Media Availability
FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, MOBILIZATION AGAINST CORPORATE GLOBALIZATION ALIVE AND WELL
Contact Public Citizen at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil and the World Economic Forum in New York January 31-February 5
Business chiefs and government leaders will congregate behind closed doors at the Waldorf Astoria at the invitation-only World Economic Forum in New York to discuss the future of the global economy, while simultaneously, citizen leaders from labor, environmental and other social movements around the world will meet in Porto Alegre, Brazil at the second annual World Social Forum. Fifty thousand people are expected to attend an array of events at the World Social Forum, which is focused on developing new rules for the global economy that promote democracy, diversity and fairness. Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch will be represented at both events.
Key World Social Forum Events in Porto Alegre:
1) 2002 World Social Forum Trade Plenary, February 1, 8:00 AM -12:00 noon in the PUC Sala 2. Lori Wallach, featured panelist. Speakers from around the world will discuss the outcomes of the Doha WTO Ministerial and the coming challenges, strategic opportunities and alternatives regarding WTO, FTAA and other international commercial negotiations and pacts. 2) The "Our World is Not For Sale Network" seminars "Campaigning Against the WTO Post-Doha," February 3rd - 4th 2:00-6:00 PM on in the UFRGS Salao Base de Atos. This is the global NGO network that tanked the MAI in 1988, organized internationally around the Seattle WTO Ministerial and has launched a "WTO: Shrink or Sink" campaign. These seminars will provide details about the contents and prospects of future WTO talks. 3) International Forum on Globalization seminar: "Alternatives to Corporate-Led Globalization," panel of activists, scholars and advocates from around the world will present. February 1st - 2nd 2:00-6:00 PM at AMRGS Centro Cientifico.
Key Events in New York:
1) "Global Workers Forum and Rally for Global Justice," Jobs with Justice and AFL-CIO.
Forum: 2:30 p.m., January 31st, Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th Street. Rally: 4:30 p.m. GAP, 54 & 5th Ave.
2) "Davos by the Hudson, Whither Globalization?" A forum sponsored by Public Citizen, the Nation Institute. 7:00 p.m., February 4, the Community Church of New York, 40 E. 35th Street.
3) Ongoing "The Public Eye on Davos International Conference," January 31 - February 3, 2002, United Nations Church Center, 777 UN Plaza, 44th & 1st Avenue.
Contact Information for Public Citizen:
Lori Wallach, Director, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch will speak at events in both cities.
In Brazil: January 31-February 3, Sheraton Porto Alegre, Rua Olava Barreto Viana, 18 (Moinhos de Vento district), Tel: 55 51 33 23 60 00 Cell: 55-51-91-89-52-94 In New York: February 4-5 Contact Darshana Patel at 202-454-5102 to obtain New York City cell number. For Spanish language interviews contact: Timi Gerson, FTAA Coordinator, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch in Porto Alegre from January 26 - February 6 and reachable at the above hotel and on Brazilian cell number, Spanish speaker.
Michael Dolan, Deputy Director, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch will be in New York from January 28 to February 8th and is reachable by cell phone: 510-719-9304
Darshana Patel at Public Citizen's D.C. office will assist reporters in contacting all parties 202-454-5102.
Patrick Woodall 202-454-5105 and Margrete Strand Ranges 202-454-5106 will be available on Saturday
Feb. 1 - Sunday Feb. 2.