Marking the 10th anniversary of the "Battle of Seattle"

Join local Alliance for Democracy chapters and members in Oregon, Washington, and California at events marking the 10th anniversary of protests that shut down the World Trade Organization ministerial in Seattle. At stake was our jobs, wages, the environment and our health--under global attack by a neoliberal elite out to establish unfettered greed, or as they put it, "free trade", as the highest possible good.

Teamsters and turtles are not as close now as they were ten years ago, but the corporate CEOs are still at it, and on November 30--ten years to the day of the Seattle protest and march--trade ministers will be meeting in Geneva to expand the WTO agenda.

If you're close to any of these events, come and show which side you're on. If not, why not organize your own? Public Citizen's Trade Turnaround Week of Action has suggestions for films and resources for letter-writers. Or you could organize a district visit on behalf of the HR 3012, the TRADE Act--see our "how to" guide here.

On Saturday, December 5, the Sonoma County Alliance Chapter and the Sonoma County Peace and Justice Center host a forum commemorating the 10th anniversary of the “protest of the century” – Seattle ’99 against the World Trade Organization.

Speakers include Norman Solomon on what has happened in the ten years since “teamsters and turtles” joined forces in the Seattle streets, Ted Nace on new models for fighting corporate power, Richard Heinberg on the collapse of globalization, and Newman Strawbridge on the working poor. Cal Simons, chapter organizer, will model a classic AfD yellow poncho to be raffled off for fundraising. This event is from 1-5 pm at Veterans Memorial Building, 282 High Street, Sebastopol. For more information, contact the SEATTLE+10 Committee at 707-527-7191.

Also on December 5, join the Portland, Oregon Chapter of Alliance for Democracy for D5: Mobilization Against the 2009 WTO Ministerial when people from throughout Oregon will converge in downtown Portland for a mass march, indoor rally and concert to voice opposition against the new World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Geneva - and also celebrate the10-year anniversary of the successful Seattle WTO protests which closed the 1999 ministerial down.

Meet at 12 noon in Tom McCal Waterfront Park under the Hawthorne Bridge for the 1 p.m. march to World Trade Center, Federal Building and Wells Fargo Building, and the 2 p.m. Indoor Rally and Concert at PSU. See you in the streets because another world is possible, another economy is necessary! Visit the website for additional details: www.december5.org

Meanwhile, in Seattle, also on December 5, AfDers will be joining with other organizations in a Kitchen Table Democracy event with Riki Ott. The event is scheduled atTrinity Lutheran Church, 1200 10th Ave E., Seattle, time TBA. For information, email Rebecca.