
Issue No 104		27 July 2001

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Activists

The Big Gee-Up

With the big guns of the anti-corporate movement in town, Mark Hebblewhite goes looking for a definition of globalisation.


	Activist Culture?

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I'll admit it, when Workers Online rang asking me to check out the Sydney Active Fair I very nearly said no. You see I'm a cynic at the best of times, but mention so called 'activist culture', or 'anti-globalisation movement', anywhere in my presence and you're likely to be on the receiving end of an apoplectic rant containing phrases like 'father funded revolutionaries', 'crusty dreadlocks competition' and 'living in daddy's Newtown terrace house'. In fact the only reason I ended up going was the involvement of several unions and the lure of guest speaker Naomi Klein.

Klien is a youthful Canadian activist whose No Logo manifesto has made her into the pin-up girl of the anti-globalisation movement. The fair itself was billed as an attempt to 'inform and involve people about the activist community in Sydney in all its diversity', and seemed to double as a networking event for groups involved in anti-globalisation protests. It purported to offer visitors the chance 'to join with other progressive folk, share ideas and spirit make our small voices resonate'. But despite these motherhood statements plastered across the promotional material for the event, I still entered the UTS campus as an extremely doubting individual. As the smell of activism literally hit me from all angles, I immediately sought out the displays from the various unions involved in the anti-globalisation movement. I finally found the AMWU stall and was very impressed by what I found. In comparison to many of the other stalls, the AMWU had a range of well-presented and focused literature on display, as well as a video presentation detailing some of the union's recent activity. At this point I was rudely interrupted from making my introductions to the AMWU representatives by the announcement that Naomi Klein was about to address the fair. My patented Workers Online interrogation would have to wait.

I don't know what I was expecting from this quasi-celebrity, but I must admit to being surprised at an understated delivery that proved to be a far cry from the radical symbolism of No Logo. Instead, Naomi chose to focus on her words on the need for a brand (no pun intended) of activism that is rooted in community. Her vision of a loose worldwide activist network of community based organisations was intriguing if not admirable. This said, it was actually her closing remarks that really got the mind ticking over. After a broad ranging discussion, Naomi pointed out that the global economic forums that are attracting the wrath of protesters are for the most part symbolic. Economic policy is generally not decided at these forums, and the only real way to influence these important decisions is to exert community wide pressure on both political and business leaders. Her words confirmed my fears, are protests such as S11 a waste of time and resources. Does protesting in this context at best send a symbolic message, and at worst create a media relation's nightmare?

As I continued musing, a brilliant organisational stroke began to unfold before my eyes. You see, the fair's 'soapbox period' was just about to begin. Instead of watching the convenors try to organise a crowd of would be speakers who actually outnumbered the audience I decided to pose some questions to the AMWU contingent who thankfully had chosen not to involve themselves in the melee. What was I hoping to find out? Well, my most pressing concern was one of exposure. Is the union movement taking a risk by allying itself with a myriad of other groups, many of who lack the discipline, focus, organisation and solidarity of organised labour? And of course there was an even more basic question to ask. Is a fight against some undefined notation of globalisation any of the union movement's concern?

"Unions have a responsibility to fight for their members," explained an AMWU representative in response to this query. "And globalisation is a huge worry for our members in the manufacturing sector. The absence of a strong local industry policy to create and protect Australian manufacturing jobs is impacting on working families across the country due to many jobs being sent offshore."

"I think there's a social aspect to the struggle as well, people's lives are being affected outside of work. Unions like the AMWU and others have recognised this and moved to work with a wide range of community based organisations, many of whom are not political, to voice our opposition to corporations that treat our planet like their own private playground".

