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Surely a question with an obvious answer - of course we/they are, at ;east I hope so!! So why ask it? Well I'll get onto that below, but first, I saw last night's news report on the Seattle, London demos against the WTO with a touch of sadness - and a great sense of deja vu. Police charges, bricks, bottles and even a spanner flying, police van overturned, tear gas etc. The 90% plus of news viewers who do not fully understand the economic, environmental issues, will just see police vs "hooligans", even if the unrest might just have been sparked by subversive pro capitalists within the ranks, and like Jack Straw and his USA counterpart, now support even heavier policing of such "Workshy layabouts" as they will call them. Bet Mr J Straw is rubbing his hands in glee after the 9pm news last night, even more millions on the police budget! Likewise the pro WTO commentator was so predictable, "we do not force nations to kill turtles, employ children on long hours, reduce worker protection etc etc" Of course they don't, nothing so crude. The WTO gives nations a real choice - Reduce workers protn, lower wages, reduce corporation tax and pay for this by less welfare and social services, school, health, spending, OR we wont invest in your country, we will block your exports to the USA, we will do all we can to wreck your economy. Quite a choice!! So back to the title - why ask if the anti WTO people are really democratic? Well we must recognise that quite are fwe people are pro WTO - like eg a certain Mr B Gates (I think he works for a small furry American double glazing company, doesn't he?). But economics is far more democratic than politics, where you only vote every 4 - 5 years and the odd referendum. In economics you vote every time you buy good A or B, or dont buy at all. So here is my "manifesto" for the anti-globalist "party", that is for people who think capitalisnm has some uses, in prodn and innovation, but that globalisation and the submergence of everything elsde by western/USA led companies has gone too far. 1) Groceries - if the local corner store has it, dont use the high str kwik save. If the kwik save has it, dont use the out of town hypermarket. that way youll keep the local stores we all miss when theyre gone. 2) If the store is 300 yds away, walk, dont take the car. Youll save on petrol and wear on the car, be fitter, help the environment. If its raining, possibly drive - but 9 X out of 10, it isnt, is it? 3) On holiday, dont just go for walls or lyons maid - theyre OK but vanilla?strawbeery/chocloate, vanilla/strawberry/chocolate is a bit predictable isnt it? Local cos have much more interesting flavours. 4) Booking a hotel, use local guest houses. The soulless "Boxotels" have their uses if its 10.30pm raining and youre tired in a strange town, but G Hses are cheaper and freindlier. 5) Likewise abroad, if you HAVE to go to disneyworld east of Paris, use a local hotel. Youll miss out on promotions like free park passes, but its cheaper, and you may just escape the Disnitz Gulag and see La real France for a bit. 6) Garden centrees, use the one on the high str. not just Homebase or do it all. Yes if you have a half to bag of cerment you need a close by car park. But do we really need to park so close for a bag of seeds and a trowel? 7) Looking for a cafe, dont just go for McDonalds or wimpey. They have their uses - mcdonalds often has the only free and accessible public toilets for miles, hidden away on its upper floor, dont suppose theyll thank m,e for pointing that one out but its true.Use a local cafe with a name youve never heard of. 8) Booking a holiday, if you have to drive or fly there, make sure you are staying near a public transport hub, the WALK or use the local buses 9) Also if on a foriegn trip, dont just use the tour operators coaches, try the local transport. Cheaper, more interesting, and generally goes to places the same or more interesting than those air conditioned gas guzzlers on wheels that whisk you 80 miles into the desert so you never meet the locals. 10) Dont waste resources and electricity sending long emails - get out there and vote with your wallet!!!!! Comments please, Hillary Shaw, P/G Geography, University of Leeds %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%