Citizens must be able to express themselves in the face of the G20.
The “Face the G20” Coalition will hold its People’s Forum, an alternative summit to the G20, in the city of Nice from November 1st to 4th.
The G8G20 2011 Coalition aims to allow citizens to express themselves freely against the policies implemented by the G20 leaders, policies that have led us to a global economic, social, and ecological crisis.
During the Altersommet at the G8 in Le Havre last May, the security propaganda orchestrated by the authorities proved baseless in the face of a peaceful, festive mobilization rich with proposals.
Once again, the mobilizations in Nice will take place calmly and will provide many an opportunity to affirm that different choices are possible for the planet’s future.
On Thursday, November 3, and Friday, November 4, 2011, the G20 will meet in Cannes at France’s invitation.
The G20 consists of some of the wealthiest countries on the planet, disregarding all the others. It has self-proclaimed itself as the guarantor of global economic and financial stability following the financial storm of 2008, but it has in no way protected the peoples from this great crisis.
On the contrary, it has allowed the maintenance of the financial dictatorship that extends its grip over all aspects of our existence: housing, work, education, agriculture, climate, pensions, knowledge, biodiversity…
Everything indicates that the leaders of the G20, to “regain market confidence,” will not provide the answers necessary to effectively counter the actors and mechanisms that caused the crisis and will let the citizens foot the bill.
Facing the global crisis, its devastating effects, and the inadequacy of the proposals so far from the G7, G8, and G20, we refuse to let the powerful impose their solutions to crises they have engendered.
We know that the solidarity and democratic responses to the global crisis will not come from the leaders of the richest countries but from the peoples themselves.
Our movements demonstrate through their practices and proposals that alternative paths exist. Access for all to fundamental human rights and the protection of our planet require fair wealth distribution, alternative development models, and democratic management of common goods.
After the demonstrations in Le Havre against the G8 last May, before the Durban conferences on climate change and Rio on sustainable development, in connection with the movements for democratization, resistance to austerity, and the quest for rights worldwide, we seek the convergence and continuity of citizen and solidarity mobilizations.
This is why, in response to the G20 summit in Cannes, we call for a gathering in Nice from Tuesday, November 1, to Friday, November 4, of movements, networks, and organizations for the convergence of resistances: struggles against the opacity and deregulation of finance, against illegitimate debt in the North as well as in the South, against austerity policies and for public services, against false solutions to climate change and for production and consumption modes that preserve the planet, against precariousness and for decent work, against speculation on raw materials and for food sovereignty, against dictatorships, militarization, and colonialism and for democratic rights of peoples…
The program:
-Tuesday, November 1
3 pm – 6 pm: International demonstration in Nice: Gathering on De Lattre de Tassigny esplanade (in front of the Exhibition Palace)
6 pm – midnight: Concert and speeches at the old slaughterhouses (route de Turin). Featuring Lo Mago d’en Casteu, Rezo.T, GCM and the Warriors, Tournée générale, HK et les saltimbanks
-Wednesday, November 2
People’s Forum: actions and debate workshops proposed by various organizations
-Thursday, November 3
10 am – 12 pm: Unified action in Cap d’Ail (gathering at the tourist office square), at the
Monaco border, against tax and judicial havens
2 pm – 7 pm: continuation of the People’s Forum: actions and debate workshops proposed by various organizations
8 pm: Alternatives banquet / Assembly of struggles
-Friday, November 4
Unified press conference in Cannes and, at the initiative of the Alpes-Maritimes collective, final actions in Nice
