[Lasnetmail] Solidarity & Unity Statement APEC Protests

[Lucho]

Solidarity & Unity Statement Melbourne Alliance for Civil Disobedience Co-ordination- ACDC

This statement aims to encourage solidarity and unity amongst the diverse  protesters and groups who will be demonstrating our progressive anti-racist & anti capitalist opposition to APEC and its agenda of Economic Apartheid & militarism in the Asia Pacific region.

 It's clear that the police and security forces -- in complicity with the state and corporate proponents of APEC, as well as sensationalist mainstream media --
utilize a strategy of divide and rule. They distinguish between "good" and "bad" protesters to weaken social movements. You're "good", in the eyes of the police, if you comply with their protest pens and zones, and "bad" if you do not; you're "good" if you limit opposition to electoral politics and lobbying, but "bad" if you reject parliamentary politics and parties, and privilege direct action; you're "good" if you get permission from the police to protest, and "bad" if you refuse to talk to police on principle. 

Our basis of unity includes the following:  "A confrontational attitude, since we do not think that lobbying can have a major impact in such biased and
undemocratic organizations, in which transnational capital is the only real  policy-maker; AND: a call to direct action and civil disobedience, support for
social movements' struggles, advocating forms of resistance which maximize respect for living with diginity and oppressed peoples' rights, as well as the construction of  local alternatives to global capitalism." 

Our basis of unity, and our ongoing organizing, is rooted in both local and global social justice struggles. Thru many different groups, are actively involved with immigrant justice, anti-poverty, indigenous sovereignty, international solidarity, anti-oppression, worker's rights, anti-war, prison justice, environmental and other movements and organisations, for many years. It is our day-to-day organizing work that brings us to mobilizing against APEC in Sydney.

Still, there will be an attempt by police and state to marginalize the protesters affiliated with the Melbourne Alliance for Civil Disobedience Co-ordination.

In anticipation, we are making this call for solidarity and unity. The progressive anti-racist & anti capitalist opposition to APEC shares a lot in common – a long-term commitment to social justice, popular education, public debate and discussion, and popular mobilization and action.

We also have differences in analysis and tactics; we should debate and discuss those differences, honestly. Any social movement that is diverse and vibrant has differences and disagreements and that is not a negative thing.

However, those movement debates should not be tainted by police attempts to marginalize one part of a movement from the rest.

We write this statement to ask that all progressive organizers, activists and protesters mobilizing against APEC maintain solidarity and unity in the face of attempts to divide us. You can certainly disagree with the A.C.D.C, as we may disagree with you, but we ask that we dialogue about those disagreements in our movement spaces, and not engage in any public marginalization or denunciation.

Tangibly, "solidarity and unity" means:

- assertively refuting any police misinformation about any activist groups in
order to block police and state attempts to divide us;
- refraining from denouncing other groups to the police, and certainly not to 
the mainstream media;
- pro-actively expressing and showing solidarity, thru statements of support,
whether publicly or privately;
- avoiding any attempts to frame protesters as "good" vs. "bad", or "violent" 
vs. "non-violent".

Please share this statement with your organizing groups, and do endorse it if
you agree.

Good luck to everyone in their mobilizing against APEC. 
In solidarity,

Melbourne Alliance for Civil Disobedience Co-ordination- ACDC


The Change of Wind is Coming

by Kevin Buzzacott
(Arabunna Nation)


The change of wind is coming. Brace yourself for the big change - get ready. The Fire Creator for Justice is awoken. The power of the fire is alive and moving and rekindling the fire of the spirit. The time has come to cure the evil, right the wrongs. The Whiteman came to Australia the wrong way. When he entered our waters and our land he came the wrong way. Coming the wrong way was like starting off on the wrong foot. He brought with him the evil. If he had come the right way, the massacres, the poisoned water, the stolen generations, the deaths in custody, the pain and misery, the land theft... would not have happened.

...The time has come to face reality - you cannot hide the truth any more. The Old Spirit and the old, old Ancient Country are about to unleash an awakening energy. You have your ancient responsibility and obligation to right the wrongs of the events that took place since Invasion. Do not feel threatened. All people should come and participate, share and experience the changes and end the jurisdiction of the occupying power, which tries to dominate our lives.

We have the right to live, the right to life, the right to self-determination, the right to decolonisation, the right to sovereignty for certainty. We encourage people to come forward... Those with this churning feeling for change.

Since Invasion all we've seen is the Crown and paper and oppression. But we have the key for survival in this land. Our ancient knowledge is like an untapped resource for survival. It can take us all home.

The Old Country is talking now. The Old Spirit is stirring, singing up the country, empowering the fire of the Spirit, and curing the evil.

The Fire will burn until Justice prevails.

The Fire is the thing that will make or break you. The Fire is the healing that can take all lost souls home, that will fix you up and enable [you] to share the responsibility to care for our Ancient Country.

If you are sincere you should support us. Stop running around in circles.
 



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