"It is clear that globalisation and free markets left to themselves do not always produce the desired or necessary results for society at large". These words came from the latest annual report of the World Economic Forum, the talkfest for the leaders of the world's top one thousand global corporations. Its regional arm will meet in Melbourne next month to discuss matters of interest in the Asia-Pacific.
Its basic philosophy is that the great challenges facing humankind can only be met through joint efforts on the part of government and business and that these efforts have to be stimulated by the best minds and have to be made transparent to the public. Basically, it's a chance for German bankers, Hong Kong industrialists, American retailers and Australian miners and more to network. The Prime Minister and key economic ministers will address them and after it's all over, those who chose will travel to Sydney to view the Olympic games.
The capitalists get together to chew the fat, Australia's political elite uses the opportunity to impress, and local firms like Minter Ellison and NRMA act as host. Sounds fine to me.
But not to S11. This group of fringe activists and copycats wants to shut down WEF and say no to global corporatisation and capitalism. I presume S11 comes from the fact the WEF meets on September 11. Well, at least they are numerate. S11 is an umbrella of all sorts of non-government organisation's. Trades Hall and the churches get a mention in their literature, but the real stars of the protest show are the Progressive Labor Party -- "couldn't we live perfectly well without money", Snuff Puppets -- "non-violent direct action", Tempest -- "education through poetic saturation", Feminist Avengers -- "militantly anti-capitalist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic women", Xborders -- "our struggles are as global as capital", Plant Seeds For Our Future -- "our food is locked up from us", Workers Liberty -- "we use Marxism to analyse capital", Civil Action -- "stop these savages from taking our planets resources", and lots more.
Misdirected, but harmless enough? Their support groups suggest otherwise. The S11 Bicycle Courier Service will be there to transport supplies and information across Melbourne "during the blockades". The S11 Medical is organising first-aid and is calling for donations of saline solution and bandages! And who might the storm troopers against capitalism be? Your sons and daughters! S11 are recruiting around the High Schools, seeking a student walkout.
Like the activists who protested at the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle, S11 want to piggy-back the WEF to advance their agendas -- abolish the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, stall the WTO, open the borders to refugees, abolish Third World debt and so on.
Do they not know that the very banks they want to abolish are the instruments that give enormous assistance to the Third World? Those banks do not forgive the debt of nations whose leaders are thugs and murderers and racists. The banks use those obligations to drum some sense into corrupt political leaders. To abolish the debt or the banks would be to let the crooks go free and subject their people to more corrupt practices. The S11 protests are misguided and immature. They are hoping for the sort of strife that brings publicity.
Civil disobedience is a good thing when it is justified. It is not justified when it is a ploy to recruit the young and unsuspecting. I call on the responsible NGO's in the churches, aid, environment and trade union organisations to talk some sense into these idiots and tell them the truth about who are heroes in our world and who are not.
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