More than 7,000 join Another World is Possible march. Listen to the sounds of democracy and protest on Green Indie Report on WRPI, 91.5, Wed. Feb 6 at 5 PM.

Green Party Joins WEF Protests

Several carloards of Green Party activists from the Capital District attended the the protests against the World Economic Forum held in New York City this weekend. Steve and Karl Breyman and Reed and Mark Dunlea joined the puppets at the front of the Another World is Possible march from Central Park to near the hotel where the World economic Forum was meeting (see photo). There were also many other protestors from the Albany area.

Interviews with Capital District residents as well as the speeches from the AWIP rally can be heard on Green Indie
Report this Wednesday, Feb. 6 from 5 to 6 PM on WRPI, 91.5 FM.

About 7,000 people joined in the March. The protest began with a play about the impact of the World Economic Forum on issues such as the environment, jobs, and democracy. The crowd was colorful, a festial of dissent, with great inventive costumes, drum circles, “somber bands” puppets, signs i.e. "Bush and Corporate Globalism, the Real Axis of Evil", a picture of Cheney with oil on his upper lip saying "Got Oil?", Banners saying "Our World is Not for Sale" and a dual sided flag held by Mr. Patriotic Action, one side saying yes to democracy and liberty, the other side saying no to a corporate flag with symbols for GE, Nike., McDonalds, Pepsi, etc.

Many of the chants made reference to the economic crisis taken place in Argentina, with the people in that country being deprived of funding for education, health care and jobs by the dictates of the IMF. Many of the participants spoke of the importance of standing up for democracy and the right to dissent. Dancing Statues of Liberty high-kicked as the Dancing Rockettes. Musician Billy Brag led a spirit singalong at the end of the marching, proclaiming that you can’t have power without accountability. (All this and more on Green Indie Report)

Newsday reported that one woman wore about her neck a papier-mache sewing machine with a sign reading "Sewing machine workers: 22 cents an hour in Lesotho, Africa.”” Another wore a jaunty sports jacket and carried a briefcase of phony "Dum Dum Dollars”” issued by the "Corporate Snakes of America.” Tim Mahedy carried a puppet and a sign reading "Farmers Under Attack,” protesting against the growth of genetic engineering and pesticides as the number of small farms dwindle.

The World Economic Forum is the annual gathering of the world's richest and most powerful CEO's and politicians. This year it is meeting in New York City. In its mission statement, the WEF claims that it is committed to "improving the state of the world" In reality, they have come to make their plans to increase mass layoffs, to slash education and health services, to reduce wages and working conditions, to degrade the environment, to wage war on civilians and to assault the civil rights of all who dare to oppose them.

The protestors of course were peaceful, as for the most part were the police, though the police road dozens of large
motorcycles within inches of the parade route throughout the day, subjecting the protestors to noxious fumes. The police presence was massive and sought to herd the protestors like cattles through metal and wooden barricades throughout the march.

Protestors went out of their way to keep the police calm and under control, and were generally successful, especially with the rank and file officers. However, police did attack and arrest individuals at the beginning of the march. “ Police standing on vans took pictures of the crowd, then police on the ground in riot gear suddenly pushed into the crowd, creating a dangerous situation where people fell to the ground on top of each other trying to get out of the way as others stumbled over them. Then police arrested a number of people some of whom they wrestled to the ground and carried away. Although a few people in the crowd were wearing masks, none of the people I saw arrested were wearing masks,” reported Ann Link, the statewide editor of the Green Party’s e-mail newsletter.

“This year the WEF says their meeting will focus on finding ways to "reverse the global economic downturn, eradicate poverty, promote security and enhance cultural understanding." Translation: They'll be looking to rescue failing corporate giants, exploit working people, clamp down on dissent, and puree the diverse communities of our world into a single, American-style consumer culture,” stated Mark Dunlea, Vice-Chair of the Green Party of New York State

“It is obscene that Pataki and Giuliani are shelling out millions of dollars for the WEF at the same time they plan drastic cutbacks to public services,” stated Steve Breyman of the Rensselaer County Greens. Breyman also voiced his displeasure at the police for refusing to allow more than ten protestors at a time to pass through the barricades once the protest was over.

Among the proposals supported by the Greens are:.

DUMP THE DEBT - Wipe out the Global South (third world) debt that is strangling the world economy. Human needs first.

REBUILD NEW YORK, REBUILD THE WORLD - Use the money that now goes to pay the debt,fuel the military, and feed Wall Street instead to fund democratically-controlled projects to build the housing, schools, hospitals, and transportation needed here and in every nation of the world.

STOP DESTROYING THE EARTH - Corporate-driven growth is driving species to extinction and depleting our resources. Corporations must respect the environment.

NO APARTHEID FOR IMMIGRANTS, HANDS OFF OUR CIVIL RIGHTS - An attack on immigrants’’ civil rights is an attack on everyone’s civil rights. No military tribunals, no imprisonment without conviction in open trial, no racial profiling - and freedom for detainees!