BARBELITH underground
 

Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.


Underground > Switchboard >

IMF-World Bank in D.C. 9.29/30.01

  
 
casemaker
12:16 / 20.08.01
I am thinking about attending this protest. I'd like to see a discussion here about the pros and cons of such a demonstration.

Who here is going?
 
 
casemaker
11:43 / 24.08.01
barbelith! no responses? what up?
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
11:59 / 24.08.01
Sadly, I don't live in DC or even America and so won't be attending...

As for the lack of responses, sure it's slightly disappointing, but I suspect it's partly because:

1. "the pros and cons of such a demonstration" is a reaaally wide area for discussion, you know? Maybe people don't know where to start. Maybe you might want to be a bit more specific: do you mean, how effective is non-violent direct action? Or what might be considered violent direct action? Or how admirable, or feasible, the aims of the protest are? I think also that you might want to start by giving your views, because then there's something for people to engage with - that's what makes people respond to posts, in my experience.

2. It's a topic that's been discussed heavily here before, and often ends with people getting quite... impassioned. A lot of the old threads got lost in the reboot, but see here for what I mean...

3. Nobody lives in DC - although I'm sure there are some who do...

For what it's worth: I'd be going, if I was based anywhere near DC. Or at least I hope I would be, because to be honest the prospect scares me more than a little. But good on you if you do...
 
 
casemaker
16:56 / 24.08.01
Point taken Flyboy.

I am a firm advocate of non-violent direct action, EVERYONE should have the right to public protest. Especially in America. This country was founded on that concept, so it’s inherently even more bothersome that our president says he won’t recognize the voices of thousands of people protesting in our nation’s capital.

Here’s my problem with the IMF-World Bank situation. It seems that most of the people protesting are doing so because of qualms with the business ethics of the IMF-WB institution. Since America gives the largest financial contribution, they have the largest voice. Protesters want the government to regulate the amount of money that U.S. businesses are contributing to this institution, hoping it will reduce IMF involvement in third world nations.

I don’t agree because I don’t want the government spending any more tax dollars on regulating business practice. Protesting in D.C. means you’re protesting the government, NOT the businesses who fund this stuff. A better form of attack is to STOP buying from the companies that contribute. Many American radicals want their voice to be heard, and that’s good, but they forget the best way to change corporate actions is to hit them where it hurts. Right in the pocket.

I do have major problems with the IMF violations of third world civil rights. So I think that any protest held should focus one this concept. Stuctural Adjustment Programs are designed to weaken the economies of these nations, keep their people poor, and increase OUR profits. So our lives of convenience are built on the violation of third world people’s independence? I can’t support this.

So, I wonder if a demonstration in D.C. is going to bring this concept home. I wonder if I should participate, because my concerns might get lost in the fervor of protesters who do subscribe to violent action.
 
  
Add Your Reply