Today, it's the Internet that powers the anti-globalization activists who descend on international summits to fight against what they see as corporate influence and the sacrifice of human rights for the sake of trade. Many participant groups have posted long polemics outlining their reasons for opposing the Free Trade Area of the Americas, which is to be negotiated April 20-22 in Quebec by the leaders of 34 countries. Local groups are using the Web to co-ordinate activities with protesters coming from Latin America, the United States and Europe. One Quebec City group, Operation Quebec Printemps 2001, is taking requests for lodging via E-mail. Public Citizen, a group founded by consumer activist Ralph Nader, has everything from what to expect from police to tips for driving in Quebec.
Drivers are as bad as in Boston.
In Quebec City, they have a specialty for ignoring pedestrian crossings. While the Internet is an essential organizational tool and useful for sharing ideas, anti-globalization activists say it has its limitations. Debate is still done face to face, mostly over beer. Philippe Duhamel, a member of the Montreal-based group SalAMI, said access to the Internet is an issue for those in the international movement. More than 50 per cent of the world population has never touched a phone.