in my email box today:
> *****THE DC MASQUERADE*****
>
> http://www.masqueradeproject.org
>
> The clouds of toxic gas over Quebec City and
Genoa
show
> one thing we can all expect during the
September
29-30
> demonstrations against the World Bank and IMF
in
> Washington, DC: lots of tear gas and pepper
spray
where
> people gather on the streets to express their
vision of
> a just and sustainable world.
>
> We at the Masquerade Project want to make sure
that
our
> sisters and brothers have the protection they
need --
> and we also think it's time for an aesthetic
> intervention on the front lines of the movement
for
> global justice. So we're organizing the DC
Masquerade:
> raising money to buy and fabulously decorate
hundreds
> of gas masks for free distribution at the
IMF/World
> Bank protests in Washington.
>
> Black may be timelessly chic. But we long for
more
> color, more 鬡n. We believe our movements
should
> reflect the world we want to create. And for
us,
> that's a world with loads of color, sparkle,
variety,
> and individual creativity.
>
> Tear gas contains highly toxic chemicals and
solvents
> whose short- and long-term health effects are
poorly
> understood. We STRONGLY recommend that
everyone who is
> taking part in the DC protests protect
themselves with
> a gas mask.
>
> But wearing a gas mask doesn't have to mean
adopting a
> grim paramilitary uniform: Leave that to the
police
who
> will be defending the institutions of the
global elite.
>
> We're using bright paints, rhinestones,
sequins,
> glitter, and trim to transform the masks we'll
be
> giving away into splendid and sassy creations.
>
> We need your help. We've found a super-cheap
source of
> masks -- so every $5 you donate will protect
one
> person's eyes, lungs, and skin from the
damaging
> effects of chemical weapons.
>
> 1. DONATE TO THE MASQUERADE PROJECT! It's
very simple:
> The more money we get, the more masks we will
buy
> and give away on the streets. Each $5 purchases
one
> mask -- give generously! You can donate by
credit
> card at http://www.masqueradeproject.org or
send a
> check made out to The Masquerade Project to
> P.O. Box 648, NY, NY 10009.
>
> 2. DO IT YOURSELF Decorate your own masks and
join us
> in Washington, D.C., Sept. 29-30. See
> http://www.abolishthebank.org and
> http://www.globalizethis.org for details on the
> protests. Check out our website at
> http://www.masqueradeproject.org for
information on
> where to buy a gas mask and what materials work
best
> for decorating (plus photos of some of our
favorite
> creations).
>
> 3. EDUCATE yourself and your community about
the
health
> risks of tear-gas and pepper spray exposure,
and
how
> to protect yourself. We've compiled links to
the
> best available sources of information on these
> chemical weapons, their health effects, and
> recommended methods for treating exposure at
our
> http://www.masqueradeproject.org site.
>
> In previous demonstrations, a large and vibrant
> festival has emerged in the safe zones, behind
the
> front lines. But the front line is wherever
there's a
> fuming gas canister. And increasingly, the
creeping,
> stinging gas seems to be everywhere. We can't
let it
> stop our celebration -- or our resistance.
>
> Let's bring the carnival against capitalism to
the
> front lines of protest.
>
> The Masquerade Project
> http://www.masqueradeproject.org
> |
