LL:REM: Global Action Conference this Saturday

[Friends of the Earth Melbourne]

PLEASE CIRCULATE TO ALL RELEVANT LISTS
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Global Action Conference - thinking globally, acting locally

A day of discussion and debate about the new movement against global capital.

Sat 31st March Union House, Melbourne Uni $5 concession/ $10 full, 
registration at the door

Organised by Friends of the Earth, Victorian Greens, Democratic Socialist 
Party, International Socialist Organisation

We can make a difference! Despite widespread opposition to 'free trade', 
the federal government continues to push for new trade negotiations. The 
IMF has also called for another wave of neo-liberal "restructuring" in 
Australia. This will mean stripping awards to further shift industrial 
relations in favour of employers, another round of aggressive cut backs to 
welfare and public expenditure, and further cuts to the taxation 'burden' 
on business! It has even been suggested that Australia may be challenged 
under the WTO for its provision of free and subsidised health care. All of 
this is, and will, have dramatic impacts on our communities and the natural 
environment.

Reportedly, meetings between Howard and Costello and IMF officials 
identified the fact that it will be difficult to push the neo-liberal 
agenda further because most people in this country value "social cohesion" 
and won't react to kindly to further attacks on social and environmental 
values. The success of community opposition to these attacks on natural 
ecosystems and our living and working conditions will rely on effective 
alliances and collaboration between divergent sectors of society.

It is IMF style policies worldwide which are causing a growing opposition 
to neo-liberalism internationally, in terms of street-level protest, but 
also through the development of new ideas for economic and political 
governance, and the growth new social movements.

The Global Action Conference hopes to address some of the challenges facing 
the emerging radical opposition to global capital. It has ben called in a 
spirit of hope and collaboration. We welcome your participation.

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Agenda

Opening 9.30pm
10am Main Panel:
WTO, WEF, IMF & World Bank. Fix or nix?
Looking at the role of these international financial
institutions and what should be done about them.
Speakers confirmed so far:
Speaker Jubilee 2000
David Glanz, s11 media spokesperson, Socialist Worker
Pat Ranald, AFTNET

11.30 - 12.45 Workshops A:
see below

2pm Main panel
M1: Can we move beyond summit hopping?
With the M1 protests it is the activists taking the
initiative and taking the movement forward, but where
next for the new anti-corporate
Movement?
Speakers confirmed so far
Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth
Max Lane, Chairperson, Action in Solidarity with
Indonesia and East
Timor (ASIET), Democratic Socialist Party
Jen Couch Victoria University academic

3.15 - 4.30 Workshops B
see below

4:30pm Final panel
Alternatives to globalisation: Remaking society, left
& green visions.
Looking at the alternatives that we can pose to the
neoliberal globalisation currently impacting on
today's world.
Speakers:
Tristy Fairfield, Friends of the Earth
Sarah Peart, M1 media spokesperson, Democratic
Socialist Party
Jess Whyte, Socialist Worker
Chris Chaplin, Victorian Greens

Workshop A - 11.30-12.45

1. Cancel third world debt
This workshop will take up one of the key demands of
the anti-corporate
movement and explain the impact this debt has on
underdeveloped countries.

2. Taking on the corporate parties
Views on what alternatives to the Liberal-Labor
consensus from the
Greens and the newly formed Socialist Alliance in
Australia. Also looking at the Nader campaign in the
recent US elections.

3. Resistance to the neoliberal agenda in Asia
South east Asia has been the scene of some of the
strongest resistance to neoliberal globalisation.
Speakers will look at the struggles unfolding in
Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia.

4. Globalisation; myths and realities
What is really behind the myths of globalisation? This
workshop will discuss what globalisation really means
for people and the environment.

5. No borders - free the refugees
While the elite continue to push for capital to be
able to flow freely throughout the world, refugees are
being denied access to Australia.
Speakers will look at the treatment of refugees in
Australia and where to take the movement to free the
refugees.

6. Combatting the nuclear cycle
At the peak of the campaign against the Jabiluka mine,
78% of Australia's population said they were against
it. How can we continue to build the movement to
oppose nuclear energy.

Workshops B 3.15 - 4.30

1. Women fighting against corporate globalisation
Looking at the role of women in the new anti-corporate
movement and
some of the campaigns they are leading.

2. Environment under fire: looking at the resistance
against governments and transnational corporations
(TNCs).
Speakers will also take up some of the key
environmental campaigns and look at possibilities of
alliances in protecting the environment.

3. Imperialism and colonialism: Indigenous survival
and resistance
This workshop will have speakers active in the
struggles of Indigenous people of Australia and West
Papua.

4. Globalisation and alternative media
This workshop will look at how activists have been
using radio, TV and
newspapers to disseminate alternative viewpoints to
the corporate media
monopoly.

5. Engaging NGOs in the protest movement
Should environmental and social justice NGOs be more
vocal in opposing
corporate globalisation? What barriers do they face in
taking part in mass protests such as s11 and M1? Key
NGOs will share their thoughts.

6. New movements & state violence
Discussion on the implications of state violence
against the new anti-corporate movement, using s11 in
Melbourne and s26 in Prague as
Case studies.

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There will be plenty of time for participation. If
your group or organisation would like to support the
conference  and would like a stall, please contact
Luke, 0419 135 019, or email:
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or Sarah on 9639 8622.



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