Anti-WTO in Pennsylvania. Seattle is only the beginning...

While the events unfolding in Seattle are historic, let us not forget that this is a global movement. The tens of thousands of people in the Seattle streets were joined by people in communities around the world. I have heard about a few of them--taking over an airline terminal, confrontations with police, small demos with a couple of dozen people--and all of them are important. Two dozen people who care enough to pass out flyers to holiday shoppers have involved themselves enough to begin creating a community network which, when linked to other local networks, can evolve into a movement. I've heard too many people complain that their local actions were insignificant, when nothing can be further from the truth. Don't play the media's numbers game.

In Pennsylvania, there were two actions yesterday, involving hundreds of people. In the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, hundreds of textile workers rallied in sub-freezing temperatures to support the N30 agenda.

In Philadelphia, 150 activists rallied outside the Banana Republic Superstore. When the weather go too cold, they went inside the store and held their news conference, while stunned Banana Republic workers and Philly police looked on.

These small actions may not have the international impact of the actions in Seattle, but they are the local manifestations of the beginning of a true global resistance to corporate domination.

Cherish these small actions, and remember that the Battle in Seattle is only the first round in a prolonged war against the powers that want to rule our lives.

Michael Morrill

P.S.- See you in Philadelphia on July 30.