Here is an event coming up next week sponsored by a local activist group
that may be of interest. The speaker is a recent MPH graduate from the
IHP. Other upcoming activities are also described.

Mary Anne

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2003 19:39:17 -0800
From: Community Alliance for Global Justice <cagj@...>
To: CAGJ <cagj@...>
Subject: CAGJ events and March against the War


Community Alliance for Global Justice

Invites you to the our monthly General Meeting

Wednesday February 12, 6:00-8:00 pm
606 S. Maynard, in the International District of Seattle

Light dinner provided, all welcome

Find out about the Community Alliance and our ongoing projects and
workgroups, and see how you can get involved in the local fight for global
justice! This month's meeting includes a presentation by:

Guest Speaker Meredith Fort on

"Big PHARMA" AND Biopiracy:

How corporations have written intellectual property rights
into trade agreements for their own profits.

Until recently, trade agreements focused on the removal of tariffs to
increase trade. Today, agreements have expanded to new issues that have a
direct impact on peoples' health, including patents on medicines and food.
Multinational corporations have played a key role in crafting language on
intellectual property rights in order to ensure monopoly control to
guarantee high profits.

In the world, 95% of the people living with HIV/AIDS do not have access to
life saving treatment. The pharmaceutical industry, which is the most
profitable industry in the US, has lobbied hard for the rest of the world
to adopt a US-style patent system through the WTO agreement on
intellectual property, the Trade Related Aspects on Intellectual Property
Rights (TRIPS). Under the FTAA, intellectual property rights would be
even more stringent than they are under the WTO.

Meredith Fort is a health policy activist and writer who is currently
working on a book on Globalization and Health with Health Alliance
International, forthcoming from South End Press. She is a graduate of the
International Health Program at the University of Washington's School of
Public Health and Community Medicine where she wrote her thesis on the
privatization of health care services in Guatemala. She has worked to
support grassroots health efforts in Guatemala since 1997. She is
co-coordinator of the Northwest Coalition for AIDS Treatment in Africa
(NCATA) and also works with national groups to advocate for policies that
promote health.

For more information, contact CAGJ at 206-405-4600, cagj@...,
www.seattleglobaljustice.org

Also coming up ..

What is the Free Trade Area of the Americas?

The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) is a big-business plan to
spread the failed NAFTA trade treaty to 31 new countries. If passed, it
will hand over more authority than ever to the biggest corporations,
without any real safeguards to protect workers' rights, civil and human
rights, environmental and health standards, and access to health care and
education. All of these things would be traded away if the FTAA comes into
effect, endangering the livelihoods of low-wage workers, women,
communities of color, family farmers, indigenous groups, and other people
across the Americas.

Please join us for a workshop called "FTAA: The Basics," where we will
discuss what the FTAA is, how it will affect people's jobs, health, land,
and communities, in Washington state and overseas. This workshop,
sponsored by the Community Alliance for Global Justice, will give you an
opportunity to ask questions, explore the issues, meet people who share
your concerns, and discuss ways to stop the FTAA and work for justice in
the global (and local) economy.

Wednesday, February 19

6:30-9:00 pm

606 Maynard Ave. S

Free (donations accepted)

Snacks & beverages provided

For more information, directions, or to RSVP, please contact CAGJ at: (206)
405-4600

cagj@... seattleglobaljustice.org


And don't forget:

RALLY AND MARCH TO STOP THE WAR ON IRAQ STOP THE WAR ON IMMIGRANTS "The
largest ever mobilization against war." - London Daily Mirror

In 25 cities across the globe: In Johannesburg, Warsaw, Manila, Istanbul,
Vienna, Paris, Cairo, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Ramallah, Skopje,
Tokyo, Seattle, and many other cities, the people of the world will speak
out against war! The Hate Free Zone Campaign of Washington needs
volunteers for the international day of protest on Saturday, February
15th.

Gather at the Fountain Court 11-11:30, Rally at noon, March at 1 pm from
Seattle Center to INS Detention Center: STOP the War on Iraq STOP the War
on Immigrants Bring a rose or red flower to take to the INS

The Fountain Court rally will feature Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown
Band, The Total Experience Gospel Choir, award-winning Native author and
poet Sherman Alexie, Drummers from Seattle's Festival Sundiata, Sergio
Salinas, Organizing Director for SEIU Local 6, Pramila Jayapal, Director,
HFZ, Ali Salaam, Imam, Seatac Masjid, Jim Page, Praxis Artists and more.

The event is sure to attract tens of thousands of people and the
opportunity to involve plenty of new faces with the work of HFZ. See
www.Feb15.org for more information, a list of sponsoring organizations and
downloadable posters and fliers. Hate Free Zone is a Columbia City pickup
point for flier and poster distribution! Please pick up your posters and
fliers as soon as you can between 10 and 6 Monday to Friday at HFZ: 4860
Rainier Ave So, upstairs.

Let us know if you would like to volunteer with us on either of these
days: Pre Event Organizing Thursday, February 13th 6:30 pm at HFZ office:
4860 Rainier Ave So (south of Alaska) Build signs, make buttons and
coordinate information distribution. Eat Pizza! The Day of the Event
February 15th Gather at 11:30, Rally at Noon, March at 1:00 Look for the
HFZ banner and signs between the center house and the fountain.
Participate in literature distribution, Alert/Volunteer sign-up and
selling buttons. Join the HFZ contingent and be a part of supporting and
mobilizing targeted immigrant communities. If you would like to volunteer
with HFZ for this event, or be on our volunteer list, contact
annamarie@...

FEB 15 COALITION REQUEST: There is urgent need for large numbers of
peacekeepers to help keep the marchers safe, and for a collections
brigade! If you are interested in learning how to be a peacekeeper, email
Jody Haug at jodyhaug@... or KL Shannon at klorganizer@....
The free training will be held Sunday, February 9 at 2 pm. To help with
fundraising at the rally and march, contact David McDonald at
dbmcdonald@....

Hate Free Zone Campaign of WA
4860 Rainier Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118
Phone: 206-723-2203
Fax: 206-723-2261

---

This email was sent by Community Alliance for Global Justice. If you prefer not
to receive such email or are receiving duplicates, please let us know.

Community Alliance for Global Justice
606 Maynard Ave. S. #252 / Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 405-4600
cagj@... / www.seattleglobaljustice.org


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