“Sleep Now in the Hole” (2000), by the American band Rage Against the Machine, is a denunciation of the commodification of democracy. The song, produced by Rick Rubin, was recorded in October 1999 amidst growing global unrest: weeks before the Battle of Seattle erupted and the IMF imposed draconian austerity measures on 42 countries. The music video, directed by Michael Moore, was filmed in January 2000 at the New York Stock Exchange. It was an act of calculated civil disobedience: … Read more

The Battle of Seattle, which took place between November 30 and December 3, 1999, during the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting, marked a turning point in the struggle against global capitalism. The mobilization brought together more than 50,000 activists and militants from unions, environmental movements, student groups, and anarchist organizations in an unprecedented convergence that paralyzed the city. The objective was clear: to dismantle the myth of neoliberal inevitability through creative direct action. The origin lies in the accumulation of … Read more