Alternatives to Globalisation Forums

The Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice's forms often cover what is wrong with the current corporate-centric globalisation we are currently experiencing, but what are the alternatives to this? In or first series of forums for 2008 we explore a range of alternatives to economic globalisation.

Do we need to localise and turn to a slower, less transport intensive society where all our sources of food and fuel come from the local area? Does the answer lie in a single moral community? Or does it lie in a multitude of singularities all networked and interlinked with peers interacting to create an information-based society on all levels from the individual to the global?

Forum 1: Localisation
Speaker: Gilbert Rochecouste (Village Well - http://www.villagewell.org/)

With people feeling increasingly disconnected from their communities and climate changed caused in no small part by our transport needs, localisation provides an attractive alternative to 'economic globalisation'. It is a move to greater social, cultural and ecological diversity – a world that is locally self-sufficient and not based on a competitive consumerist society. Can a cooperative, mutually beneficial world work? How will it work? Can it really provide us with the cultural and spiritual improvements it promises as well as feed the nation?

When: Tue 15th April, 7pm.
Where: Horse Bazaar (http://www.horsebazaar.com.au/), 397 Little Lonsdale Street
Cost: Gold coin donation (free for ACDJ members)
Contact: centre@democracyandjustice.org


Forum 2: Global Governance/Cosmopolitanism
Speaker: Sue Kenny (Deakin University)

In many senses globalisation has brought us closer together. However it has also enhanced the ability of the developed world to exploit  everyone else. Instead of the unity we were promised we have a greater disparity in living standards and wealth. So what sort of globalisation could actually bring us together? Can global networks of NGOs help bring us together in a way our government's have failed to? Can it be the key to greater understanding between cultures and nations, were our similarities bind us together creating a cohesive world order? Can we move beyond nationalism to a single moral community?

When: Tue 20 May, 7pm.
Where: TBA (but probably Horse Bazaar)
Cost: Gold coin donation (free for ACDJ members)
Contact: centre@democracyandjustice.org

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2. Press release: ACDJ Welcomes Political Donation Reforms (4 March 2007)
 
The Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice (ACDJ) today applauded the announcement by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to reform political donation laws.
 
"If Kevin Rudd goes ahead with the imposition of caps on how much an individual or company can donate to a political party, it will be some of the most significant reforms of political donations Australia has seen," said ACDJ director Hammy Goonan today. "Rudd said on the 7:30 Report last night that we should have the debate about caps on political donations so let us be the first to weigh in and say that the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice sees this as a critical reform."
 
Read the rest of the press release here: http://democracyandjustice.org/content/view/96/1/ 
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3. Submission to the NSW Select Committee on Electoral and Political Party Funding
 
On Feb 22 ACDJ put in a submission to the NSW Select Committee on Electoral and Political Party Funding advocating a ban on all political donations and a cap on electoral spending.
 
The Submission to the Select Committee on Electoral and Political Party Funding is now publicly available and downloadable from http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/Committee.nsf/0/3F2C53D44482A588CA2573F7000E9B5F.
 
There were 145 submissions (which is great to see) including from the Liberal Party, the Greens Political Donations Research Project (Dr Norman Thompson), Democracy Watch (Mr Brad Pederson) a hand full of minor parties, some assorted MPs and councillors and a few others.
 
You can see the full list here: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/Committee.nsf/V3ListSubmissions?open&ParentUNID=A87852213B83634ECA25730C00174AF9.
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4. Lobbyocracy collective: now's you're chance to get involved with ACDJ
 
Concerned about the growing corruption of our political systems? Always wanted to get involved with ACDJ but not known how?
 
Well now's your chance! ACDJ is getting a Lobbyocracy Collective together and we want you to get involved. You can be part of a team that puts together the campaigns to expose the dirty back room deals and large donations with strings attached.

So why not come down meet some friendly people and get involved with our campaign.
 
All are welcome and all you need is a healthy dose of enthusiasm!

Where: 38 Cambridge St, Collingwood
When: 6 to 7 pm Tuesday 22nd April
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5. Lobbyocracy article of the week: Beijing AustChina Technology (Special new feature!)
 
As part of our new and improved eBulletin we are now featuring an article from our Lobbyocracy site (http://lobbyocracy.org). This is an attempt to keep you up to date with all the dodgy deals that are going on and give you an idea of the sort of work we're doing and you can get involved with:
 
Beijing AustChina Technology
 
In March 2008 it was revealed that senior federal Labor minsters, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Treasurer Wayne Swan and Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke to take seven business class trips, mostly to China, over the past four years, all paid for by the Beijing AustChina Technology company. Backbenchers Bernie Ripoll and Kim Wilkie also had overseas trips paid for by Beijing AustChina Technology. Beijing AustChina Technology is Australia's fourth biggest corporate political donor.
 
The company may also be among the most generous provider of travel junkets to senior politicians. They have provided funding for trips to Manila by Tony Burke and trips to Beijing and Hong Kong taken by Wayne Swan.
 
Rudd and Swan have both been the recipients of the company's owner Ian Tang's hospitality and have held meetings with the businessman since November, when Labor won power. Swan met Tang in February 2008 and Rudd in November 2007, the month it won the 2007 federal election.
 
Read the rest of the article here: http://lobbyocracy.org/index.php?title=Beijing_AustChina_Technology
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6. Become a Member Today!

By becoming a member of the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice you help fund one of Australia's few global justice organisations. We receive no corporate or government funding we are entirely dependent on people like yourself to keep us going.

As a member of the Centre you'll be the first to know about all our activities and be entitled to a range of privileges as they become available. You'll also be left with that warm inner glow that you get from knowing that you're supporting an organisation that fights for a better world.

Our Membership scheme is three tiered:

• Students/concessions - $20
• Full price/Waged - $40
• Solidarity/Household/Organisation - $100

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