Although my scepticism remained, mainly due to the fact no one could offer me a decent definition of globalisation, I had to concede she had a point. The material produced by the unions involved was realistic and relative to workers lives, with the main messages being; support Australian jobs; end child and forced labour; and the need for both labour and environmental standards to be included in all trade agreements. But still, part of my question remained unanswered, were all the groups involved on the same page? Many of the activists at the fair seemed more interested in pushing their own political agendas and overthrowing global capitalism within the next two weeks rather than protecting Australian jobs and encouraging socially responsible trade. Once again I asked, is it risky being part of such a broad and at times unwieldy coalition? Surprisingly, I found the answer to be very reasonable.

"While protest is an important democratic right, no one in the union movement will ever support violence of any kind at rallies. As far marching alongside a number of different groups, the issue still comes back to the unions setting a good example. On November 13, 1000 delegates from the International Metalworkers Federation will join the Stop Corporate Globalisation rally, at which representatives from numerous other unions will be present. We are the organisations that are in a good position to lead by example, to demonstrate that a disciplined and peaceful protest will always be the most effective way to broadcast your message to the wider community. And of course the union movement isn't just relying on street level action, we're fighting the war on a number of different fronts."

I left with these words ringing in my ear. Perhaps my earlier doubts were a little harsh. It was obvious that the unions involved in the broad anti-globalisation movement were not relying solely on symbolic protest marches and empty rhetoric. As for the term globalisation, I still didn't know what it actually meant. But ask me whether many corporations move their operations throughout the world to squeeze extra profits out of areas that lack labour or environmental standards, then the answer is yes. So with this being the case, the union movement has no choice but to stand up and be counted. And as for many of our erstwhile allies in the activist scene? Well I remain a little worried about their commitment to realistic goals and peaceful protest, but as a learned scribe once wrote in Pierswatch Issue 30:

"Given the choices between the ferals and the Akermanites, we'd take the ferals any day. At least they have the soul, compassion, and commitment to make a stand for what they believe in".

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Issue 104 contents

Interview: A Super Agenda
Labor's federal spokesman on superannuation Kelvin Thompson outlines the challenges a Beazley Government will face in managing the nation's savings.

E-Change: 1.4 The Shifting Sands of Ideology
Peter Lewis and Michael Gadiel conclude the first part of their study of new politics by looking for core Labor values in a post-Cold War environment.

Corporate: Locking Horns
The same names keep cropping up in the business pages as the web of corporate control stays tied to a few big players. Georgina Murray has been looking at the extent and depth of the connections.

Unions: The Workers Bank
With banks on the nose, David Whiteley looks at how unions and super funds have got together to create the real deal � the workers bank.

International: Phil Davey's Amazon Postcard
The CFMEU's Boy Wonder has downed the megaphone for three months in South America. Here's what he's been up to.

History: Faded Vision of The American Bounder
King O'Malley was an American ex-pat who dreamed of a people's bank. Neale Towart looks at what happened to his vision.

Activists: The Big Gee-Up
With the big guns of the anti-corporate movement in town, Mark Hebblewhite goes looking for a definition of globalisation.

Indonesia: Where to the Workers After Gus Dur?
At the end of a turbulent week, Jasper Goss looks at the impact of the overthrow of Wahid on Indonesian workers.

Review: Mixing Pop and Politics
'The Bank' is a new Australian film that takes a contemporary political issue and transforms it into a piece of compelling popular culture.

Satire: Milosevic's Defence: "I Was Just Issuing Orders"
Disgraced former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic has brushed off against charges for war crimes against humanity and mass genocide.

» Community Banks Are No Collectivists

» Labor Vows to Widen Royal Commission

» WorkCover Finally Fesses Up � Premiums the Problem

» Unions Launch 56 Hour Watch

» Call Centre Campaign Bares First Fruit

» Justice at Last for One.Tel Workers

» Entitlements Push Gathers Momentum

» Employer Dirty on Leave Win

» Rights Put In Too Hard Basket

» AMA Move on Doctors� Hours Welcome

» Aussie Post Workers Rally

» Strike by Airport Guards Lawful

» Workers Rejects Brough Deal

» Unions Will March at CHOGM

» Average Response to Robberies

» Coca-Cola Sued for Using Paramilitary Force

» Activists Notebook