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<DIV><FONT size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=2>Friends,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2></FONT> </P>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Friends, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Please forward as widely as possible! Thanks. Have attached
two copies - one for electronic distribution (it has embedded links) and one for
hard copy distribution (links are spelled out). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>In solidarity, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Emily Kawano<BR>Executive Director<BR>Center for Popular
Economics<BR>(413) 545-0743<BR><A
href="http://www.populareconomics.org">www.populareconomics.org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face=Arial
size=2>********************************</FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="Z-INDEX: -1; POSITION: relative; mso-ignore: vglayout"><SPAN><STRONG><FONT
face="Maiandra GD"><FONT size=6>Western Massachusetts Social
Forum<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Maiandra GD'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Invitation
to participate!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Maiandra GD'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Maiandra GD'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">April
14-15, 2007<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Maiandra GD'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">University</SPAN></B></st1:PlaceType><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Maiandra GD'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">
of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:PlaceName></SPAN></B></st1:place><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Maiandra GD'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">,
Amherst<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Do you believe that there’s
something seriously wrong with current policies and institutions that cater to
the interests of big business and bankers - policies that favor the rich and
hurt or, at best, ignore ordinary folks and their communities? Do you believe
that “Another World Is Possible”? <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">If so, then we invite your
participation in the <A
href="http://www.westernmassafsc.org/wsf/wsf.html">Western Massachusetts Social
Forum</A>, April 14-15, 2007 at the <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:PlaceName>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Amherst</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">MA</st1:State></st1:place>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
face=Arial><STRONG>Why come? • To connect with others • To share your
story • To develop your leadership skills • To be inspired and to inspire others
• To strategize • To link up with a global movement that is changing the world •
To heal • To Celebrate</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Some people have asked, “<I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Why UMass? Why not make it more accessible
for folks from disadvantaged communities in <st1:City
w:st="on">Springfield</st1:City> and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Holyoke</st1:place></st1:City>?”</I>’ The issue of location was long
debated. We finally agreed to hold the Forum at UMass for the following reasons:
1) UMass is the flagship public university in the state and should be regarded
as a public resource and space. 2) It’s centrally located in relation to
Springfield/Holyoke and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Greenfield</st1:City></st1:place> 3) Availability of good facilities
at minimal cost.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The WM Social Forum is a local
‘edition’ of the World Social Forum (<A
href="http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/index.php?cd_language=2&id_menu=2">WSF</A>)
and we adhere to its <A
href="http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/main.php?id_menu=4&cd_language=2">Charter
of Principles</A>. Social Forums are both ongoing processes and open spaces to
discuss, reflect, debate, share, exchange, inspire, celebrate, strategize and
mobilize in the belief that ‘Another World Is Possible,’ one that puts people
and planet before corporate profits. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">We come together in the belief that
the current conservative model <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">(neoliberalism)</I> that dominates the world
is not working. Neoliberal globalization is a model that caters to the interests
of big business and bankers. Its hallmarks are growing inequality, deepening
poverty, tax handouts and de-regulation for powerful corporations, cutbacks in
social programs, privatization of water, schools, etc. and environmental
destruction. Divisions of race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, sexual
orientation, religion and so forth are exploited in order to undercut a unified
movement against neoliberal globalization. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">You or your organization can
participate in the following ways:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">1. Attend the WM Social
Forum</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Please fill
out and send in the registration form below. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">2. Organize a
workshop/performance/discussion/activity</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Consider collaborating with other
groups. Please fill out the Workshop/Activity registration below. We will use
the information to track the range of topics, groups, and strategies for
change.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">3. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Get involved in organizing the WM Social
Forum </SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The WM Social
Forum process is in motion – many groups have been working together for months
to widen the circle and we invite you to join in this important work. Please
visit the website to see how you can get involved <A
href="http://www.westernmassafsc.org/wsf/wsf.html">www.westernmassafsc.org/wsf/wsf.html</A>.
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you want to talk to someone<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>please email or call Maya Winfrey
(413-772-8898, <A
href="mailto:maya@cooppower.coop">maya@cooppower.coop</A>) or Doug Renick
(<A href="mailto:afsc@crocker.com">afsc@crocker.com</A>,
413-584-8975).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">
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