AP: Farmers Clash with Police at WTO Meeting in Hong Kong

[PhilipShore]

The Associated Press
By Rajesh Mahapatra
Tuesday 13 December 2005

http://peacejournalism.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=7466

Hong Kong - Several dozen protesters struck security forces with bamboo sticks and tried to ram through a police roadblock Tuesday as the World Trade Organization meeting opened in Hong Kong.

The confrontation occurred after thousands of protesters marched through the city against the WTO and globalization, which many of them believe benefit primarily the rich and powerful. Protesters - mainly South Korean farmers - punched their fists in the air, beat drums and gongs and waved signs reading "RIP WTO" and "World Threatening Organization."

Police said the protest, which also included Japanese, Indian, Filipino and Brazilian farmers, drew 4,500 people. Organizers put the turnout at 5,200.

[rman]

1. ..many of them "believe" benefit primarily the rich and powerful..

Will we ever see serious discussion about this in the MSM?
It seems as though as of yet the accusation is dismissed outright, probably because 'we' 'know' that 'we' are the 'good guys', so we'd never do such a terrible thing as exploiting the poor. So whenever someone accuses us of doing just that, we don't even have to listen.

[teryang]

2. I was sickened to hear pro WTO propaganda on NPR

...yesterday. You can get the corporate claptrap on every major commercial network but that isn't enough.

WTO equals race to the bottom while corporations plunder national markets, resources and infrastructure without regard to human needs.

[hadrons]

3. sounds like South Korean farmers are better informed about the WTO ...

than most Americans