Local News

WTO Talks Collapse

The 5th WTO Ministeral meeting at Cancun was quite eventful. Here's a round-up of what took place.

The first major demonstration was held on Thursday the 10th. Lead by the Campesinos, activists marched to the red zone, where police had errected a fence to prevent them from protesting at the location of the talks. Activists clashed with police as they tore parts of the fence down and attempted to get past the police line. The most dramatic action of the day, however, was done by Lee Kyung-hae, a Korean Farmer who climbed the police barrier, held up a sign saying "The WTO Kills Farmers" and then commited suicide by stabbing himself with a knife.
Links:
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Article by Lee Kyung-ha

Actions continued throughout the week and came to a peak on Saturday the 13th - the international day of actions against the WTO. Thousands marched again to the police line and this time the entire fence was torn down by a group made up of only women while punks, black blockers and others provided protection from the police. Meanwhile, other activists diguised themselves as tourists, snuck past the police blockades and disrupted the hotel zone where the meetings were taking place.

Demonstration at the fence,
Actions at the hotel zone:
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Meanwhile, inside the WTO, poor nations formed a tight alliance aiming to remove the rich nations' agriculture subsidies. Initially a group of 21 nations, they grew to be 22, then 23 large. When the US, EU and other large nations refused to give the G23 their demands, the G23 backed out of the talks causing the 5th WTO ministeral to collapse.
More Info

More links:

Summary of the week's events

Letters from Cancun by a Rochester activist:
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THE LAST SPEECH OF DESKAHEH

Levi General was selected in 1917 to fill one of the positions on the traditional Cayuga council and given the ancient title name of Deskaheh. After WWI, he journeyed to the League of Nations in Geneva to file the grievances of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people. The following is the text of his last speech.

The Last Speech of Deskaheh

Levi Grand was selected in 1917 to fill one of the positions on
the traditional Cayuga council and given the ancient title name of
Deskaheh. After WWI, he journeyed to the League of Nations in Geneva to
file the grievances of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people. The following
is the text of his last speech.

(On the evening of March 10, 1925, suffering from a serious attack of
pleurisy and pneumonia, he made his last speech. It was before a radio
microphone in Rochester. Once more, and more forcefully than ever,
he hurled defiance at big nations who disregard the claims of smaller
peoples.)

Read his last speech

Ashcroft Event not open to public

Ashcroft visit is orchestrated to diminish view of dissent

Rabies in your back yard

The Monroe County Health Department confirms multiple cases of rabies
have been found in area neighborhoods.

Charges Against Some Peace Activists Dismissed

On September 3, 2003 charges that had been filed against a number of peace acivists were dismissed.

Charges Against Some Peace Activists Dismissed

On September 3, 2003 charges that had been filed against a number of peace acivists were dismissed.

Rochester. In March of 2003 several peace protesters were arrested in front of the Kenneth Keating Federal Building in Rochester, New York while praying for peace. The protesters were trying to bring attention to the horror & destruction brought about as a result of the war against Iraq.

Read more

Diary of a Mad Grrrl... Feminism And Fear

Angry feminist rant.

What the hell is Niagara Buzz?

Our readers will be those who are fed up with Greater Niagara Newspapers, The Buffalo News, big government and big business in general. We pledge to never “sell out” our readers’ interests to “the man.”

Indymedia prepares to cover FTAA/ALCA in Miami

In good self-organizing tradition, folks are
preparing to cover FTAA/ALCA meeting in Miami this coming November.

March for Human and Economic Rights

(August 04, 2003) Twenty-some of Rochester's poor decided
to stand out against poverty and the practices of the href="http://www.monroecounty.gov/org658.asp?storyID=2831">Monroe County
Department of Human and Health Services (DHHS) on Monday. They met
at noon at the Liberty Pole to gather for a march and to present their
grievances to all who were willing to hear, stating, "It's time for poor
people in our community to unite and demand our rights to thrive and
live at a standard of Human Dignity, Respect, and Equality." The march
involved members of both Poor People United and the Rochester
Poor People's Coalition and proceeded from the Liberty Pole to the
DHHS offices at 691 Saint Paul Street.

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NYSUT to Begin Strike Sept. 2nd

Teacher's and Staff need support!

Local Enviro-Friendly Event Draws 80

regarding the august 19th event with bill reed at sibley place regarding the greening of rochester by harry davis for roch city council south dist

Rochester Social Forum Planned for Sept. 12 and 13

Rochester joins with movements throughout the world in opposition to corporate greed and war. Groups will gather in Rochester to learn, network and move toward actions that "will make another worlds possible."

Rochester Social Forum

(August 22, 2003) Rochester joins with movements throughout the
world in opposition to corporate greed and war. Groups will gather in
Rochester to learn, network and move toward actions that "make other
worlds possible."

(There is a link at the bottom of the article to the Rochester Social
Forum website, where you can find information on how you can get
involved.)

Read more

BWT is looking for your input

BWT is producing Rainbow Theater Festival, a series of performances devoted to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender themes. We are currently looking for readers real-life stories of sexuality. Anyone, regardless of sexual preference, may submit.

Diary of a Mad Grrrl

sure my body's a temple, i'm just burning incense...

Green Candidate Challenges 16-Year Incumbent For East District City Council Seat

Green Party candidate for City Council Jason Crane filed nominating petitions today for the East District City Council race, becoming the first person in memory to earn the right to challenge the incumbent by mobilizing supporters in every area of the East district.

Come Hear About the Greening of Rochester!

Come to a get together discussing Green Issues in the Rochester area!

Did somebody say street party?!

although i'd rather be watching tv or shopping or some such, since there's nothing else to do (boooo!) we might as well go out and have a spontaneous march or something...

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