What to Bring?

I will say the stuff about tear gas is extreme and sacry but be prepared. You do not have to be breaking the law for police to use such violence against you. That said - it isn't too difficult to avoid that if you know what you're doing and you choose not to. This is information I am passing on and I make no claims to it's validity or relevance:

From: C Jewett
Subject: Squatting WTO !
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 18:14:56 PST

PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY AND POST TO YOUR LISTS!!!!!

SHUT DOWN THE WTO!! ABOLISH CAPITALISM!!

SEATTLE ANARCHIST RESPONSE Bulletin
NOVEMBER 15, 1999
Last Minute preparations to confront the Global Capitalist System at the WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION's Ministerial in Seattle, Nov 29-Dec 3

1) UPDATE on direct action organizing
2) WHAT TO BRING
3) WHAT TO EXPECT
4) THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR

1) ORGANIZING THUS FAR

The direct action mobilization has been most firmly anchored in the efforts of the Direct Action Network (DAN), a loosely knit collection of grassroots groups interested in presenting a progressive, populist opposition to the WTO, through street theater, large puppetry, and nonviolent direct action/civil disobedience. Preparations for such actions, including puppet building and climbing and technical blockade trainings, will be taking place from Nov 20 until the Ministerial at a warehouse near downtown- this event is known as "the Direct Action
Convergence" DAN has also secured housing for hundreds of activists in various warehouse spaces (see housing section below).

Seattle Anarchist Response (SAR) is a loose association of anarchists meeting regularly in seattle to share ideas and concerns and coordinate projects relating to both the DAN working groups, as well as autonomous projects. SAR and DAN people are cooperating on several levels including a planned mass building occupation, a city-wide walkout, an RTS (Reclaim
the Streets) party, and various guerilla media and publicity projects. Many of us will be involved in the Direct Action Convergence as well, and we hope to instigate discussions and give workshops there on issues surrounding tactics and strategy.

**There will be an anarchist social/karaoke/open mike/roundtable on WEDNESDAY NOV. 24th. Call the SAR hotline for location, or check in at the Direct Action Convergence space***

SAR will be producing an "Anarchist Survival Guide to the WTO", to be published by Nov 20th, which will include all sorts of information to make your stay in seattle as memorable and hassle-free as possible. We will also be distributing copies of Ward Churchill's essay "Pacifism as Pathology". SAR can be contacted at: (206)726-2419

A corporate research group is producing a pamphlet with details about sponsors and financial backers of the ministerial.

2) WHAT TO BRING(Anarchist Survival Kit):

CLOTHING

  • should be protective and durable, light weight (to allow for great mobility), and tight fitting while covering the entire body (to protect from tear gas).
  • PREPARE FOR COLD AND WET WEATHER!! Bring extras of everything, kept dry in your backpack. Wear rainproof jackets and pants, and/or WOOL (used, of course) gloves, wide brimmed hats, and dry sturdy boots
  • ski mask/balaclava, hooded jacket
  • dark clothing and/or costumes, as well as casual business attire may be useful.
  • Bike or motorcycle helmets to protect yourself
  • For Men, a jock strap or protective cup
  • eyeglasses with a strap or contact lenses, goggles
  • GAS MASK- only use current military or police designs. Don't try any old ones you may come across in markets or army surplus stores as many used asbestos in the filters!
    • OTHER
  • the most important thing you can bring to the WTO is an affinity group.  there are several cheap voicemail services in town for you to keep in touch with each other ($10), and having someone to watch your back can make a lot of difference.
  • witnessing equipment such as video and still cameras are a plus. copwatchers and activist videographers will be getting together throughout the Ministerial, and the new Seattle Indy Media Center will host a full production studio.
  • if you have your own communications equipment BRING IT! this includes scanners, radios, and CELL PHONES.
  • Bring money, incl. change for buses and phones. There will be various supplies available for purchase, and SAR is grossly underfunded, so if you can contribute to some of our logistical costs (communications stuff mostly, since the DAN comm team is tactically limited) it'd be great.
  • there will also be various anarchist lit. distro tables going, including Left Bank Books and Revolt distro, so bring some cash for zines and such.
  • City maps will be available, but you may want to bring your own too, esp. road maps, topographicals, and train maps.
  • Vehicles and/or bikes
  • insluated mug and your own dishes
  • Drums (waterproof), instruments and whistle/noisemakers
  • All purpose tool- bottle/can opener, screwdriver, awl/cork screw, tweezers (leatherman recommended)
  • Pens and note paper (in plastic ziplocks?)
  • tools for mischief, agit-prop, banners and extra fabric and clothing to share. use your imagination!
    • Make sure your affinity group has Emergency Phone Numbers in case of medical emergency, and be sure to keep the legal support team # and Seattle Anarchist Switchboard Voicemail: (206)726-2419 handy

