Conference promotes internationalism, anti-imperialism  

LOS ANGELES -- MIM and RAIL participated in the June 23-25 "People of Color 
Against Imperialist Globalization" conference, sponsored by BAYAN 
International-USA and the Comite pro-Democracia en Mexico. The subtitle of 
the conference was, "Globalize Dignity, Solidarity, and the Struggle: A 
people's conference to unite and broaden the international movement against 
imperialist globalization." MIM and RAIL were glad to contribute some 
logistical support, provide a speaker and a session facilitator. The strong 
points of the conference included its emphasis on the link between 
"globalization" and imperialism -- that globalization is nothing more than 
the recent developments of the imperialist system, rather than a new system, 
a new mode of production, or a new world era, as some would have us believe. 
Further, conference organizers joined  MIM in stressing that the oppression 
of wimmin and environmental destruction that are clearly visible in the 
imperialist system are not separable from the principal contradiction -- the 
oppression of nations by imperialism. Imperialism props up patriarchy and 
environmental destruction; overthrowing imperialism will enable the masses 
to get to the roots of these problems.

The conference pressed for agitation on concrete issues of imperialism. It 
passed resolutions in support of Mumia Abu Jamal, against the reactionary 
Armed Forces of the Philippines offensive against the Moro peoples in 
Mindanao, against the Arizona ranchers' terror campaign against Mexican 
immigrants, etc. 

Further, the conference did not cover up the fact that a protracted people's 
war is raging in the Philippines, and several armed rebellions have sprung 
up in Mexico. Keynote speaker Cesar Taguba cited a declaration released by 
the practioners of protracted people's war, which notes that people's war 
answers "the central question of revolution, which is  the seizure of 
political power." Thus the conference avoided much of the liberalism, 
pacifism and chauvinism that often underlies anti-"globalization" activism.

On a tactical note, MIM considers the term "people of color" vague,  because 
it confuses the issue of national oppression with the misleading surface 
appearance of "race" or skin color. Imperialism is not about skin color -- 
it's about class, gender and national oppression. That said, the organizers 
did a laudable job placing imperialism in the forefront. Furthermore, they 
welcomed the participation of Amerikan-origin activists. Like MIM and RAIL, 
they know that theory and practice mean more than so-called skin color. 
White activists can and should turn against Amerika and commit national 
suicide, rather than remain outside the anti-imperialist struggle.

MIM and RAIL wish the organizers are success in our common struggle: 
Building and broadening the movement against imperialism, and in particular, 
moving anti-"globalization" activism towards anti-imperialist  activism.