S11 teach-in brings unity

BY NICK FREDMAN

LISMORE -- A day of lively discussion around the theme “Global justice not global capitalism” attracted more than 70 people here on August 20. The teach-in, organised by the Lismore S11 Alliance, aimed to prepare participants for the September 11-13 protests against the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Melbourne and for continuing anti-corporate campaigning.

Megan White-Fox, Southern Cross University Student Representative Council (SRC) environment officer and a Resistance member, presented a Marxist analysis of capitalism and imperialism and argued that it was the best way to understand “globalisation”. Star Barker, the SRC indigenous officer, explained why indigenous people and their supporters are going to use the Olympic Games to highlight racism in Australia.

National Union of Students Queensland environment officer Marilyn Tozer outlined the range of actions that will take place over the three-day blockade of the WEF meeting. Two visiting US activists described the lessons drawn from the protests against the April World Bank meeting in Washington. An informative legal rights workshop covered tactics relating to supporting imprisoned activists.

The meeting concluded with Bernie Wunsch, SRC chairperson and Resistance member, advocating that the anti-corporate movement struggle not just against capitalism but for a democratic, just and environmentally sustainable socialist society.

Contentious issues were whether to support protectionism, whether to focus on “local communities” (often synonymous with local business) or international solidarity, what a consistent anti-capitalist perspective is, and “affinity group” organising versus using open mass meetings.

At the end of the day, there was general agreement on the need for unity so as to build the biggest possible S11 protests and for continuing collaboration and discussion to build anti-capitalist struggles.

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