SP Newsletter No.171
In September 2007, Australia will host the APEC forum. APEC stands for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and in the lead up to September it plans to hold more than 100 meetings spread across every state and territory. The main event however will be held in Sydney on September 8 & 9. This will be the biggest meeting of world leaders ever held in Australia.

APEC is a group of Pacific Rim countries, which work behind closed doors, to strengthen and develop economic and political ties. APEC meetings occur without any input from civil society but are heavily lobbied by big corporations including energy giants such as BHP, Rio Tinto, Chevron and Woodside. Participants in the 2007 forum will include the US President George Bush and prime ministers from throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Established primarily to promote free trade in the region, APEC is a forum where big business leaders and their political representatives discuss how to better push the neo-liberal policies of free trade, privatisation and corporate control.

Despite the rhetoric by John Howard that climate change is on the top of the agenda, the emphasis will be on nuclear power and ‘clean coal’. These are false solutions to the environmental disasters we face. China is the world’s largest coal producer and Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter. Howard on behalf of big business seeks to secure their interests in the exportation of uranium and coal. APEC is a key opportunity to promote the interests of the Australian coal and uranium export industries through APEC’s Energy Working Group.

According to the summits statement, “APEC’s primary objective is to promote trade and investment liberalisation in the Asia-Pacific Region, thereby assisting economic growth and prosperity”. However, these leaders who represent the interests of big business, will not increase prosperity for ordinary working people, who are facing daily neo-liberal attacks on wages and conditions. In fact their policies will only mean the further robbing of the poor to line the pockets of the rich.

APEC, described by ASIO as “the most significant international meeting ever hosted by Australia” is expected to be the last international showpiece event before John Howard goes to the polls late in the year. To avoid any critical voice against this summit, the media, the government and the police are intending to create an atmosphere of fear in the city. The threat of a terrorist attack will be the excuse for a strong display of security. The Australian Government will provide its agencies with $216.3 million to host the forum.

Worker’s and students should see APEC as a chance to expose and challenge APEC’s model of corporate globalisation, that places the legal rights of corporations above those of working people and the environment. Capitalism has no solutions to the problems of poverty or environmental destruction, only a socialist society under a planned economy can tackle the crisis of climate change and improve living conditions for ordinary people.

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 0396399111

Join the Socialist Party

If you agree with 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

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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 33 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 APEC, nuclear power, Rudd vs Cameron, Melbourne University, Onesteel, Venezuela, a report from our councillor in Yarra, and a centre page spread on the public housing.

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 SP Melbourne Branch meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall in Carlton South. 1st Floor Corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets. This week the Melbourne branch will be hosting a public meeting on the 1998 Waterfront Dispute and the lessons for today. The upcoming release of the mini series Bastard Boys (on ABC TV this Sunday and Monday 8.30pm ABC TV) has reminded many trade unionists of the massive class battle that took place in 1998. The federal government backed anti union boss Chris Corrigan and pulled out all stops in an attempt to smash the MUA. Come along to this public meeting to discuss the dispute and learn the many valuable lessons that can be applied to disputes today. Speaker Anthony Main - Socialist Party Organiser. 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 –

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The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI).
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