A new approach for anti-globalization activism
After six days of anti-AFTA action, we will not be releasing an adrenalin pumping video of hardline confrontations, tear gas, rubber bullets and cracked skulls. There are no bails, trials or lawyers to arrange. Police never raided our convergence space, anarchists never masked up, fences and barricades weren’t torn down. This was nothing like Miami, Cancun or Seattle.
In Tucson, we were handed an opportunity for a different approach. During the week-long Andean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) talks, security was virtually non-existent. The hotels the delegates were staying at and the Tucson Convention Center where the majority of the talks took place had only a handful of police and security staff. We had open access.
So we developed a new model. Armed with fair trade gift baskets (1|2) and globalized information, we approached delegates, negotiators, lobbyists and negotiators – just to chat. We took them out to lunch and coffee, we took them shopping, we arranged further meetings, exchanged contact info and saw pictures of their families. And we listened.
What we learned was amazing, each person involved in this week of action has a unique story to tell about his or her encounters. Although none of us have changed our minds towards AFTA or free trade in general, we have a different outlook on the process and how we can influence it. Arizona Indymedia will be working with everyone to compile their stories into something useful for the future. What we learned, what we tried, what worked and what didn’t. Keep an eye out at an Indymedia site near you for "The Tucson Model."
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AFTA resisters organize in Tucson and South America
