BY SARAH PEART
MELBOURNE — "We need to fight in the factories and in the communities to build a new international movement that is strong enough to take on the bosses' system", Martin Mitterhauser, an anti-corporate activist just back from last month's protests against the G8 summit in Genoa, told the launch of the O3 to CHOGM Alliance on August 10.
One hundred people — many of whom came straight from the 21st Friday night Nike blockade — packed into Trades Hall to discuss the next major anti-corporate protest in Melbourne — the S11-style blockade of the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) on October 3-5.
Resistance member Kylie Moon, speaking for the 03 to CHOGM Alliance, said that actions like the Friday night Nike blockades illustrate the potential to build the anti-corporate movement in this country. She outlined the plans the alliance has formulated so far to blockade the CBF. She also pointed to the attractive foci for specific protest actions offered by the CBF's inaugural ceremony on the evening of October 3, which will be addressed by Prime Minister John Howard, and the CBF's gala dinner on the evening of October 4, which will be addressed by Victorian Premier Steve Bracks.
Moon condemned the state Labor government's plans to introduce new legislation giving police wide-ranging powers to violently disperse protesters. "We are concerned that they are trying to pass it before the CBF protests to legalise what the police illegally did at protest actions like S11. This is something we need to actively oppose."
Peter Abrahamson from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union also addressed the meeting, giving his support to the protests at the CBF. He argued that the anti-corporate movement needed to link up with the trade union movement, and how could help promote solidarity with Third World workers in the Australian labour movement.
Judy McVey from the Refugee Action Collective also addressed the launch, speaking about the need to protest the Australian government's racist immigration laws at the CBF actions. "We need to use these protests as an opportunity to send a message internationally that this is not good enough."
Chris Chaplin from the Victorian Greens received a loud cheer when he read out a statement of support for the CBF blockade that was recently adopted by the party's state branch.
Following the featured speakers there was lively discussion centred using the weekly Friday night Nike blockades to build support for the CBF protests. Participants left the meeting with O3 stickers and posters under their arms in a spirit summed up by one activist's comment: "Let's go and get them."