Genoa

It's also a shame that a lot of viable alternatives aren't being explored or seriously discussed, at least not in the mainstream media. I guess that's not surprising, but still it doesn't have to be come down to the laissez-faire über-alles sorts on one side vs. rioters on the other. I don't oppose international trade per se, it's possible to construct trade regimes that respect labor, environmental and human rights concerns. It's even possible to reform the international bodies regulating trade to make them more open and democratic, and so that they respect member nations' sovereignty. It's a shame that such a course of action isn't being discussed on either side, because I know I'm not alone in thinking so.

That said, I'm not confident that the Texas Chimp, his handlers and the corporations who paid him off give a flying fuck about any of this.

I think Matthew's argument reveals a terrible amount of aspirational snobbery: the "unwashed" line suggests the sort of person who thinks that anyone who shares these concerns would automatically prefer the Levellers to Destiny's Child. Personally, I sympathise utterly with the non-violent protesters. The group of people I dislike most is the violent minority who create the misleading impression that this fundamentally decent cause is held only by "extremists".

That said, there are some bad apples among the protesters. Folks like Pat Buchanan and every nativist know-nothing who'd just as soon rant about Mexican truck-drivers and the like. I also don't trust the involvement of Ralph Nader, who is just a grandstanding has-been, though that might be some residual bitterness over the Presidential election and Ralphie's role in getting Chimp Boy into the Oval Office :-)

There HAS to be another way to get the message across.

The news from Italy is not good. The Bike convoy that left Turin yesterday got stopped in Chiavasso, not a days ride from here. Berlusconi's media outlets are trying to whip up hysteria, its getting nasty.

I think the anti-globalisation debate has really gone off track over the last couple of years to reduce it to buzzword politics that anyone can understand. Also it fuels the protest for protest sake lobby as it has no clear manifesto on the way out of the perceived current malaise.

Much better to offer constructive solutions to problems, than to winge about the dire state of things. Although it has to be said that some times you have to tell people hat something is wrong, but that stage has now past, now is the time to start finding solutions. (I apear to have just turned into tony blair)

Why has noone made the Genoa joke, along the lines of 'My wife went to Italy recently' 'Genoa?' 'Of course I bloody well know her, we've been married for 20 years'.

Ha ha ha.....

Jamaica?

No she went of her own accord.

(you can't get away with doing the Genoa joke if I can't do the Jamaica joke)

Ontopic: yes, it's probably going to be nasty. The 'security race' surrounding these events is one of the most frightening aspects for me - each new venue promises harderfastermore response to the protestors, so if Genoa doesn't turn very ugly the russian-roulette rules of response suggest that wherever-is-next will.

is genoa a good place to visit