Protests Continue Outside World Economic Forum
September 12, 2000
The trade union movement is protesting outside the World Economic Forum in Melbourne today and Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, has cancelled a number of speaking engagements scheduled for the forum.
ACTU President, Sharan Burrow, has addressed the forum, calling upon it to promote global democracy.
Burrow said that economic democracy is a viable aspiration and one in which good corporate citizens should share. "But if companies continue to carve up the world and unchecked capital speculation makes the security of communities increasingly volatile then the tide of protest will grow."
Protests Disrupt World Economic Forum Meeting
Sept 11 - Protests have severely interrupted the World Economic Forum meeting at Melbourne's Crown Casino complex. It is being reported this afternoon that up to a third of delegates have been unable to enter the complex. There have been reports of violence, including the theft of keys to an ambulance. Western Australian Premier Richard Court was reportedly trapped in his car for 30 minutes.
The Age website is providing regular updates on developments.
Scott Burchill has an excellent article concerning the WEF and free speech in today's Age. Read it as an antidote to the commercial media's hysteria.
World Economic Forum Meeting Opens In Melbourne
Sept 11 - The World Economic Forum meeting opens in Melbourne today amidst controversy over protests and security. The WEF consists of representatives from politics, business and academia, but particularly represents the world's 1000 largest corporations.
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