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WSQT Radio 87.9 in DC
Two important protests took place this weekend: Antiwar protestors spoke out and beat drums for 24 hours outside the White House, and koreans descended on Washington to oppose a proposed US-South Korea "Free" Trade deal.
Back in 1991, protestors banged drums outside the White House for 40 days and 40 nights to protest Guld War 1. Daddy Bush complained to the press that "Those damned drums are keeping me up at night," leading to a vicious police crackdown.
Years later, Daddy Bush answered "Those damned drums" when asked what was the worst part of being president! For 25 years, the Proposition 1 antinuclear vigil has spoke out agaisnt nuclear weapons, nuclear warmongering(like that now directed at Iran), and other kinds of war.
We faced no police problems this weekend, in stark contrast to the security goon problems at 3100 Cleveland Ave, the home of John Negoponte.(JOIN US on June 22 as we return to Negroponte's house! Gather 7PM outside the Woodley park Metro.) Still, if Dubya wants to know why the drums were back for one night, he should ask his father.
One spekaer at the Prop 1 rally provided stunnign information about the rise in GI dissent as a result of the iraq war.
Also this weekend, Koreans staged a noisy protest march, starting at the World bank and marching to the White House to oppose a Bush-style free trade agreement.
All over our good Earth, people are rejecting the doctrine of "free" trade. In Latin America, nation after nation is electing anti-globalization leaders. Now the fight comes to Korea.
If the FTA goes through, it will bankrupt Korean farmers. This will force some to seek jobs abroad as migrant labor(sound familiar?) Other farmers unwilling to emigrate in search of work may even be killed by this deal, as has already been happening due to WTO provisions.
In addition, the deal will take away access to generic drugs and even replace korean films with US Hollywood films in Korean movie theaters! On top of all else it will no doubt demand that the people of Korea start eating US genetically-engineeered rice, illegal on most of our Earth.
It is all one Earth-it is all one FIGHT!
Lastly, check out our new station ID tag for the summer.
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