October 19, 2006

Report from the Technology Working Group


PROJECTS

(Things we’d like to see done)

A Directory of all SMoD Nat’l. Conference attendees

made available to all attendees

Means of outreach to others

Concentrate on local groups affected

(Check “National Priorities Project” for those most affected by the corporate-military budget; contact them)

Use “MySpace” and “YouTube”

NB: WRL has a “MySpace.”

War profiteering working group = CONTRACTS group. Washington DC

Some conference calls

Note: failed to set up “Truman Commission” in Congress.

Listserv; can be with a nonprofit. Charlie Cray; Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Waxman’s staff is on it.

Could WRL put up a “blog” of counter-corporate actions across the nation?

Grants

RESOURCES

Arms Trade Resource Center

NB. Frida Berrigan often collects and “popularizes” the research.

Center for Defense Information

WILPF

Short guide, on web, with many links, to help with YOUR community’s war profiteers;

Concentrating on WMD.

Working vs. corporate “personhood”

Has Manual locating local MoDs.

POCLAD (Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy)

Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities

Pugwash

Corporate Watch

Corporate Watch moving toward a kind of “Wiki” on corporations. Cross between Wiki and Source Watch. Check every 15 days. When verified, it’s “locked.”

Similar: Source Watch, run by PR Watch

[Wikipedia – open to all.

Sourcewatch – someone watches it, if you don’t have a source, I won’t publish it.]

NB: people can do bits of research.

United Nations Environmental Program meeting in Nairobi

NB: People (especially youth) are more easily “grabbed” by environment than by war.

Jarret Lovell

Can provide university resources

(Some copying, Printing, etc.)

Grants:

TIDES Foundation

Doughboys

October 01, 2006

COUNTER-CORPORATE-RECRUITMENT - HALLIBURTON


Pledge of Resistance to Halliburton and the War on Iraq

For over 10 years Halliburton has had direct ties to the U.S. Government - most notably through Vice President Dick Cheney - and has made sizable campaign contributions in both state and national elections. Halliburton's representatives first influence the government's decisions to go to war, then profit from the war they promoted. Halliburton and KBR now have major contracts in Iraq they didn't even have to compete for. These "no-bid" contracts are for pumping and delivering oil. They also receive numerous lucrative military outsourcing and reconstruction contracts. Halliburton is only one of many corporations involved in the war on Iraq. But Halliburton is the most insidious. As long as corporate control dominates Iraq, Iraqis will suffer economic subjugation and loss of autonomy - now and for generations to come.

Because it is a war-promoter and a war profiteer, Halliburton bears responsibility for the deaths, maiming and suffering of US soldiers and of the soldiers and citizens of Iraq. I will not cooperate. I will not use my education to inflict war and economic domination upon the people of Iraq. I will resist.

I declare Halliburton and its subsidiaries, including Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) to be Merchants of Death.

I _______________, will neither seek nor accept employment with Halliburton or its subsidiaries.
Furthermore, I pledge to inform others of Halliburton's shameful practices. It is a Merchant of Death.
Signature: _______________________________________
Name:__________________________________________
Address:________________________________________
University/School: ________________________________
Sent to: War Resisters League, 339 Lafayette St., NYC, NY 10012


For over 10 years Halliburton has had direct ties to the U.S. Government - most notably through Vice President Dick Cheney - and has made sizable campaign contributions in both state and national elections. Halliburton's representatives first influence the government's decisions to go to war, then profit from the war they promoted. Halliburton and KBR now have major contracts in Iraq they didn't even have to compete for. These "no-bid" contracts are for pumping and delivering oil. They also receive numerous lucrative military outsourcing and reconstruction contracts. Halliburton is only one of many corporations involved in the war on Iraq. But Halliburton is the most insidious. As long as corporate control dominates Iraq, Iraqis will suffer economic subjugation and loss of autonomy - now and for generations to come.
Because it is a war-promoter and a war profiteer, Halliburton bears responsibility for the deaths, maiming and suffering of US soldiers and of the soldiers and citizens of Iraq. I will not cooperate. I will not use my education to inflict war and economic domination upon the people of Iraq. I will resist.

