People attending the consulta should register by e-mailing pog@mutualaid.org (POG's contact info) or tmc.development@verizon.net (the Merton Center)

Please indicate how many people are coming with you, where you're from- rough geographical area is okay, what size of a group you're representing (just yourself is also totally fine), whether you need housing, and any special needs you have.



The Thomas Merton Center (TMC) and Pitsburgh Organizing Group (POG) invite all groups and individuals involved in the struggle for global justice to take part in a Regional Consulta in Pittsburgh, PA from Friday evening, August 29th, to Sunday afternoon, August 31st.

The consulta will serve to help organize and to coordinate responses to the pivotal FTAA ministerial meetings in Miami, FL this November as well as to help build long-term Pittsburgh educational initiatives and networks among groups working to build a more just world. Although the attendees will hail predominantly from our region we welcome the participation of all those able to attend. A more detailed explanation of the goals, objectives, and process of the consulta will be forthcoming.

The consulta is organized around two parallel tracts. On Saturday, August 30th, the TMC will bottom-line discussion on education and outreach efforts. Concurrently, POG is creating the framework for discussion on direct action to disrupt the Miami ministerial. The TMC and POG are working together on these dual aspects in order to most effectively resist the FTAA. One goal for this weekend is to bring together those utilizing different tactical and strategic methods in order to share ideas, information, and build trust.

***Logistics***

More information on the groups involved can be found at:

www.thomasmertoncenter.org www.1877.org (providing the space of a lot of the consulta) www.organizepittsburgh.org

Vegetarian/Vegan food will be provided.

***Schedule***

Here is the rough schedule of events for the consulta. Following each event is which group has responsibility for that session

August 29th Friday

8 pm @ Project 1877 (4805 Penn Ave.) Registration begins. Join us for light food, conversation and films (Trading Secrets, Prague 2000, etc).

August 30th Saturday

9 am @ Project 1877 Breakfast, coffee, registration

10am – 10:30am @ Project 1877 Welcome, Introduction to the Set-up of the Weekend (TMC/POG)

10:30 am – 1:30 pm @ Project 1877 Padded Bloc discussion (POG)

10:30 am – 1:30 pm @ Thomas Merton Center (5125 Penn Ave.) Teach-in on the FTAA- This is designed to bring interested folks up to speed on the ftaa and miami so they can take part in the later discussions (TMC/POG)

2 pm – 3 pm @ Project 1877 Lunch (TMC/POG)

3 pm – 6:30 pm @ Project 1877 Disrupting the FTAA – discussion on the different proposals for direct action in Miami (POG)

3 pm – 6:00 pm @ Thomas Merton Center. Getting the message out to stop the FTAA! Discussion on what has been done in the movement, where we need to go, how we can connect with each other and work together for a holistic approach (outreach, education and action). (TMC)

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm @ Project 1877 Break out sessions – connect with others interested in working on specific actions (POG)

6 pm – 7 pm @ Thomas Merton Center Break out sessions – connect with others, generate new ideas (TMC)

7:30 pm – 8 pm @ Project 1877 Report backs – the folks that had been meeting at the TMC will report on what ideas came out of the sessions and how we can support each other. (POG)

7 pm – 8 pm @ Thomas Merton Center Report back – the folks that had been meeting at 1877 will report on what direct actions are being planned for Miami, what ideas came out of the sessions and how we can best support each other. (TMC)

8 pm @ Project 1877 Dinner (TMC/POG)

9 pm @ Project 1877: (POG-TMC) Discussion of Communication/ Media/and security. This can run past 10 at a nearby location for those who are interested.

10 pm – 1 am @ Project 1877 Free Dance Party! (TMC/POG) DJ tba

August 31st Sunday

10 am @ Project 1877 Breakfast and coffee (TMC/POG)

11:30 am- 2 pm @ Project 1877 Open-space, free time! Proposed session on medical and legal. Also, time for working out anything that didn’t get done on Saturday, etc. (TMC/POG)

7 pm @ Project 1877 Show: Half Life, Caustic Christ, Forward Motion, Suburban Death Machine This show will help support Project 1877, a volunteer-run nonprofit art and show space that is extending its generosity to our consulta.