In the age of globalization, more and more citizens are employing the tactics of these peaceful activists to resist corporate rule, and they are taking their message to the streets. Groups like the Ruckus Society based in Berkeley, California and the Co-Motion Camp based in Calgary train and educate activists months ahead of the protests. I attended the Ruckus camp held in Kananaskis in Sept. '99 to learn how to organize protests through non-violent direct action training. In the week-long action camp we activists learned skills ranging from legal rights to dealing with media to how to climb safely and paint an effective banner. Another important skill taught at the camp was how to use the consensus decision-making model, because in this grassroots movement, everybody is a leader and has an equal say in decisions.
Facilitators ensure the meetings stay focused and allow everyone to speak their turn.
On the days leading up to a protest, a convergence space is usually set up for activists to engage in workshops and training in legal rights, non-violence, and medical treatment. In the legal workshop, for example, arrest guidelines are discussed, along with the possible charges you could face. One of the most important and empowering tools an activist can have on the streets is knowing his or her rights. Police may use fear tactics to achieve compliance, but when you know your rights as a citizen, these tactics won't work. Throughout the hemisphere, activists and civil society are preparing to protest the FTAA and offer concrete alternatives to neo-liberalism.