I declare Halliburton and its subsidiaries, including Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) to be Merchants of Death.

I _______________, will neither seek nor accept employment with Halliburton or its subsidiaries. Furthermore, I pledge to inform others of Halliburton's shameful practices. It is a Merchant of Death.

Signature: _______________________________________ Name:__________________________________________ Address:________________________________________ University/School: ________________________________ Sent to: War Resisters League, 339 Lafayette St., NYC, NY 10012

Sent to: Vice President Dick Cheney, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20500


For over 10 years Halliburton has had direct ties to the U.S. Government - most notably through Vice President Dick Cheney - and has made sizable campaign contributions in both state and national elections. Halliburton's representatives first influence the government's decisions to go to war, then profit from the war they promoted. Halliburton and KBR now have major contracts in Iraq they didn't even have to compete for. These "no-bid" contracts are for pumping and delivering oil. They also receive numerous lucrative military outsourcing and reconstruction contracts. Halliburton is only one of many corporations involved in the war on Iraq. But Halliburton is the most insidious. As long as corporate control dominates Iraq, Iraqis will suffer economic subjugation and loss of autonomy - now and for generations to come.
Because it is a war-promoter and a war profiteer, Halliburton bears responsibility for the deaths, maiming and suffering of US soldiers and of the soldiers and citizens of Iraq. I will not cooperate. I will not use my education to inflict war and economic domination upon the people of Iraq. I will resist.

I declare Halliburton and its subsidiaries, including Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) to be Merchants of Death. I _______________, will neither seek nor accept employment with Halliburton or its subsidiaries. Furthermore, I pledge to inform others of Halliburton's shameful practices. It is a Merchant of Death.

Signature: _______________________________________ Name:__________________________________________ Address:________________________________________ University/School: ________________________________ Sent to: War Resisters League, 339 Lafayette St., NYC, NY 10012

Sent to: Dave Lesar, CEO, Halliburton Company, 1401 Mckinney St # 2400, Houston, TX 77010
War Resisters League

Stop the Merchants of Death

People Power and Profiteering

Goals/Strategies/Tactics

SOLIDARITY
-create strategic partners
-identify stakeholders/allies, including celebrities, environmental groups, children of execs)
-work with existing campus anti-war groups on education analysis


Internet-related
- utilize SMOD riseup list for email discussions – profiteers@lists.riseup.net
- make better use of existing internet resources (links on WRL site)
- develop counter corp recruitment web portals (parsons)


Short Term (0 -12 months)
-identify decision-makers of war profiteering (corporations, universities)
-identify resources
-schedule another SMOD conference
-inspire/motivate larger national anti-war groups to take on PPS
-target Parsons
- pitch Democracy Now! tour of war profiteers offices/operations
-outreach to consumer, tax-payer groups about fleecing and wasted by war profiteers
- develop state by state analysis that contrasts cost of war (nationalpriorities.org); disseminate to congressional candidates and representatives, educators, public officials, etc.
- brand activist effort/network to “stop the merchants of death” (and perhaps come up with better phrase than “merchants of death”, e.g., war profiteers)
-identify places to act (geographically)
-identify a timeline
- smash capitalism and the state ; )
-birddog congressional candidates (what positions did they take)
- refine and identify pillars

Intermediate (6 months – 2 years)
-build stronger analysis
- develop overarching story; figure out the “rap”
- develop message for red America
- articulate strategic frameworks for effective collective action
-develop tool kit for organizing high schools
-connecting climate and militarist work on campus (climate campus challenge and student anti-war groups)
- develop cooperatively owned factories (e.g., ford); see the movie, “the Take”)
-develop movement to de-privatize military
- organize coordinated days of action and direct action; mass mobilization at targeted corporations
-incorporate intelligence/interrogations war profiteering
- advance divestment campaigns on campus
- create comprehensive list of corporations that are contractors (defense, reconstruction, subcontractors),what they do, where their CEOs live, etc.
- foment dissent within the military re. Privatization
-analytical approach to corps: who are they; who is being actively campaigned against?
-campaign finance reform
-presence everywhere: coordinate actions or specific days of action, nationally and internationally
-promote books, video highlighting war profiteers
-exchanging info on economic conversion