    Try to leave pets at home.

    3) WHAT TO EXPECT:
    FOOD
  • definitely try to bring your own, esp. if you have a special diet. Multiple FNB field kitchens will be cooking vegan meals continuously, but do not rely upon them. there are many good dumpsters and stores to liberate from, which will be identified in your handy ANTI-CAPITALIST GUIDE TO WTO- available starting on the 20th.
    • HOUSING
  • there is room for up to 800 in rented housing, and more in liberated spaces. either way, you WILL NEED A SLEEPING BAG! there is also room in local activist houses, but if you havent already hooked up with that, expect to stay in group accomodations. all spaces are dry, but most will be cold. bring buddies to snuggle with. you may want your own camp stove and flashlights for the liberated spaces, which are available now.
    • LEGAL
  • There will be an experienced legal support team operating throughout and after the Ministerial, and there is currently no reason to think they will be selective in types of charges they will do support for.
    • 4) THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR:
    "PEACEKEEPERS"- this issue is controversial in DAN, and it's likely that DAN will NOT appoint activist cops for their action on the 30th, BUT that doesn't mean people won't take it upon themselves to police other activists. while identifying provocateurs can be very useful and
    effective, activist cops have been known to try to confront and isolate people who are taking autonomous action, even if their safety is not being affected adversely. sometimes aggressive language can be seen as "provocative". best advice is to ignore or dialogue, but not to escalate
    the confrontation, although a little bit of anger may be just what they need to back off.
     
    COPS- The level of police mobilization for Seattle is at the higest possible level. There is no reason to think they won't take the approach of "arrest now, justify (or not) later." DAN and other communications networks will be attempting to relay information about police movements,
    but all participants are encouraged to act with extreme caution. intense surveillance and undercover infiltration is a given. Copwatchers are vital.
     
    CHEMICAL WEAPONRY- Here is some basic info on effective protection from the various gases. The Seattle police have confirmed that these weapons are on hand. Here are some solutions and tips for minimalizing the impacts, from U.S. and English documents incase you want to experiment:
    PREPARATIONS BEFORE AN ACTION
     
  • If you are sprayed with tear gas, you will probably will not be able to read these instructions, let alone find them--so study this before you need it.
  • Pain may be reduced by taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug, like ibuprofen. Unfortunately, the time it takes for your body to deliver the drug in a pill to the sites of irritation make them of little use until the effects are already wearing off. They will be most effective if taken before exposure.

    • ANTIDOTE RECIPES- not to be used in eyes.

    Neutralizer #1- Carry a bottle of solution made up from water with 5% Baking Soda.

    Neutralizer #2- Carry a bottle of solution made up from water and sodium metabisulphate (sold as Campden tablets used in home brewing).

    Superdeluxe Pregassing Antidote- Mix 8-10 eggs, 1 cup water and a teaspoon of baking soda in a bowl. Beat mixture well. Keep refrigerated in small plastic bottles until a demonstration. Wipe the stuff on your face before a gassing occurs.

    ***If you are asthmatic tell the people around you before the action starts, so that if when sprayed you have a bad reaction they'll be able to act appropriately by giving you your medication or getting a doctor.

    WHAT TO DO WHEN SPRAYED

    -If you are in the line of spray move backwards out of range rather than sideways where the spray may still be able to reach you. If you are in a building move outside. Your eyesight may become blurred and it is easy to lose awareness of what is going on. Do not run blindly into the arms of the police, or worse still, into traffic. Act calmly and stay aware of your surroundings whilst moving to a safe area.

