In mid-May, the heads of state of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) countries and of the G-8 economic powers will hold a summit meeting in Chicago. With NATO at war in Afghanistan, with its new “Strategic Concept” that led to the war in Libya, and the urgent need to cut military spending to address pressing human needs, we must respond.
During the run up to the summits, the Network for a NATO-Free World (NNFW), is organizing speaking tours and events, and an alternative summit in Chicago May 18 & 19 during the summits. This provides us the chance to learn more about NATO as a global military alliance and to give voice to a new vision of security and peace.
Despite its claims, NATO was never a defensive alliance. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has become a global alliance structured to wage “out of area” wars in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as to “contain” China. NATO’s creed is aggressive, expansionist, militaristic, and undemocratic.
Would your organization like to host a speaker? An event could take place anytime between now and mid-May. They could be held at a local university, places of worship, union halls or other community gatherings.
Ideally each event would include three panelists to speak on:
- NATO and/or G8
- Economic justice, the impact of military spending, and/or global economy and workers rights
- An organizer from the Network for a NATO-Free World
We have an initial list of possible speakers which include speakers from Europe and the Global South.
The Network does not have funds to offer honoraria to speakers. Our agreement is that host organizations will cover costs, including travel costs from city to city. Where possible, you might look to a university that can offer an honorarium.
The Network for a NATO-Free Future wants to reach the following audiences:
Activists from the Occupy Movement
Organized labor
Communities of Color
Faith community
The primary goal of all NNWF activities around the summits is to build the capacity of each group to learn more about the role NATO plays in US foreign policy and the costs of the ever-increasing military budget, and inspire a dialogue on an alternative vision of of global peace and economic justice.
Email Sofia Wolman or Joseph Gerson or call: 617-661-6130
