The “Battle of Seattle” in 1999 marked the unofficial start of the anti-globalisation movement. Organising under the radar, this new protest movement bursts onto the scene with tens of thousands taking to the streets and shutting the city down. Protestors criticised the World TradeOrganisation (WTO) as promoting a “race to the bottom” in terms of environmental, human rights and labour standards.

The Seattle WTO protests were some of the first major international mobilisations, consisting of groups and networks of activists, to be coordinated via the internet. The protests were reported online with streaming audio and video clips by the Seattle Independent Media Center. While 400,000 people took part in a virtual sit-in of the WTO Web site organised by the

Electrohippies Collective, more than 40,000 protesters (some estimates were as high as 60,000)

were in Seattle to oppose everything from specific WTO policies to free trade and the human rights failures of globalisation.

Throughout the week, NGOs also sponsored debates, lectures, and teach-ins. Through a variety of tactics, such as street theatre, sit-ins, chaining themselves together, and locking themselves to metal pipes in strategic locations, the protesters prevented the opening ceremony from taking place. Protesters broke windows and looted the retail outlets of many multinational corporations, such as Starbucks, Bank of America, and Banana Republic.

d) Examine the TWO roles of global media in the resistance that took place at the Battle of Seattle. Illustrate each role with an example from the above c

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The global media played significant roles in the resistance that took place at the Battle of Seattle ... View the full answer