Global Day of Action - Greater Boston

Boston's contribution to the Global Day of Action was a series of events held over the weeks before and after January 26, 2008. Following demonstrations against the Siege of Gaza, Colombia's US-fueled reign of terror, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency's raids against migrant workers, Noam Chomsky closed the week with a wide ranging survey of recent US imperial history.

With Condoleezza Rice in Colombia promoting a Free Trade Agreement with the United States, Boston activists hosted a Colombian mine workers union representative to discuss the same topic. Sintraminergética's Orlando Acosta made it very clear that unionists don't want a free trade agreement. Instead they see it as something that will further open up their country to powerful transnational corporations, like Alabama-based Drummond Company.

The Boston May Day Coalition called for a "speak-out against ICE raids on undocumented migrant workers", in the context of a week of transnational action ending January 26. The International Council of the World Social Forum decided that instead of convening its eighth World Forum this year (2008), it would conduct a global week of action.

[Text from Sergio Reyes' article written for IndyMedia, 1/27/08]

Generations of Change: The Winter Gathering of the Peoples Music Network featuring: The Foundation Movement, Riot Folk, Reflect & Strengthen, Second Line Social Aide Pleasure Society Brass Band, Aileen Vance, Charlie King and Karen Brandow, Friday, January 25, 2007. Brookline, MA 02115, Mass College of Art.

With the temperature in the low teens outside, encuentro 5 was warmed up by the Third Sunday Batey drawing in artists and musicians from around Boston.

The Boston May Day Coalition (CPMB) is organizing a speak out, "Melt ICE," to draw attention to the continuing human rights violations in immgrant work communities: La CPMB, de igual manera, expresa su solidaridad con todos los emigrantes victimizados en el mundo y repudia el fallido sistema en los EE.UU. que lo lleva a violar los derechos humanos de los trabajadores migrantes y sus familias. Igualmente denunciamos la propaganda anti-inmigrante proyectada en la campaña presidencial por parte de republicanos y demócratas.

The World Social Forum has issued an update and how-to... guide on the Global Day of Action. It has a useful review highlight events around the globe. The original update can be downloaded from their website.

Professor Joel Kovel discusses his book, "Overcoming Zionism: Creating a Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine." 7pm Tue January 22 Coolidge Corner Theater, Brookline. This event is hosted by Bostonians for a Single, Democratic State.

Bikes Not Bombs hosts Noam Chomsky: What are the impacts of the current US war in Iraq? Are we heading towards unending war in the Middle East, involving more nations such as Iran? What realistic possibilities exist for withdrawal? What sort of government or situation is likely to result? How has this war damaged US foreign relations and ability to conduct diplomacy? What are the effects on terrorism? What is the real agenda of our government planners, what is at stake, and who stands to gain? What are the human costs?

Later this year, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) will gather together more than 100 soldiers to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Join veteran Carlos Harris of IVAW in a public meeting to look at how we can support their Winter Soldier campaign. This event is co-sponsored by the Stop the Wars Coalition, United for Justice with Peace and IVAW's Boston Chapter on Saturday, January 19, 2008, at 3:00 p.m.

Inspired by indigenous Caribbean traditions, socially conscious artists from all over Boston gather to mark the Global Day of Action. Organized by Taina Vargas a veteran photographer of Social Fora, the drum circle brings together many different artistic displines. See flyer attached.

Join Orlando Acosto, Colombia union organizer and mineworker, Avi Chomsky, Jeff Crosby and other activists in a speak out on "free trade", repression of indigenous peoples, resource exploitation, and the targeting of workers. The event will be followed by an action in solidarity with Colombia and marking the Global Day of Action. Sponsors include the American Friends Service Committee, Boston May Day Coalition, Colombia Vive, Job with Justice, the Latin America and Caribbean Coalition, and Massachusetts Global Action.

Act Together for Another World on January 26, 2008

Grassroots Global Justice Alliance calls on all members and allies to support the World Social Forum call to action.

The Global Justice Movement will return to the streets in 2008. This coming January, for the first time in its 8-year history, there will be no World Social Forum (WSF). Instead the WSF International Council (IC) is calling on people throughout the world to organize local actions on January 26, 2008 to demand the right to another world.

The Boston May Day Coalition is spearheading a speak out against repression and the raids on migrant worker communities. Friday, January 25, 2008; 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Location: JFK Building, Government Center, Boston.

This letter from the organizers of the Global Day of Action explains the thinking behind the event:

As you might already know, the next WSF, on January 2008, will not be
an event but a day of action all over the world.

The appeal for the Global Day of Action has been signed by all the WSF
International Council members, by the ones belonging to the Social
Movements Network and also is being signed by thousands of
continental, regional, national and local groups.

The website www.wsf2008.net shows a world map where all the actions