Call To Action Against the WB/IMF and G20 in Ottawa

A CALL TO ACTION AGAINST THE WORLD BANK,

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND THE G20

NOVEMBER 16-19

OTTAWA, CANADA

Global Democracy Ottawa (GDO)

www.flora.org/gdo

From November 16 - 18, the Finance Ministers and central bank governors of the Group of 20 (G20) nations, as well as key segments of the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) will meet in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. We call on people of conscience from around the world to come to Ottawa during these meetings to protest and expose these nefarious institutions and actively work to create a better world.

In mid-October of this year, Canada's Finance Minister Paul Martin announced that Canada would host the next meetings of the G20 from November 16-18, 2001. He also invited the International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC) of the IMF and the Development Committee (DC) of the World Bank, whose September 2001 meetings were postponed in Washington after September 11th.

The IMF and the World Bank, controlled by the G20 governments, are the primary architects of neo-liberal globalization. The IMFC and the DC are key committees, vital to the business and functioning of the World Bank and IMF. Already hampered by the cancellation of their September meetings, the World Bank and IMF are feeling pressure to have a successful round of talks here in Ottawa.

We therefore encourage any and all groups or individuals who envision a world free of exploitation and oppression to come together in Ottawa from November 16 - 19 to actively resist the G20, the World Bank and the IMF. It is imperative that all those who support global economic justice send a clear message to these institutions and the planet: despite the current climate of fear and uncertainty, the movement for global justice continues to grow, and will not stand for continuing efforts by these institutions to structure the world for the benefit of corporations and the wealthy and to deny basic justice to the majority of the world's people.

Global Democracy Ottawa and many other groups from Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City have begun to mobilize for diverse and varied actions, teach-ins and marches to be held throughout the duration of the conference. We invite any groups planning on coming to Ottawa to join us in spokescouncil -- our method for organizing, which is based on an understanding of the realities of protest and mutual respect. We envision a process of democratic decision making where all groups can come together to share information, resources and ideas.

In the aftermath of September 11, the World Bank, the IMF and the G20 have not stopped or slowed their agenda of injustice, racism and despair. Indeed, the forces of globalizing violence are themselves seeking to exploit the tragedy of September 11, stepping up their campaigns against people, communities and environments around the world. We cannot afford to cease our fight against the forces of corporate globalization on any front. Now, more than ever, we must vocally and actively work to tear down the systems of death and oppression that surround us and lift up a vision for a better world.

For more information,

please contact info_n17@flora.org or visit www.flora.org/gdo

Global Democracy Ottawa