SP Newsletter No.165
On Friday September 7 workers in the Sydney CBD will enjoy a public holiday! This is not due to the generosity of the New South Wales state government, but to allow a police lockdown of Australia’s largest city. This is so that many of the world’s ‘leaders’, including George Bush and some of the world’s richest bosses, can get from their hotels to a conference centre in proper time to attend the APEC Summit!

According to their website, APEC or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is ‘the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region’. In reality this is a forum for pushing more cuts, privatisations, free trade, and IR laws on ordinary people. It is the view of the rich elite that this is the best way to boost their already massive profits.

APEC was founded in 1989 and has since grown to encompass 21 members spanning four continents, it accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the world’s population, 56 per cent of world GDP and 48 per cent of world trade. So decisions made here affect a massive part of the worlds population.

The 21 APEC Member Economies are Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Republic of the Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States and Viet Nam.

During the forum in Sydney there will be a massive military-police operation that is about getting Australians used to temporary denials of basic democratic rights. The extreme over-reaction of Victorian Police towards the G20 protestors last month is another example of this process.

The Socialist Party, alongside thousands of Australian workers and young people, refuses to be intimidated or allow George Bush to come here without seeing the kind of peaceful, loud and militant protests he faced in Latin America recently. We stand totally opposed to the anti worker policies of APEC and the big business elite.

SP will be organising a fleet of ‘Red Buses to APEC’ from Melbourne to Sydney for the event. We are taking expressions of interest for seats now. In the lead up to the event we will also be holding regular organising meetings. For more information or to put your name down for a seat call our National Office on 03 9639 9111

Join the Socialist Party

If you like what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states. We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to overthrow the capitalist system. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. For more information about joining in your area contact the SP National Office. 0396399111

SP subscriber List

Become a supporter of SP today! Join our subscribers list - only $20 per year or $10 concession. You will receive our newspaper ‘The Socialist’, delivered to your door every month, and our email newsletter every week. You will also know that you are supporting a party that is at the fore of the fight back against Howard and against capitalism. Contact the SP National Office now on 0396399111 to join the list.

The Socialist

Issue 31 of SP’s monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’ is out now! Readers can pick up a copy at our regular street stalls, from our National Office or by joining the SP subscriber’s list. This month’s paper features articles on Iraq, nationalisation, IR, public transport, Iran, a report from our councillor in Yarra, a report back from the world congress of the CWI and a back page special on women.

SP now on My Space!

My Space is an online forum for networking. You can use it to chat, share photos, videos and journals. SP is using it to promote our party and meet people interested in socialist politics. Check out our site here

Regional Activity

Victoria

The Melbourne Branch of SP meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall in Carlton South. 1st Floor Corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets. This week the branch will host a film screening about Venezuela. ‘The revolution will not be televised’. Discussion and drinks to follow! All welcome.

New South Wales

To find out more info or to join SP in Sydney contact Gary - 02 9728 7727

To find out more info or to join SP in Newcastle contact Samantha - 02 4968 1545

Western Australia

To find out more info or to join SP in Perth contact John on – 08 9402 0728

Please note childcare is available at all SP meetings but only by prior arrangement please call ahead first.

News links just a click away –

Latin America: Bush tour met ‘greeted’ with huge protest demonstrations
André Ferrari, Socialismo Revolucionário (CWI Brazil), São Paulo, Brazil
Click here

China: Has capitalism been fully restored?
Peter Taaffe, general secretary of the Socialist Party England & Wales
Click here

Chile: New ‘Transantiago’ mass transport system fails
Johannes Ullrich, Socialismo Revolucionario (CWI), Santiago
Click here

Get Active - Join the fight back, Get Militant - Join the Socialist Party

The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI).
To contact or join the SP or CWI anywhere in Australia or the world call our National Office
++61 3 9639 9111

‘Workers of the world unite – you’ve got nothing to lose but your chains’