$200 million to ‘protect’ Bush at APEC!
SP Newsletter No.182
No money for health & education - But $200 million to ‘protect’ Bush at APEC!
September 7 – 9 will see George Bush and many other world leaders attend the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum (APEC) in Sydney. APEC is a forum organised to discuss how to increase the profits of big business in the Asia Pacific. Plans will be made to increase the exploitation of working people in the region.
Knowing full well that there is massive opposition to cuts, privatisation and attacks to workplace rights, the federal and state governments have introduced a raft of repressive anti-democratic laws aimed at silencing descent and keeping protesters away from the event.
Over $200 million has been handed out to enforce ‘security’ at the summit where the central business district of Sydney will be a semi militarised zone. Large parts of Sydney will be blocked off by massive numbers of police, army troops and anti-terror squads. At the same time the government cries poor about the lack of available funds for health and education!
Despite this and the intimidation of known activists (like the G20 arrestees) large demonstrations are planned. It is estimated that thousands of young people, workers and students will descend on Sydney from all over Australia to protest the neo-liberal agenda of APEC.
APEC is heavily lobbied by big business including the mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP. This is to ensure that their profit interests are met with little or no restrictions. With the massive boom in the mining sector, the mining companies will be pushing harder than ever to get their demands met. In just one example of who APEC represents, no workers organisations or community groups have been invited to the event.
Australia and the US are currently in discussions about forming a new agreement within the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. A leaked document indicates that the discussions are not only aimed at increasing Yellow Cake mining and export but may even lead to Australia heading closer towards its own uranium enrichment programme.
It is expected that for Australia to enter the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership it would have to return a favour to the US by allowing it to dump its spent waste here in Australia. These discussions are believed to be formally placed on the table at the upcoming APEC summit and any agreement would mean huge profits for a number of mining companies and the private nuclear industry.
The APEC delegates continue to promote the ‘economic successes’ of neo liberalism and are calling for further privatisations, deregulation and trade liberalisation. It remains a fact that 3 billion people today live on less that $2 a day. The great economic booms in India and China have only benefited the super rich and done next to nothing for the super poor. The policies of APEC hold back efforts to advance industrialisation in the so called ‘third world’ and continue to cause massive environmental destruction.
The Socialist Party calls on trade unions to mobilise their members to oppose the anti-worker policies of APEC. The protests would be given a serious boost if the organised working class could link up with the radicalised youth and community activists in opposition to neo liberalism. What is needed is a movement of all those opposed to the system that pushes poverty on the worlds majority. We need to fight for a socialist society that puts the interests of the majority before profits.
Get on the ‘Red Buses’ to APEC
SP will be organising a fleet of ‘Red Buses to APEC’ from Melbourne to Sydney on September 7-9. We are taking expressions of interest for seats now. If you support the APEC protests against the neo-liberal heavy weights, and can’t make it in person to the protests, you can sponsor a place by donation. 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
Preparing for APEC – Public Meeting in Melbourne
Preparation meeting for potential attendees from Melbourne on SP’s ‘Red Buses’ to Sydney. Come along if you want to go to APEC or are thinking about it.
7pm Wednesday August 15th at Trades Hall, Corner of Lygon & Victoria Sts Carlton South.
The Agenda includes: What is APEC and what is expected from the summit, the possibilities of protest and direct action in Sydney, the nature of the police preparation, what we will do when we get there, liaison with other groups, planning for the trip, first aid and health and safety at the event.
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
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.
The Socialist
Issue 36 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 the ‘Anti-Terror’ laws and the Haneef case, Howard’s emergency plan for Aboriginal communities in the NT, the Tamil arrests, the Esselte dispute in Sydney, a review of Judith Ajani’s The Forest wars, healthcare in the US, a report from our councillor in Yarra, and a centre page spread on China.
SP 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 anti-capitalist and 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 titled ‘Preparing for APEC’ 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 –
US: The system is ‘functionally obsolete’
Click here
Netherlands: Dutch Socialist Party troubles
Click here
Japan: Heavy defeat for government in elections
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’
