Activists discuss what happens after M1

BY SARAH PEART

MELBOURNE — Activists here have begun to consider what should happen after the M1 blockade of stock exchanges, with many participants in a "Global Action" conference here on March 31 welcoming a proposal for a September 11, 2001, "convergence" on Canberra to oppose a new round of World Trade Organisation talks.

"Such a convergence could build on our current strengths. All the different parts of the movement have now had some common experience at S11 and soon at M1 — if we bring those together, we could make a powerful statement", the Democratic Socialist Party's Max Lane argued during a conference session entitled "M1: Can we move beyond summit hopping?".

Other speakers on the panel, including Fairwear's Pamela Curr, and members of the audience endorsed the proposal.

Conference participants were also positive about the newly-formed Socialist Alliance, with the Victorian Greens' Chris Chaplin telling a final panel, "Alternatives to globalisation: remaking society, left and green visions" that he was optimistic about the possibilities of a red-green alliance in future federal elections.

The conference, attended by 160 people, was jointly organised by the Democratic Socialist Party, Socialist Worker, Victorian Greens and Friends of the Earth.

From GLW issue 444