Broadening a non-violence alliance between War Tax Resistance and Peace Tax Campaigns and the Alternative Globalization Movement
Led by Daniel Woodham (USA)
Report by Marya Nijland (Canada)
This workshop followed up the keynote speaker John Van Daele's excellent address on the Anti-Globalization movement and the Social Forums the night before, and was enthusiastically and creatively led by Daniel Woodham of the USA. Twelve participants.
After a constructive brainstorming session with a lively discussion, we decided on the following action plans:
1. ENCOURAGE ALL GROUPS TO HOLD WORKSHOPS ON NON-VIOLENCE.
We are envisioning respect, using non-violent, non-military language, and the practice of a voluntary simplicity lifestyle, giving hope within a world of violence and wars.
This model is being used in India (Ghandhi-in-Action, Arya Bhushan Bhardwaj) and in Ghana (school with non-violence teachings, Nana-Fosu Randall). Both Arya and Nana were present in our workshop and provided valuable information.
Marya Nijland will obtain information on a non-violence curriculum used by Quaker Friends in Victoria BC, Canada and she will send this to Dirk Panhuis for further mail-out.
2. ORGANIZE REPRESENTATION OF WTR/PTC
(War Tax Resistance and Peace Tax Campaigns) at the NEXT SOCIAL FORUM IN BRAZIL IN 2005, or plan to attend in 2007. We are suggesting that regional groups send representation as well! (Dominique Boisvert will further explore how to register for the next Social Forum)
3. ORGANIZE INTERNATIONAL ACTION DAYS,
for instance: September 21 is the UN DAY OF PEACE; WTR-PTCs must be present with pamphlets and speakers.
February 15 WTR-PTC DAY: IN PREPARATION FOR OUR TAXES IN APRIL, pamphlets, banners, speakers, editorials and letters to the local papers.
May 15 DAY OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
, celebrate, acknowledge this day, give out awards, give public speeches on the work we are doing, use pamphlets and banners.
4. Set up a LISTSERVE for CPTI
so that we and other concerned activists are able to communicate with each other about actions and creative ideas.
Create WEBSITE links for Conscientious Objectors, realizing we already have a website (John Randall, webmaster). Gea Meijers of the Netherlands will further explore these possibility, thanks Gea!)
5. Include ANTI-GLOBALIZATION SUBJECTS in WTR-PTC's handouts and literature.
6. HAVING DIAGNOSED THAT GREED AND POWER ARE DISEASES THAT HAVE INFILTRATED THE WORLD, WE ARE DETERMINED TO PERSONALLY CREATE NON-VIOLENT SIMPLE LIFE STYLES!
Many thanks to Daniel for having guided us.