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"If Seattle proved anything, it is that nongovernmental organizations -- such
groups as the Sierra Club and Public Citizen -- have become permanent players on the
global trade scene." -- Bruce Stokes, National Journal, Dec. 4, 1999
THE BATTLE IN SEATTLE
[See Draft Letter to Editor, below]
70,000 protestors brought the mighty World Trade Organization (WTO) to its knees at the
"Battle in Seattle" from Tuesday, Nov. 30 - Dec. 3. The Sierra Club joined
nearly 50,000 labor, environmental, human rights, and church activists in a peaceful and
legal People's Rally and March for Fair Trade on Tuesday, Nov. 30.
Simultaneously, tens of thousands of protestors organized by the Direct Action Network
linked arms and sat down in the streets surrounding the Washington Trade and Convention
Center, site of the summit. Their peaceful civil disobedience stopped the WTO from meeting
on its first day. Unfortunately, this demonstration was marred by about 100 self-described
anarchists who rampaged through downtown Seattle, smashing windows with hammers concealed
in their coats. Later that afternoon, the police moved in with tear gas and rubber bullets
to clear the streets of the sit-in.
A combination of pressure from the protestors outside and internal dissension forced the
talks to collapse on Friday night, without so much as a formal communique.
The Sierra Club's actions in Seattle were peaceful, legal, and fully coordinated with the
Seattle Police Department. Contrary to some published reports, the Club did not
participate in, organize, or condone either the violence or the civil disobedience. We are
proud to say, however, that our message cut through the media clutter to reach the largest
public ever to learn about how the WTO undermines health and environmental standards.
As Margrete Strand told the New York Times, "The creation of the WTO was an act of pure
hubris -- to promote trade by micro managing policies of every government on earth. It was
only a matter of time before that over-ambitious agenda reached a point at which it could
go no further." (New York Times, Dec. 4, 1999)
Meanwhile, the demonstrators helped forged a new populist coalition that could permanently
shift the politics of trade policy in America and around the world. For instance,
Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, Jr. made frequent appeals to protect the world's
environment in trade policy. The Sierra Club's Executive Director Carl Pope reciprocated
during the big Fair Trade rally on Tuesday, Nov. 30. Following Steelworkers President
George Becker to the speakers' microphone, Pope gave a ringing endorsement to trade
unionism, telling the crowd, "If America didn't have a steel industry, it would have
to invent one just so we could have the United Steelworkers of America."
On the streets, a spontaneous call and response chant arose between the Teamsters and
dozens of activists who were dressed as sea turtles to protest a WTO ruling against US sea
turtle protections.
"Turtles love Teamsters!" the chant began.
"Teamsters love turtles," the truckdrivers answered.
It doesn't get any better than that.
NEXT STEPS
Over the next year, we must mobilize our new coalition to "fix or nix" the WTO.
We must also turn the corner on bad trade policies and begin advocating positive
alternatives of our own. Stay posted for further action alerts.
In the meantime, defenders of the free trade status quo have mounted a campaign to pin the
blame for the Seattle debacle on Clinton and the protestors in the streets -- everyone but
those who developed the hair-brained notion of the WTO in the first place.
Lets fight back with letters to the editor explaining the truth about Seattle.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor:
Americans should be proud about what took place in Seattle at the World Trade Organization
(WTO) summit. Tens of thousands of trade unionists, environmentalists, and church people
joined together in peaceful and legal protests against a US trade policy that hurts
working people and the environment. What a shame that the media focused so much attention
on the small number of delinquents who broke store windows in downtown Seattle.
Despite the deplorable violence, the message of the peaceful demonstrators came through
loud and clear. The American people are fed up with a WTO that makes global corporations
rich but undermines our hard-won health and environmental standards. Already, the WTO has
weakened our clean air standards and sea turtle protections. Food safety and forests were
on the chopping block in Seattle.
Now that the trade talks have broken down, I hope that the Clinton administration will
work with the world's leaders to fix the WTO so it protects working people and the
environment. If we can't fix it, then we'll face no alternative but to nix it.
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
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