Thousands protest WTO in Geneva: Pics + Reports

Udgivet af / published by: Saturday 28 November 2009 22:28 af / by update

Economic Crisis, Climate Crisis, Social Crisis: It’s Time to Change Course!

From 30th November through 2nd December, a WTO ministerial conference will be held in Geneva, a week before the climate summit in Copenhagen. Concerning both trade and the climate, policies that have been pursued in the past have failed catastrophically. Yet our leaders have not questioned them!

The WTO and “free” trade: two big failures

Thirty years of neoliberal globalisation policies and fifteen years of the WTO have done nothing but increase poverty in the South and inequality, unemployment and job instability in the North. In the end, these policies have plunged us into the worst capitalist crisis since 1929. The WTO promises to get us out of it… by beating the same drum: “liberalise” trade. This would benefit no one except transnational capital; it would impose fierce competition that would further accentuate pressure on jobs, working conditions, social security and public services.

Trade versus the environment

Those same policies have also had disastrous consequences on the climate. They have bankrupted millions of small farmers by promoting industrialised agriculture, even though the latter – highly dependent upon fossil fuels – is a major source of greenhouse gases. They have caused disastrous deforestation in the largest rainforests, the planet’s lungs and the habitat of indigenous communities. They have created a globalised production network with high energy-consuming means of transportation, simply in order to exploit labour to the highest degree. Unfortunately, in Copenhagen the players will be the same, and the same interests and false “market solutions” will be on the agenda, though their failure is patently obvious. Twelve years after Kyoto, the CO2 emissions of developed countries have risen to higher levels than ever before.

Tempted by the Titanic?

Neither the socioeconomic crisis nor the environmental crisis will be resolved by the same logic that created them. The current economic system has brought about poverty, inequalities and wars; it has thrust us into the worst crisis since World War II. Today we are confronted with the ever more pressing need to give up on the absurd idea of infinite growth on a finite planet. But our leaders, whether in thrall to the well-to-do or debilitated by tunnel vision, are not looking for a way out. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, the interests of society and the environment must trump blind profit. We can live well – and actually live better – if we do away with the unsustainable waste of a system in which the pursuit of profit forces us to either seek unlimited growth or go bust trying.

Hundreds of representatives of grassroots movements from all over the world will be in Geneva and then in Copenhagen to demand a radical change of direction. Let’s all meet in Geneva and…

Mobilise against the WTO, because building a better world is an urgent issue! Demonstration: Place Neuve, Saturday 28th November, 2p.m.

Other action will be taken during the summit.

Udgivet af / published by: Monday 30 November 2009 11:18 af / by links

(and some pics too)
http://linksunten.indymedia.org/en/node/13970

Udgivet af / published by: Monday 30 November 2009 22:19 af / by dunk

Climate and social justice caravan -
participants from parts of world mostly affected by climate chaos participating in the fight for survival

web - http://www.climatecaravan.org/
caravan 23 page reader PDF- http://www.climatecaravan.org/images/Caravan_bulletin_09.pdf

Videos:
The World Development Movement: Justice for the World's Poor (WDMUK) - http://www.youtube.com/user/wdmuk
WTO section - http://www.youtube.com/user/wdmuk#p/c/AA573A53CA344BCC

1 - Filippino campaigner at WTO protest in Geneva 28 Nov 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUBFdSV1WTg

Wilfredo Marbella from the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines) describes the impacts of WTO policies in his country

2 - South Korean farmer at WTO protest in Geneva, November 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ27n7oT7iY

Haesook Kim is a member of La Via Campesina, international peasant movement in South Korea. She describes why she is at the WTO protest in Geneva on 28 November 2009 and the impact that WTO rules is having on agriculture at home

Udgivet af / published by: Thursday 03 December 2009 11:55 af / by lvc

Geneva mobilisation : where is the real violence?
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Via Campesina Press Release

Via Campesina was present with an important delegation at the protest of Saturday 28 November against the World Trade Organization (WTO). The mobilization was strong with around 5000 people in the streets of Geneva. The objective of these people, as well as that of Via Campesina, was to demonstrate in a non-violent manner, but with a strong and radical message regarding the WTO.

Because of the dramatic consequences of liberalization on peasant agriculture around the world, we ask that the WTO get out of agriculture. We regret that material violence did not allow us to express this message in front of the WTO building in Geneva. Without minimizing yesterday's events, we remark nonetheless that another form of violence - social, political and economic - is directed on a daily basis towards a large part of the world population, including farmers. Let us not forget that one billion people do not have access to sufficient food. That violent political decisions criminalize certain unions on a daily basis: this was the case for our three Korean delegates who were not able to join us for the various mobilizations and who have been detained at the airport since Friday November 27th, 11 pm.

Our delegates traveled several thousand kilometers to come testify here in Geneva and propose alternatives. Since they were not able to do this during the demonstration, we invite journalists to take advantage of their presence in the coming days.

