Sunday, August 21, 2005

THOUSANDS of protesters to take over Circular Quay

In an attempt to disrupt a conference involving some of the world's top business executives THOUSANDS of protesters are to take over Circular Quay.

Trade unionists, anti-globalisation activists, peace campaigners, environmentalists and religious groups will join forces as the 30A Network on the opening day of the conference, August 30, to make their point on everything from industrial relations reform to global warming and the continuing commitment of troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Forbes Global CEO Conference, an annual gathering of more than 300 of the world's top chief executives, is organised by Forbes magazine owner Steve Forbes, who will open the three-day conference at the Sydney Opera House.

Speakers will include Prime Minister John Howard, NSW X Premier Bob Carr and former New York mayor Rudi Giuliani.

The protest's organisers have said activists are planning marches, a flotilla near the busy ferry terminal and banner drops from city buildings and Sydney Harbour Bridge. It will conclude with a rally in the Opera House forecourt.

Co-ordinator Damien Lawson said protest organisers would write to actor Nicole Kidman to ask her to decline an invitation to address the conference.

OTHER THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Steve Forbes is a founding member, along with Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Francis Fukuyama and others, of the right-wing think-tank Project For the New American Century (PNAC).

Formed in 1997, PNAC's plan was to have the US, as the "world's preeminent power", shape a new century of "American global leadership" through "military strength and moral clarity".

In September 2000, PNAC produced a 76 page document "Rebuilding Americas Defences: Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century".

The document called for an increase in US defence spending to "to insure the long-term superiority of US conventional forces" but also to develop new capabilities such as a missile defence shield. Specific aims included the ability to "fight and decisively win multiple, simultaneous major theatre wars" across the globe beginning in the Middle East, to "maintain nuclear strategic superiority", and to "control the new international commons of space and cyberspace".

Today, the document reads like a blueprint for the Bush Doctrine - not surprising since of the 40 people who signed PNAC's "Founding Principles", 10 have served in the Bush Administration.

The Secret Rulers of the World - New Link


By No More War and More Civil Liberties 21 August 05

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Posted by NSW Community News Network Archive at 10:40 AM
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