December 8, 1999
Subject: Feedbacks to Mayhem in Seattle
Hello everyone
Before attempting to make some sort of sense out of the mountain of Y2K related material
I've compiled and trim it down to the essential (probably 3 big ones at least + many
web-referenced pages), I'd like to close it down with the Seattle-WTO issue,
So here are your feedbacks on this.
Jean Hudon
Earth Rainbow Network Coordinator
http://www.cybernaute.com/earthconcert2000
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999
From: Shelley Thomson <sthomson@crl.com>
Subject: Re: Mayhem in Seattle and Victory for Grassroot Democracy
Hello, Jean:
I have a few comments on your thoughtful article. To wit:
1) Remembering that Al Gore is allegedly running for president, Bill
Clinton *said* he wanted environmental and labor protections extended
worldwide. This doesn't commit the USA to anything; it's just a soundbyte.
Actually the US was attempting to cut trade deals enabling our
corporations to plunder other countries and eventually impoverish this one.
2) Probably the WTO talks would have failed even without the protests,
although it is a huge benefit that the protests coincided with, and drew
attention to, this meeting. There's a good analysis of the future
prospects of the WTO at http://www.stratfor.com. Stratfor.com's analysts think
the WTO is toast, and they have interesting reasons.
3) Grassroots democracy has not triumphed as long as those people are in
jail in Seattle! People are being denied their rights without any
explanation from anyone, and apparently without fear of lawsuits. THEY
MUST BE RELEASED before anyone can feel good about the situation. (IMHO)
Which brings me to my last and most important item:
4) Superficially it appears that martial law was declared in Seattle, and
may still be in force even though no public announcement was made. If this
occurred it amounts to a suspensioin of the rule of law in the USA. I am
trying to follow up on this and hope you will help me.
Martial law could explain how the mayor of Seattle was able to create a
law making it a crime to use or possess a gas mask. Under normal
circumstances legislators make our laws. Where did the mayor get the power?
Martial law could explain why the DOD sent active duty military personnel,including
Special Forces, to participate in a civilian law enforcement
exercise, without concern about the Posse Comitatus law.
Martial law could explain why the national news services never mentioned
any of the constitutional issues surrounding military and police action in
Seattle.
Martial law could explain why police made mass arrests of persons who were
lawfully expressing dissent and then denied them legal representation (as
well as torturing at least one of them). It's normal (if reprehensible)
for protesters to be roughed up and detained, but _not like this_. The
police don't care about the legal consequences of the mass denial of
rights. This suggests to me that they've been immunized, which as far as I
know could only happen under martial law.
Is it unconstitutional to secretly declare martial law? Sure. This abuse
of federal power is the single most sinister aspect of the entire situation.
Somebody needs to raise these questions publicly. Before Special Forces
do in another American city what they did before at Waco.
Shelley Thomson
P.S. The argument stratfor.com made was that the developed world has evolved into
three trading blocks of roughly equal size, whose business cycles are out of synch.
What helps one block hurts another, and none has the ability to force its will on
the others. It is consequently impossible to develop an overall plan. All the real action
has moved to regional trade organizations. The WTO is toast. --Yet another foreign
policy failure for Bill Clinton, who should have
known this.
Subject: Re: Eye Witness Account: The Battle in Seattle
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 99
From: Dianne Allred <openmind@sedona.net>
Peaceful, organized protest of injustice is one thing... But that's not
what happened in Seattle...Those involved keep calling it a peaceful
demonstration...The Million Man March was peaceful...What happened in
Seattle was not...And frankly, I can understand why we may be gearing up
for martial law...Because of the behavior of many people in our
society...We have raised generations of violent and conscience-less
people (even some of those who claim to be working for the cause of
"justice"), with an "end justifies the means" mentality......And it is
our problem...every one of us...So how are We The People going to deal
with our own members who are perpetuating the violence?...
We love to sit around and blame the governments and the police (who, by
the way, we have hired to protect us)...But I think it will take an
immense peer pressure to make any difference...And that means all of us
getting organized and involved...
