Introduction
On June 18th 1999, the day of the G8 summit in Germany, people in 40 different countries joined hands around the globe to protest against the insane economic system under which we are forced to live.
The biggest protests were in Nigeria with 50,000 people on the streets whilst in London 10,000 marched on the world's biggest financial centre closing most of it down for the day.
Again, on November 30th, people across the world protested, this time to coincide with the World Trade Organisation talks in Seattle. In Seattle the WTO's conference was severely disrupted as 100,000 people converged on the city. The strength and solidarity of people was so strong that the Mayor called for a 'State of Emergency'.
But everywhere the Seattle protests are being described as "Just the beginning". Just the beginning of a global movement to create a free and fair society that is not intent on detroying the earth.
The next big day is 1st May 2000. Sheffield will be celebrating on Saturday 29th April leaving people free on May Day to join planned events in Chesterfield or London.
If you'd like to help out either come to the next meeting or get in touch via e-mail. Or, even better, just do your own thing: eg. show up with a huge banner, set up a stall, bring some food to share or even organise you own action. You certainly don't need our permission - make Mayday weekend whatever you want it to be. Let us know if you want something publicised on this site.
Keep an eye on this site for regular updates.
If you have any questions or contributions just drop us a line at:
GREEN - because it is the arrival of Spring, an ancient festival of renewal, hope and transformation, celebrated for thousands of years right across the Western Hemisphere;
BLACK - because the struggle for the 8 hour day came to a head with an enormous strike across the US on May 1st 1886 and the consequent execution of some of its anarchist organisers was to be a turning point in late 19th century radical politics;
RED - because four years later, in 1889, MayDay was adopted as Workers’ Day by the International Labour Congress and has been celebrated across the world ever since.