On November 30th in Seattle, environmental activists from all over the world will be flocking to Seattle to protest the World Trade Organization. Environmentalists are upset because the WTO is hoping to pass an international law stating that any nation/town/individual which will not accept a given product for import and sale due to environmental concerns is in violation of free trade and can be sued by Mega Corp International or whoever.

Now, I would prefer not to debate the merits of all that here. I am more interested in the fact that all those who might normally be a tad upset about non-compliant nuclear facilities, waste water treatment plants and chemical plants will be up in Seattle instead of marching on Washington.

Is this all a distraction to keep those pesky environmentalists from noticing Y2k?

Whaddya think? Oh BTW, I heard a rumor that the WTO plans to name Bill Gates "Man of the World." Is this delicious irony or what?

-- Dolma Lhamo (I'm@nonymous.now), October 24, 1999

Answers

For those of you who don't want to take my word for it.

http://www.wto.org/

http://www.globalexchange.org/economy/rulemakers/wsj071699.html

-- Dolma Lhamo (I'm@nonymous.now), October 24, 1999.

Bill Gates will be considered "Bane of the World" soon.

Ain't gonna be in Seattle end of November. Too ripe an opportunity for the T attacks the Feds have been warning against.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), October 24, 1999.

Have heard that emergency management in Seattle is more concerned over the WTO meeting than Y2k for all the obvious reasons;it might be THE opportune terrorist moment, or so it is feared. No link for verification, just insider talk.

-- Leslie (***@***.net), October 24, 1999.

It might also be the opportune time to do a test run of martial law perhaps.

-- Dolma Lhamo (I'm@nonymous.now), October 25, 1999.

Dolma

Not to mention the 50,000 or so union members expected to protest dropping barriers that could cost union jobs.

Do not be in Seattle that week. There will be heavy heavy security with all the big wigs in town (Premiers and Presidents - maybe even Fidel they say - he was invited). Bill Gates is expected to be there as he is one of those behind the organization who got everyone here in the first place. Hear tell they (protesters) want to make Seattle the "remember the Alamo" city for when it comes to naming the next WTO meeting city. Sounds great - NOT.

-- Valkyrie (anon@please.xnet), October 25, 1999.

The WTO summit is entirely unrelated to Y2k. 50,000 is what was originally planned for labor, but they have since been split over the issue, the more moderate factions not wanting to embarrass Gore. The labor turnout will therefore be less than expected. For more information about the WTO and environmentalists, see "The Economist," October 9-15.

-- Celia Thaxter (celiathaxter@yahoo.com), October 25, 1999.

Just another gathering of faction 1.

-- R. Wright (blaklodg@hotmail.com), October 25, 1999.