plus relentless poverty) --  continues to spread throughout the world, showing its tragic face to the peoples in both the rich and poor countries of the planet.

Global powers reacted immediately to the crisis, coordinating their efforts to save the system, which, as the crisis clearly shows, is responsible for growing inequality and poverty in the world. The leaders of the most powerful countries united in the G8 decided to give a new configuration to the G20 by inviting the Heads of State of this select group of large and 'emerging' economies to join them and Finance ministers at G20 summits. Claiming to be the premier forum for global economic governance, the revamped and strengthened version of the G20 seeks to establish itself as the centre of global power, turning its back on the other 172 countries in the United Nations that, coincidentally, just happen to be, for the most part, the world's poorest.

The inclusion of "emerging" countries of the Global South is not a sign of the G8 altruistically consulting and joining hands with the developing countries, but rather a change in its tactics. The G8 decided to include these developing countries in its exclusive club in order to 1) effectively prevent South-South alliances from developing further and stifle criticisms of the neo-liberal model, 2) shore up the G8's dwindling legitimacy and 3) gain access to foreign exchange reserves accumulating in the "emerging" countries. By acquiring access to foreign exchange reserves in global south countries, the ‘old’ powers of the G-8 were able to temporarily salvage the financial system from collapse and revive the ailing International Monetary Fund and other International Financial Institutions.  In turn, these reinvigorated IFIs have since gone on the offensive again with their structural adjustment programs, this time not only in the South, but also in the North.

Inclusion however does not mean equal participation. As can be seen, the real decision-making powers remain with the former G8 and their corporations. Furthermore, expansion does not also translate into legitimacy. The G20 is just as equally illegitimate and undemocratic as the G8. It is a non-elected and non-representative body that does not and should not represent nor decide on the economic and political directions of the entire world. 

And just like the G8, the G20’s real aim is not to solve the crisis, but rather to revive the neo-liberal regime. The G20’s “active” measures to supposedly save all the world’s economies betray its true agenda and interests. Ideas initially introduced in its debates (namely the proposals for financial transaction taxes and measures to control tax havens) have been replaced by a push for fiscal austerity policies, further trade and investment liberalization and the fostering of new business and even more financial speculation through the promotion of false market solutions for the climate crisis, namely carbon trading. Even its financial reforms impose no real democratic control and accountability over the operations of banks or multinational corporations.

Against all the evidence of a failed economic model, which not only has plunged millions of people worldwide into poverty (including many of the people living in G20 countries) but also continues to contribute daily to the destruction of the very basis of life on the planet, the G20 governments continue to promote business as usual.

To make matters worse, the G20 --- which originally emerged to contain the crisis --- now aims to transform itself into the political space with the power to define the course of the world economy and governance, continuously broadening its agenda to include issues such as climate change, subsidies to fossil fuels and even development aid, while doing little of real substance in these areas. And with the World Trade Organization (WTO) bogged down in stalled negotiations, it is evident that countries are focusing their efforts more and more on the G20, which has increasingly become the centre of debate and decisions on issues of the global economy.

Our demands

We, social movements and organizations, must halt the G20's agenda and undemocratic process, while continuing to build from below socially and ecologically sustainable and democratic alternatives. We demand:
-  a change in the economic model, which implies putting an end to neo-liberalism and moving towards a new model based on systemic change and for the benefit and well-being of all peoples in the world (rather than corporate profits), including the adoption of bold economic strategies to create decent jobs, as well as a new international financial architecture;
-  a halt to market based “solutions” for  climate change and the anti-democratic Copenhagen Accord (a clear step backwards from the positive aspects of the Kyoto Protocol), and the immediate adoption of profound changes to our current system of production, distribution and consumption;
-  an end to a global food system based on price speculation by agribusiness corporations  and its replacement by a system of food production and distribution that supports  small farmers and promotes  food sovereignty;
-  a suspension of trade negotiations at the WTO and of bi-regional or bilateral free trade and investment regimes until a new international agreement has been reached on trade and investment rules based on truly just and sustainable development for all.

Movements fighting for democratic alternatives and social and climate justice must unite to demand real change and denounce the G20 as a threat to the people of the world and an emerging target for disputing global power.
 
The Time to Mobilize is Now!
Join the People's Week of Collective Actions in Seoul, November 6 to 12, 2010

The Korean People's G20 Response Action - a broad coalition of Korean labour unions, social movement organizations and progressive NGOs formed in order to respond to the G20 Seoul Summit - is calling upon international social movements to join the People's Week of Collective Actions in Seoul from November 6th to 12th, 2010. During this week of action, the main activities will be:
- Opening and closing ceremonies (November 6 and 12, respectively)
- National Workers' Rally (November 7th)
- International People's Conference in Seoul (November 7th to 10th)
- Press Conference to announce the Seoul Declaration protesting the G20
- Mass Rally and March (November 11th)

We call on social movements and organizations from around the world to unite forces in solidarity with friends and comrades in Korea during the People's Week of Collective Action in Seoul.

For this, we strongly urge everyone to:
·    send representatives to participate in the coalition activities in Seoul during the G20 Summit in November;
·    organize a solidarity action in your own country to highlight what's happening in Seoul during the G20;
·    meet with government officials in your own country prior to the Seoul G20 to raise critical issues and gather intelligence.

EVERYONE TO SEOUL TO STOP THE CORPORATE AGENDA: END BUSINESS AS USUAL AND WORK TOWARDS SYSTEM CHANGE!!

