G20 in Melbourne in November

Folks in Melbourne are organising!

The next global meeting of finance ministers, reserve bank governers and the heads of the World Bank and IMF will occur in Melbourne on November 18-19...
G20 in Melbourne in November

The next global meeting of finance ministers, reserve bank governers and the heads of the World Bank and IMF will occur in Melbourne on November 18-19. The G20 is a forum for economic and financial leaders in the world's 20 largest economies to continue and accelerate neoliberal policies on a global scale, including trade liberalisation, privatisation, and corporate control over workers, women, Indigenous peoples, farmers, students and the majority of the world's people who seek an ecologically sustainable and just future for local communities and for the planet.

The G20 meeting in Melbourne presents an opportunity for diverse groups to challenge the destructive, corrupt and deceitful practices of the global capitalist military complex, and to present alternatives.

It is an opportunity for us to connect with the struggles against neoliberalism by grass-roots groups in Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa and other Majority World nations represented at the G20, whose finance ministers will be attending the meeting in Melbourne.

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G20 Official Website:
http://www.g20.org

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The G-20 (Group of 20) is a group consisting of 19 of the world's largest economies, together with the European Union. The G-20, which superseded the Group of 33, was foreshadowed at the Cologne Summit of the G-7 in June 1999, but was formally established at the G-7 Finance Ministers' meeting on September 26, 1999.

The inaugural meeting took place on December 15-16, 1999 in Berlin. The G-20 was formed as a new forum for cooperation and consultation on matter pertaining to the international financial system. It studies, reviews, and promotes discussion among key industrial and emerging market countries of policy issues pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability, and seeks to address issues that go beyond the responsibilities of any one organization.

The membership of the G-20 comprises the finance ministers and central bank governors of the G-7, 12 other key countries, and the European Union Presidency (if not a G-7 member); the European Central Bank; the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund; the Chairman of the IMFC; the President of the World Bank; and the Chairman of the Development Committee.

Mr. Jin Renqing, Finance Minister of China, is the current chairman of the G-20.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G20_industrial_nations

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The G20 is coming to town!
http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/10/97589.php

WHAT COULD PEOPLE BE PROTESTING AGAINST, AND ADVOCATING FOR?

The G20 plays a major role in pushing corporate-led globalisation, neoliberalism, capitalism and the global growth economy as the only way to run an economy and a society. Many people believe that this model destroys natural environments, colonises Indigenous communities, impoverishes most of the world's people, isolates workers and farmers, and creates great hardships for women. The model breeds militarisation, war-driven competition and police states, and is inheritantly unsustainable in an era of dangerous climate change and peak oil.

Millions and millions of people across the world are living out alternatives to this model, from Argentinean solidarity economies to Indian communities regaining control over the commons, from South African anti-privatisation movements to community food gardens in Australia. The G20 protests represent an opportunity for people to claim their right to advocate for these alternatives based on values such as environmental justice, human dignity, cooperation, community, relocalisation and fairness.

HOW BIG WILL THE PROTESTS BE?

The G20 does not have the profile of the World Economic Forum, where 20,000 people successfully blockaded, demonstrated and created an alternative three-day solidarity economy outside the Melbourne Crown Casino in September 2000. No heads of government nor major corporate CEOs will be attending. However, it will attract considerable media attention, given that such 'notorious' people as Alan Greenspan and Paul Wolfowitz will be there. It's an opportunity for autonomous groups, networks and non-government organisations to expose corporate-led globalisation for what it is, and to creatively suggest alternatives to capitalism.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT SOME MAJORITY ('DEVELOPING') WORLD NATIONS ARE REPRESENTED IN THE G20?

Civil society groups in Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa have spent two or more decades protesting against the neoliberal policies of their governments. Unfortunately, the finance ministers of many Majority World nations are pressured into following the demands made by the World Bank and the IMF. We have a special responsibility to act in solidarity with the demands of people throughout Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Pacific for changes to their governments' policies, and to transform or dismantle the international financial institutions that drive them.

WHAT COULD HAPPEN AT THE PROTESTS?

This is up to all of us to decide! Groups and networks can design their own autonomous actions, street theatre, teach-ins and community organising events. It's an opportunity to show our dissent against corporate capitalism and neoliberalism, to present alternative pathways for our society based on economic relocalisation and strong, open communities, and to educate ourselves and others about how to gradually spend less of our time, energy and money feeding the corrupt global economy.

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G20 Protest (and Alternatives!) Organising Meeting

Come on January 14th to learn more about the G20, and to discuss various issues involved in organising protest activities and in presenting positive alternatives. The meeting will be facilitated by the Reclaim Globalisation collective, Friends of the Earth.

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/calendar/event_display_detail.php?event_i...