CALL FOR PGA ASIA AND GENDER CONFERENCE
May 2004
Dhaka, Bangladesh


Programme and List of Participating Organiations:
 http://ga.so36.net/2004/05/826.shtml

Journal for Debate on Agriculture and Alternatives:
 http://ga.so36.net/2004/04/728.shtml


Rationale:
The global campaign against capitalist globalization is on the increase.
There have been already many significant demonstrations, resistance, movements, protests and many forms of non-violent direction action taking place in different parts of the world. All of these actions are anti- imperialist in character. Various types of networks built all over the world are playing an important role in this regard.

PGA (People's Global Action) is opposed to 'Free' trade and WTO. PGA is the only network that has a clear and non-negotiable stance against the WTO, which it regards as an illegal and undemocractic institution. It believes in viable 'local' alternatives to the WTO which would be democratically organised by the people. The PGA network is stronger in the west than in Asia. But the imprudent policy of the WTO will affect Asia more, since most of the countries in Asia are poor and agro-based. That's why it is important to hold a PGA conference in Asia that will expedite the building of PGA process.

Moreover, women in Asia in many respects bear the brunt of the capitalist globalisation process. They are losing their jobs and being deprived and persecuted in many ways. Apart from that, women are the victims of extreme discrimination and violence. So, the gender discussion will be given the highest priority in the conference and gender issues will be addressed within each session. Gender issues such as violence against women, unequal access to land, loss of access to common property, discriminatory treatment to women in society, etc will be addressed.

Activities of PGA in Asia: So far, two major activities have taken place in the Asian continent. The second International Conference of PGA was held in 1999 in Bengalore, India and the first South Asian Regional Conference of PGA in 2000 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Besides, different grassroots movements have taken part in different actions and activities connected to the PGA process in Europe, America and Latin America. Now is the time to consolidate the PGA process in Asia into an active, sustained and living process of solidarity and mutual support between peoples' movements in Asia.

Globalization process in Asia: In most of the Asian countries, the capitalist globalization process has been taking place for a long time.
After all, reform activities under the so-called Structural Adjustment Programs started in these countries in the 1980s. However, globalization formally started here since the early nineties with the introduction of a free market economy centred on trade liberalization, privatization, etc.
These policies have given rise to severe poverty, unemployment, displacement of people, an increase in discrimination between rich and poor, destruction of industries and agriculture. The peoples of Asia are, however, subject to a range of other domination aside from the process of capitalist globalization and the institutions that enforce such processes.
For example, unequal access to resources and forms of physical violence are not only the result of capitalist globalization, but also because of more locally derived social, political and economic structures.

People's movements involved in the PGA process do not only reject capitalist globalization, they also reject all forms of domination while espousing an organizational philosophy based on decentralization and autonomy.


PGA Hallmarks:

1. A very clear rejection of capitalism, imperialism and feudalism; all trade agreements, institutions and governments that promote destructive globalization;

2. We reject all forms and systems of domination and discrimination including, but not limited to, patriarchy, racism and religious fundamentalism of all creeds. We embrace the full dignity of all human beings.

3. A confrontational attitude, since we do not think that lobbying can have a major impact in such biased and undemocratic organizations, in which transnational capital is the only real policy-maker;

4. A call to direct action and civil disobedience, support for social movements' struggles, advocating forms of resistance which maximize respect for life and oppressed peoples' rights, as well as the construction of local alternatives to global capitalism;

5. An organizational philosophy based on decentralization and autonomy.


WHAT IS PGA IN SHORT?

PGA is a tool for coordination, not an organization. PGA has no members and does not have and will not have a juridical personality. No organization or person represents the PGA, nor does the PGA represent any organization or person. PGA will limit itself to facilitating coordination and exchange of information between grassroots movements through conferences and means of communication.


SUSTAINED CAMPAIGNS OF PGA:

* Campaign against state militarism and para-militarism:  stopwar@lists.riseup.net
* Campaign for defence and recognition of self-determination and land sovereignty of all people:  tierra@lists.riseup.net
* Campaign against all privatization:  nosevende@lists.riseup.net
* Campaign on construction of alternative models to the capitalist system, based on education and formation:  alter@lists.riseup.net

THE POSSIBLE COUNTRIES TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE

The conference is open to all people's movements in Asia that support and feel comfortable with the PGA hallmarks.


CONFERENCE AGENDA:

* Identify movements that would like to play a role in the PGA network in order to build a worldwide resistance movement against imperialism.
* To operationalize the sustained campaigns.
* To work on ways to strengthen support amongst the many struggles of the movements involved in the PGA Asia process.
* Discussion of the impacts of capitalist globalization and US militarism in Asia.
* Workshop on gender issues, and treatment of gender relations throughout.
* To share experiences and alternative visions of economic, political and social life.

