Stop Bush! Stop APEC! Protests planned

“Howard and Bush have to meet behind giant security barriers and an army of riot police because their anti-people, anti-environment agenda does not have popular support,"

Rubbish.

They have to meet behind barriers because a small number of people riot every time they meet.

The public's real feelings are shown every election, when a vast majority of people vote for candidates who are pro APEC. 

And, of the small minority who vote for anti-APEC candidates, only a small number actually support the rioters.

Your argument is like saying that Bank Tellers don't have public support because they have to work behind security barriers.

Sydney convergence call 2007

Protest BUSH
Stop the WAR

US President George Bush will be in Sydney
in September 2007 for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.
APEC,
which includes many poor Pacific Rim countries
and a
handful of rich ones – including the US
– is one of a handful of neo-liberal trade organisations forcing
unequal terms
of trade on countries of the global south. PM John Howard is one of
Bush’s most
stanch allies. He sees the US-Australia alliance as critical.

We do not agree. The relationship with the US
is an alliance with the most dangerous state in the world.

Sydney Stop the War Coalition is calling for a national anti-war
convergence against
Bush in September 2007 for the following reasons:

·       
The invasion of Iraq
was illegal. The occupation is killing, on average, 110 Iraqis each
day. Some
authorities say more than 100,000 Iraqis have been killed since the
invasion.
The country now has less electricity, fewer jobs and greater
malnutrition than
before 2003.

·       
At least 
92% of Iraqis want the occupying troops to leave. A
Pentagons
study shows that 90% of bomb attacks in Iraq
are a direct result of the occupation by foreign troops, with only 10%
aimed at
civilians.

·       
The US invasion of Afghanistan
has wrecked havoc there, and the occupation is creating the conditions
for the
resurgence of the fundamentalist Taliban.

·       
US services and jobs are being cut as money goes to pay for the
war.
Former World Bank chief economist Joseph Stiglitz calculated the cost
of the
war to date at $1 trillion; it is expected to double should the war
continues
for the next five to 10 years.

·       
The majority of Americans oppose the war.

·       
Washington has
armed, and
encouraged, the Israeli government’s occupation of the Palestinian
territories.
It gave the green light to the July-August attack on Lebanon
in which almost 2000 Lebanese people were killed and large parts of Beirut
destroyed. It is turning a blind eye to the military and economic siege
in the Gaza.

·       
Bush is now trying to fabricate a “reason” to invade or attack Iran,
even while that country has signed onto the nuclear non-proliferation
treaty. Meanwhile,
Washington is talking of
the use
of nuclear weapons against “rouge states” – countries seeking to defend
themselves
from the US’s
confrontational policies.

·       
Only a minority believe the world had been made a safer place
since 9/11 when Bush launched the so-called “war on terror”. Meanwhile
civil
rights, won through
 100 years of struggle, are being
shredded.

Stop the War Coalition believes that Bush’s visit provides a good
opportunity to raise our voices to oppose Bush’s war mongering as well
as
providing a focus for protest against his and the Howard government’s
neo-con agenda – including the destruction of jobs, the environment and
social
spending. It also provides an opportunity to present an alternative
pro-people
and pro-environmental agenda.

Stop the War Coalition invites all progressive
groups and individuals to attend a meeting to discuss plans for
September 2007 on Monday October 9, at 7pm,
at UTS, Broadway NSW 2007. Room details to be
confirmed, and will be posted to the Stop the War Coalition website at www.stopwarcoalition.org

Email your support, or intention to participate, to
stopwarcoalition@yahoo.com.au
or ring Anna 0401 900 690, Raul 0403 037 376, Pip on 0412 139 968

Hi all, there is a change of venue for the Stop Bush! Stop the War! APEC convergence meeting. The meeting will now be held:

Mon 9 Oct, 7pm

AidWatch, 19 Eve St, Erskineville

Ph 0401 900 690 or 0413 976 638 for more details

ok... i dont know which country 5 lives in... maybe his contact with the rest of australia is limited to his liberal party meetings, bible study and church... because i hate to be the one to shatter his weird little world... but go out into the real world 5 and ask people if they support the war in iraq... ask people if they would prefer to be able to vote for someone who puts the PEOPLE of australia before the interests of the rich... ask people if they would rather be able to vote for someone who REPRESENTS their viewpoints even a slight degree, who supports their values and ideals... youll find that howard was voted in by a SLIGHT majority, and only because he managed to persuade people that he was the better man... he didnt once try and promise he would represent them, that he would act on their concerns or even that he would act in their best interests... the system is like a century old... it was an improvement on a monarchy, sure, but the time has come where people want their voice heard, they dont want a minority ruling a majority, because howard and his types are a ideological minority... 

secondly... i honestly dont beleive protesting, violent or peaceful will acheive anything... they are not concerned with protesters anymore... its so difficult its on the verge of literal impossibility to get the political elite to actually listen to the concerns of the little people... like a certain religious minorty they have decided that they are the only ones who are right... and thats a dangerous thing, just look at the history of certain religions... i remember the gist of a quote i read about the protests that are happening within the american system concerning the war and the stealing of the election by bush, basically it says 'we're in limbo, its too late to change the system, and its still to early to start shooting the bastards'

the only thing throughout history that has acheived long lasting political change is revolution, and i beleive written history supports me here... the political elite owns the system, protesting will do nothing, particularly if you would note, both major parties receive party donations from business interests... both party will pursue the interests of business over people... and yet revolution is violent, will likely throw our country back somewhere near the third world, and unfortunately, often ends, no matter what good intentions, in either a dictatorship or with a leader so charismatic as to practically be a dictator through his influence over the rest of the political system...

we're well and truely screwed... history shows there is no confortable way out of this... and who can we ask for help? who can help smooth the path for us to change this system? noone... every country with the resources to support such a change... is in the same situation as us... so yeah... the end is neigh

A meeting of some of the worlds most corrupt, morally bankrupt bastards in the history of humankind?

