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in April 1997, where 1,200 trade unionists analysed and decried
globalisation in all its forms. Fifty thousand people took to the streets
of Amsterdam in June 19 9 7 in defence of a Europe of open borders
and social justice - on the occasion of the meeting of the European
Council of Ministers, at which further impetus was given to plans for
an anti-social Europe. In Caracas in July 199 7, at the summit of Latin
American countries, to seek out a strategy for the 21st century on the
question of foreign debt. In the Spanish state in late July 1997, at the
second intercontinental gathering against neo-liberalism. In Havana
in July-August 1997 at the 18th World Festival of Youth, where
9,000 young people from around the world told the US government
to 'stuff the Helms-Burton Act where the sun don't shine'. In Hong
Kong in September 1997, social movements organised a counter-
summit on the occasion of the annual meeting of the World Bank and
IMF. In Geneva in February 1998, at an international gathering
against the WTO. In May-June 1998, with the Global March against
the exploitation of child labour, in which delegations from 98
countries participated, and which concluded in front of ILO head
quarters in Geneva. In May 1998, when 60,000-70,000 people
attended a meeting in Birmingham during the G 7 summit, to call for
the cancellation of the debt of the poorest countries. At Cardiff in June
19 9 8, on the occasion of another people's summit against the leaders
of the European Union. And in 1999, with the worldwide Jubilee
2000 campaign in favour of debt cancellation.
A TALE OF SUBVERSION GROUNDED IN DAY-TO-DAY
LIFE
This broad movement, created in response to defining moments in
recent times, is also grounded in real everyday life. Those involved
have met and discussed their experiences, visited one another. This
has fostered a wonderfully human culture of subversion. Our values
are defined in pluralistic terms, for happily, the oppressed do not
speak with one voice. This is why it is essential to bring out 'the
planet's other voices'. Yet our ideas are not those of the oppressors,
our pluralism does not brook submission to the dictates of those who
seek immediate profit and gain. Why on earth should we submit to
their dictates?
Resistance is also boosted by struggles on a national level. Blows
must be dealt to one's own capitalist class in order to weaken the