FOCAL ISSUES

The question of land has become a big issue in many Asian countries. To take the case of Bangladesh as an example: the people are losing their important land properties day by day. The people in the rural areas in Asian countries who are losing their land are gradually migrating to the cities. These people are subject to the pressures of capitalist globalization and a number of other forms of domination. Because of the so-called green revolution the entire agricultural sector has become a losing sector. The peasants are extremely indebted. They are unable to sustain their farms, have no reproductive capacity and have no purchasing capacity. Acute poverty, malnutrition, pauperization, illiteracy, forced migration, lack of health facilities, etc, accompany them. There are lots of common property resources that the local big landowners have been enjoying for a long time. The Khas (Fallow) agricultural and non-agricultural land is one of them. As per government land law the landless men and women have greater access to this land but owing to the bureaucratic complexities they can not gain that access. The Khasland occupation movement is struggling against these injustices.

Another focal issue is mineral resource - especially oil and gas. In Asia this important resource is the main target of US imperialism. In the case of Bangladesh they are trying to convince the government in the guise of different diplomatic initiatives to lease out all the wells to the foreign multinational companies and to get approval for the export of gas to India through pipeline. Already the foreign companies have signed a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with the Bangladesh government. According to this contract, different companies have been leased out blocks (the entire country is divided into blocks for exploration) for exploring and extracting oil and gas. In order to make their operation unhindered, the US administration wants to make a military base on the coastal belt of Bangladesh through an agreement called SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement).

Such type of agreement also exists in South Korea. In accordance with this agreement US military will have the right to enter Bangladesh without passport or visa at any time. Even if they commit any crime here, the Bangladesh government cannot try them. The people of Bangladesh are protesting against this anti-people decision of the government. This intensification of militarisation in the region is, of course, not unique to Bangladesh. In the aftermath of the S11 terrorist attack in New York and the recent terrorist bombing in Bali the US and its few remaining allies have already launched a war in Afghanistan and are planning to bomb, invade and occupy Iraq. In such a context, the issue of militarism has become a major concern of social movements participating in the worldwide struggle against capitalist globalization. By the way all these things are completely against the human being.


OBJETIVES OF THE CONFERENCE

i. Build a strong network of PGA in Asia.
ii. Start a sustained consultation process among the movements in Asia.
iii. Establish a strong solidarity among Asian people.
vi. Build consensus about the role of imperialism as well as the WB/IMF/WTO.
v. Build mobilization on gender issue.


VENUE
Dhaka, Bangladesh.


LOGISTICS
As the grassroots movements in Asia are facing severe financial crisis, the delegates from the movements in Asia will be provided with ticket costs, food and accommodation. Invited persons from Europe and America will not be given ticket costs. It would be covered by themselves but food and accommodation would be provided.


Badrul Alam, PGA Asia Convenor, with delegates of all movements participating in the PGA process in Asia.



PGA Asia and Gender Conference 20-25 May 2004, Bangladesh
CONFERENCE APPLICATION FORM
PLEASE SEND ALL APPLICATION FORMS TO

pga-asia (at) lists.riseup.net
pga-asia (at) cupboard.org

Please fill in as much as possible.
Please leave answers blank if necessary.
Food and accommodation will be provided. Accommodation will be basic. You will not have your own room. There will be a female sleeping area and a male sleeping area.

1. Name of Group/ Social Movement:


2. Brief Description of group/social movement and the work it does:



3. Number of Participants from the Group (max 2)



4. Gender of Participant(s):



5. Please indicate whether participants are leaders or from the social base (involved in struggles at the neighbourhood/village level).
(Delegates of all of the Asian movements present at meetings at the 3rd International conference in Cochabamba agreed each movement should send one participant from the social base).



6. Which Languages can the participants work in?



7. Are you able to contribute to the costs of your expenses in attending the conference? If so, how much would you hope to able to raise? (for those groups with very little money, a small symbolic amount of money is sufficient)


8. What are the visa requirements for the relevant countries for the participants of your group (please indicate whether visa is automatic on arrival, or, where not, how long the visa takes and how much it will cost)?

Bangladesh: Length of Time: Duration:


9. What is the cost of the cheapest return ticket for your movement's delegate(s) to reach Dhaka: (please do try to find the cheapest tickets!)



10. Would you like to/ be able to contribute to an e-mail discussion list prior to the conference?



11. Would you like to organise any workshops? If so, what would the title of this workshop be?


12.What are the issues concerning which you would like to attend workshops?


13. How do you think movements might work together after the conference?


14. Do you have any dietary requirements?


15. Would you be able to help document the conference?


Please send any materials that your movement would like to have included in the Conference Reader