Full Feature: G8 Protests. Friday, 30 May 2003
imc uk | 15.06.2003 16:21
"Free Movement and Free Information". This feature includes all links from previous imc uk may 30 versions, plus significant links from various collections. imc uk newswire posts from after June 4th are not likely to be included.
For Free Movement and Free Communication
Friday May 30
Free Movement and Free Information was the slogan of the first major demo against the G8 summit in Evian. Throughout the day, symbolic actions illustrated the connections between both demands. The noborder demo visited the offices of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), the World Trade Organisation (WTO 1 | 2) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
A bike caravan blocked the Nestle headquarters for a while and joined 400 Critical Mass cyclists in the early evening. While some protesters were previously stopped at the borders, the right to Free Movement was enforced when an occupied train crossed the border between France and Switzerland uncontrolled. Finally, radio- and video streams as well as permanently updated websites proved that the movement knows how to use the right to free information [Report]
Resources & Collections
Entire Day Call | Imc UK Feature | Timeline Imc UK | Summary
Transport Bike Caravan [report | pics], Critical Mass [Pics & Report], Occupied Train [Report | Dispatch], Failed Blockade [Dispatch]
Noborder Demo Pics [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11], Videos [(de) | (en) 1 | (en) 2 | speeches]
Timeline | Summary
Demo For Free Movement and Free Communication
The demo was only 3 to 4 thousand strong, but festive, determined and very clear in the choice of targets. WTO, IOM), and WIPO are institutions of global governance, controlling access to territories, knowledge and communication. A big banner read "Open Source!" [pic] The dissent of protesters went beyond the limits of symbolic property destruction and was articulated in many well-informed speeches. A mood of peaceful confrontation prevailed.
Outside the headquarters of the WTO [pic], speeches criticized the TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement and adressed the right to Open Source and Free Information. The gates to the compound were opened [Pics 1 | 2] and bangers were thrown into the courtyard. Protesters tore down the 144-nation organisation's sign at the front gate and daubed walls with the slogan "Smash the WTO" [pic].
At the headquarters of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), speeches criticised global migration management and demanded Freedom of Movement, until police started to use tear gas [Pics 1 | 2 | 3]. The situation calmed down when people returned tear gas with confetti [pic], while dancing to the rhythms of a big Samba Band [Pic & Report (ge)]
Outside the headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), a speech emphasised the importance of intellectual property on the activist agenda. Then the demo headed back into town and ended at Geneva's central station.
The demo was festive, informative and peaceful, but not without some property destruction and teargassing. Some protestors smashed windows of the International Trade Centre (ITC) building which houses the offices of WTO , UNCTAD and International Chambers of Commerce (CCI), just after the premises of an Audi store [pic] and a Shell garage were attacked. One guy turned an Audi signpost into a weapon to attack the ITC's windows. Some demonstrators managed to pepperspray police officers inside the gate. Earlier in the day, three car-drivers tried to run over demonstrators near the WTO HQ [Report]. Some cans and stones were thrown into buildings including the Russian embassy. Only 3 people were taken into custody [Dispatch].
Friday May 30Free Movement and Free Information was the slogan of the first major demo against the G8 summit in Evian. Throughout the day, symbolic actions illustrated the connections between both demands. The noborder demo visited the offices of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), the World Trade Organisation (WTO 1 | 2) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
A bike caravan blocked the Nestle headquarters for a while and joined 400 Critical Mass cyclists in the early evening. While some protesters were previously stopped at the borders, the right to Free Movement was enforced when an occupied train crossed the border between France and Switzerland uncontrolled. Finally, radio- and video streams as well as permanently updated websites proved that the movement knows how to use the right to free information [Report]
Resources & Collections
Entire Day Call | Imc UK Feature | Timeline Imc UK | Summary
Transport Bike Caravan [report | pics], Critical Mass [Pics & Report], Occupied Train [Report | Dispatch], Failed Blockade [Dispatch]
Noborder Demo Pics [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11], Videos [(de) | (en) 1 | (en) 2 | speeches]
Timeline | Summary
Demo For Free Movement and Free Communication
The demo was only 3 to 4 thousand strong, but festive, determined and very clear in the choice of targets. WTO, IOM), and WIPO are institutions of global governance, controlling access to territories, knowledge and communication. A big banner read "Open Source!" [pic] The dissent of protesters went beyond the limits of symbolic property destruction and was articulated in many well-informed speeches. A mood of peaceful confrontation prevailed.
Outside the headquarters of the WTO [pic], speeches criticized the TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement and adressed the right to Open Source and Free Information. The gates to the compound were opened [Pics 1 | 2] and bangers were thrown into the courtyard. Protesters tore down the 144-nation organisation's sign at the front gate and daubed walls with the slogan "Smash the WTO" [pic]. At the headquarters of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), speeches criticised global migration management and demanded Freedom of Movement, until police started to use tear gas [Pics 1 | 2 | 3]. The situation calmed down when people returned tear gas with confetti [pic], while dancing to the rhythms of a big Samba Band [Pic & Report (ge)]
Outside the headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), a speech emphasised the importance of intellectual property on the activist agenda. Then the demo headed back into town and ended at Geneva's central station.
The demo was festive, informative and peaceful, but not without some property destruction and teargassing. Some protestors smashed windows of the International Trade Centre (ITC) building which houses the offices of WTO , UNCTAD and International Chambers of Commerce (CCI), just after the premises of an Audi store [pic] and a Shell garage were attacked. One guy turned an Audi signpost into a weapon to attack the ITC's windows. Some demonstrators managed to pepperspray police officers inside the gate. Earlier in the day, three car-drivers tried to run over demonstrators near the WTO HQ [Report]. Some cans and stones were thrown into buildings including the Russian embassy. Only 3 people were taken into custody [Dispatch].
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