-‘Commentar & the Festival o a global culeime of resistance EQ. corporace mole is risimg In one of the gender-specific, anima-identified washrooms on the second floor of the fine, educational institution of Emily Carr, | squinted at some graffiti as | was peeing. In pen, the older script read: RESIST CORPORATE RULE! SHUT DOWN WTO / by Bernadette Wycks = SEATTLE/NOV 29-DEC3 / JOIN US! Another person wrote over this attempt at freedom of expression in darker, bigger, bold- er letters: resist revolutionaries/-in resisting us (we need our help). | thought there could be two possible interpretations of the response. My first take on the second person's reaction coincided with the corporate-media-driven-belief that political activists (or revolutionaries) are no-good, welfare bums. These agitators are antagonistic to the state because they're so gosh-darned unhappy with themselves, and they would be much happier if they just shut up and actually got a job, and bought some Martha Stewart-inspired home furnishings. My second interpretation of the second person's perspective was closer to this narrative: “don't make me step outside my safety zone. Don't burst my bubble. The status quo is fine and works for me. Resist these revolutionaries who want to change things -- nothing needs to change." photos by Bernadettes Wycks However, it's my belief that there will always be individuals who want to propel their culture towards change. There will always be those who recognize problems with society, and care enough to do something about it. And to think that there's nothing wrong, that big, white, corporate daddy knows best and will look after us, is like stumbling in a sticky miasma of delusion. This planet (the same planet that supports all life on its own body) is on the brink of severe ecological dysfunction (earthquake, anyone?) because of this corporate-greed-drive for more profit, more profit. And the sooner that more people “resist corporate rule”, the sooner that more people agitate to change this life-out-of-balance, the sooner we will be able to work on cleaning up all the messes that we've inherited. And, one of the times and places where mass numbers of people will be saying Enough! (Y Basta!) is from Nov 29-Dec 3, at the World Trade Organization Festival of Resistance, in Seattle. When you read this, the non-violent, direct action, the street theatre, the marches and rallies will have already happened. But I'm writing before | go down to Seattle next week, and I'm buzzing with anticipation. Think the APEC protest times a thousand. More people will be in Seattle protesting the WTO than ever before in North American history. Including social change activists, unionists, environmentalists, and various others. (The Wall Street Journal ran a front page story on all the anti-WTO organizing, in May.) By the time you read this, the protest may be a vague memory for you if you heard it on the news one night. But for those of us attending the Festival of Resistance, it will be an unforgettable, empowering experience, where we realized that there is a growing CULTURE of resistance to corporate control of our communities. But what is the World Trade Organization? How does the WTO affect ordinary people? And what is this Festival of Resistance? ...a global economic system based on the exploitation of people and this planet The World Trade Organization is a relatively new global trade, regulatory body. It is comprised of people working for profit- uber-alles. So, even if a province or state or country has passed an environmental, employment equity, or human rights law, say, a huge, transnational corporation can sue that province, state, or country, through the World Trade Organization, for lost profits due to that law. Because the WTO is set up to facilitate trade over everything else, of course it will decide that yes, envi- ronmental regulations do reduce profits. The law will have to be struck down, and business will have its way in the world. Continued on page 22 12 (@) ground Deen’ Ww. : & the Festival off Resistanc a global culture of resistance to corporate mule 1S. risimg, In one of the gender-specific, anima-identified washrooms on the second floor of the fine, educational institution of Emily Carr, I squinted at some graffiti as | was peeing. In pen, the older script read: RESIST CORPORATE RULE! SHUT DOWN WTO / by Bernadette Wycks SEATTLE/NOV 29-DEC3 / JOIN US! Another person wrote over this attempt at freedom of expression in darker, bigger, bold- er letters: resist revolutionaries/-in resisting us (we need our help). | thought there could be two possible interpretations of the response. My first take on the second person's reaction coincided with the corporate-media-driven-belief that political activists (or revolutionaries) are no-good, welfare bums. These agitators are antagonistic to the state because they're so gosh-darned unhappy with themselves, and they would be much happier if they just shut up and actually got a job, and bought some Martha Stewart-inspired home furnishings. ‘My second interpretation of the second person's perspective was closer to this narrative: “don't make me step outside my safety zone. Don't burst my bubble. The status quo is fine ‘and works for me. Resist these revolutionaries who want to change things -- nothing needs to change.” However, it’s my belief that there will always be individuals who want to propel their culture towards change. There will always be those who recognize problems with society, and care enough to do something about it. ‘And to think that there's nothing wrong, that big, white, corporate daddy knows best and will look after us, is like stumbling in a sticky miasma of delusion. This planet (the same planet that suppor all life on its own body) is on the brink of severe ecological dysfunction (earthquake, anyone?) because of this corporate-greed-drive for more profit, more profit. And the sooner that more people “resist corporate rule”, the sooner that more people agitate to change this life-out-of-balance, the sooner we will be able to work on cleaning up all the ‘messes that we've inherited. ‘And, one of the times and places where mass numbers of people will be saying Enough! (Y Bastal) is from Nov 29-Dec 3, at the World Trade Organization Festival of Resistance, in Seattle. When you read this, the non-violent, direct action, the street theatre, the marches and rallies will have already happened. But I'm writing before | go down to Seattle next week, and I'm buzzing with anticipation. Think the APEC protest times a thousand, More people wil be in Seattle protesting the WTO than ever before in North American history. Including social change activists, unionists, environmentalists, and various others. (The Wall Street Journal ran a front page story on all the anti-WTO organizing, in May. By the time you read this, the protest may be a vague memory for you if you heard it on the news one night. But for those of us attending the Festival of Resistance, it will be an unforgettable, empowering experience, where we realized that there is a growing CULTURE of resistance to corporate control of our communities. But what is the World Trade Organization? How does the WTO affect ordinary people? And what is this Festival of Resistance? ...a global economic system based on the exploitation of people and this planet The World Trade Organization is a relatively new global trade, regulatory body. It is comprised of people working for profit- uber-alles. So, even if a province or state or country has passed an environmental, employment equity, or human rights law, say, a huge, transnational corporation can sue that province, state, or country, through the World Trade Organization, for lost profits due to that law. Because the WTO is set up to facilitate trade over everything else, of course it wil decide that yes, envi- Tonmental regulations do reduce profits. The law will have to be struck down, and business will have its way in the word. Continued on page 22