Call for A Pagan Cluster:

To Join the Resistance Against the World Economic Forum

New York City

January 31-February 4 2002

The World Economic Forum is the gathering of political and business leaders to set the agendas of corporate domination which later become formalized by governments and international institutions. This is where the networking and brainstorming is done that sets policy for the WTO, the IMF and World Bank, and the other undemocratic, non-accountable institutions that impose corporate rule around the world.

This is the first major meeting of the global corporate powers since September 11, and the first opportunity for the global justice movement to respond.

We call on Pagans and our friends to join us in New York City to participate in creative resistance to the World Economic Forum and the unjust, global economic system that is destroying the health of the planet and impoverishing the majority of the world's people. We say that our lives, our communities, the health of the earth's ecosystems, the cultures of indigenous peoples, the dreams of children are too important to be subsumed to profit. Another world is possible: a world of justice, freedom, ecological balance, real democracy and true abundance, and we will make it real.

What Is A Pagan Cluster?

• We are people who cannot separate spirit from action. We see the earth as a living being, and all of life as interconnected. Our spirituality is earth-based, erotic, and engaged with the global struggles for justice, liberation, equality and ecological balance.
  
  
• In our actions we attempt to embody the world we want to create.
  
  
• Our actions respect the life, well being, and dignity of all people.
  
  
• We are colorful, beautiful and playful. We are courageous, bold and willing. We bring creativity and ritual to actions and to organizing.
  
  
• We give people a taste of the energy and power of magic, and show a glimmer of what is possible.
  
  
• We seek actions that allow people to participate at different levels of risk. We strongly value support roles as well as front-line roles.
  
  
• We model solidarity with other activists, on the street, in jail, in the courts, in the press-even though we may not agree completely with their tactics or their politics.
  
  
• We mobilize magical support for our actions.
  
  
• We transform tense moments and places to create a sense of safety and possibility.
  
  
• We recognize the violence directed against our movement, and acknowledge the toll of the trauma. We consciously integrate healing into our politics / actions.
  
  
• We value and provide training and preparation for actions.
  
  
• We build bridges and open channels of communication between many diverse groups.
  
  
• We are anti-authoritarian and nonhierarchical. We make decisions by consensus. We encourage the formation of affinity groups.
  
  
• You don't have to be a Pagan to join our cluster, but you do have to be willing to put up with Pagans who do ritual, sing songs, and plan strategy through divination.
  
  

Fire and Water

In many previous actions, the Pagan Cluster has formed a Living River, drawing attention to issues of water, asserting that water is sacred, and a human right to be protected against exploitation. We've challenged the FTAA, Bechtel Corporation, and the IMF and World Bank to stop privatizing water and to address the Cochabamba Declaration which calls for an international treaty to protect our rights to water.

In this action we also carry Brigid's flame, the flame of truth, of courage, hope and passion. We oppose a global system based on the power of domination, backed by the firepower of the gun and the bomb, fueled by a vast, oil burning engine which manipulates governments, destroys indigenous communities, and assaults the health of the earth's ecosystems and climate. We invoke the renewable powers of sun, wind and water, the hearthfire of global solidarity, the creative fire of inspiration, and the transformative fire of healing, to fight fire with fire, to remake the world in the service of that power which sprouts seeds and pushes forth new growth in the warming days of spring.

What We Will Do

The overall scenario for the whole weekend of actions is now being developed by a number of groups. We'll participate as a contingent in marches and actions planned by other groups. We will form our own plan for actions that allow a wide spectrum of participation by people with varying needs. We'll offer public ritual, create healing spaces and bring ritual into the streets. We'll provide trainings and preparations for the actions.

We are eager to connect and network with Pagans from the local area who come from other traditions or communities. We encourage New York City Pagans to participate in the general organizing. In our organization, we will embody the principles of openness, participation, empowerment and real democracy that are the foundation of the world we strive to create.

We intend to carry out our actions with vision, imagination, creativity, humor and joy, with sensitivity to the immense suffering caused by the attacks of September 11, with respect for the lives, enterprises, cultures and heritages of the people of New York City, and in a manner that encourages all to join us.

How To Connect

Also, there is a general listserve for discussion and organizing magical support for actions. To subscribe, email:  <rwto-subscribe@yahoogroups.com>
To post: <rwot@yahoogroups.com>

We will attempt to organize housing for the cluster, training times and meeting spaces, and to physically meet in the days before the action.

When to Come?

Other Useful Contact Infomation

<globaljustice@peopleforpeace.org>

Anti-Capitalist Convergence websites:

www.accnyc.org

www.abolishthebank.org/wef2002.html Globalize Justice mailing list:
for announcements and updates.

groups.yahoo.com/group/globalizejustice

National Student Mobilization and Conference information:
The Students for Global Justice website

www.studentsforglobaljustice.org

Note: all websites will open in a new browser window!

Copyright (c) 2002 by Starhawk. All rights reserved. This copyright protects Starhawk's right to future publication of her work. Nonprofit, activist, and educational groups may circulate this essay (forward it, reprint it, translate it, post it, or reproduce it) for nonprofit uses. Please do not change any part of it without permission. Readers are invited to visit the web site: www.starhawk.org.

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