Dear friends,
On Monday night the Victorian Cross Campus Environment Network discussed
the need for students to have a contact should they not be 'officially'
involved with any affinity group and want 'something' to join in with
during the protest. Campus affinity groups are the obvious point-of-call,
however some campuses do not have them and some students may be late in
organising themselves or be from interstate. We also discussed the need for
a contact should they get in any situation where they need
help/advice/direction/referral etc.
The decision was made that we would advise them to join the Green Block and
that myself and Matt Hines (National Environment Officer) would be the
contacts. Below are our details and the details of the Green Block.
To this end, we invite you to join us in a 'green block' which will be a
part of the non-violent blockade around the Casino. We wish to maintain
an autonomous blockade under the broader S11 umbrella, which is
targeted, peaceful, with a clear focus, and good liaison with the police
and other activist groups operating around us. The green bloc will function
as a collective of affinity groups - it will be made up of a number of
affinity groups and individuals. Peacekeeping and liaison with police and
other groups will be undertaken for the green bloc, not for other sections
of the rally.
>From this area we will be coordinating our own action that compliments
the overall S11 blockade to stop the World Economic Forum. We are
organising peacekeeping training and briefing everyone on nonviolent
protest techniques. If you do not wish to be part of the blockade you will
have the option of joining the supportive presence beyond the police lines.
The key times for blockading will be from 7am - 10am each morning as WEF
delegates attempt to enter the building. We will gather at 6.45 each
morning just to the west side of Crown Towers on Whiteman St, South
Melbourne where we will be identifiable by the Friends of the Earth banner-
"stand up for global justice".
If Whiteman St is blocked we will be next to the stage on the corner of
Queens Bridge St and the Promenade.
We will meet briefly each morning to work out the 'game plan' for that day.
Ideally we would hope you could attend as an affinity group with a
nominated spokesperson or spokespeople who can represent your group in the
planning meetings.
Our intention in holding an identifiable green presence at the
blockade is two fold:
1. to ensure the environmental and social consequences of corporate defined
globalisation are on the agenda in the media coverage of the WEF meeting; and
2. to help ensure the largest possible cross section of environmental and
social groups are represented at the WEF protests. We believe we can play a
significant role in helping create a safe and focused forum for direct
action by co-operating with other green groups in actions with good peace
keeping and a strong commitment to non-violence.
We would encourage you to bring along whatever banners, placards or other
materials you think are appropriate. We are also planning to host a
'cup-of-tea space' in a nearby park. This will be a relaxed place to share
information, unwind from being on the picket line and liaise with passers
by. The S11 stage, food, and other groups will be located here (this is
still subject to negotiations with the police). Again, we would welcome
your involvement in this.
Student Contacts:
Fiona Thiessen - 0427 0333 21
Matt Hines - 0403 065 114
-- Fiona Thiessen
Environment Officer
MSA Box 10
Monash University, 3800
ph. (03) 9905 5710
fax. (03) 9905 4185
--
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