Peoples’ Global Action

pgaoralhistory.net

In February 1998, movements from all continents met in Geneva to launch a worldwide coordination of resistances to the global market and so-called "Free" Trade lead by big corporations and the World Trade Organization (WTO). 

Inspired by the Zapatistas, Peoples’ Global Action was launched linking movements across the globe. Rejecting northern-dominated models of international solidarity, this platform was defined by the PGA hallmarks, manifesto and organisational principles.

It became the initial linking network that inspired the decentralised global days of action against neoliberalism between 1998 and 2001.  Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in over 60 countries.  Groups involved in PGA have also organised Caravans, regional conferences, two global conferences, workshops and other events in many regions of the world.

TODAY: Young people and social movement organisers want to know more about these inspiring movements.  For this reason a PGA oral history project is being set up.  Many of the activists of this earlier period have stories and lessons about solidarity, about what worked (or didn't), about relationships built across diverse contexts – tales of failure and success. A loose network of movement activists/scholars are hoping to facilitate an oral history project to ensure that these stories and insights aren’t lost.  Volunteers welcome!

For more information and to get involved please contact pgaoralhistory@tao.ca coordinators: North America, Europe, South America

 

·        Click here for a 10 minute documentary of the PGA

·        And more in writing. 

·        Courtesy degrowth.info

pgaoralhistory.net


pga en | www.agp.org

 

A Brief History of the PGA

Peoples’ Global Action became the initial linking network that inspired the decentralised global days of action against neoliberalism between 1998 and 2001.  Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in over 60 countries.  The first Global Action Days, was during the 2nd WTO ministerial conference in Geneva in May 1998.  Subsequent Global Action Days have included those against the G8 (June 18/1999), the 3rd WTO summit in Seattle (November 30/1999), forcing the collapse of the 1999 Seattle talks of the World Trade Organisation trying to promote neoliberal economics. More Global Action Days challenged the World Bank meeting in Prague (September 26/2000), and the 4th WTO summit in Qatar (November 2001). 

Groups involved in PGA have also organised Caravans, regional conferences, workshops and other events in many regions of the world. Since Geneva, PGA conferences have been held in Bangalore, India (1999), and Cochabamba, Bolivia (2001).

PGA built deep relations of solidarity amongst activists in very different locations and movements through its activist tours, global and regional conferences and networks, stimulating a global circulation of forms of struggle, values and perspectives. Without many material resources, what linked these movements were a core set of hallmarks, which endure in many organisations, networks and coalitions formed during its heyday. These included a rejection of the previously dominant strategy of reforming global institutions; outright refusal of capitalism, patriarchy and racism; an orientation towards confrontation rather than lobbying; a call for direct action and civil disobedience; and an organisational philosophy of decentralisation and autonomy. PGA marked the then highpoint of a practice of radical transnationality which was nonetheless fiercely assertive of the importance of local situations and struggles and hostile to attempts to subsume such local specificities under supposedly universal assumptions.

Eighteen years later, new generations of struggle have come on the scene, but the impact of PGA and the movements and networks it stimulated can still be felt. Many of the activists of this earlier period have stories, and lessons about what worked (or didn't), about solidarity, about relationships built across diverse contexts – tales of failure and success. A loose network of movement activists/scholars are hoping to facilitate a research project to ensure that these stories and insights aren’t lost.  This is not just about the past, but is a collective reflection: how can those experiences help the movements of today – and tomorrow. For more information or to get involved please contact pgaoralhistory@tao.ca

pgaoralhistory.net


pga en | www.agp.org