molly hankwitz on 25 Sep 2000 14:29:59 -0000 |
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<nettime> drafts on WTO |
Regarding the discussion on the WTO protests, "the protesters" and corporations: I feel that the WTO draft posted on this list de-politicizes the excellent work of the dissenters. It objectifies and denegrates the motivations of enormously dedicated people who have organized to interrupt unquestioned authority of private decisionmaking by elitists and to spread a different kind of global message. The protests havesucceeded in shedding light on the issue of corrupt transnational power. They indicate another angle on globalization, one that is not conveniently discussed or even described. That the people in the streets of the cities from Seattle to Prague do not have a perfect replacement for corporations is neither here nor there.The aim of these protests has been largely to question authority; to shift global focus to alternatives to the bullshit doled out by Monsanto etc. and have been a sign of international solidarity among oppressed peoples and their leaders. . Some of the most eloquently angry voices are women scientists and agriculturalists from India and Pakistan talking about destruction of land. As media events they have been stunningly effective in giving voice to dissent despite conservative media. Look at the websites. Buy the videos. The problem of corporate power is much the same as cops indiscirminantly bashing heads of "disobedient" people. Both kinds of power are carried out by people taking commands, following orders and hierarchy, acting as "a body". Both systems of power, profitmaking or the baton, rely on force, one to protect their place, accumulating and accumulating, and the other to keep themselves employed. State violence is being used without regard for the public's right to free speech and to civil disobedience. In many instances protesters have tried to dissuade police from doing their jobs at all; certainly from beating up on their friends. This kind of rebellion against such cultural violence continues a history of activity in the form of strikes and sit-ins and be-ins and voluntary arrests. The street has become an inevitable site to express antagonism. It's about cities and accumulations of information and wealth. The protests are insightful. The slick globalizers are flying around the globe like emperors in their new clothes hogging up all the power and making decisions above everyone's heads. Did they honestly think no one would notice? mh Molly Hankwitz Archimedia/Leonardo Queensland University of Technology Lecturer/Studio Instructor School of Visual Arts and School of Architecture 0438 050759 (mobile) 3864 3250 (office at QUT, Tuesdays only) 3846 5457 (office at home) mailing: 2/60 Brighton Road Highgate Hill 4101 QLD Australia # distributed via <nettime>: no commercial use without permission # <nettime> is a moderated mailing list for net criticism, # collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets # more info: majordomo@bbs.thing.net and "info nettime-l" in the msg body # archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: nettime@bbs.thing.net