When the WTO comes to town ...

I remember the WTO protests in Seattle in 2000.

I wasn't there, but I wished I was.

I remember the WTO protests in Geneva in 2009.

I am here, but (with the exception of fleeting moments of rebelliousness) I wish I weren't.

The 20 second sum-up goes something like this:

Wednesday: Glance out my office window and, low and behold, dozens of uniformed men from the Swiss army are scuttling about, building cement barricades, setting up metal fencing, hanging barbed wire. Around my office. Who knew the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference was to be held in our very building?

Thursday: The fortress grows. This is getting serious. Receive "urgent notification" from the police informing that:

"A manifestation bringing together diverse groups hostile to the WTO will be taking place on Saturday... The ralley has received an advisory notice from the police but has not yet been formally authorised to carry out the proposed activities..."

Friday: Swiss army leaves; police forces come. We can no longer get anywhere near the building without showing every piece of ID known to man (and woman)... and, for that matter, every piece of ID yet UNknown to man (and woman).

Saturday: As seen in this 40 second BBC video, all hell breaks lose (for the record, that WOULD be my gym right about second 19). And I quote:

"Anti-capitalist protesters have set fire to cars, and smashed the windows of banks and cafes, during a rally in Geneva in Switzerland.

The protestors were objecting to talks being held in the city on Monday by the World Trade Organisation which protesters say works on behalf of big business and exploits the developing world."

Sunday: Supposedly more of the same. Don't know, as we remained home with post-Thanksgiving food comas. Meanwhile, the ever-so-tolerant Swiss were out voting to ban the construction of minarets (Islamic "steeples") within the country. Just another show of Swiss progressiveness (can you hear the sarcasm??)

Monday: Half hoping we weren't going to be able to get into the building for work and could just go home. No luck. Protesters have set up camp--complete with bon fires--just across the street, and spend the day singing soothing campfire songs until the evening's candle light serenade to their intimate audience of 100 riot police.


Did I mention that today, Monday, is only day ONE of the conference? Goodness only knows what tomorrow might bring ...