SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE CONFERENCE:
Ideas for FIGHTING CAPITALISM
Friday 17 August & Saturday 18 August:
Two days of discussion and debate about the way forward for the
anti-capitalist movement:
Starting with the mass demonstrations that shutdown the World Trade
Organisation's meeting in Seattle a new anti-capitalist movement has
exploded onto the streets all around the world.
But how are we going to build on the inspiring successes of S11 and M1? How
are we going to reach out to the mass of workers?
This conference will focus on the political debates, the strategy and
tactics needed to take the anti-capitalist movement forward. Because this
is far from being the first anti-capitalist movement in history we can
learn important lessons for today by looking at the successes and failures
of previous revolutionary movements. That's why one of the themes of this
conference will be a series of talks on the politics of previous
anti-capitalist movements.
* direct action versus non-violence
* the lessons of the sixties revolt
* could a revolution happen in Australia
=B7 and heaps more!!!!
Friday 7.30 pm at Trades Hall:
Fighting Back in the USA:
Katherine Dwyer, American socialist's eyewitness account of the new
radicalism:
mass mobilisations in Seattle and Quebec,
Cincinnati riots,
pro-choice movement
campaign against the death penalty
Justine Clark will speak on preparations for the mass mobilisation against
CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting)
Sandra Bloodworth on S11 to M1 to CHOGM: assessment of the anti-capitalist
movement in Australia and where to next.
entry: $2 (unwaged), $6 (low wage), $10 (high wage)
Saturday 10.00am to 6.00pm:
Talks on:
#The first anti-capitalist movement
The Chartists, active in Britain in the 1840s, were the world's first mass
radical working class movement. They debated out many of the issues
familiar to us today - the use of "force" vs "moral persuasion", and the
centrality of mass, centralised mobilisations.
Many of the aspects of today's movement that are touted as "new" were
features of this very first anti-capitalist movement eg street theatre,
colourful displays etc - the point being that any movement involving the
mass of people will bring to the surface creative ideas about how to get
its message across.
#The first international revolutionary movement
This talk will look at the history of the First International - the first
international working class movement of which Karl Marx was a key leader.
It will focus on the experience of the first workers' revolution: the Paris
Commune of 1871 from which Marx drew the conclusion that workers had to
smash the capitalist state.
#Australia on the brink of revolution
The Federation celebrations have painted a depressingly one-sided picture
of a century of mindless flag-waving. But there is also a history of revolt
and this talk focuses on the mass upheavals, many lead and organised by
socialists, in Australia in the 1890s. The similarities with today will be
surprising and inspirational, and point to lessons we can learn today.
#How do revolutions spread?
This session will look at the international nature of revolutions focusing
on the revolutionary upheaval that swept Europe and much of the rest of the
world in the aftermath of World War I.
#The Sixties Revolt
For years we've seen the activism of the sixties trivialised as a lot of
posturing and dope smoking to a commercially available sound track. We'll
look in this talk at the true diversity of the movement: the fantastic role
students played in the rebellion in France, Italy, Mexico=85 And at the
historically forgotten sheer scale of working class action from Paris May
68 to Australia as a pointer to the possibilities this time around.
Plus
#Why we support the Palestinians
#The two souls of socialism
Some say (or used to) that socialism could be introduced by parliament or
looked to Russia, China, Vietnam and Cuba as socialist. We don't - we stand
with those who say socialism can only be won by mass struggles led by the
working class.
#What Kind of Organisation is SA Building?
Cost for whole conference: $5 (unwaged), $14 (low wage), $20 (high wage)
cost for Saturday only: $$, $10, $15
to register, reply via email, or ring 9421 4439, or send name & address
with money to PO Box 4202, Richmond East, 3121.
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