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HELP STOP THE FTAA TODAY: An Open Letter to Greens

October 31, 2003

Dear Greens:

THIS LETTER COMES TO YOU FROM THE GREEN FTAA PLANNING GROUP, WITH AN URGENT CALL FOR HELP. Our mission over recent weeks has been to organize the participation and impact of Greens across the country, in the effort to "Stop the FTAA!" focused on the Miami ministerial meeting November 20-21 - just three weeks away. We're writing to let you know what Green parties are doing to stop the FTAA, but this open letter serves another important purpose: to ask that you assist our colleagues in Miami with the organizational and financial resources an effort of this sort necessarily entails.  Please take a minute to learn how you can help.

What do we mean?

Consider the following: Greens will be arriving in Miami from around the country, beginning approximately November 15. Many will find their own, commercial housing. But many will be staying with Green colleagues in the Miami area. Many will bring their own transportation, but a goodly number will receive assistance traveling around Miami from the Miami-Dade Greens. Many will buy their own food, but  many will find themselves eating food provided by generous local hosts.

The FTAA meeting(s), and associated protests, will be taking place all over the Miami area. Advice about how to get around efficiently will come from our hosts! In fact, telephone expenses associated with the effort in Miami are expected to be considerable, both for individuals and for the local Green Party.

These expenses, in a certain sense, are just the tip of the iceberg. For instance, our planning group is working on a Green guide to the workshops, the march, demonstrations, and so on, of particular interest to Greens.

All of this takes money. The Miami-Dade Greens have already undertaken heroic efforts to maximize the impact of Greens in this important struggle against globalization. Now it's time for all of us to help, even those who won't be in Miami on November 20.

WE ARE ASKING ALL GREENS WHO PLAN TO ATTEND (AND PROTEST) THE FTAA MINISTERIAL IN MIAMI IN NOVEMBER - AS WELL AS THOSE WHO WILL BE THERE ONLY IN SPIRIT - TO CONSIDER RAISING MONEY TO HELP THE MIAMI-DADE GREENS.

Literally a few dollars per Green would make an enormous difference. As a guideline, we suggest that each attendee budget $5.00 as a contribution to the Miami-Dade Greens. More would of course be welcome, but rest assured that our colleagues in Miami will extend assistance to all Greens, without regard to contributions received.

What can your state or local party do to help?

Already, 23 state Green parties and 7 large locals have endorsed the FTAA Call to Action. We expect this list to grow. Financial assistance from these Green parties, to support our colleagues in Miami, would be most helpful. PLEASE ASK YOUR GREEN PARTY TO DISTRIBUTE THIS OPEN LETTER, AND TO CONSIDER A PARTY CONTRIBUTION TO THE EFFORT. Your party's own organizing, coalition-building, and electoral campaigns will benefit from a successful Green mobilization against the FTAA.

Where should contributions go? Your check should be made  payable to the "Green Party of Miami-Dade County," and mailed to:

Miami-Dade Green Party
P.O. Box 560325
Miami FL 33256

"Early" money would of course be the most helpful (but don't let that prevent "late" contributions!). Each contribution from individuals and groups will be acknowledged, and a  complete accounting of all funds raised for this effort will be available on the Miami-Dade Green Party's website:  http://www.miamidadegreenparty.org/Issues/WTO/wto.html

> Back to Stop the FTAA in Miami (2003)