BY SEAN HEALY
SYDNEY — M1 2002 is up and running. On February 14, activists met to begin planning May 1 actions which will include protests across the city in the morning, a "unity rally" at midday in Martin Place and a festival or street party in the late afternoon.
Last year's M1 was a success beyond the organisers' expectations. Thousands descended on the business district to blockade the Australian Stock Exchange before marching through city streets.
Seeking to build on that success, and learn from its weaknesses, activists this year have launched an extensive range of consultations with community and activist organisations to seek their input and involvement in M1.
While support from the trade union movement remains elusive, progress has been made in involving environmental and social justice organisations which were not involved in 2001. Representatives of the Wilderness Society and Action for World Development, among others, were present at the February 14 meeting. Many other groups have expressed support.
There was unanimity on the issues participants wanted raised on M1. Anti-war, anti-debt, pro-refugee, pro-environment and pro-union demands were prominent among them.
But participants had different views on the overall theme for the day. Some favoured a "positive" theme, such as "For global peace and justice", which would communicate what the movement believes in, while others wanted what one activist described as the "grrr factor", a clear, even angry, opposition to corporate globalisation and its injustices.
A small group was delegated to combine both schools of thought and present a proposal to the next meeting.
A decision has yet to be made about whether the M1 morning convergence will include civil disobedience.
For more information about being active in planning M1, phone 0421 420 420.
From Green Left Weekly, February 20, 2002.
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