What is anti-globalisation?

Anti-globalization is the umbrella term for a group of different protest causes, including
environmentalism
third world debt
animal rights
child labour
anarchism, and
anti-capitalism and opposition to multinationals
Globalization has really accelerated since the break-up of the Soviet
Union.
It includes the increasing integration of countries' individual
economies, the rise in world trade, the impact on ordinary people
of multinational companies and the effect of large sums of
money moving in and out of economies.
It also includes the increasing number of cross-border social,
cultural and technological links.


The targets of anti-globalization protests have been meetings of the
World Trade Organization (WTO) which promotes free trade between countries
International Monetary Fund (IMF) which gives countries loans when their economies
are in crisis
World Bank, which among other things gives longer term loans to countries for
development
Other meetings of national leaders and businesses have also been hit, such as the Summit
of the Americas in Quebec, and the World Economic Forum in Davos.


May Day (originally a pagan festival, now the day of workers and international socialism) is
often a target for these protests.


Protests have often resulted in violence, eg the scenes in Quebec (see picture). But most of
the protesters are supporters of non-violent direct action, and have used tactics such as
guerrilla gardening (which saw Winston Churchill's statue getting a turf mohican), and Feed


Under attack in Seattle
the Birds (giving pigeons in Trafalgar Square food when authorities are trying to remove
them).


Opponents of globalization say it leads to exploitation of the world's poor, workers, and the
environment. They say it makes it easier for rich companies to act with less accountability.
They also claim that countries' individual cultures are becoming overpowered by
Americanization. Several of the largest US brands (eg McDonald's and Starbucks) face
particular opposition.
Those in favor of globalization say increasing world trade should make everyone richer, and
say global phenomena like the internet can help those who are oppressed. Trade links can
encourage countries to respect human rights, they say.