Why would we allow a "small faction" of disturbers to overtake and
control a demonstration when they are clearly outnumbered by hundreds and
hundreds of so-called "peaceful" protesters...
If the lights go off on January 1st, you can bet there would be looting,
rioting and hysteria...we've seen it over and over in other
situations...If we want a better way of dealing with it than martial law,
then let's get together and come up with something...
How are WE going to stop those who are causing the violence, as well as
the injustice in our society?...How are WE going to stop the gangs and
terrorist groups...How are WE going to affect change in the hearts of our
own people, so that we are safe in our own streets, and so that we are
all treated fairly and honestly?
If we find proof that McDonalds, or any other corporate business, is
using some inhumane treatment of human beings or animals or precious
resources, then lets use our communication tools, spread the word, and
STOP BUYING THEIR PRODUCTS!...Let's use mass media to have a peaceful and
positive voice in the world...If more people knew what the WTO is
supposedly doing, there would be pressure to stop it...But I think we can
come up with more responsibly creative ways of doing that than climbing
on people's cars or breaking their windows...
Who do we think is going to create this new and better world for us that
we all talk about?...If we want a different economic system, then let's
just do it...Let's start bartering and exchanging services instead of
using money...Let's grow our own food...Let's make our own clothes...
Let's take care of our children and teach them values...
Let's stop putting the blame on everyone else, and just do it!
From: mericiana@webtv.net (MERICIANA)
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999
Subject: Report on Seattle
Thank you for your wonderful report and will pass on to other networking groups.
Living in Hawaii I have been outraged by the oppression in our system and
realize that a shift in our awarness needs to take place.
Blessings to you for your courage to speak out.
Mericiana, Vision Artist
From: MAYAWISDOM@aol.com
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999
Subject: Re: Mayhem in Seattle
Just thought I would share this with you.
On Nov. 24 I dreamed I was working in a highrise building. I opened a door
to step out to a balcony for some fresh air and came upon a business man
pointing a weapon (heavy duty type) toward his collegues below on the street.
I backed out tactfully. The business man was not even concerned that I was
a witness. Then I went to the another window and looked below. I saw police
cars screeching to a stop. The police jumped out and began shooting pedestrians.
This was all happening in the United States. There was violence everywhere. It seemed
as though this was a normal day. I was astounded.
On Dec. 4 in dream state I saw the following warning:
PREPARE FOR A GREAT DEPRESSION
On Dec. 5 this message came through:
BEWARE OF UNIONIZED NATIONALISM
Although I've never been a political activist, I have been contacted by a
political seach engine. Asking me to help them place my site under the
appropriate category. I suppose you have received this invitation also.
I guess we are all "marked" now.
NOW AS A BALANCING COUNTERPOINT TO WHAT YOU HAVE JUST READ, HERE IS AN EXCELLENT METAPHOR
ABOUT THE ILLUSORY POWER OF FEAR...
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999
From: "Richard Vines, Jr." <lykan@ixks.com>
Subject: Food for the soul (12/6/99)
Fear is in the way you choose to look at things, not in the things themselves.
There was once a huge dragon in China who went from village to village
killing cattle and dogs and chicken and people indiscriminately. So
the villagers called upon a wizard to help them in their distress.
The wizard said, "I cannot slay the dragon myself, for magician
though I am, I am too afraid. But I shall find you the one who will."
With that he transformed himself into a dragon and took up position
on a bridge so everyone who did not know it was the wizard was afraid
to pass. One day, however, a traveler came up to the bridge, calmly
climbed over the dragon, and walked on.
The wizard promptly took on human shape again and called to the
man, "Come back, my friend - I have been standing here for weeks
waiting for you!"
From: PLANETNEWS@aol.com
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999
Subject: WORRIED to death...?
Marylee sent to PLANETNEWS:
THE POWER OF WORRYING
Here's a good inspirational message. Keep it in your heart.
