FOR- Programs - Puerto Rico

The FOR Task Force on Latin America and the Caribbean is a co-sponsor of this event and is paying for the registration of ten people. If you want to participate in this historic event, contact us to put you on the list of those registered, at forlatam@igc.org or 415-495-6334.

The National Vieques Summit seeks to reactivate the national- international campaign to work in tandem with the leading organizations of Vieques inn order to outline a strategy and redefine a work plan to guide Vieques solidarity work in the United States.

Objective:

The National Vieques Summit will bring together community activists, environmentalists, labor leaders, religious leaders, cultural workers, artists and elected officials who have been in solidarity with and who have shown commitment to the struggle for peace with justice in Vieques. The summit seeks to reaffirm the commitment of those gathered and reactivate the national-international campaign to work in tandem with the leading organizations of Vieques that will focus on the points of unity outlined below. The National Vieques Summit will work to achieve the following:

(1) Outline a strategy and redefine a work plan to guide Vieques solidarity efforts in the United States;

(2) Produce a written communication (e.g. resolution, position paper, etc) endorsed by summit participants to be presented before the President of the United States.

Points of unity:

Summit supporters and participants will unite in solidarity around the following:

1. Understand that the central objective of the struggle in the island municipality of Vieques is the universally accepted 4 point program of demilitarization, decontamination, devolution of land, and sustainable economic development;

2. Recognize that the struggle for peace with justice in Vieques is a human rights issue that has had serious ramifications of genocide, and ecological and environmental degradation;

3. Endorse non-violent, peaceful civil disobedience, and other efforts in that spirit, as a strategy to stop military training exercises, demand immediate cessation of such exercises and denounce the occupation of the island municipality of Vieques by the U.S. Navy.

The National Vieques Summit will have as its priority the above outlined points of unity. Organizations, individuals or elected officials interested in supporting and/or participating in the summit can address any issue(s) that fall outside of the purview of the points of unity at information and literature tables to be provided at the summit.

The Summit is committed to the inclusion of any person or organization committed to peace and justice independently of their political affiliation, tendency or preference regarding the future political status of Puerto Rico.

For more information: Tel: (212) 348 8004 E-mail: viequessummit@yahoo.com

Sponsors (list in formation):

Fellowship of Reconciliation Task Force on Latin America and the Caribbean, Vieques Solidarity Network: Todo NY con Vieques, Todo El Barrio con Vieques, David Sanes Rodríguez Brigade, Iglesia San Romero de las Américas, Puerto Rican Independence Party--NY Committee, Women for Peace and Justice in Vieques, P.R., Hudson County Committee in Support of Vieques, Veterans Support Vieques, American Friends Service Committee, National Boricua Human Rights Network, 1199 SEIU, and Hostos Community College, 1199 SEIU, National Puerto Rican Coalition.

Website of the Vieques Summit. http://www.viequessummit.org

For other questions you can email viequessummit@yahoo.com