 
CLICK HERE TO VIEW
PHOTOS FROM M1 DEMONSTRATION
|
WORSE THAN MINDLESS THUGS.
THE M1 EXPOSED. AND CHALLENGED!
They smashed windows, they screamed slogans, they burned effigies, they hurled paint, they pushed, hit, threatened, swore, and shouted down dissenters. They terrorised the innocent. Were the M1 protesters mindless thugs? No. Something much worse.
On May 1, 2001, The "M1" demonstrators rallied in every city around Australia. Their goal was to stage a "peaceful protest." which "Shut Down Corporate Australia". Doesn't make sense? It does actually, from a very particular perspective as you'll find out shortly.
PRODOS.COM reporters were on the scene in 4 capital cities to speak directly with the these highly articulate idealists and to expose their ideas and ideology of violence.
But! . . . As you will hear and as you will read in the notes below, PRODOS.COM went one step further.
In Perth we challenged - physically and philosophically (yes, you read it right) - one of the human blockades. Thus allowing some of the workers to get through to their place of work.
This is not just your typical sensationalist reporting. PRODOS.COM has made history. PRODOS.COM is not only the world's most pro capitalist media outlet, but the first to have, on the job, a team of ardently pro capitalist reporters. And we haven't just reported on the "liveliest" scenes. We have brought you M1's head on a platter. At least the ideas in the heads of those who created and drove M1.
I guess that's why PRODOS.COM really is the biggest, brainiest, blockbuster show on the planet! But you already knew that, right? ;-)
The PRODOS.COM reporters were:
Adelaide: Jerome Symons
Melbourne: Mario Panopoulos
Perth: Matthew White
Sydney: Paul Wright
(Thanks also to Renee Sobczak, Steve Clancy & Monica Muski)
Below:
Highlights and observations from the demos, transcripts of interviews with demonstrators. Also interview with billionaire author, Robert Kiyosaki. And with Australian actor Robert Veitch.
- RealPlayer coordinates
00.00 = 9.00 AM Melbourne & Sydney, 8.30 AM Adelaide, 7.00 AM Perth.
- 03.04
Melbourne - Mario Panopoulos
McDonalds in Collins Street has been closed down.
Banners reading: CANCEL THIRD WORLD DEBT, MCDONALD'S KILLS, ELIMINATE CORPORATE PARASITES, UNIONISE MACDONALDS
Sydney - Paul Wright
About 100 media people present, Bridge Street & Pitt Street.
Banner reading: Receiver of stolen goods - Yallourn Energy, Mobil, Shell
Melbourne protestor, Rob:
McDonalds exploits children ... Destroys environment ... Destroys local environment ... F**ks over the local workers ... Is anti union ...
We're sick of the way they treat people, workers, young children ... Our goal is shut them (the corporations) down ... Not prepared to put up with corporate greed any more ... We're prepared to come out on the street and defend our rights ... To stop them pushing the line of corporate greed.
Sydney
Paul Wright reads out signs demanding East Timor get 100% of its oil royalties - "RECEIVERS OF STOLEN GOODS ... YALLOURN ENERGY, MOBIL, SHELL."
- 09.05
Perth Reporter - Matthew White
Just after 7.00 AM. Large police presence. Few demonstrators at this stage. 60 have started to blockade Perth Stock Exchange building.
Perth Demonstrator: Shaun, (Irish accent?)
We're here to stop the stock exchange and get the message out ... We want a world that works in the interests of people, not for the profit of a few ... We want to blockade it (the stock exchange building), stop people getting in ... disrupt some of the activities ... The stock exchange symbolises some of the worst excesses of the profit driven corporate system ... Capitalism works in the interests of a small minority of people. It impoverishes people on the material side.
But more than that it separates people from having power over their own lives, over what they want their lives to be like, what they want the world to be like. It destroys the environment. But it also makes people's lives quite hollow. So we want to try to provide an alternative here. It's not just a negative thing. We're not just saying it's a terrble system. We want to provide an alternative. (To say that) life can be better than that.
- 14.10
Adelaide reporter - Jerome Symons
About 8.45 AM in Adelaide. 150 demonstrators.
- 15.00
Perth counter demonstrator, Lorraine
PRODOS: Are you in favour of capitalism?
Lorraine: We're in favour of free trade. And we believe free trade is the best way to raise the standard of living in Australia ... We believe that a large proportion of young people do support free trade ... And we don't really think that many of the M1 protesters understand the issues of really know what they're here for ... Haven't seen violence ... hoping there's be no violence ... not expecting there to be.
- 17.20
Adelaide. Demonstrator and legal adviser, Willa
Willa: I'm here to protest against the expansion of globalisation beacause (as I see it) it's givem more power to corporations (over) indigenous rights in many countries. It causes more environmental degradation than any other practice. In Australia it's causing less power in the state and more power invested in a small number of people which is contributing to an unequal distribution of wealth
Willa: (As a legal adviser here today I'm here) to help people understand their legal rights within this protest.
Willa: Also because I believe that the legislative mechanism allowing corporations to take more power are actually resulting in an extreme erosion of rights for many people ... The purpose of M1 is to shut down the stock exchange to voice huge dissent about the way the power is being controlled in Australia
Willa: (As a legal adviser I'm) there to ensure that any interaction between police and protesters doesn't involve any breach of rights (and) that the police use due process in arresting anyone and in all their interactions basically. Also to inform people of their rights in the law (as they are) exercising their right to protest.
- 23.00
Perth reporter - Matthew White
Small blockade formed at entrance to Perth stock exchange. About 8 people.
Matthew verbally tests blockade. Asks to be let through. Reports: "They're not letting me through"
Interview with Perth blockader, Matt
PRODOS: Are you prepared to physically prevent people from entering the building?
