www.oct13alliance.org - call for action at oct 13 presidential debate : AZ IMC

The October 13th Alliance: Democracy for a Change
Phoenix/ Tempe, Arizona
http://www.oct13alliance.org

Phoenix/ Tempe Presidential Debate
Call to Action

July 16, 2004

The attention of the world will focus on Phoenix, Arizona for the 3rd
Presidential Debate on October 13th. We are using this opportunity to get
our message heard. All too often presidential debates are reduced to
glorified news conferences in which the candidates merely recite prepackaged
sound bites. We declare our independence from passively watching this take
place. We will create real dialogue on issues which really matter and we
will exemplify the just, democratic and sustainable world we want to create.
Now is the time for Democracy for a Change! We are THE PEOPLE and we need
YOU.

The October 13th Alliance's planning efforts have just begun. Your
participation and creativity is needed to set up participatory forums and
street and puppet theatre, as well as by setting up concerts, dances, a
genuinely free market and other manifestations of the world we envision.
The festival of events will take place October 9th-13th in Phoenix, Tempe
and other local cities. Check out the website at http://www.oct13alliance.org for
more information.

What do YOU want to create? What do YOU want to discuss?

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Talk with your friends, your affinity group, and your community about ways
to get your message into the debate. Create puppets for the demonstration,
offer informational workshops, organize a guerilla gardening project. Be
creative!

One idea, among many, being worked on is to hold a forum and dialogue at
ASU on October 12, the evening before the presidential forum with well known
and articulate progressive speakers and reach an Arizona and nation-wide
audience with both: (1) a fresh and powerful critique of the current
administration's foreign policies (and their domestic implications); and (2)
viable alternatives to those policies. The intention is to include voices
and views, which may be excluded from or not fully expressed at the official
debate the following evening.

Come to the next meeting at 6:00 p.m Tuesday, July 20, at the Gentle
Strength Cooperative or send an email to oct13alliance2004@yahoo.com and
tell us how the community can support your organization and your issues.
Additional meetings will be posted at http://www.oct13alliance.org.

Raise money and contribute to the October 13th Alliance or any other group
organizing to participate in this democratic gathering. We'll need money
for facility rentals, food, printing costs, supplies and much more. To
contributed money to the coalition, send an email to
oct13alliance2004@yahoo.com.

Housing! Offer your house to someone coming from out of town. Send an email
to Housing4Oct13@yahoo.com to offer space.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. The future is up to us. Join us to
show the world what democracy looks like. Join us to create Democracy for
a Change!