-Caveat Lector- They have different methods, but only one enemy: globalisation The Movement By Justin Huggler The Independent (UK) 8 December 2000 Once they were seen as dull events in far-off places. But suddenly international summits have emerged as the destination of choice for a disaffected generation. From Britain's Reclaim the Streets movement to the Basque separatists, a diverse array of protesters has begun travelling the world, dropping in on an IMF annual meeting here, an EU summit there, united against one enemy: globalisation. They belong to no single organisation. Many, in fact, do not belong to an organisation at all. Yet they manage to arrange teams of medics to attend injured demonstrators, and teams of lawyers to get arrested protesters out of prisons. They communicate using the most visible symbols of the globalisation process they so vehemently oppose: e-mail and mobile phones. They eschew television and newspapers, preferring news from their own internet-based "independent media centre". They have their own calendar in which planned protests are known by their date. The month is represented by its first letter - yesterday's was D7. On their websites, they have begun to call their movement the "revolution against global capitalism". It all began in Seattle on 30 November last year, when protesters wrecked the World Trade Organisation's summit. The city was put under curfew in an effort to end the violence and the Seattle police chief was later forced to resign. Worse, the summit collapsed before it could agree what was supposed to be the crowning achievement of President Bill Clinton's term in office, a new round of trade talks. Mr Clinton was left inside the conference centre admitting the protesters outside, who had ruined his moment of glory, had a point. That was the moment the anti-globalisation movement arrived in the public consciousness, when the demonstrators proved they could make their voice heard. Since then, they have brought one international meeting after another to its knees. The manner of protest is so diverse because the people behind it are so varied. On May Day, for example, Winston Churchill was given a turf mohican haircut in Parliament Square. Many are there for the spectacle and the street party, attracted by promises of a "carnival of protest". But the demonstrations are planned by people, most of them young, who take the politics seriously Before September's street battles with the Czech police at the IMF and World Bank summits in Prague, earnest young protesters had spent months in the city planning peaceful protests. They even held a counter-summit, quoting facts and figures to prove their case against the IMF. But in the 24 hours before the demonstration, the city was flooded with tens of thousands of a different type of protester. Many seemed bent on violence. A destructive minority has hijacked the anti-globalisation movement. But the reward has been front-page headlines and unprecedented public attention. Despite the violence in Prague, the protesters' web-sites proclaimed it a great success. They will probably do the same in Nice. ======================================================= America must accept globalization, Clinton says By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press KEARNEY, Neb. (December 8, 2000 12:53 p.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) - Americans cannot reject globalization and expect to live in peace, President Clinton said Friday as he appealed for the United States to remain actively engaged with the rest of the world. Clinton delivered the first in a series of farewell speeches, closing out his presidency. His audience was 6,000 people at the University of Nebraska and the visit was his first as president to Nebraska. He has now visited all 50 states. In the speech, Clinton laid out the role he hopes the United States will play on the global stage after he leaves office. "There is no longer a clear, bright line dividing America's domestic concerns and America's foreign policy concerns," Clinton said. "Every American who wants to be a good citizen, who wants to vote in every election, should know more about the rest of the world and have a clearer idea about what we're supposed to be doing out there." He borrowed the words of Nebraska's own William Jennings Bryan, saying the United States' destiny to be a leader in the world "is not a choice, it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." He called for his successor to continue efforts to unify Europe, saying that "takes a big burden off America" in international peacekeeping. He urged continued overtures to Russia and China, because the direction those countries take will have a direct impact on U.S. defense budget decisions and, ultimately, the lives of young Americans. Clinton also said he hopes the United States will pay its long-withheld dues to the United Nations and hold up its own racial and ethnic diversity as an example for strife-torn nations to follow. "I'll be gone in a few weeks. America will have a new president and a new Congress. You ought to support them if they want to do these things," Clinton said. "America cannot lead if we walk away from our friends and neighbors." Afterward, Clinton was helping unveil a plaque and touring the Great Platte River Road Archway monument. He was traveling on to Omaha for a Nebraska Democratic Party fund-raiser before returning to Washington. Clinton flew in early, accompanied by Nebraska's Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey and former Rep. Peter Hoagland. He was met outside a faded red hangar at the Kearney Municipal Airport by Gov. Mike Johanns, Lt. Gov. David Maurtstad and about 30 well-wishers. Local residents didn't seem to mind that Nebraska is the last of the 50 states to be visited by the president during his eight years in office. They lined the streets of his motorcade route to catch a glimpse of Clinton; some recorded the moment with video cameras while others waved poster-sized signs and small American flags. "Saving the Best for Last," one sign read. But there were other sentiments too: "Ashamed of Bill." Inside the arena, the crowd sat silently while Clinton hurriedly donned an academic robe and took the stage with local dignitaries. They applauded politely when Clinton accepted an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Chancellor Gladys Johnston. The White House billed the speech as a precursor to Clinton's three-day visit to Ireland, Northern Ireland and England. 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