"Fighting and organising globally against neo-liberalism"
Trades Hall & RMIT Storey Hall. Melbourne, Australia
A four-day forum aims to strengthen international coordination and solidarity with those fighting neoliberalism.
More than 40 representatives from progressive organisations and campaigns in 22 countries will address the forum. (see list below)
REGISTER FOR THE FORUM ONLINE USING PAYPAL.
AGENDA
Please note that a full schedule of workshops will be available on-line by Tuesday 10th Oct.
THURSDAY, October 11, Victorian Trades Hall
9.00-10.00am Registration
10.30-12.30pm Plenary - Resisting war and neoliberalism
Speakers: Farooq Tariq (Labour Party of Pakistan), Agus Priyono (Papernas, Indonesia), Cristian Quechupan Huenunir (Mapuche Coalition, Chile), Alex Bainbridge (Stop Bush Coalition)
12.30-1.30pm Lunch
1.30-3.15pm Multiple Workshops
3.30-5.15pm Multiple Workshops
5.30-7.30pm Major Session - Che Guevara 40 years on: the influence of his example and ideas today
plus two concurrent workshops
Speakers: Sigfrido Reyes Morales (FMLN Member of Parliament, El Salvador), Nelida Hernandez Carmona (Cuban Consul-General), Eduardo Yssa (Coalition for the Defense of Water & Life, Bolivia), Ocean Books
FRIDAY, October 12, Victorian Trades Hall
8.30-9.30am Registration
9.30-11.15am Multiple Workshops
11am-1.00pm Major Sessions
1. The global influence of the Zapatistas
Estela Morales (Radio New-generation & "The Other Campaign" Mexico), Eduardo Yssa (National Coalition for the Defense of Water & Life, Bolivia), Dave Kerin (Union Solidarity), Sina Brown Davis (Maori/Pasifikan activist)
2. Confronting the new colonialism in the Pacific
Speakers: Tomas Freitas (Luta Hamutuk, Timor-Leste), Anak Jehudi (Patron, West Papua Students Association, Port Morseby), Cristian Quechupán Huenuñir (Mapuche, Chile), Mike Treen (Unite, Aotearoa/NZ), Tim Anderson
1.00-2.00pm Lunch
2.00-3.45pm Plenary - Workers' struggle, global fight
Speakers: Liliany Obando (National Federation of Agricultural Farming Unions , Colombia), Chau Nhat Bihn (General Confederation of Labour, Vietnam), N Vasudevan (Trade Union Solidarity Committee, Mumbai, India), Junya Lek Yimprasert (Thailand), Michelle O'Neil (Vic State Secretary, Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia).
4.00-5.45pm Multiple Workshops
6.00-9.00pm Public meeting - Rebellion and liberation in Latin America
Speakers: Carolus Wimmer (Communist Party of Venezuela), Liliany Obando (National Federation of Agricultural Farming Unions , Colombia), Sigfrido Reyes Morales (FMLN Member of Parliament, El Salvador), Eduardo Yssa (Coalition for the Defense of Water & Life, Bolivia), Efren Calapucha (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador), Eva Golinger (Venezuela, journalist and author).
