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The Reclaim the Commons Free for All

by padme crowe | 06.18.2005

Free was the theme of the day at the Reclaim the Commons Festival, which was today from 10am until 2pm at Clark Park in West Philadelphia. This opening event for the Biodemocracy 2005 Teach-In and Conference, which is being presented by Philadelphia Resistance Against Genetic Engineering (RAGE) and the Institute for Social Ecology, had something free for everyone

really really free trade
sustainably grown free plants
political poet/singer marly hornik
the festivities from afar
the green circus
free expression
creative expression
the radical cheerleaders
food not bombs offers free lunch

There was free information from numerous local and national social justice, political, health and environmental groups, such as ACT UP, Code Pink, Mountain Justice Summer, Philly IMC, as well as folks representing local currency and energy options. Free food was offered from Food Not Bombs, which was celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. Festival goers also received free music, theatre, art and education from the Farmers Speakout. In the midst of all this was the “Really Really Free Trade” bazaar where people brought anything and everything to give away, including sustainably grown plants.
The festival was designed to raise and promote awareness about the local and global consequences of United States policy decisions regarding international trade and domestic genetic engineering practices. Participants were encouraged by speakers to ask questions about how these policies affect a community’s autonomy and to consider the alternatives to increasing centralized power structures. One farmer, Percy Schmeiser, from Canada, asked the crowd to consider what kind of legacy we wanted to leave our children.
Throughout the festival there were banners displayed and posters being made for the upcoming street protests organized for Tuesday June 21st, billed as “The Longest Day of Action”. Many of these banners and signs reflected an outright rejection of claims that genetically modified foods and medicines are safe for consumption and the ecology. Other signs emphasized opinions regarding specific harmful affects of the globalization and privatization efforts made by multi-national corporations. These messages are aimed at the delegates of the closed-door Biotech Industry Organization Convention, which is being held in downtown Philadelphia from June 19-21.

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