Aklas Laban sa G8

NoN Collective & AID Kolektiv

The MTPDP until now could not provide concrete results in terms ofactualconditions in both rural and urban areas. Despite of the propagandaof GMA government, with regards to the economic growth throughexchange rate,increase in GNP and BOP and among others, the National StaticsCoordinating Board or NSCB reported that there is a 34% percentpovertythreshold. Prof. Benedict Lim of Ateneo de Manila, on the otherhand notedthat there are 35 million Filipino living below poverty line.Tenmillionpeople in the archipelago go hungry every year and our country isone ofthose that have the most number of malnourished children.

Capitalism operates in very complex ways and employs sophisticatedprocesses. G8 is one of its venues and instruments. Whatever thedesign ortool use by the capitalists and neo-liberals, it needs to reachpeople andecosystems to carry out its exploitative agenda.

The influence of the G8 can be best seen in the localities andcommunitieswhere the most vulnerable population of the world is located. Thedestruction of the natural environment and exhaustion of thenaturalresources is basically caused by the economy of scale andcompetitionframework of the mainstream economy, under the leadership of therichnations particularly of the G8.

The best way to attack the exploitative nature of tradeglobalization isto confront the actual manifestations of oppression taking place atthelocal level. For instance, the resistance of various communities inthearchipelago on many government policies involving economicactivities such as exploration and extraction of the naturalgasses, mining and large-scale uses of critical ecosystems areproved to be effective in delaying neo-liberal agenda.

Let us continue to educate ourselves to effectively fight G8 andthecapitalist system; let us attack hierarchy directly withoutintermediaries. Oppression is operating in concrete basis in formsofhunger, illiteracy, homelessness, destruction of natural resources,discrimination and many forms of abuses inflicted to children,women,indigenous groups and others. Utilising our creativitity andresoucefulness, every individual and collectives that collaborates,willsurely find meaningful activities directed against the hierarchywhileresponding to the actual needs of the communities.

As a part of our solidarity to the international struggle againstthe G8we are planning to conduct series of events which involves thefollowingactivities:

Theme: Aklas Laban sa G8

Education Campaign (May)

--Round Table Discussions
--Printing and Distribution of Primer and leaflets on G8 in Philippinne Context
--Music Compilation a benefit CD for anti-G8 Campaign (!st week ofMay)

Cultural Events (June)

--Film Screening
--Gig / Launching of Aklas Laban sa G8 compilation CD (end ofJune)

Solidarity Action (July)

To pursue such activities involves a lot of preparation andresources, inrelation to this we are asking support to all concern collectivesandindividuals. Any support are welcome and greatly appreciated.