Death was walking toward a city one morning and a man asked, "What are you going
to do?" "I'm going to take 100 people," Death replied. "That's horrible!" the man
said. "That's the way it is," Death said. "That's what I do."
The man hurried to warn everyone he could about Death's plan. As evening fell, he
met Death again. "You told me you were going to take 100 people," the man said.
"Why did 1,000 die?" "I kept my word," Death responded. "I only took 100 people.
Worry took the others."
This interesting tale portrays so well what the National Mental Health Committee
reported a few years ago --- half of all the people in America's hospital beds are
constant worriers. Mental distress can lead to migraine headaches, arthritis, heart
trouble, cystitis, colitis, backaches, ulcers, depression, digestive disorders and yes,
even death. Add to that list the mental fatigue of nights without sleep and days
without peace, then we get a glimpse of the havoc worry plays in destroying the
quality and quantity of life.
Worry is, and always will be, a fatal disease of the heart, for its beginning signals
the end of faith.
Release the regrets of yesterday, refuse the fears of tomorrow and receive instead,
the peace of today.
Author unknown
THIS ONE IS REALLY A BLACK EYE FOR THE US NEWSMEDIA -- COURTESY OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF
OF THE NEW YORK TIMES
[NOTE: Due to the continuing media blackout surrounding the reasons for the protests
of the WTO meeting in Seattle, permission is hereby granted to copy and distribute
this entire article on a not-for-profit basis. TO CIRCUMVENT THIS BLACKOUT, YOU ARE
ENCOURAGED TO COPY THIS EMAIL TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, ASSOCIATES, AND OTHERS AS YOU SEE
FIT.]
http://www.fenello.com/wto1.txt
The WTO, ICANN, and the End of the Republic
Copyright (c) 1999 Jay Fenello -- All rights reserved
Yesterday, I wrote about the media blackout surrounding the protests of the WTO meeting
in Seattle. In response, I got several email stating that I was *crazy*, that the
story *is* being covered, and that it was my imagination.
What these critics are missing, however, is the methods of media bias, and how they
are being used to hide *why* people are rioting in Seattle and London, and why workers
have gone on strike throughout the world.
"The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum
of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum - even encourage
the more critical and dissident views. That gives people the sense that there's free thinking going on, while all the time the presuppositions of the system are being
reinforced by the limits put on the range of the debate." -- Noam Chomsky, American
linguist
Compare for a minute the coverage of the current riots, versus the shootings at Columbine
High, or the crash of Kennedy's plane. While the latter received immediate and continuous
media coverage, the riots have only received a few minutes of coverage at the top of the newscasts. And this coverage has been limited to the riots themselves,
the damage that has been done, the reactions of the WTO delegates, and the actions
of the police to prevent a recurrence today.
So while the riots have been the lead story in the news, the reasons for the riots
are conspicuously absent. And the coverage has been minuscule compared to other less
important topics that have recently been covered.
And yet, most in America still find it hard to believe that the corporate media can
possibly be coordinating a cover up of the WTO debate. Most still believe that a
free press is some kind of guarantee of a *fair* press.
"There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history, in America, as an independent
press. The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth, to lie outright,
to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and
his race for his daily bread. We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes.
We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities
and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."
-- John Swinton, Chief of Staff New York Times
From: "Lynn Ferguson" <wings_of_a_dove@hotmail.com>
Subject: WTO Seattle Realities
Date: Sat, 04 Dec 1999
Jean,
So much of the information you have been sent (and passed on) and
disinformation that is on the websites of many of the organizations whose
URLs you list in your last communique is ERRONEOUS and potentially harmful
to the true and authentic attempts to educate and promote worthy causes and
address the real issues facing us.
I would wish for you to be more selective before dispensing info without
verifying its accuracy...as has happened in Seattle. I live here and have
seen it for myself directly. What is being reported and claimed by some of
these groups and individuals is deceptive and untrue. This inaccurate
portrayal incites people to further violence, unproductive behavior, and
escalated emotional and psychological stress and anger.
