BY ROHAN PEARCE
As the national May 1 blockades of stock exchanges and other corporate targets approach, M1 activists have begun a big push to build the demonstrations. Since universities resumed this year, more than 1500 students have joined local campus M1 organising groups.
Activists have been busy organising film showings, debates and protest actions targeting corporations' links with higher education. The National Union of Students (NUS) national day of action to be held on April 5 in most cities will focus on the anti-corporate campaign.
Resistance, the socialist youth organisation, organised a series of forums on most universities around Australia. The "Global revolt: the new movement against corporate globalisation" forums have so far attracted more than 200 students.
Sam King from Adelaide reports that the Flinders University M1 Action Group has planned a "corporate scumbags game show" as well as an anti-corporate film series featuring footage from demonstrations in Melbourne, Seattle and Prague. Since it's affiliation to the students association, the Flinders University M1 group has attracted new activists to each meeting. Adelaide University Resistance and M1 activists are also holding regular M1 planning meetings.
On April 5, the Wollongong University M1 Club will screen films about the Melbourne S11 protest and the global movement against corporate globalisation, Bronwyn Powell told Green Left Weekly. The M1 Club was initiated by Resistance and is organising a contingent to travel to the blockade of the Sydney stock exchange.
Belinda Selke, a member of the M1 Club and Resistance, explained that Resistance is arguing that Wollongong activists support the Sydney action. "We want to be part of a large and inspiring blockade that has an anti-corporate focus. The movement must move beyond protesting against single or local issues and be internationalist in its outlook", she said.
A motion to support M1 actions and call for a student strike on May 1 was passed by the annual general meeting of the Wollongong University Students Representative Council on March 20. It was proposed by Resistance activist Nicole Hilder. To get involved in the Wollongong University M1 club, phone 4226 2010.
Bea Brear reports that at the University of Tasmania's Hobart campus interest is growing in the M1 club's "nominate your favourite corporate scumbag" campaign. Students are being asked to nominate corporations which most deserve to be targeted by the May 1 rally. Many students intend to heed the NUS call for a student strike on May 1. The Tasmania University Union has also endorsed the call for a protest on May 1.
While building M1, activists are participating in a free speech campaign to condemn the clubs and societies council's refusal to affiliate the M1 club for political reasons. It is anticipated that several hundred students will sign the petition to demand an end to the council's political censorship before the next clubs and societies council meeting in April.
From Sydney, Daniel Ooi from the University of New South Wales, NSW told Green Left Weekly that the Students Campaigning Against Multinationals (SCAM) group on March 27 organised a "scumbag tour" around the university to visit faculties sponsored by multinational corporations. SCAM meetings regularly attract 15-20 people and stalls are being held almost every day.
Mark Abberton reports that 20 people attended the first meeting of Resistance at Macquarie University on March 21. The meeting, "Global revolt — the new movement against corporate tyranny", launched Resistance's campaign on Macquarie University to build support for the May 1 peaceful mass blockade of the Sydney stock exchange.
Participants discussed the importance of building a movement to replace the private profit-driven capitalist system with one based on the public ownership and social control of society's wealth, one that is far more democratic and responsive to people's needs.
M1 activists at Macquarie University will particupate in a speakout on March 29 and an action on April 3 against the links between big business and the Macquarie University Reseach Centre, organised by Students Campaigning Against Multinationals.
[For information about M1 activities on your nearest university, phone Resistance on (02) 9690 1230, email <nationaloffice@resistance.org.au> or visit <http://www.resistance.org.au>.]