BY ZANNY BEGG
SYDNEY — The coalition which organised the May 1 blockade of the stock exchange has changed its name and its focus.
Twenty members of the group, meeting on July 26, decided it was to time to change its name from M1 Sydney to SPARC, Sydney People Actively Resisting Capitalism, and to concentrate on mobilising activists from Sydney to attend the CHOGM protests in Brisbane from October 6-8.
While activists agreed there would be a need to re-launch M1 closer to May next year, in the meantime they wanted a group which could take up a variety of anti-capitalist actions and inspire people to be involved in an ongoing way.
The group is producing an activist calendar which lists the diversity of actions planned in Brisbane and contact points for all the anti-CHOGM forces involved. SPARC also passed a motion calling on activists in Brisbane to hold the people's march on the CHOGM venue as early as possible on October 6 to allow the greatest possible unity between those participating in the march and those going straight to the blockade.
SPARC will also continue to publicise the Melbourne protests against the Commonwealth Business Forum from October 3-5.
The group is planning a September 15 Sydney Convergence to brief activists on the issues and preparations for the October protests, and has booked a train to take activists to Brisbane.
For more information about SPARC, contact Zanny on 9690 1977 or Vince on 0438 800 244. To book a seat on the train to Brisbane, call Victoria on 0402 156 352; for information about transport to the Melbourne protests, phone 9690 1977.