SATURDAY, October 13, Storey Hall, RMIT
8.30-9.30am Registration
9.30-11.00am Plenary - Indigenous struggles and resistance
Speakers: Australian Indigenous activists Robbie Thorpe, Wayne Costello and Monica Morgan, John Chitoa (Bismarck Ramu Group, PNG), Efren Calapucha (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador), Cristian Quechupán Huenuñir (Mapuche, Chile)
11.00-1.00pm Plenary - Movements of resistance in the Asia Pacific
Speakers: Dita Sari (Papernas, Indonesia), Ric Reyes (Laban Ng Masa, Philippines), Lucia Jayaseelan (Committee for Asian Women, Bangkok), Avelino Coehlo (Socialist Party of Timor), Yamasaki Seeitchi (Asia Pacific Worker Solidarity Links, Japan)
1.00-2.00pm Lunch
2.00-4.00pm Plenary - The Venezuelan revolution and its global impact
Speakers: Eva Golinger (journalist & author, Venezuela). Respondents: Carolus Wimmer (Communist Party of Venezuela), Eduardo Yssa (Coalition for the Defense of Water & Life, Bolivia), Vaughan Gunson (Socialist Worker-New Zealand), Estella Morales (Radio New-generation & "The Other Campaign", Mexico)
4.30-6.30pm Multiple Workshops at Victorian Trades Hall
7pm til late Solidarity Fiesta @ Trades Hall
SUNDAY, October 14, Victoria Trades Hall
8.30-9.30am Registration
9.30-11.00am Plenary - Strategies for ecological and human survival
Speakers: Eduardo Yssa (Bolivia), Efren Calapucha (Ecuador), Cam Walker (Friends of the Earth,), a CFMEU representative, Kerry Nettle (Greens), a speaker from Centre for Health & Society
11.15-1.00pm Major session - Alternatives to neoliberalism
Speakers: Nelson Davila (Venezuelan Charge d'Affaires to Australia), Tran Dac Loi (Peace and Development Foundation, Vietnam), Jamie Doughney, Eduardo Yssa (Bolivia)
plus two concurrent workshops
1.00-2.00pm Lunch
2.00-3.45pm Multiple Workshops
4.00-5.30pm Plenary - Building links, strengthening international solidarity
Speakers: Irene Xavier (Transnational Information Exchange, Malaysia), Reeverend Jang Chang Weon (Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Links, South Korea), Nelson Davila (Venezuelan Charge d'Affairs to Australia), another speaker from Latin America.
Visit the October Forum website
Further Information: Email info@solidarityforum2007.org
International participants
Aotearoa / New Zealand
* Sina Brown Davis, Maori/Pasifikan activist
* Vaughan Gunson, Socialist Worker NZ
* Mike Treen, Unite
* Phillip Ferguson, NZ Workers Party
Bolivia
* Eduardo Yssa, National Coalition for the Defense of Water, Basic Services, the Environment and Life of Bolivia
Canada
* Roger Annis, Canada Haiti Action Network
* John Riddell, Socialist Voice
* Suzanne Weiss, Coalition Against Israeli
Apartheid
Chile
* Payo Grondona, musician & cultural activist
* Ismael Duran, grassroots community activist and Latin Americam New Song musician
* Cristian Quechupan Huenunir, Xeg-Xeg development and communiction Mapuche Coalition
Colombia
* Liliany Obando, National Federation of Agricultural Farming Unions (Fensuagro)
Cuba
* Nélida Hernández Carmona & Ifrahim Miranda León, Cuban Consul-General & Consul in Australia
East Timor
* Avelino Coelho, General Secretary, Socialist Party of Timor
* Tomas Freitas, Luta Hamutuk ("Struggle Together")
* Joaozito Viana, Luta Hamutuk
* Jose Teixeira, Fretilin, Member of Parliament
Eucador
* Efren Calapucha, Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE)
El Salvador
* Sigfrido Reyes Morales, Member of Parliament, FMLN Political Commission.
India
* N Vasudevan, Trade Union Solidarity Committee, Mumbai
Indonesia
* Dita Sari, Founding chairperson of Centre for Indonesian Workers Struggle (FNPBI)
* Agus Priyono, Chairperson, National Liberation Party of Unity (PAPERNAS)
Japan
* Yamasaki Seeitchi, Asia Pacific Worker Solidarity Links
Korea
* Reverend Jang Chang Weon, Osan Laborers and Migrants Shelter, Reconciliation and Unification Mission Center
Malaysia
* Irene Xavier, Coordinator, Transnational Information Exchange Asia
Mexico
Estela Morales, from radio New-generation and The Other Campaign from Mexico
Philippines
* Ric Reyes, Laban ng Masa
Pakistan
* Farooq Tariq, General Secretary, Labour Party Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
* John Chitoa and Rosa Koian, Bismarck Ramu Group
Thailand
* Lucia Jayaseelan, Committee for Asian Women
* Junya Lek Yimprasert
Venezuela
* Eva Golinger, author of The Chavez Code and Bush vs Chavez: Washington's War on Venezuela
* Carolus Wimmer - Communist Party of Venezuela
* Nelson Davila, Venezuela's Charge d'Affairs in Australia
Vietnam
* Chau Nhat Bihn, General Confederation of Labour
* Tran Dac Loi, Secretary General, Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation
* Tran Quoc Khanh, Vietnam's Deputy Consul General in Australia
West Papua
* Anak Jehudi, Patron, West Papua Students Association, Port Morseby.
www.venezuelasolidarity.org
www.greenleft.org.au
www.socialist-alliance/melbourne
