Quebec Summit Protests Begin
Activists Protest Globalization of Free Trade
Dateline: 04/03/01
As 34 governments prepare for the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City from April 20 to 22, international activists are gathering in Canada to begin their own preparations to use the event to protest against the globalization of free trade.
The Quebec Summit of the Americas will address free trade for the hemisphere under the themes of economic integration, democracy and human rights, education and poverty and discrimination. The threat of illegal drugs undermining democratic progress in the Americas is also on the agenda.
Quebec City police have warned that more than 20,000 protesters may converge on the city's historic center, and have begun raising a 4.5 km (2.8 mile) concrete and metal security fence. The security perimeter will be monitored by up to 6000 police officers during the summit.
Protesters are expected from a variety of different groups, with a wide range of issues. They include those against free trade, environmentalists, human rights and labor activists.
Many of the protest groups are holding training and orientation sessions before the summit. A day-long "People's Parliament" forum was held in the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa last weekend. It was attended by about 250 activists, including a few members of parliament, to find out more about the proposed Free Trade of the Americas Agreement (FTAA) and to learn how to protest peacefully. American activist George Lakey led role-playing exercises on non-violent demonstrations.
The next day about 500 peaceful but noisy protesters gathered in front of the Foreign Affairs Department building on Sussex Drive in Ottawa during the morning rush hour. Their purpose was to get the Canadian federal government to release the draft text of the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas agreement before the summit in Quebec City. More than 80 of the demonstrators who climbed over the barricades were dragged away or walked away with police and were arrested. They were later released.
These roaming international protests are starting to seem as well organized as the events themselves, but it remains to be seen if all will run as smoothly in Quebec as this initial "free the text" demonstration.
Related Resources
- OAS Summit Under Protest
- Canadian Exports, Imports and Trade
- About Globalization Issues
- Canada and the Americas - Foreign Affairs Canada
- Free Trade Area of the Americas - Official Web Site
