Dear Colleagues,
Below is a self-explanatory information circular. Your
participation in
the events concerned will be welcome, particularly suggestions for
speakers
who might contribute to the events to be held in the various
states.
John Hermann,
South Australia
Tel: (08) 8264 4282
-------------------
1999 Itinerary for the Visit to Australia of Hon Paul Hellyer,
former
Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
Dear People's Movement, Economic Reform Australia (ERA), Stop-MAI
coalition, TOES Australia (The Other Economic Summit), Reworking
Tomorrow,
AID/Watch, Friends of the Earth, The Greens, The Australian
Democrats,
Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, National Union of Students,
Aust
Coalition for Economic Justice, and other interested organisations
and groups,
During April 1999, Economic Reform Australia and The People�s
Movement
and other groups are bringing the Hon Paul Hellyer to Australia to
speak at
a series of meetings/conferences in most states (currently
excepting WA,
Tas, and NT). We are seeking to get this information around the
networks
early, especially in newletters and email. It would be appreciated
if you
could help us in this regard.
You are also invited to the first organising committee meeting
held on
Thursday 14 January 1999, starting at 7.00pm. The venue is 344
Darling St
(Terrace Church and Restaurant) Balmain, Sydney NSW. It is
expected that
meetings will also be held soon within other states (check with
the state
coordinators listed below for up to date information).
The following provisional itinerary can still be fine tuned
within
Australia:
6 April - leave Toronto - arrive Aukland NZ.
7-8 April - stay in NZ and address a meeting organised by New
Zealand
Democrats and/or NZ Alliance (still awaiting confirmation).
9 April - leave NZ and arrive in Sydney - address NSW People�s
Summit on
Sunday 11 April, plus media appearances.
12 April - leave Sydney arrive Brisbane - Richard Sanders to
organise
publicity and meeting.
14 April - leave Brisbane arrive Canberra - Dr Chris Watson & John
Schooneveldt to organise, including meeting at Aust Parliamentary
library
with available politicians.
16 April - leave Canberra arrive Adelaide - John Hermann to
organise.
20 April - leave Adelaide arrive Melbourne - Charles Brass (Future
of Work
Foundation) and John Cartwright to organise.
22 or 23 April - leave Melbourne for Sydney or direct for Toronto,
whichever is available.
Paul Hellyer has agreed to address
conferences/seminars/meetings etc
around the theme of his earlier book "The Evil Empire", which is
concerned
with the need for reform or dismantling of the IMF, World Bank,
and other
international financial institutions which have never fulfilled
their
charters (to rebuild a strong world economy after WW2 by judicious
lending
and controlling excessive accumulation of debt). He will use the
occasion
to launch his new book on the same issues within Australia and NZ
while he
is in this part of the world, and also within Canada, USA and UK.
The chapter headings in his book (title still under
discussion) give an
idea of the issues he can deal with:
Introduction
1. Something has Gone Desperately Wrong
2. The Washington Nonsensus
3. The IMF - 50 Plus Years is Too Long
4. World Bank - World Disaster
5. The MAI - Globalization Gone Mad
6. Economists Never Learn
7. The First Commandment
8. Where Does Money Come From?
9. The Death of Democracy
10. World War III - The Banks vs The People
11. Y2K - The Year of the Jubilee
12. Democracy and Hope Restored
Postscript: I Have a Dream
In support of the visit are the People�s Movement, The
Australian
Coalition for Economic Justice, TOES Australia, The Future of Work
Foundation - and as many other groups as possible, as soon as we
can get
things fully organised. The People�s Movement suggested a broad
title like
"People Power : Taming/Dismantling the World�s Financial System",
"Reclaiming Democracy : Financial Systems Serving the People", or
other.
The first NSW organising meeting will be held 14 January 1999.
It has
been suggested that the following topics could be covered by
Hellyer and
other speakers:
1. Reclaiming Democracy: could a Council of Australians tip the
balance?
The Canadian experience.
2. Should we aim we reform or dismantle the IMF and World Bank and
regional
development banks?
3. The role of Community Banks (eg, Grameen banks).
3. The role of the Bank of International Settlements lurking in
the shadows.
4. The IMF's bid to become the implementing agency for the MAI.
5. How do we retire the debts of the poorest countries for Jubilee
2000?
6. How do we ensure that developing countries do not indebt
themselves again?
The following contact persons need people to help with
organising
events. Please contact:
NSW: Frances and Bruce Milne, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Tel: 02 9810
7812
SA: Dr John Hermann, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Tel: 08 8264 4282
QLD : Richard Sanders, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Tel: 07 3349
5411
Vic : Charles Brass, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Tel: 03 9459 0244
ACT : Dr Chris Watson, Tel: 0262 545 238
Richard Sanders (Griffith Univ, QLD) is testing the
feasibility of
establishing a "Council of Australians", similar to the "Council
of
Canadians" organisation which networks the networks. Paul Hellyer
is
willing to assist in launching a Council of Australians if we
decide to go
that way.
----ooOoo----
end
==============
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http://www.peg.apc.org/~psutton/grin-y2k.htm
