An open planning meeting for Green Block events at FoE Melbourne

10am Friday 8th September. Ring (03) 9419 8700.

STAND UP FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE

As you know, we are only a few weeks away from the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting, to be held at the Crown Casino in Melbourne from September 11 13th 2000.

Many individuals in society are concerned about the type of corporate-defined globalisation advocated by forums like the WEF, and many people in Melbourne will be attending the public events before and during the WEF meeting. The details on some of these are included with this mailout.

We are writing to you mainly to encourage you and your organisation to join the non-violent blockade of the Crown Casino during the WEF meeting. While the conservative media has done its best to stir up fears of violence many groups like FoE are determined to hold creative, disciplined and focused peaceful action to close down the WEF.

To this end, we invite you to join us in a 'green block' which will form a discreet part of the non-violent blockade around the Casino. We wish to maintain an autonomous blockade under the broader S11 umbrella, which is targeted, peaceful, with a clear focus, and good liaison with the police and other activist groups operating around us.

From this area we will be coordinating our own action that compliments the overall S11 blockade to stop the World Economic Forum. We are organising peacekeeping training and briefing everyone on nonviolent protest techniques. If you do not wish to be part of the blockade you will have the option of joining the supportive presence beyond the police lines.

The key times for blockading will be from 7am 10am each morning as WEF delegates attempt to enter the building. We will gather at 6.45 each morning just to the west side of Crown Towers on Whiteman St, South Melbourne where we will be identifiable by the Friends of the Earth banner-"stand up for global justice".

We will meet briefly each morning to work out the 'game plan' for that day. Ideally we would hope you could attend as an affinity group with a nominated spokesperson or spokespeople who can represent your group in the planning meetings.

Our intention in holding an identifiable green presence at the blockade is twofold:

1. to ensure the environmental consequences of corporate defined globalisation are on the agenda in the media coverage of the WEF meeting;

and

2. to help ensure the largest possible cross section of environmental and social groups are represented at the WEF protests. We believe we can play a significant role in helping create a safe and focussed forum for direct action by co-operating with other green groups in actions with good peace keeping and a strong commitment to non-violence.

We would encourage you to bring along whatever banners, placards or other materials you think are appropriate. We are also planning to host a 'green space' in a nearby park. This will be a relaxed place to share information, unwind from being on the picket line and liaise with passers by. The S11 stage, food, and other groups will be located here (this is still subject to negotiations with the police). Again, we would welcome your involvement in this.

Please feel free to contact Cam Walker, Cam Ling, Loretta O'Brien, Domenica Settle or Damian Sullivan for extra information. We will also be holding an open planning meeting for Green Block events at FoE Melbourne on 10am Friday 8th September. Ring (03) 9419 8700.

In solidarity,

Cam Walker
For FoE Melbourne