Global

Today, as was the case during yesterday's protests, there was a large group protesting against China's policies toward Tibet. There were some people near me who were taunting the black-clad riot police by humming one of the themes from a Star Wars movie.

There were signs and chants saying "money for jobs and education not wars and occupation." There was a marching band playing The Battle Hymn of the Republic and an anarchist group chanting "no laws, no borders, no bosses," and a sign that read "Obama, keep your fair trade promises, and "rescue Falun Gong practitioners "

Later I met Adan Stevens-Diaz who came to Pittsburgh from Brooklyn, NY. He was carrying a sign that read " Obama, you're a speech walking. So was Robespeare." When we spoke, Diaz referred to Obama as a "walking sound byte."

The smaller march in Oakland made its way down the slope of 5th Avenue into downtown. When I got there, it was too crowded for me to get close to the area where people were giving electrically amplified speeches. But I caught some of what they were saying. I had heard some of it during events earlier in the week, before this main rally took place.

are pretty much just as bad as the G-20 protestors. Of course not everyone thinks this.

It seems ironic that some public misconceptions about G-20 protesters have involved the idea that activists are storing human waste to be used against the police and other people. My guess is that the vast majority of the people involved with protesting the G-20 are also intensely and extensively involved in serving their communities, whether it's helping to feed, house, or educate people or some other type of sevice.

Today two young men repeated to me the tale of urine -filled barrels being discovered in Seattle in 2000. He also said people staying at a small tent city in the Hill District had something similar going on during the past few days.

His view of the people at the tent city contrasts with that of the people at the People's Summit who talked about the problems of foreclosures and how domestic and international policies are hurting people. It seems that an element of public sentiment about the G-20 is the idea that people who question and oppose our leaders are pretty much lowlife terrorists and the people who are hurting econi

As the People's Tribunal comes to an end, I have the urge to raise my hand to ask why there has been no arguments made in defense of the G-20, but I won't because doing so won't achieve anything.

za of United Students Against Sweatshops, said that Obama is wrong by saying that G-20 protestors have too abstract ideas in terms of their opposition to G-20.

Alberto Arroyo of Red Mexicana de Accion Frente al Libre Comercio is speaking . He said G-20 wants his people to produce crops used to fuel their nations' car instead of using them for food. They have taken away our right to be able to live on our own country and then say we are illegal when we are forced to emmigrate. G-20 has developed free trade agreements that obligate poor countries' governments to place interests of corporations over those of its people. The legislation in many of our countries is being changed so we don't have the right to protest all of this. They govs. that promote corporate interests over those of its people--ie assassination attempt on Evo Morales and also something similar in Venuzuella and in Honduras.

Another speaker is talking about Burma changing from being the rice bowl of Asia to being a country used for Russia and other countries which use that money to fund their military. She also said we must stand with Honduras. The militarization of our country is something we must address, in terms of our prisons. Our military is used to give our natipn its increasing access to the world's resources. -UN should distribute funds of G-20 to cancel Third World debt

Jihon Gearon of the Indigenous Environmental Network said our society values comfort over clean air and water. She is speaking about the connections between environmentalism and militarism and she is speaking against green-washing. We want sustainable livelohoods. Get rid of G-20 and their proposed solutions. Solutions to enviro problems will not be easy or quick but it is the right thing to do.

Now Priva Hang ' andu of the organizatipn called Jubilee Zambia is speaking. Poor countries need to be part of decision-making. US has suppoerted repressive regime in the Congo. Why should South Africa service a debt that was used against its people. The developed world must stop extracting resources from poor countries. We must end double standards, in terms of policies toward poor countries. We must stop subsidizing agriculture of rich countries. We need better definitions for development. Stop forcing poor countries into debt.

Wilt Thompkins is now speaking. "We must network" and "create land trusts" to protect communities. "You cannot afford to be tired