Global Justice Coalition formed

The unity obtained around the S-11 demonstrations in Melbourne last year 
opposing the World Economic Forum was a great success. In Sydney the S-11 
Coalition brought together a vast array of trade unions, political parties 
including the CPA, community organisations, peace and environmental groups 
and student groups.

These organisations represent the views and aspirations of the majority of 
working people, and when united they present a powerful force in the 
community for positive change.

In what must be considered an achievement of great importance that the 
alliance of organisations that banded together to take on the world's 1000 
top corporate leaders has been able to maintain and extend its organisation 
with the formulation and adoption of a statement of unity.

The former S-11 Coalition has been transformed into the Global Justice 
Coalition. Its statement provides an excellent basis for the future work of 
the Coalition.

The statement deals with the principles and formation of the Global Justice 
Coalition. It also deals briefly with globalisation and puts forward 
campaign points that will form the basis of the Global Justice Coalition's 
activities.

The statement dealing with formation says: "The formation of the Global 
Justice Coalition was inspired by the growing international movement 
against the exploitation "of both people and the planet) inherent in 
corporate globalisation."

On the question of globalisation the statement has this to say: "Together 
we recognise that the expansion of global `free trade' only exacerbates the 
current social inequalities that exist within, and between countries.

"Austerity programs and economic rationalism on a domestic level hurt the 
poor, as areas traditionally seen to be the responsibility of society as a 
whole (e.g. education, health, welfare, etc) are outsourced, privatised or 
simply abandoned.

"On a global scale, the debt reduction schemes of the World Bank and 
International Monetary Fund (IMF) are forcing poorer nations to restructure 
their economies at the expense of people and their environment."

Campaigning and activity will be a main emphasis of the Global Justice 
Coalition and significant attention is paid in the statement to this.

The section of the statement under campaigning begins: "We act as a network 
to build and support local industrial actions as well as actions and 
protests aimed at corporate exploitation and the international institutions 
of free-market capitalism.

"We also seek to provide educational material and the opportunity to debate 
issues of economics and society with the goal of finding an alternative to 
free-market economics."

Fourteen main campaigning points are raised in the statement. They are:

1. corporate accountability and the elimination of exploitation;

2. the reversal of the growing gap between rich and poor;

3. the right to organise, collective bargaining and strike for all workers;

4. the achievement of full employment and a shorter working week;

6. the elimination of all forms of discrimination based on, sexuality, sex, 
age, disability, race, or religion;

7. land rights and self-determination for indigenous peoples;

8. a fair and progressive taxation system;

9. free comprehensive public health, public education and public housing 
and public transport systems;

10. cessation of the nuclear cycle, uranium mines, radioactive waste dumps, 
nuclear reactors and weapons;

11. ecological sustainable development. Opposition to genetically modified 
food and patenting of life forms;

12. cancellation of developing world debt;

13. democratic control of mass media.

14. recognition of the right to demonstrate, with no use of military in 
civilian affairs.

The CPA sees the unity that has been achieved around these points as an 
excellent example of the unity required in forming the basis of a new type 
of government in Australia — a Government of Peoples Unity.

Many more steps need to be taken before such a government becomes a 
reality. For the people to move forward and challenge the power of the big 
corporations and capital in general, many more coalitions and alliances of 
this type will be needed.

It is a positive step forward and the CPA congratulates the Global Justice 
Coalition and its member organisations.