Stop G4S Convergence – Call for action!‏

*Activists from various anti-G4S campaigns are coming together for a
UK-wide gathering on Saturday 6**th** October at The
Workstation<http://www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/location/>,
Sheffield. Individuals and campaign groups are invited to attend to share,
network, strategise and plan how to build an even more effective Stop G4S
campaign. The gathering is open to all who oppose G4S and want to work with
others to Stop G4S from taking over public services for private profit
while violating human rights.
<http://www.boycottisraelnetwork.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Stop-G4S.jpg>
*

Despite its track record of complicity in human rights abuses in the UK and
abroad, G4S is being handed control of public services – everything from
policing to “asylum markets” to the welfare system. Even after the Olympics
débâcle, G4S looks set to take over even more control of our communities.

Campaigns have begun to highlight the appalling record of G4S and to work
to prevent it from putting profit before human rights and dignity. From
local campaigns to pressure G4S as it cuts corners, to demonstrations
targeting the company’s AGM and headquarters, we’re beginning to damage the
G4S brand.

The gathering will launch the UK ‘StopG4S’ campaign coalition, bringing
together grassroots campaigns, networks and organisations with the aim of
providing support, resources, guidance and skill-sharing. This coalition
will be inclusive and non-hierarchical.

*Please respond to: *stop-g4s@riseup.net* to reserve a place, find out more
or to request a speaker to attend a meeting to discuss campaign plans. If
you or your organisation (if you have one) wish to endorse this call please
let us know. **Facebook
event<https://www.facebook.com/events/335352613222043/>
.*

Reasonable travel costs may be paid to those unable to fund themselves.
Overnight accommodation will be provided by local activists.

*The many reasons to Stop G4S:*

*G4S and Public Contracts:*

-
G4S<http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/john-grayson/g4s-turns-profit-in-%C3%ACasylum-markets%C3%AE-whos-speaking-out-and-whose-lips-are-se>
has
recently been awarded £210million of public money to provide housing
services to asylum seekers in Yorkshire, Humberside, Midlands and the
North
East .
- With profit its only motive in what it calls “asylum markets”, it’s
expected that over 1000 asylum seekers will be
uprooted<http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/john-grayson/g4s-asylum-housing-evictions-begin-mother-and-baby-dumped-in-substandard-fla>
from
their communities to live in slum housing.
- G4S profits from the privatisation of policing, courts &
prisons<http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/mel-kelly/police-magistrates-and-prisons-by-g4s-is-this-what-british-people-want>
- Workfare <http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=4032>: G4S profits from
forcing the unemployed to do unpaid work or risk having benefits cut.
- G4S won the contract to provide security for the Olympics
<http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/clare-sambrook/g4s-olympic-fiasco-british-soldiers-are-%C3%ABpeople-pipeline%C3%AD-now>and
failed to deliver on time but still insists on receiving payment.

*Human Rights Abuses:*

- Jimmy Mubenga <http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/jimmy-mubenga>, an Angolan
asylum seeker died, following restraint by G4S employees. The DPP recently
ruled that no prosecution was necessary.
- In 2011 G4S Australia admitted liability and was fined for the death
of Warburton Elder Mr
Ward<http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/clare-sambrook/duty-of-care-beyond-case-of-mr-ward-cooked-to-death-by-gigantic-outsourcer>
.
- It profits from imprisoning refugees while it abuses families
<http://www.medicaljustice.org.uk/images/stories/reports/outsourcing%20abuse.pdf>and
children in their ‘care’.

*G4S and Israel’s occupation of Palestine:*

- G4S provides equipment and
services<http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/adri-nieuwhof/security-firm-g4s-provides-services-israeli-prisons-police-and-army>
to
Israeli prisons in which Palestinian prisoners, including child prisoners,
are illegally held and tortured.
- G4S supplies equipment and services to Israel’s illegal
settlements
and<http://electronicintifada.net/content/corporations-found-guilty-russell-tribunal-second-session/9127>
wall
- Palestinian civil
society<http://www.bdsmovement.net/2012/prisoners-day-g4s-call-8887#.T6rxkuhPuhU>
has
called for action to hold G4S to account for its role in profiting from
the
detention of Palestinian political prisoners, 1,600 of whom recently
held a
mass hunger strike.

*Selection of actions taken so far:*

- Local campaigns in cities and
campuses<http://www.bdsmovement.net/2011/edinburgh-university-students-vote-to-ban-g4s-8279>
across
the UK
- G4S headquarters rooftop
occupation.<http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/07/497595.html>
- Demonstrations in
Birmingham<http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/04/495523.html>
,
Sheffield<http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/john-grayson/g4s-turns-profit-in-%E2%80%9Casylum-markets>
,
London<http://www.demotix.com/news/1261195/protest-g4s-agm-accuses-company-violating-human-rights#slide-1>
and
beyond
- Successfully pressuring companies to drop their ties with
G4S<http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=4459>
- Publishing detailed analysis online (see http://bit.ly/R9JbkB,
http://bit.ly/PRhYMi,http://bit.ly/Kz0Uhn)



Endorsed by:

Boycott Israel Network <http://www.boycottisraelnetwork.net/>

No Borders UK <http://noborders.org.uk/>

Newcastle Palestine Solidarity
Campaign<https://www.facebook.com/groups/newcastlepsc/>

Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign <http://www.sheffieldpsc.org.uk/>

Stop Deportations <http://stopdeportations.wordpress.com/>

SYMAAG (South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action
Group)<http://www.symaag.org.uk/>

New endorsers!

No One Is Illegal <http://www.noii.org.uk/>

Jewish Socialists’ Group <http://www.jewishsocialist.org.uk/>

Bron : Action2-l@mx.kein.org