WSSD News for US NGOS

August 31, 2002 issue
Produced by CitNet for the US Citizens Preparatory Committee for WSSD

Special Joburg Actions Edition

Sunday US NGO Actions, News & More!

Americans at WSSD upset with US adminstration

US NGOs and CitNet members at the WSSD have been involved in many
activities at several levels. Workshops, caucuses, lobbying, advocacy,
protests, and networking have been happening at all the major venues. In
addition, an increasing frustration and outrage has emerged with the
obstinant actions and decisions being made by the US delegation in
negotiations.

We've been working to link US NGO efforts into a broader US NGO campaign.
On Friday, we organized the first US NGO caucus meeting, held at 3:00 PM,
inviting all US NGOs at the summit to report and strategize on collective
US NGO actions. A wide variety of NGOs participated, representing a range
of views and ideas. The fervent energy emerging from the discussion
revealed the frustration and wide gap between the administration and the
majority of American NGOs here. Of more than 100 US NGOs in the meeting,
the entire group expressed a strong need and responsibility to voice their
opposition.

As a result, the group called for the meeting to break out into the
following action groups:

- Saturday march

US NGOs joined the Saturday morning solidarity march en masse with banners,
flags, and placards to voice their objections to the US administration's
positions at WSSD.

- Powell/US Congress meeting

A formal request to meet with Secretary Powell was put together and
delivered to the US delegation. Information about the meeting with
Congresspersons was shared. Questions and strategy are being developed for
both of these events. (Note that a Powell meeting, if confirmed, may happen
at one of the US government briefings for NGOs listed below. If confirmed,
we will alert you.)

- Statement drafting

The "What are we going to do about the US" statement that emerged in Bali
was discussed, as well as a shorter statement directly reflecting events of
the past week. Sign-ons to the longer statement will be accepted until
Sunday noon, followed by a CitNet press release about this action. Another
US NGO working group is currently drafting a critique which will document
the specific ways the US has been undermining progress here at the Summit,
to be released early next week.

- Monday action

Another group met to discuss and plan other creative actvities on Monday
and beyond to get the message across. Keep your eye out as they happen.

Important Actions and Events in Joburg

Several important things are happening on Sunday - please share with anyone
at NASREC, Ubuntu, and other venues who many not have heard these
announcements at Sandton.

Sunday Events in Joburg

10 AM - 1 PM: Pickup NGO access passes
(at the Sandton registration tent)

Secondary access passes will be required all next week for entry to the
Sandton Conference Center. There will be three queues, one for each day
(M,T,W); you choose which day you will attend. (It is unclear whether one
will be allowed to go through multiple lines.)

Next week security checks are also expected to take longer and be more
thorough due to the presence of heads of state, so allow extra time
accordingly.

11 AM - 12 PM: Caucus passes available to coordinators
(in major groups room)

Barbara Adams will pass out secondary passes to caucus coordinators to be
distributed to caucus members who are unable to obtain individual passes.
The passes will be allocated according to caucus size and issue, and will
be distributed for the whole week. Contact your caucus coordinator for
details (see http://sdissues.net/coordinators.doc for a partial
coordinators list with Joburg mobile phone numbers).

4 PM - 5:15 PM: US NGO meeting with Congresspersons
(IUCN building/Neucor bank, Tadanshu room)

Several CitNet members have organizized a meeting for US NGOs with the
Congresspersons attending the Summit. This informal discussion may be the
last time to connect with the Congressional delegation in Joburg, as many
are leaving Monday morning. Confirmed congresspersons include
Representatives Shays, Greenwood, and Blumenhauer (others may attend as
well).

Monday Events in Joburg

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: US Delegation briefing - Oceans
(at Export House, third floor)

"Oceans" is the topic for the US government briefing for NGOs on Monday.
(Export House is located at Maude and West, across from the Holiday Inn,
just outside the screening points. Look for the granite block sign on the
corner.)

Other actions and statements are likely, but we can't share details now.
Find out about them as they happen around you Monday!

Tuesday Events in Joburg

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: US Delegation briefing - Working to Build Prosperity
(at Export House, third floor)

"Working to Build Prosperity" is the briefing topic for Tuesday. (Export
House is located at Maude and West, across from the Holiday Inn, just
outside the screening points. Look for the granite block sign on the
corner.)

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER:

"WSSD News for US NGOs" is a semi-weekly publication produced by CitNet for the US Citizens Preparatory Committee. WSSD News shares what other US NGOs are doing related to the Summit and disseminates relevant information about the Summit process itself. It's the best way for US NGOs to get involved, stay informed, or get up to speed on the issues surrounding the World Summit.

Archives available at: http://citnet.org/uscpc/newsletters/

If you would like to contribute, have news to publicize, or would like to share your comments and suggestions, email us at uscpc-info@citnet.org.

Thanks to Citizens Network for Sustainable Development for hosting and maintaining the listserve, and to all organizations and individuals who contributed content and news to this issue. For an orientation to the Summit, see CitNet's Citizens Guide to the World Summit at http://citnet.org/worldsummit/. For in-depth information about the major issues emerging for Johannesburg, visit the Sustainable Development Issues Network's website at http://sdissues.net/sdin/.

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