For any additional information, please contact:
Valentina Hemmeler Maïga, + 41 79 672 14 07
Solenne Piriou, La Via Campesina, +41 76 752 73 62

Complementary position of Uniterre on the Swiss aspects of the demonstration of 28 November:

* We wonder whether it is opportune to welcome international organizations of this scale if the only response to yesterday’s violent incidents is – for some people – the plain and simple prohibition to protest. This could lead to the impression that the authorities are not capable of dealing with events of this size while at the same time letting democracy express itself.

* We are also surprised that the Swiss authorities were able to obtain the names of three Korean delegates and detain them before a demonstration but that they are not able to identify 200 possible “rioters".

Udgivet af / published by: Thursday 03 December 2009 22:07 af / by linksunten

Another report in German, lots of photos and a link collection: http://linksunten.indymedia.org/de/node/14056

Udgivet af / published by: Thursday 10 June 2010 10:00 af / by ffffff

http://www.beijingshenzhen.com beijing shenzhen
http://www.cheapaffiliate.com affiliate
http://www.mainmerchant.com merchant accounts
http://www.powerdropshippers.com dropship
http://www.fulfillmentcosts.com fulfillment
http://www.calibarstore.com cali bar store
http://www.calibarsupplies.com cali bar supplies
http://www.metrocreditcard.com metro credit card
http://www.newfreecreditcardmachine.com credit card machine
http://www.bestgoldinvestments.com Gold Investment
http://www.8bbq.com Barbecue
http://www.4ssf.com Rich Forever
http://www.discountinchina.com discount china
http://www.qllfx.com Bar Stool
http://www.sboki.com Bar Stool
http://www.newyorkbarstool.com Bar Stool
http://www.chinaqualitydirect.com china quality
http://www.chinashippingagents.com china shipping agents
http://www.merchantcashadvancesonline.com merchant cash advance
http://www.dzd8.com merchant accounts
http://www.newyorkbarstool.com bar stool
http://www.hotfixfashion.com hot fix motif
http://www.alljewishlinks.com Jewish Directory
http://www.alljewishlinks.com Bar Mitzvah
http://www.menukeep.com menu keep
http://www.jerseynorth.com jersey
http://www.city-shenzhen.com city shenzhen
http://www.directshenzhen.com direct shenzhen
http://www.discountshenzhen.com discount shenzhen
http://www.buyshenzhen.com buy shenzhen
http://www.cityaffiliate.com city affiliate
http://www.promos4bars.com promos bars
http://www.cashdisco.com cash disco
http://twinkled.info twink
http://tumblrcity.com tumblr city
http://starjar.info star jar
http://pinoyagency.com pinoy agency
http://www.calibarstore.com/limousine-services-in-costa-mesa oak bar stool
http://www.calibarsupplies.com/where-to-get-a-bar-supplies-list bar accessories

Udgivet af / published by: Sunday 22 August 2010 16:53 af / by PearlGREGORY

I received 1 st <a href="http://bestfinance-blog.com/topics/credit-loans">credit loans</a> when I was very young and this aided me very much. Nevertheless, I require the short term loan again.

Udgivet af / published by: Sunday 29 August 2010 03:44 af / by buy essays

Custom essays writers can offer the theme related with this post and we know that should be no complication to buy term papers also if you wish to buy essays about that thing!

Udgivet af / published by: Wednesday 01 September 2010 03:05 af / by talent

provides Shop Online large collection kopeez.com replica watches of fashion ，If you feel in this shopping feeling is very good, please tell your friends, thank you kopeez.com replica watch such as chains, jewellery necklaces, rings, silver watches. http://www.kopeez.com replica watches replica watch http://www.kopeez.com replica watch Quality is guaranteed http://www.watcopy.com replica watches Store and very fashion. http://www.watcopy.com replica watch wholesale are high http://www.kopeez.com/GoodsBrand/Triumph-Motorcycle-32.html replica triumph motorcycle watcopy.com replica watches http://www.watcopy.com/B-Omega-30.html Replica Omega quality and http://www.kopeez.com/GoodsBrand/Christian-Dior-33.html replica christian dior buy .com sale affordable price http://www.kopeez.com/GoodsBrand/Concord-34.html replica concord Cheap http://www.kopeez.com/S-Replica-Omega-Seamaster-Watches-296.html Omega Seamaster Replica Watches are quite affordable http://www.watcopy.com/B-Oris-31.html Replica Oris Jewellery come here to choose and to enjoy your http://www.watcopy.com Replica Panerai wholesale favorit Jewellery . Our product http://www.fashion-replica.com replica watches are as same as http://www.fashion-replica.com replica watch original one with http://www.fashion-replica.com/GoodsBrand/Breguet-18.html replica breguet best price ,high http://www.fashion-replica.com/GoodsBrand/Breitling-19.html replica breitling quality materials http://www.fashion-replica.com/GoodsBrand/Officina-Del-Tempo-21.html replica officina del tempo & superb workmanship,