The recent murders of four union members in Colombia underscores the tensions that remain with the doctrine of free trade since the WTO protests in Seattle ten years ago; a trade agreement with the South American nation remains stalled because of human rights concerns. (In March 2008, Bluestem Prairie 1.0 noted a visit of Colombian labor organizers to Southeastern Minnesota in Colombian labor organizers to speak in Rochester.)
Throughout the state, the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition and its allies have put together a full schedule of events to commemorate the "Battle for Seattle." In Southern Minnesota, the SEMNALC is hosting three events.
All three events are free & open to the public. The award-winning documentary by Shaya Mercer, "Trade Off," will be screened at each free event.
10 years ago in November 1999, environmentalists, union members, faith groups, farmers and peace activists gathered in Seattle, Washington to protest the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Meeting. A very diverse group of people and interests were united by a common theme, “Fair Trade, Not Free Trade.”
The demonstrations in Seattle, helped kick off a campaign that continues today to assure our trade policies work for and respect all people around the world, not just global multinational corporations.
Please join us for a free viewing of the movie and discussion on what lessons we can take from the “Trade Off” as our fight continues.
Tuesday December 1st 2009
Tuesday December 1st 2009
Rochester Public Library
101 2nd Street SE, Rochester
Event begins at 6:00 p.m.
Movie at 6:30 p.m.
Austin Labor Center-316 4th Ave NE
Event begins at 6:30 p.m (snacks provided)
Movie at 7:00 p.m.Thursday December 3rd 2009
Operating Engineers Local 49 Hall
308 Lundin Blvd, Mankato
Event begins at 6:00 p.m. (snacks provided)
Movie at 6:30 p.m.
For more information about this historic anniversary go to: www.fairtrademinnesota.org
Questions about the events?
Contact Liz McLoone-SE MN Area Labor Council Field Rep at lmcloone { at} mnaflcio {dot} org.
Reading media accounts of the protests from 21999, I was struck by the way in which the Battle for Seattle was one of the moments in which new media and cell phones came into their own as tools for citizen engagement. Ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances were able to find the tools and so their voice in the streets of Seattle.
"Trade Off" is one of several timely contemporary documentaries created by filmmakers and citizen-journalists. "This Is What Democracy Looks Like" is available online here, while Seattle Indymedia's longer five-part series, "Ten Days That Shook Seattle" begins here at the Internet Archives.
thank you for posting this. i would not have known about it otherwise. hope to see many in rochester tonight.
Posted by: sherry | Dec 01, 2009 at 08:54 AM