1. World Trade Organization Protests in Seattleor“The Battle in Seattle” by Rebecca Hamilton

2. Summary of the Event November 1999 in Seattle, Washington WTO meeting was postponed by an estimated 50,000 protestors A summary of some of the protestors' specific complaints the WTO has issued rulings forcing member countries to repeal specific laws that protect public health and the environment It proposes new rules limiting countries' freedom to regulate foreign corporate investors Its decisions are made in secret by an unaccountable tribunal Police response to blocked entrances Tear gas Batons Concussion grenades (http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1822)

3. Stop big business from ruining small business! Stop the WTO! Save the environment! “The goal of the Nov. 30 direct action was to shut down talks at a WTO ministerial meeting in which the world’s wealthiest nations sought to impose a global trade agreement that would have greatly empowered large corporations at the expense of local communities around the world.” (http://www.realbattleinseattle.org/node/181)

4. The World Trade Organization “…the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations” (http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/whatis_e.htm) Who they are . . . Organization for trade opening Forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements Place to settle trade disputes Operates a system of trade rules (http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/who_we_are_e.htm)

5. What they do . . . Trade negotiations Implementation and monitoring Dispute settlement Building trade capacity Outreach (http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/what_we_do_e.htm) What they stand for . . . Non-discrimination Lowering trade barriers Discouraging “unfair” practices Flexibility for developing countries Protect the environment and public health (http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/what_stand_for_e.htm)

6. Problems/Issues with the WTO Controlled by the rich and powerful Threatens health and environment Uses arm-twisting tactics with third-world countries Used by corporate interests to “force-feed” the world genetically engineered food (profit-driven) Secretive & undemocratic meetings (http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/trade-and-the-environment/why-is-the-wto-a-problem/)

7. 10 Reasons to Dismantle the WTO By Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman Prioritizes trade and commercial considerations over all other values Undermines democracy Does not just regulate, it actively promotes, global trade Hurts the Third World Eviscerates the Precautionary Principle Squashes diversity Operates in secrecy Limits governments' ability to use their purchasing dollarfor human rights, environmental, worker rights and othernon-commercial purposes Disallows bans on imports of goods made with child labor Legitimizes life patents (http://www.organicconsumers.org/Corp/abolishwto.cfm)

8. Protest Facts Of the 40,000 or so, about 100 (calling themselves the Anarchists) chose to destroy property of large corporations Banks Nike the Gap McDonald’s Starbucks (http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9213)

9. Warnings were given by media months before Police weren’t ready for what happened Tues., November 30 Cost Overconfidence Expected only peaceful protestors Didn’t install fencing No escort for delegates No arrests made of those blocking passage

10. State of Emergency declared Clinton was coming to town Curfew imposed (7:00 PM) Riot squads came in using concussion grenades, rubber bullets, and tear gas to clear streets Next day added “no protest zone” covering 25 blocks of downtown National Guard called Over 500 jailed on Wed. Tues. & Wed. main days

11. Results Charges against arrested protestors were dropped Lawsuits were filed by business owners and injured protestors Businesses and those illegally arrested were monetarily compensated (nearly $2,000,000.00) Had already spent $9,300,000.00 on security

12. Event Impact Brought WTO faults to the forefront Led to other protests World Bank & International Monetary Fund (D.C.) Changed law enforcement strategy nationally Advanced planning Huge exclusion zones Pre-emptive arrests of protest leaders More use of chemical irritants and less lethal munitions Stymied the WTO (http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9213)