From: Fri 22:23 Subject: Nike update: April 10, 1998To: clr@igc.org Labor Alerts: a service of Campaign for Labor Rights To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to CLR@igc.apc.org Phone: (541) 344-5410 Web site: http://www.compugraph.com/clr Membership/newsletter. Send $35.00 to Campaign for Labor Rights, 1247 "E" Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. Sample newsletter available on request. NIKE UPDATE April 10, 1998 1) ESPN program on Nike in Vietnam to replay on Saturday, April 11 2) ETAN endorses international Nike mobilization 3) April Days of Action/Nike mobilization growing rapidly 4) Packets still available; let us know your plans; local contacts 5) More about Dara O'Rourke * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1) ESPN program on Nike in Vietnam to replay on Saturday, April 11 Videos of the April 2 ESPN program on Nike and Reebok labor abuses in Vietnam are not available from the network. However, the program will be rebroadcast on Saturday, April 11 at 12:00 p.m. EST (noon? midnight?) Check local listings for time. Many of you will want to have your VCRs ready to tape this important piece of telejournalism. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2) ETAN endorses international Nike mobilization The East Timor Action Network, a grassroots U.S. organization in solidarity with the people of East Timor (invaded by the Indonesian military in 1975 and still occupied 23 years and 200,000 deaths later), has endorsed the April 18 Nike mobilization. ETAN local activists have been among the most articulate spokespeople at Nike protests, making the connections between the repressive Indonesian government and Nike's low-wage sweatshop production strategy. Contact the DC office of ETAN at (202) 544-6911 or . ETAN provided the following statement: "Through their subcontractors inside Indonesia, Nike takes advantage of a repressive dictatorship that has always denied workers the right to organize independently. The Suharto regime uses its military to keep workers in line. Wages are kept at a level the Indonesian government itself admits does not meet the minimum physical needs of a single adult - even before the current economic collapse. "Courageous independent labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan is currently facing a lengthy jail sentence, possibly the death penalty, for "insulting the President" - in Indonesia, a capital crime. Pakpahan's real crime was organizing workers to demand wage increases and humane working conditions. "Pakpahan and imprisoned labor leader Dita Sari, now serving five years for "subversion" and suffering from typhus, were also targeted for publicly supporting the right of the East Timorese people to determine their own future after suffering 23 years of brutal Indonesian occupation. "Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world, invaded tiny East Timor in 1975. Since then, massacres and forced starvation have killed over 200,000 East Timorese, or one third of the pre-invasion population. The occupation has been condemned by ten UN resolutions, but the U.S. government has long stonewalled their effective implementation." 3) April Days of Action/Nike mobilization growing rapidly Thanks to all of you local activists whose work is making the international Nike mobilization come alive. So far, Campaign for Labor Rights has mailed 225 action packets to local organizers. Every day, more communities report in with their plans for April 18. We will issue an updated tally soon. Meanwhile, two highlights: CANADA: The Maquila Solidarity Network/Labour Behind the Label Coalition reports that there are plans for actions in more than 10 Canadian cities! AUSTRALIA: "People are coming out of the woodwork with lots of things happening around Australia. There are rallies being organised by ASIET (Australians in Solidarity with Indonesia & East Timor) in a number of capital cities. In Sydney, there are plans to have a range of speakers talking on Nike in Australia (the Houseworkers Code of Practice that Nike has yet to sign), Internationally (Trade Action Group), in Indonesia in particular (ASIET), Resistance (activists group) & CISPAN - a Latin American Solidarity group. "Some universities have expressed interest in holding a Nike-Free Week from 20 April (after the Easter break). "On Monday 20 April we are having a National Phone Nike / Email Nike Day & hope that Nike will be inundated with calls from people after the weekend of protests. "As part of a big Asia Pacific Solidarity Conference being held in Sydney over Easter - there will be speakers talking on Nike & a workshop dedicated to planning for the 18 April & beyond." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4) Packets still available; let us know your plans; local contacts Organizing packets are still available for April 18. But time is running short! If you are planning a local event, please let us know about it. Our list of local contacts is growing every day. We would be happy to help you get in touch with others in your community and nearby communities who either are working on April 18 events or who are likely allies for sweatshop activism. Contact Campaign for Labor Rights at (541) 344-5410 or . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 5) More about Dara O'Rourke In our April 8 alert on the ESPN program, we neglected to mention that Dara O'Rourke released the secret Ernst & Young audit of Nike through the Transnational Resource & Action Center (TRAC). Be sure to check out TRAC's Corporate Watch web site at . It's a great resource!