[A-List] European Social Forum anti-war/anti-globalization rally in Florence

[Sabri Oncu <soncu@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

After massive, peaceful turnout in Florence, organizers call for
Feb. 15 anti-war rallies across Europe
1 hour, 32 minutes ago

FLORENCE, Italy (AP, Nov 10 2002)- Organizers of the massive
march which filled the streets of Florence and which had prompted
fears for the city's art heritage have called for anti-war
rallies in cities across Europe Feb. 15.

"We're hoping for a total turnout of 10 million people" for the
appointment, said Claudio Jampaglia, a spokesman for the European
Social Forum said Sunday.

The group organized Saturday's march, whose peaceful,
carnival-like mood defied critics, including Premier Silvio
Berlusconi, who had expressed worries about possible violence.

Jampaglia said it remained to be worked out just which cities
would host the Feb. 15 rallies to protest the U.S. government's
position on Iraq.

Organizers boasted that nearly 1 million people turned out for
Saturday's demonstration against any U.S. attack on Iraq and
against the drawbacks of economic globalization. Police put the
number at half that.

In the days leading up to the march, thousands of young people
converged on Florence to hold discussions on peace and
development.

Fearing violence like that which devastated much of Genoa last
year during the G-8 summit, many merchants boarded up shop
windows, banks covered over automatic teller machines and art
officials worried about how to protect the city's Renaissance
treasures.

On Sunday, as thousands of participants headed home, art
officials expressed relief that Florence's Renaissance heritage
had escaped unscathed.

"I'm very happy that the outcome was so good," said Florence's
museum superintendent Antonio Paolucci. "But I reiterate that
Florence doesn't lend itself to demonstrations of this kind --
all the danger was there."

Cristina Acidini, in charge of Florence's leading art restoration
institute, also thought the peaceful demonstration wasn't worth
the risk.

"I contend that it would have been better not to inflict on a
city of art like Florence a stress of this dimension."

As the date for the march drew near, explosive experts searched
the river Arno's waters for any bombs near bridges and police
helicopters flew low in search of any sign of trouble. The march
was not allowed to wind through the city's historic heart, with
its picturesque allies and magnificent squares, historic churches
and famed museums.

Demonstrators came from Greece, Spain, Britain, Denmark and other
countries to join Italians in the protest, which was also aimed
against the corporate interests of multinationals at what
protesters say is the expense of the poor and the environment.

While some Florentines closed their stores and eateries, other
citizens lent support by draping anti-war banners from windows or
handing out hot tea and refreshments to protesters.

The Schengen Treaty ? which normally allows for no border
controls when travelers go from country to country in the
15-nation grouping ? was also suspended for the appointment.

The European Social Forum is a branch of the World Social Forum
which meets annually in Porto Alegre, Brazil

++++++++++++++++++

Thousands march peacefully through Florence in anti-war,
anti-global demonstration
Sat Nov 9, 1:15 PM ET
By ALESSANDRA RIZZO, Associated Press Writer

FLORENCE, Italy - Nearly a half million people from across Europe
defied fears of violence and marched peacefully through Florence
on Saturday in a carnival-like anti-war and anti-globalization
protest.

The demonstration had sparked major security concerns in the
art-rich city, particularly after a similar anti-global protest
last year destroyed parts of Genoa. But the parade went off
without major incident and police were barely visible amid the
throngs of rainbow flag-waving demonstrators.

Police in Florence said about 450,000 people had taken part in
the demonstration, the highlight of an anti-globalization
gathering here that started Wednesday and ends Sunday. The figure
was more than twice the number expected.

Organizer Vittorio Agnoletto estimated the crowd at 800,000 to 1
million.

Demonstrators came from across Europe ? Greece, Spain, Britain,
Denmark and elsewhere ? to protest U.S. policy on Iraq and the
corporate interests of multinationals which they say harm the
poor and the environment.

The demonstration came a day after the U.N. Security Council
unanimously approved a resolution which gives Iraq a last chance
to disarm or face almost certain war.

"We want to demonstrate that a different world is possible," said
Noemi Cucchi, 31, who arrived in Florence on Saturday morning
with her sister from the Italian port city of Ancona.

Headed by a banner reading simply "No War," and accompanied by
drums and whistles, the marchers wound their way through the city
as curious Florentines looked down from their apartment windows,
many of them cheering and flying "No War" banners of their own.
Some opened their doors to offer hot tea and food to the
activists.

The atmosphere was relaxed and jovial, with demonstrators ? some
dressed as clowns ? eating as they walked or roller-bladed along
the march route, occasionally shouting "Hands off the Middle
East" and "The real terrorist is the West!"

"I really just wanted to be a part of this," said a pink-haired
Justine Trillaud, aged 16, who came to the march from Paris by
bus with a group of about 20 people.

The throngs walked along Florence's Arno river for some of the 6
1/2 kilometer (4 mile) march and ended up near the soccer stadium
for a concert.

Florence's center, with its narrow alleys, Renaissance buildings
and art treasures, was off-limits to the protesters for security
concerns. For the most part, the only uniformed police officers
in sight were those near police vehicles that were parked off the
main march route to block any demonstrators from getting through.

As another precaution, many shops in the fashionable streets
remained closed, some putting metal or wooden shutters to protect
their windows. The renowned jewelers' stores on the Ponte
Vecchio, the three-arch bridge which is one of the city's
landmarks, have kept their ancient-looking wood shutters down for
days.

After weeks of debate over whether to allow the
anti-globalization meeting, Premier Silvio Berlusconi's
government gave approval, but imposed a strict security plan.

The air space above the city was closed to private aircraft. The
Schengen Treaty ? which normally allows for no border controls
when travelers go from country to country in the 15-nation
grouping ? was also suspended.

The demonstration Saturday was seen as a major test for Italian
police, still reeling from last year's Group of Eight summit in
Genoa, where one protester was shot dead by a Carabinieri
paramilitary officer and hundreds were wounded during violent
clashes in the streets.

Images of wrecked banks, gas stations and stores in Genoa are
still vivid for many Italians.

Many feared a repeat of that violence in Florence. But there has
been a carnival atmosphere at the 16th century fortress in the
northwestern part of the city which has served as the
headquarters for the gathering, with food stands, exhibits and
street theater sidelining the dozens of discussions held inside.

"I have never seen so many people and so few policemen at a
demonstration!" said an incredulous Uwe Schurmann, from
Oberhausen, Germany as he wound up the march. "I was a bit
afraid, because they were saying this would be a 'Genoa-Two' but
it's been very peaceful and I hope it stays that way."

Even a small anti-war demonstration in front of a U.S. military
base Wednesday, which had sparked public security concerns, took
place without a hitch.

The anti-globalization gathering, billed as the European Social
Forum, is the European branch of the World Social Forum which
meets annually in Porto Alegre, Brazil. It has drawn to Florence
some 35,000 delegates from hundreds of associations.