In part 1 of this 5-part series, the issue of the WTO ministerial is laid out by Kevin Danaher of Global Exchange, Anuradha Mittal of Food First, and author Michael Parenti. Seattle warms up as thousands pour into the city for week-long rallies and demonstrations and speak to the question: why we are here? Included are acrobatic banner drops, a building takeover by housing activists and preparations by the Direct Action Network. Interviews with Jubilee 2000 participants, labor leaders, and congress people Maxine Waters and Paul Wellstone.