List of signatories

Regional and International Networks
 
Asian Peasant Coalition      
Africa Europe Faith & Justice Network( AEFJN)      
Agriculture and Trade Working Group of the Hemispheric Social Alliance      
Agribusiness Action Initiatives in Latin America      
Asian Pacific Research Network      
Focus on the Global South      
Hemispheric Social Alliance      
International Gender and Trade Network (IGTN)      
Jubilee South Americas      
La Via Campesina      
Latin American Network on Debt, Development and Rights (Latindadd)      
NouSud      
Plataforma Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo (PIDHDD)      
Social Watch      
Seattle to Brussels Network (S2B)      
World March of Women     

National organizations, networks and movements
 
21st Century Korean University Student Association      
Action for Energy Justice      
Agenda de Mujeres de Desamparados -  ACAMUDE      
Alianza Social Continental Capítulo Perú      
Alianza Social Continental Centroamerica      
All Nepal Peasants Federation      
All Together      
Alliance for Responsible Trade (ART)      
Alliance of Progressive Labour (APL)      
Alternative Forum of University Students      
ATTAC Argentina      
ATTAC Austria      
ATTAC Catalunya      
ATTAC France      
ATTAC Germany      
ATTAC Japan      
ATTAC Norway      
ATTAC Québec      
ATTAC Spain      
ATTAC Vlaanderen      
Basic Income Korean Network      
Bharatiya Krishak Samaj      
Bia´lii, Asesoría e Investigación, A.C      
Brazilian Network for the Integration of the People (Rebrip)      
Brazilian Network on Multilateral Financial Institutions (Rede Brasil)      
Center for Education and Communication (CEC)      
Center for Energy Politics (CEP)      
Center of Concern      
Centro de Investigación Sobre Inversión y Comercio, CEICOM      
Chile Sustentable      
Citizen’s Coalition for Economic Justice      
Citizen’s Movement for Environmental Justice      
Civil Society Network for Financial regulation and taxation on speculative capital      
Civil Society Organisation Network in Korea      
Coalition of Commemorating Groups for Martyrs and Victims Democratic Movement       
Colectivo de Estudio y Vivencia Intercultural Nexos Culturales      
Colectivo de Mujeres Acción Política por la Equidad (APE)      
Colibri e.V, Beitraege fuer ein Menschenwuerdige Welt      
Comisión Nacional de Enlace (CNE)       
Common Frontiers      
Consejo de Investigaciones e Información en Desarrollo (CIID)      
Corea Institute for New Society      
Corporate Europe Observatory      
Council of Canadians      
CRBM-Mani Tese      
Democratic Labor Party-Korea (DLP-Korea)      
Ditsö      
Ecologistas en Acción      
Ecuador Decide      
Energy & Climate Policy Institute for Just Transition (ECPI)      
Fair      
Farmers Pharmacy      
Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec - FIQ      
Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN)      
FOCO Foro Ciudadano de Participacion por la Justicia y los Derechos Humanos      
Foro de Mujeres Afrodescendientes       
Foro de mujeres de Occidente      
Global Call to Action Against Poverty Korea (GCAP-Korea)      
Green Korea United      
IBON Foundation      
Imagine Institute      
Iniciativa Paraguaya de Integración de los Pueblos      
Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS)      
Institute for Global Justice      
Institute for Global Political Economy      
Institute for New World      
Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities      
Institute of 21st Century Korea Research      
Joint Committee with Migrants in Korea (JCMK)      
Jubilee South Brasil      
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)      
Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements      
Korea Federation for Environment Movement (KFEM) / FOE Korea      
Korea Labor & Social Network on Energy      
Korea NGO's Energy Network      
Korea Progressive Academy Council      
Korean Clerical and Financial Workers Association      
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU)      
Korean Federation of Medical Groups for Health Rights      
Korean Peasants’ League (KPL)      
Korean People's Solidarity Against Poverty      
Korean Urban Poor Association      
Korean Women Peasant Association      
Korean Women's Alliance       
Korean Women's Association United (KWAU)      
La Unidad Ecologica Salvadoreña - UNES      
Labour Human Rights Centre      
Labour, Health and Human Rights Development Centre      
Marcha Mundial de las Mujeres Perú      
Migrant Workers Rights Watch, Korea      
Movimiento Social Nicaraguense Otro Mundo es Posible      
NANUMMUNHWA_ Global Peace Activities      
National Association of Professors for Democratic Society (NAPDS)      
National Democratic Association of Street Vendors      
National Students March      
Network for Women Rights      
New Community Institute      
New Progressive Party-Korea (NPP-Korea)      
"No to War, Yes to Peace" Coalition      
Observatorio de la Deuda en la Globalización (ODG)      
Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU)      
People not Profit      
People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)      
People’s Solidarity for Social Progress (PSSP)      
Platform for Alternative Development (PAPDA)      
Polaris Institute      
Progressive Strategy Council      
PUMALAG (Peoples Network against Liberalization of Agriculture)      
Red Costarricense de Agendas Locales de Mujeres- REDCALM      
Red de Acción Ciudadana Frente al Libre Comercio e Inversiones SINTI TECHAN      
Red Mexicana de Acción frente al Libre Comercio (RMALC)      
Resistance and Solidarity against Agrochemical TNCs (RESIST Network)      
Revolutionary Workers' Front      
Serikat Petani Indonesia      
Servicio Paz y Justicia Paraguay      
Sindicato de Professores de Nova Friburgo e Região      
Socialist Party-Korea (SP-Korea)      
Solidarité      
Solidarity for Street Vendors and Informal Workers      
SpecWatch Korea      
Students' Alliance against G20      
Students Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience      
Tanggol Magsasaka (Peasant Network for Land, Justice and Human Rights)      
The Committee for a Socialist Workers' party (CSWP)      
Transnational Institute (TNI)      
Transparency International Korea      
War on Want      
Workers Institute of Social Science, South Korea      
World Development Movement      
Youth & Student Alliance for Implementation of June 15 Joint Declaration