In the FSM Peace Collaborations Continue

This morning, activists from all over the Americas, including Venezuela, the U.S., Canada, Cuba and others, united to discuss collaborating for a new world with in the USA. This discussion focused on ideas for continuing the peace movement, the decline of U.S. Empire, and political and economic growth in Latin America.

From our brief discussion we concluded that we should continue doing the following or begin doing the following:

1) Continue supporting or began working with the Green Party. http://www.gp.org

2) Support candidates this election season who support Fair Trade and do not support U.S. military occupation of foreign countries, such as Dennis Kucinich, Barbara Lee, Jose Serrano, Dela Huntz Mc Govern

3) STOP DISINFORMATION by talking with family and friends and publishing with independent media, such as http://www.indybay.org and http://www.indymedia.org

4) Use your voice this election year by spreading important information regarding the failing U.S. economy, prescription drug ''benefits,'' honest and dishonest politicians. Use your voice!

5) Tell military and families of military that Canada's ''War Resistor's Support Campaign'' will support their decision to NOT go to Iraq. More information at http://www.resisters.ca

6) Remember the important political and economic changes in Latin America to fuel our struggle for peace and an end for empire.

7) Check out Code Pink, http://www.codepink4peace.org, regularly for strategic anti-war campaigns in your area.

8) Remember and educate your friends about the economic and social failures caused by neo-liberal policies. The Center for Economic Policy's web page, http://cepr.net provides concrete evidence for the failure of neo-liberalism.

9) Remember we are part of a world wide network encouraging and creating a world with out violence.

In regards to the current state of US politics and economics we discussed economic realities that could cause people to vote against the incumbent party and Republican electoral strategy. Mark Weisbrot, of the Center for Economic Policy, emphasized 3 issues that can counter imperial policy in the U.S.: the decline of economic growth in the previous two quarters, the inevitable burst of the housing market bubble, and the trade deficit the U.S. has accumulated. We also discussed that we should anticipate that the Bush administration will evade these issues by saturating the corporate media with an international crisis in the coming election to ensure Republican control in the Legislature. Thus, we need to work this year to spread this information to our friends and family.

Weisbrot also stressed that the economic and political alliances of Latin American are stronger and that some countries, such as Bolivia, Venezuela, and Argentina no longer depend on the International Monetary Fund and other lending agencies to ensure economic growth. Activists agreed that we need to recognize this change as forcing an alternative economic policy. In terms, of how U.S. activists can incorporate this into our activism, participants suggested building strong coalitions with the Green Party and or rallying behind candidates who oppose Free Trade Agreements and War.

From this discussion, we brainstormed the ideas included at the beginning of this article. From all the words we shared, in my opinion, some of the most inspiring words came from Dr. Renato Almaqeto Bosdi, who declared, ´´Todos los pueblos de mundo necitan el pueblo de los Estados Unidos,´´ translated, ´´The people of the world need the people of the U.S.´´ These works remind us that when we create peaceful and just realities, we should remember that we work together and that the importance of this collaboration is felt by all of us working for peace and to an end of empire.