It would be to everyone's benefit to focus on inner peace, tranquility, and
harmony. Let's work toward the goal of never repeating one iota of what was
happening on the streets in Seattle. We are glad that the violent and ugly
people have left Seattle and we do not welcome their return. The people who
came here were the ACTUAL problem, not the delegates of the WTO trading
partners. It would have been far more productive to have provided a
professional convention setting and format for individuals and groups to
present their opinions and resolutions in an orderly manner. That may have
impressed all who were watching and participating in this, much more than
the disruptive and inappropriate behavior in the streets that interupted
public safety and our daily lives. It's time to live PEACE and
AUTHENTICALLY be the words of wisdom and caring that these organizations
promote...instead of the pretense of their agendas that were not
accomplished in any way whatsoever by their immature actions in Seattle. I
would like to see these vandals pay for the property damage to businesses in
downtown Seattle and to compensate the REAL people whose lives were
disrupted. Our city is beautiful and peaceful and we are one of the most
promising communities that demonstrate the value placed on a healthy
environment, holistic healthcare, equality for
women/children/minorities/disabled populations, work ethics, and an evolved
spiritual community that respects and honors diversity.
The protestors who destroyed their own credibility need to stop and take a
good look within themselves...and learn from our Seattle community that
already practices the solutions to their concerns. That would be a
revitalizing and refreshing accomplishment.
Please don't foolishly give these groups a forum in your email messages when
they have such harmful ulterior motives. Their actions spoke loudly. They
need to reconstruct their agendas to actually contribute to the resolutions,
instead of being the problems that they condemn. It is a lesson to all of
us, especially those of us who are involved in truly valuable activities.
Let us all take responsibility for intelligent interaction with every one we
come into contact with in this world...and it will be a 'BETTER' place to
live. Our children were shocked by the unruly behavior and the
inappropriate attitudes of those who descended upon Seattle. They wanted to
know why these "stupid" people didn't simply observe our "Way of Life" and
learn from us, instead of acting in a manner that undermined the messages
they claimed to represent. It is a time for people to reflect, change, and
grow in PEACE and the acceptance of Diversity and co-existence. You can
further this by being more careful of the groups you include in your work.
I know this is a monumental task, yet you carry a great responsibility in
presenting accurate and correct information and news. Don't allow yourself
to be exploited in your sincere effort to assist in this process of
transformation. We celebrate your work, but don't be trapped into promoting
the harmful agendas of those who are deceptive and antagonistic, rather than
genuine and resourceful and deserving of our attention.
Lynn Ferguson,
The Sundancer Children's Peace Alliance
MY COMMENT: THIS PERSPECTIVE IS ALSO VALUABLE IN MANY RESPECTS, ALTHOUGH SOME WOULD
SAY THAT IT FAILS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE TRUELY AWESOME AND YET INSIDIOUS INFLUENCE
OF THE OFFICIAL POWER BROKERS AND LOBBIES WITHIN THE WTO MEETING TO WREAK ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HAVOC WITH THEIR SENSELESS AND UNDETERRED PURSUIT OF THE $$BOTTOM
LINE$$ FOR THE FEW TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ON EARTH. BUT
TRUE! CONSTRUCTIVE AND NONVIOLENT BEHAVIOURS, ACTIONS AND THOUGHTS WILL ULTIMATELY
SPELL THE END OF "BUSINESS AS USUAL", NOT ANY KIND OF PROTEST - ALTHOUGH SUCH PROTESTS
ARE CERTAINLY A VITAL FIRST "IMMUNO-REACTION" TO SIGNAL WHAT'S WRONG TO THE REST
OF HUMANITY.
AS FOR HAVING A PARALLEL CONVENTION-STYLE MEETING TO VOICE OPINIONS AND CONCERNS,
IT WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOUR BUT NUMEROUS PREVIOUS SUCH PARALLEL
MEETINGS (LIKE AT THE G-7 MEETINGS) HAVE REPEATEDLY DEMONSTRATED THAT THE POLITICIANS
PAY ABSOLUTELY NO ATTENTION TO ANY OF THEM. THEY JUST IGNORE WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT
AND GO AHEAD WITH THEIR BUSINESS.
