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Street theatre and Carnivals oppose WTO in Barcelona by IMCUK 12:21pm Sun Nov 11 '01

A spectacular series of performance actions opposing the World Trade Organisation (WTO) used a ëShow busí that took protestors to four central landmark buildings symbolising the impact of privatisation on the local communities in Barcelona today.   A coalition of groups included a number of social movements, ATTAC, neighbourhood associations, radical trade unions and DIY campaigners borne out of last Juneís World Bank protests began the actions at 10 am Spanish time. Creative use was made of a show bus with a sound system, video stream and other multimedia equipment to expose the privatisation of public services and spaces by the right-wing Spanish government. Demonstrators began by pretending to "privatise" a National Health Service Hospital with street performances followed by leafleting members of the public. The entrance to the hospital building representing ëfree accessí was taped by the protestors to show how privatisation will exclude patients. The momentum for the procession gathered pace when more protestors joined the march as it progressed through the capital city. Carnival type actions were used to demonstrate against the WTO particularly the General agreement on Trades and Services which is attempting to privatise essential public services. The second part of the action began at Central University and was followed by the "privatisation" of Liceo's underground station in downtown Barcelona. There were reports of over 1000 protestors marching to the central Parc de la Ciutadella to expose how public spaces could also face privatisation. Reclaim The Streets march http://barcelona.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=8786&group=webcast was concluded with actions against the attack on Afghanistan and the continuing criminalisation of Catalonian social movements in front of central government delegation in Catalonia this evening. barcelona.indymedia.org/ add your own comments