Liberation & Resistance in the 21st century

4th Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference
April 6-9, 2007, Sydney, Australia

Liberation & Resistance in the 21st century

From Venezuela to Indonesia, from Cuba to Iraq:
Inter-continental solidarity against war and exploitation

To all left and progressive parties and community organisations

Dear friends,

We send you our warm greetings of solidarity, and invite you to actively participate in the 4th Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference in Sydney, April 6-9, 2007.

For all those concerned and angry about the destructive ravages of neoliberal globalisation; for all those active in the anti-corporate/anti-capitalist movements; for all those campaigning against the US-British-Australian war on the people of Iraq; for all those who wish to tear down the First World fortresses against refugees and poor immigrants; for all those inspired by the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela and the growing opposition to imperialism in Latin America; for those concerned with building networks of solidarity and campaigning around the Asia Pacific; for all those who want to see a stronger, united, internationalist left—the 4th Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference is not to be missed!

This is the gathering of the key movements and campaigns that are reshaping politics in Australia and much of the world today. But it's a unique gathering: it seeks to link leftists from all continents into a truly global movement; it brings together anti-capitalist left parties from diverse traditions, countries and historical backgrounds; it aims to link the movements of today with the solutions of tomorrow; it bridges the tactics and issues of each campaign with a strategic alternative to capitalism.

So, join hundreds of activists from around Australia and all over the world in four days of discussion of how we can advance global solidarity and justice, coordinate the struggle against the war, build solidarity with those resisting and those who have achieved their liberation, and build stronger links for the cause of fundamental social change on a global scale.

A Call to Participate

A new spirit of renewal and cooperation is alive among the left around the world, inspired by the process of liberation and socialist transformation underway in Venezuela. This is fuelling new movements for liberation across Latin America, and giving renewed hope and energy for resistance in the rest of the world.

The capitalist neoliberal offensive of the last 30 years has inflicted heavy defeats on the working class internationally. But after the wave of confusion and despair following the collapse of the Soviet Union popular movements have been fighting back, reflecting the stubborn reality that the diseases of capitalism are more alive than ever, as is the need for a fundamentally different way of organising society—socialism.

North and South people continue to rise up—against imperialist war, Third World debt, against the devastation of our environment, against the deepening exploitation of women, against the denial of national rights and the marginalisation of indigenous peoples, against rural poverty and landlessness. New links—national and international—are being developed between parties with very different traditions.

Asia Pacific

These trends have been strongly felt in the Asia Pacific region. New parties have been formed; new alliances and regroupments have been built; parties coming from very different traditions have developed comradely collaboration and discussion.

These processes became regional with the successful 1st Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference (Sydney, April 1998), which was attended by more than 750 people, including 67 representatives from non-Australian left parties and organisations. The 2nd conference in 2002, and the 3rd in 2005 built on this momentum.

The APISC conferences have had guest speakers from parties and movements in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Japan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Bougainville, New Zealand, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, USA, Canada, Scotland, England, France, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Russia, Palestine, Turkey, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Mauritius.

Issues and debates

The conference agenda will be wide-ranging.

At its centre will be discussion of what political demands to press in the developing movement against neo-liberal globalisation and how to escalate the struggle against its military offshoot—the global imperialist “war against terrorism”. How to maintain the momentum? Around what demands and alternatives?

Another theme will be internationalist solidarity versus narrow nationalism. Fighting the dead-end of chauvinist protectionism has been a hard battle in Australia, where, as in all privileged imperialist countries, it’s been the scourge of the trade unions and labour movement politics.

Another unavoidable question for the movement—which so far has been rather ignored—is how to go beyond capitalism, beyond the new Cold War of a world for or against terrorism painted by Bush and Blair. The question of socialism.

The conference will devote many plenaries and workshops to aspects of building socialist parties in today’s conditions. What sort of socialist renewal, regroupment and alliances are possible and desirable? What sort of party is needed? Should it be on a broadly anti-capitalist basis or do we need revolutionary Marxist parties right away? How should parties relate to the different networks and spheres of struggle? What sort of relations should exist between different national parties? How structured an international network should we aim for? How can contact and collaboration between parties coming from different traditions and different continents be improved?

Contact us

The conference is being organised by Green Left Weekly. We are calling for international sponsors and partners in this important conference. If your party, union, social movement or community organisation can attend, contact us as soon as possible so your input can be added in. If you would like to present a paper or workshop, let us know now so we can plan and advertise the agenda well in advance.

If you look to build a more powerful and effective movement against the scourge of neoliberal globalisation and imperialist war, if you look to strengthen the struggle for the anti-capitalist and socialist cause, you should not miss the 4th Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference.

Yours in solidarity,

John Percy

For APISC 2007

For more information, visit the previous conference websites at
http://www.dsp.org.au/apiaustralia/conference/

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