BUT WHEN THE PEOPLE PROTEST LOUDLY ENOUGH TO BE MENTIONED IN THE MEDIA - ALBEIT IN
AN UTTERLY DISTORDED WAY AS INDICATED ABOVE BY John Swinton, Chief of Staff New York
Times - THEN THE HEADS OF STATE BEGIN TO PAY ATTENTION... AND SOMETIMES RESPOND.
SO THAT'S WHY I'LL CONTINUE TO DISPATCH SUCH MATERIAL WHEN I DEEM IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR MANY OF US TO BE AWARE OF SUCH ACTIONS AND PLANS.
I ALSO HOPE YOU TOOK TIME TO READ AT LEAST SOME OF THE REPORTS ON POLICE BRUTALITY
WHICH FAR OUTWEIGHT THE NON-VIOLENT ACTIONS OF 99% OF THE PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS
IN SEATTLE LAST WEEK. IF NOT, PLEASE AT LEAST READ THIS ACCOUNT BY ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS
IN SEATTLE. THIS ALSO WAS PART OF THE "REALITIES"...
FROM AN OLD-TIME RESIDENT OF THE GREATER SEATTLE AREA:
Thoughts On Witnessing Three Days Of Hell In Seattle
[recipient's name deleted]
As you, no doubt, are fully aware, I am no friend of anarchy
and civil disorder -- far from it, in fact; but, in the
course of the last several days, even I have had no choice
but to conclude that our local "authorities" clearly
overstepped their bounds.
The police brutality exhibited by some of our local "boys in
black" (and I purposely say some, since not all of them were
involved ) in Seattle -- especially on Tuesday and Wednesday
- -- was (shades of Lenin's "Che-Ka"!!) horrifying, to say the
least. (One of the motive forces that seemingly drives some
such men to become "peace officers" is an inherent sense of
sadism!)
The last such occasion that springs to mind occurred on the
University of Washington campus (back in 1970, if I recall
the year correctly), when one of my girlfriends was
returning to her dormitory from the U.W.'s undergrad
("Suzallo") library and was attacked by Seattle's "riot
police," who cracked her skull for "walking on campus."
(Well, how else was she to get back to her dorm from the
library -- fly?!?)
This week, old people and babies were pepper-sprayed and
gassed indiscriminately; people totally uninvolved in the
protests against the WTO, many of whom were simply trying to
get home from work, were beaten, kicked, and shot with
so-called "rubber" bullets -- you name it... (One man was
kicked in the groin and shot at close range.)
Many people with legitimate concerns in downtown Seattle
were gratuitously pepper-sprayed by the police, simply
because they happened to be present as the police went by.
(Policemen would turn and shoot streams of pepper-spray into
their faces -- this, after having passed by them, in the
first place!) Even several WTO delegates were pushed around
by the police, believe it or not!
Those individuals who attempted to assist the fallen were
themselves subjected to police brutality; police "batons"
come raining down on both the people who had collapsed and
on those trying to help them get up. Meanwhile, the police
deliberately pressed their heavy boots down upon the heads
of those on the ground (who were being handcuffed with the
particularly cruel "flexi-cuffs" under the pretext that they
were "resisting"), in order to prevent them from being able
to "move on," as they were being "ordered" by the police
(who then proceeded to gas, pepper-spray and shoot them at
close range with "rubber" bullets in clear cases of
deliberate and unwarranted cruelty). In one case, a woman
fell to the ground and the police then began to shoot
pepper-spray at her and at a person who was attempting to
help her get up! (Media video also showed the police
harassing a just-gassed older woman who was merely trying to
unlock her car so that she could get away from these horrors
and get home!)
