GLOBAL TEACH-IN 1:

THE SOCIAL, ECOLOGICAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL COSTS OF ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION

November 10-12, 1995; Columbia University; New York City

The IFG organized the first in a series of large public Teach-Ins to provide deep critiques and analyses of globalization that built a framework for the massive global citizen movements and campaigns that formed during the following years.

GLOBAL TEACH-IN 2:

THE SOCIAL, ECOLOGICAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL COSTS OF ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION

May 10-12, 1996; George Washington University;Washington, D.C.

This public event was the second in a series of Teach-Ins held in the U.S. to focus attention on the major issues resulting from the rush to globalize.

GLOBAL TEACH-IN 3:

THE SOCIAL, ECOLOGICAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL COSTS OF ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION

April 11-13, 1997; Berkeley, CA

This event focused attention on the many negative effects to the environment, communities, human rights, equity and democracy brought about by economic globalization.

CONFERENCE ON THE EMERGENCE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND GLOBAL TEACH-IN 4

November 3-9, 1997; Toronto, Canada

The IFG organized an international conference of over 100 researchers and activists from five continents focusing on the emergence of corporate governance. Immediately following the symposium, the IFG held a Teach-In on "Challenging Corporate Rule" at the University of Toronto, November 7-9, (all 2,000 seats sold out in advance) addressing global corporations’ role in dominating all economic, environmental and social activity on our planet.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SYMPOSIUM I

June 7-10, 1998; Vancouver, B.C., Canada

The IFG held a groundbreaking meeting on food and agriculture issues with over 50 leading activists, farmers, researchers, public health experts, and other experts from around the globe to exchange information, form stronger networks and mobilize campaigns.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SYMPOSIUM II

February 4-7, 1999; Cuernavaca, Mexico

The IFG held a symposium attended by over 70 activists, organizers, researchers, academics and NGO leaders from 17 countries. The agenda of this gathering included reports and discussions on: the current global crisis in agriculture; how trade agreements affect agriculture and the environment; food safety issues; intellectual property rights; and models of sustainable and equitable food and agriculture.

FORESTS AND GLOBALIZATION SYMPOSIUM

June 23-27, 1999; Leavenworth,Washington

This inaugural meeting of the Forests and Globalization working group brought together 50 key forest protection leaders and trade specialists from 14 countries to examine how globalization affects forest protection, to educate one another on the damaging initiatives proposed by the World Trade Organization (WTO), and to create a new international collaboration to address how global economic rules affect forests.

TEACH-IN: ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION AND THE ROLE OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

November 26-27, 1999; Benaroya Symphony Hall; Seattle, Washington

Held at the 2,500-seat Benaroya Symphony Hall, this "blockbuster" Teach-In sold out well in advance and could have sold just as many seats at the door. Leaders from citizen movements from around the world spoke on a variety of issues: the environment, labor, agriculture, biotechnology, and many others. This event kicked off the week of activities, discussions, and debates that took place in Seattle during the WTO Summit.

DEBATE ON GLOBALIZATION AND THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

November 30, 1999; Seattle,Washington

The IFG organized a high profile debate on Globalization and the WTO between Ralph Nader, Vandana Shiva, and John Cavanagh vs. former U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce David Aaron; chairman of the U.S. Alliance for Trade Expansion, Scott Miller; and professor at Columbia University and economic policy adviser to the GATT, Jagdish Bhagwati. Over the next few days the debate was shown repeatedly on C-SPAN, referred to in the major print media a number of times, and was aired on over 150 radio stations in the U.S. and abroad.

IFG DELEGATION TO INDIA

March 2000

The IFG organized a delegation of farmers, scientists, and researchers to visit India and meet with Indian trade unions, farmer organizations, and parliamentary leaders. India is a leader among southern governments within the WTO and thus plays a critical role. After the collapse of WTO negotiations in Seattle, the U.S. government increased pressure on India to further liberalize and accept U.S.-backed WTO policies. One goal of the IFG delegation was to demonstrate solidarity of the North with the citizen movements in the South and some Indian government leaders striving to protect local communities and the environment. The IFG team also participated in large symposiums, a Solidarity Convention attended by thousands, and smaller private events and press conferences in India.

TEACH-IN: BEYOND SEATTLE—

GLOBALIZATION: FOCUS ON THE WORLD BANK AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

April 14, 2000; Foundry Methodist Church;Washington, D.C.

The IFG held a sold-out Teach-In during the World Bank and IMF’s general meeting in Washington, D.C. which convened 30 of the world’s experts on how the policies of these institutions, along with the WTO, gravely affect the environment, social welfare, democracy, culture, sovereignty, labor, indigenous peoples, and the global poor.

