Seattle to Brussels Network
The S2B network was formed in the aftermath of the WTO's 1999 Seattle Ministerial to challenge the corporate-driven agenda of the European Union and other European governments for continued global trade and investment liberalisation.
It has also developed as a response to the increasing need for European coordination among civil society organisations. Identity & Active Groups The network is called 'Seattle to Brussels Network - Taking Action Against Corporate Globalisation'. The S2B network is the European part of the global 'Our World Is Not For Sale' network (OWINFS).
The S2B network includes development, environment, human rights, women and farmers organisations, trade unions, social movements as well as research institutes. Active groups in the Network are all supporters of the Statement 'Stop Corporate Globalization: Another World Is
Possible!' (http://www.ourworldisnotforsale.org) and of statements and open letters to the European Trade Commissioner.
Overall Goal
- Open the EU corporate-driven trade agenda to economic alternatives and heterodox policy options with the aim of transforming it into a truly sustainable, gender just development agenda
Political Objectives
- Roll back the power and authority of the fora and agreements used to implement the EU's corporate driven trade and investment agenda (WTO, EPAs, regional trade agreements, EU internal trade-related policy, etc);
- Expose and challenge the undemocratic nature of EU decision making on trade issues;
- Promote a sustainable, socially and democratically accountable system of trade.
Strategic Objectives
- Increasingly engage in co-ordinated campaign activities with broad participation that focuses on activities where pan-European civil society activity is essential for challenging decisions taken at EC and Council level (ie, work together on integrated activities);
- Ensure that the network activities are co-ordinated with those of other global networks and reflect the concerns of Southern groups;
- Develop a profile and visibility by expanding the capacity of the network to engage in diverse activities including grassroots campaigning, education and outreach, advocacy, research, monitoring, media work and mass mobilisation; Maintain transparent and democratic ways of working together.