The WTO "forum"

["Morrison, Catherine E" <morrisce@jmu.edu>]

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I have been disgusted by the WTO forum, which they assert is the one place
people are justified to some and air their complaints with the
organization. Indeed, an employee for globalspeak, the company that runs
the message board posted this:

>From various reports, things have gotten out of hand and people are
pointing the blame at each other. We(all 6 billion of us) have an
opportunity to express our point of view on the WTO and related issues at
this web site without confronting police , disrupting the lives of Seattle
residents, or creating a media circus. If an organiztion or individual
wants to put a point of view forward , they have this forum, made
available to them by the WTO. As we enter the 21st century, I would hope
that we have come far enough as a civilzation to discuss difficult issues
in a rational way. I am not naive. I realize that some people have hidden
agendas. Hopefully, those who want to be taken seriously will avail
themselves of a first time ever global, interactive internet
discussion.The internet is the ultimate democracy; everone has an equal
opportunity to be heard whether the leader or the follower. All 6 billion
of us want the best of all possible worlds---economic growth, personal
prosperity, and a world we can leave to generations to come. If this is at
all possible, it will only be possible if rational people meet in places
like this. For the WTO Third Ministerial Conference, this is the place.

****

So this is where our free speak lies, correct? Wrong. The "monitor" of the
board has been very busy deleting certain messages from the board and even
went as far as to delete EVERYTHING from Wednesday, when the tone turned
particularly negative. My opinions have apparently been allowed to stay,
but many other people with very valid points are being silenced.

My request to you all is that whomever is participating in the
electrohippies sit in and is composing thoughtful rants against the WTO
please also post them at the forum. Just follow the links from the main
page and sign in.

It seems that rubbet bullets and teargas have taken another form.

cate

"To believe in something, and not to live it, is to be dishonest."

                     - Mohandas K. "Mahatma" Gandhi 


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