This is What Democracy Looks Like

This movie was one of my source materials when I was writing a play about domestic terrorism- even though the movie isn't really about that. I realize it has it's own agenda, but it provides a narrative of the 1999 WTO in Seattle that you didn't get on the MSM and you wouldn't get unless you were there or you actively seek out this sort of thing. This narrative is one about hope and power and unity and I find it incredibly sad that it was lost in post 9/11. It is my own belief that what happened in Seattle that year - environmentalists and labor united, workers across the world united in solidarity to oppose globalization made a few businessmen and politicians nervous - duh? But it was precisely this solidarity the Bush Administration started driving a wedge through once it took office, by pushing on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Then the Bush Administration's response to 9/11 very conveniently took care of the rest - isolating people in this country, squandering the good will towards the U.S. in the aftermath of such a tragedy, creating an ongoing narrative of war and fear. It is a different time now and these sorts of tactics aren't necessarily as effective (and some things are downright hokey and quaint). I watch this movie often because it reminds me of what is possible and it still informs my work.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11