¡Ya basta! True democracy now!
Thousands of people will take to the streets all over the world today in a demand for global democracy. In Dublin, protesters will march from the Garden of Remembrance to the occupied Central Bank plaza on Dame Street, starting at 2pm.
Ana Sofia Suarez and Shimri Zameret write in the Guardian:
The following manifesto was produced over four months through consultation among groups, activists and people's assemblies in countries such as Britain, Egypt, Tunisia, Germany, Spain, the US, Palestine, Israel, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, India and Australia. We got comments, suggestions, support, and wrote and rewrote it again and again. The text has been supported by Canadian-based Naomi Klein, Indian-based Vandana Shiva, the US-based Michael Hardt and Noam Chomsky, as well as Uruguayan Eduardo Galeano.
The manifesto:
On 15th October 2011, united in our diversity, united for global change, we demand global democracy: global governance by the people, for the people. Inspired by our sisters and brothers in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Bahrain, New York, Palestine-Israel, Spain and Greece, we too call for a regime change: a global regime change. In the words of Vandana Shiva, the Indian activist, today we demand replacing the G8 with the whole of humanity - the G 7,000,000,000.
Undemocratic international institutions are our global Mubarak, our global Assad, our global Gaddafi. These include: the IMF, the WTO, global markets, multinational banks, the G8\G20, the European Central Bank and the UN Security Council. Like Mubarak and Assad, these institutions must not be allowed to run people’s lives without their consent. We are all born equal, rich or poor, woman or man. Every African and Asian is equal to every European and American. Our global institutions must reflect this, or be overturned.
Today, more than ever before, global forces shape people's lives. Our jobs, health, housing, education and pensions are controlled by global banks, markets, tax-havens, corporations and financial crises. Our environment is being destroyed by pollution in other continents. Our safety is determined by international wars and international trade in arms, drugs and natural resources. We are losing control over our lives. This must stop. This will stop. The citizens of the world must get control over the decisions that influence them in all levels - from global to local. That is global democracy. That is what we demand today.
Today, like the Mexican Zapatistas, we say "¡Ya basta! Aquí el pueblo manda y el gobierno obedece": Enough! Here the people command and global institutions obey! Like the Spanish Tomalaplaza we say "Democracia Real Ya": True global democracy now!" Today we call the citizens of the world: let us globalise Tahrir Square! Let us globalise Puerta del Sol!
Follow it on Facebook from October 15th:http://facebook.com/g7billion
Discuss it on Twitter with the hashtag #globaldemocracy
Supporting organisations, assemblies and writers
General People's Assembly Puerta del Sol - Madrid, People's Assembly London, People's Assembly Buenos Aires, People's Assembly Sao Paulo, People's Assembly Vigo, Spain People's Assemblies Network, People's assembly Boston, Occupy Melbourne, ATTAC Spain, ATTAC France, War on Want - London, Globalise Resistance - London, Italy Uncut, Democracia Real Ya International, Gaia Foundation, Egality London, Egality Berlin, Network Institute for Global Democratization, Naomi Klein, Vandana Shiva, Noam Chomsky, Eduardo Galeano, Michael Hardt
If your organisation or assembly wishes to sign the statement, or you are an individual who wishes to show support, please add comments to the wall or email G7billion@gmail.com.
Occupy Dame Street on Facebook
Discuss it on Twitter: #occupydamestreet