This week representatives of the four North American Hemispheric Social Alliance (HSA) networks will be in Havana.  We will be there representing the respective networks from Mexico (RMALC), Quebec (RQIC), Canada (Common Frontiers) and the U. S. (Alliance for Responsible Trade) at a meeting of the HSA General Council.  A priority of the gathering is to develop collective work priorities, strategies and plans for the coming year as well as analyze current globalization policies and possible alternatives.

This meeting comes at a strategic time in terms of planning for the upcoming People’s Summit in New Orleans.  It will give the representatives an opportunity to make final plans for our participation in the summit.  It is especially important that we arrive in New Orleans prepared to listen and learn about the local realities, and from that understanding, connect the issues with the larger picture.  Communities all over the Americas are impacted by the same kind of policies as the people of New Orleans—we look forward to working together to understand this better.