Protestors rally against WEF in New York

Anti-globalisation protesters demonstrate outside the Waldorf-Astoria hotel where the WEF is taking place. swiss-image.ch/Marcel Bieri

Thousands of anti-globalisation protesters have taken part in peaceful demonstrations against the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum taking place in New York.

The Forum has become a regular target for a coalition of groups disenchanted with mainstream politicians and business leaders they hold responsible for much of the poverty and misery that exists in the world today. Banners at the demonstration voiced a range of protests from corporate greed to sanctions against Iraq to the war in Afghanistan.

A colourful crowd of mostly young people including musicians, puppeteers and singers gathered at Manhattan’s Colombus Circle and vented its anger and frustration at the Forum.

Speaker after speaker denounced the organisation as a powerful club of corporations and political leaders that excluded ordinary people. And some said that the WEF and its allies were the real opponents of globalisation.

“We are not an anti-globalisation movement,” said one woman to cheers, “We are a movement for global justice. We are against a corporate globalisation that benefits only the rich. We are for globalisation that benefits the people and that embraces the values of sustainability and makes a just world.”

Speakers also expressed their support for the rival World Social Forum being held in Porto Alegre in Brazil.

Noisy protest

Protesters later converged in front of the Waldorf Astoria where more than 2,000 representatives from business, politics and academia are meeting to discuss the terror threat and future economic challenges.

Here, the protesters set up a noisy protest that must have penetrated the walls of the luxury Park Avenue hotel.

“We are here to let people know that this World Economic Forum that’s portrayed as something nice and good for the world is really something that’s very tragic for the world as witnessed by Argentinians trying to get their basic needs,” said John Walker of the American campaigning group, ANSWER, “Because of the policies of the IMF their country is devastated by austerity programmes created by these people in the Waldorf Astoria.”

New York police were out in strength on Saturday amid fears that protests may turn violent. Other high-profile meetings such as the Genoa summit and former WEF meetings in Davos have been disrupted by violence.

Around 4,000 police officers were deployed to the WEF.

Difficult access

Trucks filled with sand blocked off the streets surrounding the Waldorf Astoria and mounted police and officers with dogs patrolled the immediate vicinity. The bomb squad was also on standby.

The size and scope of the police operation angered protesters who said many people had been prevented from getting to the demonstration.

“They are making it very difficult to get around,” said Parker, “This is supposed to be a legally permitted demonstration but they are making it very difficult for people to come in.”

Inside the Waldorf Astoria, it was business as usual on Saturday.

The main discussions centred on the economic slowdown and the prospects for a full recovery. Those taking part in the debate included the French finance minister, Laurent Fabius, and the German finance minister, Hans Eichel.

Most analysts here say they believe the US economy will take off again by the summer with Europe following later in the year. But there are some doubters, who believe the US may enter a double-dip recession.

The Forum runs until Monday.

by Michael Hollingdale, New York.