arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

15,000-20,000 trade unionists from Belgium, Germany, the UK and France, as well as members of ATTAC and other community organisations, marched together in Liège against the free-market, neo-liberal policies of the Belgian Presidency and European Finance Ministers.

As the economic recession begins to bite and thousands of workers lose their jobs, trade unionists and other activists voiced their disquiet at the policies put forward by the decision-makers of the European Union. Demonstrators were determined that it shouldn't be ordinary working people who pay, yet again, the cost of the damages of a system that puts profit before need and inflicts untold misery on the majority of people worldwide. An alternative to the current casino economy is possible - workers, peasants and students from all corners of the globe have shown they want change. The demonstration today, although not overtly militant, shows that the rumblings of discontent is very much present and that future action against the neo-liberal agenda and the destructive system it engenders is definitely on the cards.