PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

As leaders of world's richest nations gather in opulent Sea Island, Ga., nearby Brunswick is under military occupation. The Governor has declared a state of emergency; thousands of police, federal law enforcement and national guard have swarmed the region, outnumbering activists by a factor of ten. Ongoing surveillance and harassment of anyone suspected to be a protester, a community organizer, or even a sympathetic resident has exacted a heavy toll. Despite these pressures, about 200 turned out for a United for Peace and Justice anti-war march yesterday morning; several hundred visitors attended the Fair World Fair and the "Other" Economic Summit; another 70 or so travelled to St. Simons (accompanied by armored vehicles) Island for a vigil. A march in Savannah--60 miles away from the Sea Island resort--had more military and police than it did protesters.

Meanwhile, on the Pacific Coast, activists have organized a counter-convergence called Reclaim the Commons in solidarity with the Georgia G8 protests as well as against the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) convention. Yesterday morning, several hundred activists poured into San Francisco's streets to protest the BIO meeting. They were greeted by a large and heavily armed police presence and 32 arrests were made. Later in the day, at a Reclaim the Streets G8 solidarity march, 200 protesters were surrounded by 300 cops; within a few hours, the police arrested at least 131 peaceful protestors.

More protests are planned in Brunswick, Savannah, and San Francisco for the remaining two days of the Summit and the BIO convention.

[ Atlanta IMC | No G8 | Bay Area IMC | Biotech IMC | Reclaim the Commons ]
[ 1 2 3 4 ]

From September 10-15, the WTO is meeting in Canc�n, Mexico, and the agenda encompasses everything from foreign investment and patent rights to trade barriers. Thousands of protesters are on hand to greet the delegates and local WTO actions are planned in solidarity with the Canc�n protests. In what some already refer to a second Seattle, as protests might reinforce opposition in the inside, numerous actions and gatherings will take place in Cancun and Mexico, as well as around the world, such as in Australia, the US, Mesoamerica, Africa, South-America, Asia and Europe.

In Pittsburgh two events are planned. On Friday, September 12, a public forum on the WTO and corporate globalization will be held at David Lawrence Hall at 7:00pm. On Saturday, September 13, a concert and rally will be held at Carlow College's St. Agnes Church (5th Ave between Craft and Robinson) at 1:00pm. The rally will then be followed by a creative "tour of greed" through Oakland.

Update: 9/11, From Cancun IMC: A Korean farmer took his own life in protest against the policies of the WTO and at least eight other protestors were seriously injured by police during the first massive march against the Fifth Ministerial of the WTO.
[ Read more from the Canc�n temporary IMC space | Photos from the fences of Canc�n: 1 2]

[ Pgh Call to Action | Public Forum annoucement | Flyers | Earlier WTO article | Full List WTO Solidarity Actions from UFPJ | Mexico Solidarity Network Canc�n Page | Indymedia in Canc�n | WTO Radio Stream]