    -If possible stand upwind of where the spraying happened and expose the affected part of your body to the wind. This will help disperse the gas quickly. Take deep breaths of fresh air.

    -Flush the affected skin with the solution mentioned earlier or just water. Do not touch it as you will spread the chemical around and rub it into your pores. It may be possible that you can rejoin the action right away, as small amounts should only affect you for a few minutes.

    -Ordinarily the eye effects are self limiting and require no treatment. Do not rub your eyes. Remove contact lenses if present. If necessary, flush eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes. Patients suffering from temporary blindness should be reassured;
    permanent blindness from exposure to vapor has never been observed even at very high concentrations.

    -ASAP, have a cold shower for 3-5 minutes (hot water opens the pores and allows gas particles in), then proceed with normal showering. Showers flush the chemical away whilst a bath will just re-distribute it. Warm water may intensify the burning and inflammation. For gross
    contamination, wash with Neutralizer mentioned above. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water.

    -After the action you should hang your clothes up in a well ventilated area to disperse the last remnants of the gas. When they have hung for a day or so wash them twice- first in cold and then in hot water- and they'll be okay to wear again.

    -CS Gas is fat soluble so never coat your skin in petroleum jelly or similar substances for protection as some people have tried. When sprayed do not treat the area with any cream, lotion, jelly or ointment, unless advised to by a physician. Skin decontaminants containing bleach should not be used; bleach reacts with CS to form a combination which is more irritant to the skin than CS alone. The best treatments are air, cold water and time.

    -If symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or burning in the mouth, throat, or chest) develop, call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital.

    Protection

    Clothing should be secured at the neck, wrists and ankles.

    Protective Clothing
          If Tyvek-type disposable protective clothing is not worn during handling of this chemical, wear disposable Tyvek-type sleeves taped to your gloves.

    RECOMMENDED GLOVE MATERIALS:
    GlovES Expert System Recommended Gloves For Use With Neat (Undiluted)
    Chemical:
          This chemical has not been tested for permeation by Radian Corporation;  however, the GlovES expert system was used to extrapolate permeation test information from compounds in the same chemical class and the following recommendation(s) are provided. The GlovES system uses permeation data from literature sources; therefore, extra safety margins should be used with the recommended exposure times. If this chemical comes into contact with your glove, or if a tear, puncture or hole develops, remove them at once.

    Suggested Glove Type     Model Number      Thickness   Estimated
    Breakthrough
      Polyvinyl alcohol       Edmont 15-552      N/A              240 min.

    RECOMMENDED RESPIRATOR:
          When working with teargas, wear a NIOSH-approved full face chemical cartridge respirator equipped with the appropriate organic vapor and high efficiency particulate filter cartridges. If that is not available, a half face respirator similarly equipped plus airtight goggles can be
    substituted. However, please note that half face respirators provide a substantially lower level of protection than do full face respirators.

    SEE YOU IN SEATTLE!!!

    <<<<<<<<<<<<<SOME INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

    (from reclaim the streets)
    *DIRECT ACTION  enables people to develop a new sense of self confidence and an awareness of their individual and collective power.

    *DIRECT ACTION is founded on the idea that people can develop the ability for self rule only through practice, and proposes that all persons directly decide the important issues facing them.

    * DIRECT ACTION is not just a tactic, it is individuals asserting their ability to control their own lives and to participate in social life without the need for mediation or control by bureaucrats or professional politicians.

    * DIRECT ACTION is not a last resort when other methods have failed, but the preferred way of doing things.

            >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

    "The strongest bulwark of authority is uniformity; the least divergence from it is the greatest crime."
    -Emma Goldman

           >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

    MAY OUR RESISTANCE BE AS TRANSNATIONAL AS CAPITAL
    NOVEMBER 30, 1999 GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM,
    SEATTLE AND EVERYWHERE!!
    http://www.seattlewto.org/n30

    SEATTLE DIRECT ACTION CONVERGENCE (nov 20-28)
    http://www.agitprop.org/artandrevolution
    (206) 632-1656

    MAY 1, 2000
    GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION
    http://www.freespeech.org/mayday2k

