The events of 11 September 2001, colloquially 9/11, shocked the entire world. That they did so reflects the globalisation and reach of the news media. In the late 1990s the emergence of globalisation sparked an anti-globalisation movement which came to prominence in the Battle of Seattle during a World Trade Organization meeting on 30 November 1999, and which was named N-30 by anti-WTO activists. Exactly a year before 9/11, on 11 September 2000, the World Economic Forum’s Asian summit was held in Melbourne and attended by some of the biggest names in politics and business. That summit provoked another anti-globalisation protest, this one calling itself S11, which claimed the WEF promoted globalisation and represented only the interests of multinationals. Expectedly, the head of the WEF described S11 as an oppressive minority attempting to interfere with normal legal activities. The S11 protesters were met by a massive police presence. How do I know? I was there. And what’s more I didn’t see any farmers there protesting the globalisation of agriculture. Now farmers are whingeing because Woolworths has divulged it imports canned fruit: 100% of its Woolworths Select brand and 50% of its Home Brand. Canned Fruit Industry Council chairman Ivan Routley called this ‘shameful’. Where were you and your mates on 11 September 2000, Mr Routley? I know where I was.
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