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<p style=3D"margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><a class=3D"moz-txt-link-freetext" =
href=3D"http://www.europeagainstausterity.org/">http://www.europeagainstaus=
terity.org/</a><br>
</b></p>
<p style=3D"margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Declaration of the European
Conference Against Austerity</b></p>
<p style=3D"margin-bottom: 0cm;">This European conference meets not a
moment too soon.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-bottom: 0cm;">The peoples of Europe face an
unprecedented social, political and economic crisis. </p>
<p>Our governments are implementing the most savage spending cuts
designed to destroy all the social gains of the post-war period.
These will wreck the lives of millions by devastating jobs, pay,
pensions, health, education and other services.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-bottom: 0cm;">The world financial crisis of 2008
was
transformed into a crisis of state debt – nation states bailed =
out
the financial system, but in doing so seriously weakened their own
balance sheets. Greece stands on the verge of default and other
states will not be far behind. </p>
<p>The only solution offered by the ruling elite is austerity for
the
great majority and bailouts for the banks and the wider financial
system.</p>
<p>While ordinary people face great hardship, trillions of Euros are
being poured into the pockets of the rich. There has never been a
greater disparity of wealth between capital and labour – betwee=
n
rich and poor. </p>
<p>Throughout Europe people are fighting back. They are determined
to
defend their societies and to overturn the barbarism of austerity.
Our aim is to help unite these struggles. We need a common
European
front to defend the peoples of Europe. We are committed to
opposing
all cuts, privatization and attacks on the welfare state and to
build
solidarity with resistance to these attacks.</p>
<p>Thus we support resistance by the trades unions through strikes
and other forms of industrial action. We say no to imperialist
wars
and their endless drain on resources and say yes to welfare, peace
and justice.</p>
<p>We oppose the scapegoating of immigrant communities for the
economic crisis and the stirring up of racism and islamophobia
which
divides and weakens our resistance<font color=3D"#1f497d"><i>.</i></f=
ont>
We will campaign against the rise of the far-right which seeks to
do
this.</p>
<p>The way forward relies both on resistance and the elaboration and
promotion of an alternative economic strategy: the banks must be
placed under democratic control. Private banks must be socialized
and
the financial markets regulated. The European Union and national
governments must meet the needs of people – not impose austerit=
y
programmes. Taxes raised for the rich and corporations.
Illegitimate
debt must be renounced. The creditors must be held responsible. We
won't pay for their crisis!</p>
<p>An alternative economic and political strategy would support
welfare, develop homes, schools, and hospitals, protect pensions
and
foster a green approach to public spending – investing in
renewable
energy and public transport, thereby creating millions of new
jobs.</p>
<p>This conference resolves to build on the links developed in
preparing this conference and to establish an ongoing European
co-ordination to organise and support resistance to austerity. </p>
<p>We pledge to support the mobilisations of the Indignados on
October 15, actions against debt and International Financial
Institutions from 8<sup>th</sup> to 16<sup>th</sup> October and
the
G20 in Nice in November. We also pledge to work towards a common
day
of action against austerity in 2012 and call on the trade union
movement across Europe to prepare a day of industrial action
against
austerity. </p>
<div class=3D"moz-signature">-- <br>

Myriam Bourgy
<br>
CADTM (Comité pour l'Annulation de la Dette du Tiers Monde)<br=
>
0032 (0) 498 35 36 66<br>
skype : m.bourgy<br>
<a class=3D"moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href=3D"http://www.cadtm.org">w=
ww.cadtm.org</a><br>
<br>
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src=3D"cid:part1.09010703.00000602@cadtm.org"></a> </div>
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