Clouds of tear gas were sent flying into business
establishments, and the people inside were then attacked by
the police as they tried to get out (it having become a
"crime" in Seattle to possess, buy or wear a gas-mask if one
is a civilian). This was all witnessed by [my fiancee] and
myself, watching day-long TV coverage of the events from the
safety of our home. Had we been caught in the "crossfire" of
gas and pepper-spray, we might well have died, under those
circumstances, as you are fully aware, due to our severe
cases of asthma and chemical-sensitivity -- especially,
without gas-masks!
What is especially disconcerting is that the police were
attacking peaceful protestors, while the anarchistic and
criminal elements were allowed free rein -- almost as if by
collusion with "the powers that be"!?
So this week, [name deleted], has provided us with a
foretaste of what the "New World Order" holds in store for
us, if it is ever allowed to come fully into its own! The
Gestapo and the "Che-Ka" were merely the "blossoms" -- will
we live to see the "berries"? God knows!
Yura
HERE ARE NOW SOME EARLIER FEEDBACKS:
From: "Boudewijn Wegerif" <bw@jak.se>
Subject: offer of comprehensive posting covering WTO SEATTLE EVENT
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999
Dear Fellow-Members of SANE, and other friends,
I am offering A COMPREHENSIVE POSTING of five articles
selected out of a great amount of material about
THE WTO SEATTLE EVENT
from November 30 to December 3, 1999
The five articles are:
1.. What is the WTO? 1,900 words
2.. The Illegality of the WTO 600 words
3.. The Economic and Social Destruction Presided Over by the WTO 1,800 words
4.. What Really Happened in the Streets of Seattle 2,600 words
5.. Biased News Coverage of the WTO Seattle Event 1,400 words
If you want the the comprehensive posting, please simply reply to bw@jak.se, with
your e-mail address on the subject line. (Or you may prefer to go direct to the sources
of the five articles, given after the signature.)
Having put together the posting, I once again clearly understand how:
** We live in a world of debt enslavement ruled over by a small and powerful group
of money masters.
** Under the market fundamentalist rule of these money masters, the environment is
falling apart and there is no country in the world that I know of that is not now
more corrupt and criminalised than honest and civilised.
** Notwithstanding the fact that probably everyone I know is, in principle, for an
end to debt slavery and environmental and social breakdown, the hard reality is that
this will not happen under the prevailing, interest-bearing money system.
** It is not just a question of the greed and power lust of those who control the
banks that issue the money, it is more basically that the banks, by their very nature,
need transnational, money-needful and money-generating growth built on debt to survive
and prosper irrespective of the consequences to our humanity and the earth.
The World Trade Organisation is there to maintain the global rule of the money masters,
and the events in SEATTLE this last week show how far these rulers over our now debt
enslaved world are willing to go down the road of diminishing conscience, responsibility and respect for life i.e. down the road to hell.
Therefore, we go into the next millenium knowing:
** either we make of this an honourable fight at every level, from street level protests
to board room and shareholders' meetings to political party conferences, to end the
rule of the money masters and totally transform the money system (from private ownership to an interest-free public service) or we lose our humanity. . . and the earth,
this once precious pearl in the universe, becomes a derelict, desolate planet fit
for grotesque life forms only;
** either we search out and live for economic justice and are willing to lose our
jobs, our fine reputations as managers, academics, our high positions even, and what
have you for it and at street level are willing to risk pepper-gas in our eyes,
broken limbs, cracked skulls, even our lives for it or we lose out as human beings.
Now that was, deliberately, one very long sentence to reflect the very hard, long
struggle that lies ahead for those of us who care for life, justice, truth, joy and
the better life of a giving love before the 'good life' of doing well for ourselves,
no matter what.
