Genoa exposed what lies behind market forces. I found it profoundly ironic that the G8 leaders were talking about freedom and liberty, all in the context of trade of course, while on the streets a proto-fascist police force was beating the crap out of people demanding freedom. All in the name of defending free trade. Blair and Straw didn't complain. Now he's one of the most senior members of a borderline fascist government.
Free trade is about coercion.
We are being forced to accept poisonous food additives, GM crops, asbestos, appalling health and safety and environmental standards. But Genoa brought together large numbers of people from very diverse backgrounds. It's one of the most diverse movements in the history of the world and the largest as well. The forces we are up against affect all of us in different ways. What's happening is very exciting, we are seeing people recognising that what divides us is much smaller that what unites us.