Long term (2 years plus)
-provide long term economic alternatives
- demilitarize universities
- scuttle the proposed “middle east free trade area”
- stop the war in iraq,Afghanistan & palestine / prevent future wars
- end the corporate occupation of iraq and afghanistan


WEBSITES

www.Corpwatch.org
http://www.peoplepowerstrategy.org/
www.warprofiteers.com

Stop the Merchants of Death

Stop Caterpillar!


Goals:

Short term:
Get CAT to INVESTIGATE Human rights violations in Israel
Intermediate:
Get CAT to stop sales to Israel
Divestment from all companies profiting from occupation
Long term:
End US support for Israeli Apartheid
Free Palestine
Ultimate:
Global Revolution

Tactics

Pressure the CEO and Board of Directors of CAT from all angles
Media – make CAT = Israeli HR violations
-focus on national business media
Ad Campaigns
-Counter their PR ads
-Ads in progressive publications
-30 second Video, YouTube, TV networks
Shareholder resolutions/actions
Lawsuits
Postcards and letters
Tag and stencil CAT equipment anywhere
Boycotts of CAT equipment and merchandise
Cat-Free Zones
Posters and stickers on merchandise in stores
Meet with officials from local distributors
National days of Nonviolent Direct action
-Headquarters in Peoria, IL
-Local distributors
-Next one: March 16th, 2007 (4th anniversary of Rachel Corrie’s murder)
Guerilla Theater
-Puppet bulldozers, act out destroying homes, trees, etc.
Petition for State Divestment from CAT (MN)
Local govt
University
Unions
Pensions
Churches

New Strategies:

Lobby KOMATSU
“My name is Rachael Corrie” play
Produce in multiple places on March 16.
In Peoria
Different actresses in play
Get Celebrities to act the role.
Peoria Catholic churches have just finished a “Just Faith” course.
ISU – counter corporate recruitment
-cards
Plan a week of action in Peoria
Activate Catholic Workers

What we need/have to offer:

Support for days of action
Share Business Media contacts
Share Activist contacts
Ads, print and video
A good model for shareholder action
Sophisticated Counter Corporate Recruitment



Stop the Merchants of Death

A report from Stop CAT

STOP CATERPILLAR:

Goals:

Short term: Get CAT to INVESTIGATE Human rights violations in Israel
Intermediate: Get CAT to stop sales to Israel
Long: Free Palestine
Ultimate: Global Revolution

Tactics

Pressure the CEO and Board of Directors of CAT from all angles
Media – make CAT = Israeli HR violations
-focus on national business media
Ad Campaigns
-Counter their PR ads
-Ads in progressive publications
-30 second Video, YouToob, TV networks
Shareholder resolutions/actions
Lawsuits
Postcards and letters
Tag and stencil CAT equipment anywhere
Boycotts of CAT equipment and merchandise
Cat-Free Zones
Posters and stickers on merchandise in stores
Meet with officials from local distributors
National days of Nonviolent Direct action
-Headquarters in Peoria, IL
-Local distributors
-Next one: March 16th, 2007 (4th anniversary of Rachel Corrie’s murder)
Guerilla Theater
-Puppet bulldozers, act out destroying homes, trees, etc.
Petition for State Divestment from CAT (MN)
Local govt
University
Unions
Pensions
Churches

New Strategies:


Lobby KOMATSU
“My name is Rachael Corrie” play
Produce in multiple places on March 16.
In Peoria
Different actresses in play
Get Celebrities to act the role.
Peoria Catholic churches have just finished a “Just Faith” course.
ISU – counter corporate recruitment
-cards
Plan a week of action in Peoria
Activate Catholic Workers

What we need/have to offer:

Support for days of action
Share Business Media contacts
Share Activist contacts
Ads, print and video
A good model for shareholder action
Sophisticated Counter Corporate Recruitment