TEACH-IN: GLOBALIZATION AND THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS

September 5, 2000; The Town Hall; New York City

This event took place the day before the UN’s millennium summit celebration. Over 1,200 people attended and over 200 media representatives covered the event, including The New York Times (a front-page story); Reuters; USA Today; ABC World News Tonight; and National Public Radio.

PRAGUE DEBATE

September 2000; Czech Republic

The IFG participated in a much publicized and historic debate sponsored by President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic during the IMF/World Bank annual meeting held in Prague in September 2000.

GLOBAL PEOPLE’S SEED 2000

September/October 2000; India

This series of events addressed the problems caused by the global industrial agriculture system that is promulgated by global trade agreements and institutions. The events largely focused on the spread of genetically modified (GM) seeds and crops and the dangers they pose. The IFG sponsored an international delegation with leaders in the organic agriculture and anti-GM movements in Europe, Canada, and the U.S., to participate in seminars, press conferences, and private meetings with Indian policymakers, government officials, and NGOs.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FORUM ON GLOBALIZATION

January 2001; San Francisco, CA

The IFG convened an international gathering of youth leaders and IFG associates to provide an opportunity for youth addressing globalization to meet each other and to directly interact with some of the IFG associates who have been working on these issues for many years.

TEACH-IN: TECHNOLOGY AND GLOBALIZATION

February 24-25, 2001; Hunter College; New York City

The IFG held a two-day Teach-In, which included over 60 of the world’s greatest thinkers on technology, globalization and democracy. Over 1,800 people attended this event, the first of its kind providing a platform for a heretofore unarticulated critical examination of technology.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND GLOBALIZATION: EXPLORATORY MEETING

June 2001; San Francisco, CA

The IFG convened a meeting of indigenous peoples to address how economic globalization affects indigenous peoples and cultures of the globe. Twenty indigenous peoples from the Americas and the Philippines attended.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND/WORLD BANK TEACH-IN

November 2001; Ottawa, Canada

The IFG co-sponsored a Teach-In just prior to the IMF/WB meetings in November 2001.

SECOND ANNUAL WORLD SOCIAL FORUM

February 2002; Porto Alegre, Brazil

The IFG sponsored three of the 26 major plenaries at the 2002 World Social Forum (WSF) where an estimated 50,000 people were in attendance.

SOUTH AFRICAN CARAVAN

May 2002; South Africa

The IFG formed a "caravan" of activists from both the North and the South to visit with movement groups, labor unions, parliamentarians, and others in South Africa and build alliances and co-educate one another. IFG representatives visited townships, attended union shop steward meetings, and participated in a forum on water and energy privatization with over 200 leading South African activists. The IFG also met with ministers in the South African parliament hosted by Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi.

TEACH-IN: WHICH WAY WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (WSSD)?

CORPORATE RULE OR SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY?

August 24-25, 2002; University of Witwatersrand; Johannesburg, South Africa

On the eve of the United Nation’s WSSD in Johannesburg, the IFG organized a two-day Teach-In that focused attention on the institutions, agreements, and multinational corporations driving the globalization model, and how they are causing irreparable harm to the planet. Many leading local (African continent) and global environmental leaders participated in the Teach-In, which drew thousands of attendees.

THIRD ANNUAL WORLD SOCIAL FORUM

January 2003; Porto Alegre, Brazil

The IFG sponsored panels on alternatives to globalization and launched the IFG’s alternatives book at this worldwide event where an estimated 80,000 people were in attendance.

AGRICULTURE MINISTERS’ BRIEFING

June 24, 2003; Sacramento, CA

The IFG co-hosted a ministers’ briefing/dinner with the Government of Tuscany in Sacramento, CA, during the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ministerial-level Conference on Agricultural Science and Technology. The briefing featured a diverse panel of experts who spoke to the myriad negative aspects of industrial agriculture, with a special focus on the dangers of genetically engineered crops. Delegates from numerous countries attended the briefing including ministers from New Zealand, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Turkey, Fiji, Macedonia, South Africa, and others. The IFG also set up a display and information booth at the USDA Conference, and talked with and distributed materials to over 100 agriculture ministers.

TEACH-IN: ALTERNATIVES TO GLOBALIZATION AND THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

September 9, 2003; Teatro de Cancun; Cancun, Mexico

The focus of this well-attended event held prior to the WTO Ministerial in Cancun was on alternative visions and specific policy proposals that are more equitable, just, and sustainable than current WTO rules. The Teach-In brought together the world’s most dynamic leaders of the growing international movement of civil society opposing the current global economic structure and issued the call—"a better world is possible."