    GLOB@L ACTION
    http://flag.blackened.net/global


    >From: Stephanie Sersli
    >Subject: Fwd: Squatting WTO !
    >Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 17:29:17 -0800 (PST)
    > > >(a personal view )
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >After the demos and riots of the 1998 WTO summit in
    > > Geneva, there was some
    > > >criticism within the movement in Geneva about the
    > > way different kinds of
    > > >events where handled by the local PGA organising
    > > committee, and it was
    > > >agreed that the next time it should be quite clear
    > > that there was no
    > > >monopoly or franchise on a PGA call to action and
    > > that different groups
    > > >could organise to respond in different ways.
    > > >And thus it came about (some times people really do
    > > what they say) that
    > > >while "Action Populaire Contre la Mondialisation"
    > > was seriously organising
    > > >for the Geneva demo within the general
    > > "Anti-Millenium Coordination", a
    > > >nefarious band of squatters, subversives, etc., the
    > > "Et Paf!" (the
    > > >"Whammo!") collective, decided that the best call
    > > to action was action.
    > > >Its a bit more complicated to occupy WTO
    > > headquarters than a McDo. There
    > > >are guards outside, you need a pass to enter, there
    > > are more guards inside.
    > > >You need special clothes not to be spotted
    > > immediately, etc. How to stay in
    > > >long enough? No effort was spared. A whole fake
    > > class of student social
    > > >workers was organised. Others slipped past security
    > > thanks to a stratagem
    > > >that was so marvellous that it can’t even be told.
    > > Several people worked
    > > >hard at the mobile-portable-webcam system that was
    > > supposed to beam images
    > > >directly from the occupation onto the Web. A 40
    > > yard banner small enough to
    > > >be sneaked in was prepared.
    > > >And it all worked like clockwork! A dozen people
    > > pretending to eat at the
    > > >cafeteria on the top floor. A bit more pretending
    > > to listen to a guided
    > > >tour of WTO in the lobby, thirty friends with
    > > bicycles holed up down the
    > > >street in a café, waiting for the word. A few more
    > > trying to restrain a
    > > >small mob of journalists from rushing into WTO too
    > > soon. All at once,
    > > >people running on the roof, people locked to the
    > > main stairway, people
    > > >sending faxes in empty offices and outside the
    > > bicyclists turning in
    > > >circles to make a trafic jam. Mobile phones CAN
    > > sometimes be useful! And by
    > > >pure luck (?), all this just when Mr. Moore and the
    > > U.S. Secretary of
    > > >Agriculture were coming past. Some of the funniest
    > > things happened outside.
    > > >When bicycling got tiring, the people blocked the
    > > avenue with the barriers
    > > >that the police had conveniently stacked there. To
    > > shut the entrance gate
    > > >of the WTO, the demonstrators had to actually lift
    > > two limousines out of
    > > >the way. It suddenly seemed a natural thing to do.
    > > All this under the
    > > >astounded gaze of the outnumbered police and
    > > guards. Surprise and secrecy
    > > >can also be handy. Even when more arrived, the
    > > police were hesitant and on
    > > >the defensive. Their principal - highly symbolic
    > > act - was to cut the
    > > >chains that the demonstrators had shut the gates
    > > with, and replace them
    > > >with their own! Inside, the WTO officials first did
    > > nothing, then after
    > > >several contradictory decisions, finally let people
    > > leave without any
    > > >police intervention or even identification.
    > > Sometimes, when you hit just
    > > >the right note, you get a game free. And obviously,
    > > WTO knew that their
    > > >image is so bad, that repression could only make it
    > > worse. So help
    > > >yourselves in Seattle!
    > > >
    > > >A la prochaine!
    > > >El Paf
    > > >
    > > >P.S. A special thought for Swamy, Medha, Mishu,
    > > Dave, Vijay, René, Mike,
    > > >Anne-Cécile, Annette and Waiariki and all the
    > > others with whom we first
    > > >tried to enter WTO one evening in February 98.
    THIS VERSION HAS A REVISAL OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS SECTION. AN "INTRODUCTION TO CHEMICAL WEAPONS", WHICH EXPLAINS THE DIFFERENT TYPES, IS ALSO AVAILABLE, BUT BECAUSE OF IT'S LENGTH IS NOT IN THE BULLETIN. IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE IT, E-MAIL US AT SAResponse@hotmail.com 

     
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