Sunday, May 25

The whole mechanism of a French strike depends on taking hostages, and in being as annoying as possible.  We in Geneva are facing up to what has the appearance of a French strike.  Hostages - us - and massive disruption intended to be as annoying as possible. 

One of my colleagues, a lovely young Swiss woman named Marina, hasn't decided if she is going to march or not.  She has been in demonstrations before but didn't like the tear gas.  But what strikes me is that the issue of globalisation doesn't play any part in her decision to participate or not.  She just likes to express solidarity, whatever the particular issue.  I wonder how many of the demonstrators will share her fundamental lack of specific commitment. 

Geneva has gone out of its way to publicize its support of the marchers in their right to dissent.  The organizers of the march and the government yesterday reached an agreement about how all this will be handled peacefully.  What is really worrisome, however, is not the marchers, but the casseurs, who are just coming for the opportunity to break something.  The cost to the city and to individals is already enormous.  And the casseurs have not even gone into action yet.  A single cash machine costs 100,000 chf to replace.  You can understand the banks deciding to close them down and to hell with the all the clients who will find themselves strapped for cash next week.