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APR. 19, St. Foy - We finally arrive after several minutes of being mildly lost. I was fortunate enough to secure a ride with a couple who were headed to campus, and after the ‘adventure’ of driving around for a few minutes beyond reason, we finally arrived at our destination – a decidedly ugly row of huge concrete buildings that would have looked more natural on a Star Wars desert than on campus.

Laval University played host to an environmental summit which was just ending as we arrived. A cylindrical atrium three floors high creates a gymnasium-like atmosphere within the Desjardin Building. Students and student-aged whites sit on the tile floor, clustered around a microphone that is taken up by indiviuduals who wish to speak to the gathering. An announcement comes in that 300 protestors waiting at Cornwall, Ontario, have been standing off with the police there, and that the protest will be winding down. The microphone is passed a couple more times and then the meeting is called to a close and the students drift away, leaving small conversations in the wake.

A glance around the second-floor railing shows banners with similar themes. One of the four has printed, red letters with black initial letters on a field of white. Graphics of two identical fists come in from either side. The type reads: CLAC, La Convergence des luttes anti-capitalistes (or, the Anti-Capitalist Convergence). The others are homemade, consisting of hand-painted letters on bedsheet material. One has red letters with black outlines on a white field that read “La Rebellion Est Un Droit! [anarchist symbol] Bas Le KKKapitalisme!” (“The Rebellion Is A Right! Destroy Capitalism!”) A third banner creates a stark effect with dark purple paint on a red field: “Planetaires De Tous Les Pays Unissez Vous” (“Citizens of All the Planet’s Countries, Unite!”)

A group of eight young men stand outside, smoking cigarettes and talking. They take turns relating their feelings about the Summit of the Americas.

“We are here to tell our political opinions,” says one. “This gathering is about our rights to protest against the capitalist mobilization. We are all about finding alternatives because the base isn’t good enough. The exploitation has got to stop.”

Another, Francois, reveals that he was born in St. Foy, moved around and lived in other places, then came back and has been living here for the past year.

“We have got to stop slavery, stop the exploitation in South America. People work for just beans, and the North benefits through profits. The water must be kept free, the forests free. These issues concern everyone – they’re about human rights.”

Another jumps in: “The newspapers have set out to prove their side to the general population, but they don’t talk to us. The security perimeter [around the Summit] is there to create a climate of fear and paranoia, so as to cover up the real game.”

When asked about his feeling about the future and effectiveness of the protests, he says that he is happy, but sad about the impact of the spectacle of the media. He says they just show blood and riots. With a wry grin, he deliberately emphasizes a French term, noting that the Summit would be a good venue for a coup d’etat against Bush.

“We are not just here to break things. The government gives money to schools like this one, and it shouldn’t be privatized. We do not want to be controlled by the U.S., and we don’t want to have to pay money for school.”

Another chimes in. “It should be communist, like Cuba,” he says. Everyone smiles.

When asked about the importance of Quebec he notes that Quebec wants independence of the province from Canada. Independence, he explains, means independence of politics, of business, and other things. The Quebecois want to be near regular people, and decide for themselves. He says they all have interests that are different from those of the US, so they need to be independent of Canada and of the FTAA.

Inside the building two women, both students, explain their take. The FTAA’s cause, free-marketization, is not being dealt with very well.

One of the women says that there would be a way to liberalize the markets, but this is not the way. She says that the people of Quebec have priorities of their own language and culture. She notes that the FTAA is an anti-democratic process. It is behind closed doors, and behind a fence.

“The public should be informed. There should be a ladder that the public can climb,” she says.

About the prospects for the future she says, “I feel upbeat. There are lots of people in this movement. We are not in the kitchens right now. We have been seeing organization for months now, and we need to have people elsewhere organize. Maybe all this work will bring something. The public is getting the message, but they’re also receiving paranoia. Things may not change in the next few months, but if change happens in each place, [then things can happen].”

They finish by saying that they would travel to other protests as long as they have the means to do so.

Outside, Marisa, a black woman in her early 20s, responds that she is out here at the march because her teacher brought them out. A general education major, she is interested in English and art.

“I love the earth,” she explains. “I hate seeing its destruction take place. I came from California, where there used to be rolling hills covered with trees. Now the yuppification has produced rolling hills covered with houses and mini-malls. Everything’s closed in. I would prefer to see parks, not houses. Cities are not environmentally responsible. People don’t care for balance. It’s our most precious resource. Kids won’t care, either. I dread seeing the day when there's nothing.

“If enough people want it, things will go in a good direction. If people want a revolution, it will happen. Music is important. Music is involved in protest.”