This is a summary of the first public meeting of the STOP MAI Campaign which took place in Brisbane, Australia last night (4/2/98)
About a hundred people gathered in the offices of the ACTU in Brisbane last night to discuss the implications to Australia of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, due to be signed in Paris by 29 countries of the OECD in May.
Time is obviously of the essence.
The meeting was chaired by members of the STOP MAI campaign committee, including ecological economist Richard Sanders. The committee has risen out of the foundations of the nascent ACE-J ...the Australian Coalition for Economic Justice.
Richard introduced the subject to begin with and then those assembled were asked to contribute.
People representing trade unions, churches, academia, the Australian Labor Party (Socialist Left Faction), student unions, indigenous peoples, the Australian Democrats, small business, migrant groups, the media, hardened socialists and idealistic conservatives, the Australian Independence Movement, environmentalism, sustainable energy enthusiasts, young and old, suits and t-shirts...and many many more were in attendance
The gathering was quick to take hold of the old, but very useful cliche of Unity in Diversity. It is clear that the TransNats and Bureaucrats have picked on almost everyone, and everyone has come out kicking and screaming.
Many expressed the feeling that the nature of this beast had hit them in almost Revelation-like fashion, with one respected journalist (formerly of The Quuensland Times) having given up his job in part to fight the MAI
People spoke of how MAI was an extreme manifestation of the madness that is economic rationalism which has been eroding Australian civil society for sometime now.
A very clear distinguishment was made between paranoid nationalism and national economic sovereignty, as it was between concpiracy theories and what is a very real threat. The campaign against the MAI was compared by many to the campaign against the War in Vietnam in the sixties and seventies. It was suggested that that kind of momentum is required.
Representatives from ACE-J said that a survey late last year had shown that most of our Federal MPs and Senators either knew nothing about or cared to know nothing about the MAI. Somebody noted that the recent ALP Conference in Tasmania had declared they were against MAI with "certain reservations." (Richard had spoken personally with Opposition Leader Kim Beazley last year and noted his support for the MAI. Ironically a similar conversation with Federal Industrial Relations Minister Peter Reith had revealed a negative response!) The media attention that Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party had lately received with respect to this issue was dealt with by the re-affirmation that in fighting MAI we are caring not only for our own country but for the whole world - especially the poor majority. It was noted that Australian Democrats and Australian Greens Senators were now very aware of the issue and were preparing themselves for a public and parliamentary campaign.
It is hoped that, with an accelerating public debate on this issue, major party politicians would come around to an honourable position. It is very clear that, Constitutional Conventions notwithstanding, our democracy is on shaky ground. Richard suggested that the 38th Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia could very well be the last with any real power to make substantial decisions in the public interest.
Hope was boosted with the news that four Canadian Provinces, several progressive parties in New Zealand, Europe and North America and a host of Non-Governmental Organisations were resisting the MAI. Constant communication with them via the Net was seen as imperitive.
The point was made that, in order to sell the STOP MAI campaign to ordinary Australians, MAI must be made relevant to specific groups by selectively targeting and bringing on-side: farmers, workers, small business operators, environmentalists, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, fishermen, regional Australians, human rights advocates, civil libertarians, the popular media, church-goers and so on. A way must be found to pass the word on to one's neighbours as concisely and clearly as possible. (See "What to do next" at the end of this posting)
Several local STOP MAI groups had formed in the last month in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. Additonally, it was thought important that this issue be taken out of the cities by people who had an obvious empathy for regional and rural Australians.
The prospect of launching a National Day of Action (public rallies in every capital city), with a united front, was briefly discussed by some; as was legal action. With respect to the latter; it appears that there is only a very narrow window available for launching a court action - the end of February.
If we at least manage to stall the signing of the MAI, we buy ourselves some more time.
It was also noted that all of the ACE-J and STOP MAI workers were volunteers, many of whom could spare little time away from families, study and the workplace to commit themselves wholly to this campaign.
This fact of life notwithstanding, people departed around 10pm full of fervour and more empowered by the knowledge of what needs to be done:
A concerted and enduring campaign of resistance.
This most insidious pact will not be signed without a fight from citizens - not consumers - across Australia. If at all.
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WHAT TO DO NEXT
(Some ideas for immediate action)
1. Tell people about the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) in a clear and concise manner and encourage them to become involved in the campaign. Make it relevant to them, their work, their familiy and so on.
2. Telephone your local Member of Parliament (Federal and State) and Senator and ask them questions.
3. Write letters to your local Member, the Senate the Prime Minister. Have a letter writing party in your home, invite your friends, neighbours and workmates to join in.
4. Write Letters to the Editor. Keep your letters brief, punchy and to the point. (The Editor of The Courier-Mail receives about 300 letters on an "off-day") Keep on writing until yours is published.
5. Talk about the MAI on talk-back radio.
6. Sign the STOP MAI petition or the Australian Democrats petition. Make copies of blank petitions and distribute them (work, Uni., shopping centre, street, etc). Encourage others to sign (gently).
7. Contact other community groups about the MAI and ask if they are taking action on the issue. If they are not, encourage them to be involved.
8. Telephone the STOP MAI Campaign Office for further details on campaign action.
9. Volunteer at the STOP MAI Campaign Office (They need you!)
10. Don't Panic!