Historic worldwide protests go unreported in the US
Germany - An International Day of Action against globalization was held to coincide with the meeting of the G-8 leading industrial countries in Cologne on June 18. Around the world, hundreds of thousands of citizens celebrated a "Carnival against Capital" by occupying 100 major financial districts in 40 countries.
Although largely blacked out by the Western media, the global grassroots assault on the world's financial centers was carried live over the Internet.
An Inter-Continental Caravan for Solidarity and Resistance with 450 representatives of people's movements from the South and East arrived in Cologne after a 25-day journey through Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, the UK, Norway, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The caravan included Zapatistas from Chiapas, Mexico; landless farmers from Brazil; anti-dam activists from India; workers from Bangladesh; indigenous Chileans; anti-nuclear campaigners from Pakistan; environmentalists from Ukraine; human rights advocates from Nepal and members of the Afro-American Network.
During their journey, the caravaners staged protests at the headquarters of Monsanto, Novartis, Cargill, and Nestlé. The caravan also held demonstrations outside the offices of the World Trade Organization (WTO), NATO, and the European Central Bank. Caravaners managed to destroy two fields of genetically modified crops and (with the assistance of the French Peasants' Confederation) one biotech lab.
In London, 10,000 protestors clashed with police in the heart of the city, inflicting $3.2 million in damage. The destruction, which Newsday characterized as "riots against capitalism," was focused mainly on financial exchanges, multinational banks, expensive cars and McDonald's restaurants.
At a meetiing at the Shell UK headquarters, hosted by uranium mining interests, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley's speech praising globalization was interupted by a Biotic Baking Brigage member who planted a vegan vanilla cream pie in her face.
In Edinburgh, Scotland, 10,000 learned to dance the "G-8 Stomp" while 10,000 ten-pound notes from the "Bank of Bigotry" were passed out. Protestors in Spain mounted parties against "globalization and street privatization" and passed out leaflets warning about "policies that the prime ministers and the chiefs of big corporations are preparing for our future."
In the streets of Buenos Aires, a massive "debt cancellation" march wound through the financial district and culminated in "a joint multi-religious celebration ... with Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Protestant ministers (bells, carillons and shofar sounds)" in front of the Central Bank.
In Uruguay, Montevideans staged a "spoof trade fair" carnival and opened "a bank for the poor to deposit misery and unemployment."
In Ottawa, Canadians marched to the headquarters of Shell and Chevron with banners reading "Oil barons must be held accountable for the atrocities they commit." In Toronto, a "a giant anti-corporate bowling lane" was created with pins representing Nike, The GAP, Bayer, McDonald's and several large Canadian banks.
The US saw demonstrations in Boston, New York, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Chicago and a dozen other cities.
The stated goal of the June 18 coalition was to condemn "trade and investment treaties that are designed to benefit trans-national capital at the expense of people and nature." The protests also condemned militarism, the nuclear industry, genetic engineering and the WTO.
One highlight of the Cologne demos was an afternoon "Laugh Parade," in which the protestors lampooned "the supposed beneficial effects of neoliberal policies and ... the claim that the New World Order, ruled by transnational capital, will bring peace and prosperity for all." - GS
For full coverage (with photos, sound and videos), contact: Peoples' Global Action [www.apg.org] and the following websites: www.j18.org, www.squat.net/caravan, www.greennet.org.uk/june18
Global 'Riots Against Capitalism'