With regards,
Boudewijn Wegerif
Monetary Studies Programme
Vardingeby Folkhogskola
S-150 21 Molnby, Sweden
Sources of the five articles:
1..From RACHEL'S ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH WEEKLY; send E-mail to info@rachel.org with
the single word HELP in the message. or search at http://www.rachel.org
2..From 5,500 word essay by Michel Chossudovsky. For full essay go to http://www.emperors-clothes.com/articles/chuss/seattle.htm
3..Ditto
4..Best eye witness account of several I read; via renaissance-network@cyberjournal.org,
who received it from intrprtr@prodigy.net
5..Two pieces, from FAIR's Resources on Trade and FAIR's Economic Reporting Review;
http://www.fair.org/issues-news/trade.html and http://www.fair.org/err/991108.html
For a critical look at the World Trade Organization:
SEATTLE AND BEYOND: DISARMING THE NEW WORLD ORDER at:
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/articles/chuss/seattle.htm
From: "Joy Wright" <joyeagle@uswest.net>
Subject: Re: situation in Seattle....
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999
I have been carefully watching the Seattle situation, as it is in my back
yard. I see violations on both sides, I see FEAR big time, and I see people
taking advantage of the whole chaos thing, I actually see the police being
VERY cautious, and hear the report from Mayor Schell as being very careful
to avoid further damage downtown, and keeping delegates in safety. A very
fine line to walk there. Pepper spray is being used with very little tear
gas, as the police who are mostly UNARMED except for sticks, are out
numbered by protesters 50 to 1. They estimated by Wed. nite damages in
excess of $7,000,000. Certainly has been an excuse to do many hurtful
things, however ---- many protesters are coming forward to sweep up glass, and
effect repairs to many downtown stores severely damaged. McDonalds has been
closed, so many stores have all the glass broken out and mechandise looted caught
on film).
I believe we need to seek more effective ways to communicate, for when
everyone is shouting, no one is being heard. A quiet voice is better heard.
AND --- much of the anger being expressed in Seattle has nothing to do with
the issues, but is of a more personal agenda. An opportunity to vent .
Even tho this seems to be a negative happening, I do believe in divine
order, and there will be good come from this. It is important for those of
us who work "in the light" remain focused on sending love and light, and not
negative thoughts and hateful feelings. That just feeds the negative
energies at work. We can much good by remaining in the light and sending
love.
Joy
See also website pics from downtown Seattle - from someone who lives there
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Keep/4885/wto/
From: Pat Kostakeva <patkosta@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Countdown to the WTO meeting in Seattle
Dear Jean -- Thank you for publishing all the material about the WTO talks in Seattle.
I think the best way for the individual to avoid all the large corporate products
is to deal only with small markets in your neighborhood, and buy most of your household goods (such as dishes, glasses, clothing, furniture) second-hand at thrift stores
or yard sales. Also, frequent the small farmers' markets and roadside stands. Here
in Los Angeles, there are many small Mexican and Latino stores, and specialty stores
of other immigrants. I never set foot in a large supermarket anymore. On Sundays, there
is a regional organic food farmers' market set up here in Hollywood where you can
get fresh produce directly from specialty growers. Thrift shops and yard sales are
everywhere. There are some things like gasoline, I suppose, that are available only from multinationals,
but if you are creative, there are so many ways to avoid WalMart, GE, GM, etc. Blessings
in your work - Pat K.
AND FINALLY THOSE 2 ONES
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999
From: Jane Kennedy <janeww@mweb.co.za>
Subject: Thought you should know...
Dear Jean
Greetings from Jane Kennedy in South Africa. We are in the thick of an
extraordinary event that I felt you should know about. A ground breaking
gathering of religious and spiritual leaders and practitioners from around
the globe. Please take a moment to visit the website and then perhaps share
it with some of your 'readers' and friends around the world.
http://www.pwrsa.co.za
Look forward to your feedback/comments when you have the time.
Thanks for the work you do
Warm African love to you
Jane
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999
From: Diana Rhodes <Diana@sol-star.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Food safety Files #3:
Dear Jean I just wanted to thank you for your information - where it is
of interest or relevant I pass it through my Newsletter to the UK. Keep
it coming - information is the greatest tool for change.
Love and blessings
Diana
YOU ARE WELCOMED DIANA ;-))
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