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Quebec Summit Protests (3e Sommet des Ameriques) © Linda Dawn Hammond/ IndyFoto Quebec City, April 21- 23, 2001.

 

"Breached Barricade" and "Stop Repression" , 2 Photographs taken in the midst of tear gas at the Quebec Summit Protests, April 21, 2001. My story and photos of the 3 day protest are at www.dawnone.com/greenday.htm

 

By the way, I believe we've won this round- the WTO talks were declared, "somewhere between intensive care and the crematorium" in the Toronto Globe and Mail business report on 25/7/06 And who says protests achieve nothing? Let that be a lesson. Keep it up!

 

This photo was recently published in the Women's Daybook 2007

www.sumachpress.com/Daybook07.htm It was called,

Breathing Green, Treading Lightly: Women

And the Environment. I think they love me for continually subverting their themes! The following was my written statement.

 

Author: Linda Dawn Hammond

 

There are several ways an individual can become involved in protecting the global environment. Ironically, one such endeavour to "breathe green" resulted in 5000 canisters of CS gas being inhaled by 50,000 environmental and social activists, over 3 days of protests at the Quebec Summit in April, 2001. Treading lightly upon the fragile eco system we share sometimes requires that one stand firm in the face of corporate interests, for whom profits take precedence over environmental concerns, labour laws and human rights.

 

The impassioned woman in the foreground of this image attempts to communicate with riot squads guarding a breach in a security wall erected to shield the 'Free Trade Area of the Americas' summit leaders. The police respond with relentless volleys of teargas. The air becomes thick with acrid and highly toxic fumes.

 

In spite of personal risks, the protesters remain steadfast in their aims. If the pact between the FTAA leaders is ratified, so-called "Third World" countries risk losing sovereignty over areas such as the privatization of natural resources and the eradication of traditional farming, to make way for giant "First World" controlled agribusiness.

 

Tread lightly, but stand your ground.

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Uploaded on March 15, 2021
Taken on April 21, 2001