Many who participated in, or read about, November's protests against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) in Miami continue to discuss that event. Baltimore activists have attended report-backs in Baltimore and Washington DC on Miami and the future of the global justice movement, or alternative globalization movement. Baltimore Indymedia offers three articles hopefully useful for strategic and tactical reflection.

The first article presents an overview of the status of the "free trade" initiatives led by the United States government. Jim George reviews what transpired at the 2003 meetings of the World Trade
Organization, the Free Trade Areas of the Americas, and the Central America Free Trade Area and summarizes commentary of Left intellectuals like Jeff Faux and Immanuel Wallerstein. Linking his discussion to the perspectives of GJM activists, George concludes "It is always tempting to feel that the present time represents a turning point. The artificial beginning, marked by a new calendar year, tends to heighten this feeling. Some within the [direct action] community suggest that the stark police power displayed in Miami might represent a turning point of sorts. Others point to the failed negotiations in both Cancun and Miami as signs of a turning point." Read more of Jim George's 'Global Justice Movement: Reflections on 2003, Prospects on 2004.'

Indymedia interviews Baltimore activist Ryan Harvey. Harvey, active with NoFTAA Towson, was one of the activists involved in the direct action planning for the protests against the FTAA in Miami. Harvey argues that "There are folks who want to march and there are folks who want to push against the line. We tried to have both in Miami and it put a lot of people at risk who did not want to be at risk....While direct confrontation may be needed eventually ... I think we need to shy away from it for now. I think we need more numbers, more outreach, and some creative action." Read more of Heather Rounds' 'Interview with Baltimore Activist Ryan Harvey.'

Indymedia also interviews Baltimore activist Michael McGuire. McGuire, active with the Coalition against Global Exploitation, was involved in the planning for the direct actions against the FTAA in Miami, but, differs from Harvey on tactical perspectives advocating non-violent direct action. He was also one of the organizers of the protests against the World Trade Organization in Cancun. According to McGuire, who discusses the role of Brazil, the G-22, and the World Social Forum, it's time to gear up for "...the April 22-25 [mobilizations] against the IMF and World Bank for their 60th anniversary meetings....I think the [Republican National Convention] will be the next big opportunity for movement building in this country. We'll also see how adaptive the [global justice movement] is in 2004. It seems obvious that our movement has to change and grow. This might be a decisive year." Read more of Chuck D'Adamo's 'Interview with Baltimore Activist Mike McGuire.'

Baltimore Indymedia hopes that these pieces offer some insight into the state of the alternative globalization movement and catalyze further discussion.

See also Baltimore Indymedia "Reporting from the FTAA"
baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/5515/index.php
baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/5516/index.php
baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/5540/index.php
and "The Miami Model"
baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6159/index.php