Pillagers of the earth, supporters of war and dangerous oppressors. It is not until their policies are felt at home that more westerners will take up this cause and it is only a matter of time before the masses do. Prior to the Iraqi war, there are so many documented sources warning the Bush administration that invading Afghanistan and Iraq would lead to a nuclear arms race - with North Korea and Iran being the proof of these predictions. We are heading towards a catastrophic event and when the subdued Western masses realise how foolish we have been in backing these individuals one very important factor will  destroy the likes of Howard and Bush - the common people outnumber them.

 Only through unity will they or their policies, deemed to be followed by the next "leaders", fall.....the fall itself however, is only a matter of time. And in that fact, those of us ridiculed for believing in compassion, fairness and humanity's ability to habitate in peace, should take great comfort.

 For the time being, let us protest without the use of violence, and remind those leaders that while they sit in their bomb-resistant limousines, get escorted into lavish hotel conference rooms and eat the worlds finest food they may have suceeded in brainwashing the masses, but there are those of us who will not submit nor go quietly into the night.

 To win their war, they will have to destroy us and no matter how many lives they take, no matter how many of the worlds poor they deny basic human rights, we are still here.

We are still here and we will ultimately win. Be loud and be proud.

Hi, I live in the UK but I'm interested in returning home to Sydney for the APEC senior leaders' meetings in early September when George W Bush is in town. How do I get involved and who do I contact? 

Dear Sir,

Please read the following and decide if you would help me get an answer from Mr. John Howard as to whether my phone is being tapped by the Police, ASIO, FBI, CIA or other Agencies for Democracy.  Thank you.

 Today, as a matter of curiosity, I decided to take my digital camera for some pictures of our “fortress city”.  It was fun until two heavily armed policemen stopped me abruptly and asked “What are you doing?” I told them the obvious and then the interrogation, search of my personal belongings and the most humiliating and frightening experience of my life started.    My crime was I had made myself a terrorist suspect for (unintentionally) taking pictures of a manhole.  Once I became a T.S., I had lost all citizens’ rights.  I had to delete all the other pictures and if I refused, I could have had my camera confiscated, be handcuffed and put in a police wagon and ended up in Guantanamo Bay - without being charged for doing anything wrong. I was finally released after their database revealed that I was a volunteer at the 2000 Olympic Games.  Evidently, big brother has a file on each of its citizen’s private life.  That is unbelievable if not unlawful! Today, I got into trouble for unintentionally taking pictures of a manhole, and I was lucky not to end up in gaol.  Tomorrow someone could get into trouble and not be so lucky for taking pictures of a bolt on the Harbour Bridge or a tile on the Opera House. Tonight, fellow Australians, I cry for us as I cry for the Jews. Yours truly,Colin Leung        5^th September 200720 Konrads Avenue, NEWINGTON 2127Phone 9737 0246 or 0403 89 6363. P. S.  Please be warned that my phone would most probably be tapped by the Police, ASIO, FBI, CIA and other Agencies for Democracy.  I would not have written this if I am not prepared to die for freedom and justice.  What about you?

I fail to see what the problem with APEC is. As has been mentioned on this page, we have a gathering of 21 leaders striving for mutual co-operation on a wide range of issues in a way that tries to overcome cultural and political boundaries. What would you Anti-APEC protestors prefer? Would you prefer that everyone goes back to their corners and operate independently? Surely, that would only serve to create division between countries. The more global co-operation we can get, the better off the world is in my opinion.

When I see these protest groups, all I see is a bunch of pessimistic perpetual uni students with some sort of issue with authority and who are upset that they haven't "made it" in life because they are too afraid to actually step into the real world and have a go. Instead, they choose to try to blame the government and the rich for the fact that they can't get ahead using reasoning that they have read in a textbook somewhere. How do you think the rich get rich? It's because they actually stepped outside the university gates, that others choose to hide behind under the guise of furthering their education, took some risks and worked hard. They are all not the evil people that some would have us believe they are.

I'll even use myself as an example - not for bragging purposes, merely to make my point of one being accountable for their own situation. I am 29 years old, work in the coal industry in a marketing role and last financial year earned over $250,000. Of course, a lot of you will now have an image in your head of me being a greedy individual, laughing as I pump CO2 into the air and also wondering how I sleep at night working in this industry.

I have worked my ass off to get where I am right now. I started full time work straight out of school and completed my university degree part time. This allowed me to pay my uni fees up front and not accumulate a HECS debt (no, my parents did not pay my way). While still working full time, I furthered my education by studying for admission into a professional body. Through my work and the various contacts I made, I landed a role with a coal marketing company and have been progressing in the industry ever since.

And, while I acknowledge that coal is not the cleanest of energy sources and more needs to be done in looking at clean coal and alternate energy sources, I take heart in the fact that every time I send a ship of Australian coal from our shores that a large number of local people have been involved in that shipment, that I have made money for my company and that I have provided a cheap and efficient source of energy.

Not only this, but I also provide my wife and new born son (and his future siblings) with a high quality of life. Hopefully, my children will learn from the example I have set.

Rather than complaining that the government doesn't do enough for me, I (and others like me) have taken it upon myself to achieve my own goals. That is why I have little tolerance for people protesting against events such as APEC. That is why I have no problem working in the industry that I do. And that is why I sleep well at night. Maybe all you pessimists should stop whinging and try to live your lives. You'll find that it is quite rewarding.