Chomsky attacks globalization, PR

Corporate globalization has widened the gap between the rich and the poor by reducing the amount of economic opportunities for poorer citizens, said Noam Chomsky, a liberal activist and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Linguistics professor, during a speech attended by approximately 350 people at the First Parish Church in Cambridge.

The MIT professor criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed by Canada, the United States and Mexico in 1992.

"In this, there is only one term that is correct, and that is 'North America,'" Chomsky said. "It certainly isn't 'free.'"

Government propaganda aggravates the economic rift between the rich and the poor, Chomsky said.

"[Public relations] projects imagery to effect economics," he said. "Intelligent propaganda makes the public think [the government] is a good working system. That's what public relations is."

During the event, Chomsky's spoke out in support of the Massachusetts Global Action, a group that works with individuals and organizations around the state to fight the negative effects of corporate globalization in Massachusetts.

Although only 350 people attended the event, Organizing Director for Massachusetts Global Action Jonathan Leavitt said Chomsky's message attracts huge crowds abroad.

"When he goes to other countries he'll speak in front of 10,000 people because other countries are more willing to listen to criticism on corporations and the United States," Leavitt said.

While audience members expressed mixed reactions to the lecture, Petrina Katsikas, of Cambridge, said that she enjoyed listening to Chomsky.

"It was my first time attending a lecture by Noam Chomsky even though I listen to his lectures on CDs," Katsikas said. "I think he's great because he's so intelligent, articulate ... and he uses data to back up what he's talking about. He clearly knows what he's talking about."

Roslindale resident Chris Burke said that he was unimpressed by Chomsky's lecture.

"It was the most boring talk by a towering intellect I have ever heard," Burke said. "I had hoped to be either challenged intellectually or pissed off. If it was anything, it was preaching to the choir without much inspiration.

"There wasn't anything there we haven't heard on [National Public Radio] a hundred times."

College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Adrienne Wicklund said that the lecture was what she anticipated.

"I was impressed with his vast knowledge even though he might have lacked a strong direction," Wicklund said. "He's everything I expected from him because he was so intelligent and could speak about anything. But he said a lot that the audience already knew, which was okay."