Matt: (We're) just demonstrating against the (signatures) of the corporate world and the corporate domination of Australia.
PRODOS: Why have you chosen this strategy? To "Shut Down Corporate Australia"? If our reporter, Matthew White, wants to go through, will you let him through?
Matt: Unfortunately no. No people are getting through whatsoever.
PRODOS: If he attempts to get through, what will you do?
Matt: We'll stand here and hold our ground basically. We wouldn't sock him or anything, that would be just wrong.
Matt: Capitalism is exploiting the poor people so that the rich people can get more money. If you've got money you can make money. If you don't have money you can't make money.
Matt: I would like to see a fairer distribution of the wealth we've got now. And putting an end to rich people controlling everything.
Adelaide reporter - Jerome Symons.
Workers were getting into the Adelaide stock exchange building.
- 27.09
Perth
John, blockader at Perth stock exchange.
PRODOS.COM asks him why people are being let through. John responds that there are not yet enough people there yet to effect a blockade ... to stop people getting through ... that the proportion of police are still too high. The police are pushing the blockaders out of the way to let people (workers) come in.
PRODOS: If my reporter wants to go through, will you let him through?
John: Yes (but then he wanders off, away from the blockade.)
- 29.00
PRODOS.COM Perth reporter, Matthew White, tests blockade
Matthew White: (to blockaders) John said I could go through.
Matthew gets through.
Adelaide. Jerome Symons.
Reports that protest seems ineffectual.
- 30.30
Melbourne. Reporter, Mario Panopoulos.
High school students at protest.
McDonalds is closed down. About 20 police inside McDonalds. About 2,000 protesters nearby.
Sydney. Reporter Paul Wright.
Paul Wright, inside McDonalds across the road from the stock exchange, watching protests and eating a Big Mac in "a moment of corporate solidarity." :-)
No blockade, no violence. 200 cops. 1,000 demonstrators.
Melbourne, Reporter, Mario Panopoulous
McDonalds continues to be defaced. Signs carried by protesters: VEGAN JIHAD (Holy War), RONAL MCDONALD IS A PEDOPHILE. No-one can get into Melbourne stock exchange building due to blockade.
- 35.06
Seven students from Saint Mary's College. One of the students, Tony, says they don't agree with M1 and they are there to display St Mary's colors and to indicate "not all University students are like what people are here"
- 38.20
Mario Panopoulos confirms from police officer that no one has been able to enter Melbourne stock exchange. Not many protesters but very loud.
- 39.25
Sydney
Paul Wright reports that a combie van full of protesters has just driven onto Pitt Street in Sydney. Lots of media present ("it's a scrum") making it difficult to see or get close.
- 40.30
Melbourne
Famous Australian actor, Michael Veitch talks with PRODOS.COM
PRODOS: Do you support M1 and their goal to "Shut Down Corporate Australia"?
Michael Veitch: Yes, absolutely! I'm completely in favour of it on all sorts of levels ... There are some wonderful traits about Australia but one of the less attractive ones is how typically compliant and complacent we are ...
PRODOS: About what?
Michael Veitch: About injustice. About inequality. All those basic fundamentals of why we live in an inequitable society and in an inequitable world ... Basically, it's a reasonably comfortable country to live in.
PRODOS: What is wrong with corporate Australia and capitalism in your view?
Michael Veitch: I would be reluctant as such to say capitalism was bad. I think it's just not realistic to say that. We live in a capitalist society. We live in an age where material concerns are an extremely high priority. Now, that's not going to change. We're the lucky few of the world.
PRODOS: Is that good or bad?
Michael Veitch: Well, bad really. It's the other 90% of this poor little rock hurtling through space who has it much harder. What I'm enjoying about this (M1 protest) is that there are some people that are willing to say "Hang on, things are not quite right here".
PRODOS: But the goal of trying to shut down corporate Australia is coercion rather than persuation isn't it? You follow my point?
Michael Veitch: Sure, sure. Really let's face it, no one is going to shut down corporate Australia. You might slow it down even for a couple of hours. But if it gets 5 or 3 or even 2 percent more people in the general public stopping to think about and saying "Hang on, why is the world like that? Why am I so lucky? And why am I becoming less lucky?" Because what's happening is that many people in this country are becoming the victims of corporate greed themselves.
- 46.18
Melbourne
Interview with Stephanie, 16 year old, high school student.
PRODOS: Are you in favour of shutting down corporate Australia today?
Stephanie: Yes. I'm walking on the streets today and I'm hoping to make a statement - and make a proud statement.
PRODOS: What is your statement Stephanie? What is it you want to make clear to people?
Stephane: That we should get rid of all the Third World debt because they can't afford it. And I think, (as) a young (country) Australia, we should be (wanting to make) a difference. And if we do (want to make a difference) that's what we need to do (get rid of Third World debt) ...
PRODOS: Are you against globalisation or for it?
Stephenie: I am against it. I just want all Third World debt to go away and I think that's what we really need to do. And it needs to be done right now!
- 47.24
Sydney
Interview with Shane, one of the blockaders at the Sydney stock exchange.
PRODOS: Do yo support M1's goal, to "Shut Down Corporate Australia"?
Shane: We want to shut down the stock exchanges across the world.
PRODOS: Isn't there a discrepancy between the idea of a "peaceful protest" and wanting to "shut down corporate Australa"?
Shane: I don't think there's a discrepancy at all actually. For one, (consider) this corporate system - how many people does that stop from working? There's 800,000 people unemployed just in Australia alone.
You look at the Third World, I mean it (capitalism) enslaves millions of people into absolute poverty. So stopping the stock exchange for one day - in comparison to the crimes - and they are crimes - that happen around the world because of this corporate system (laughs) there's no comparison quite frankly ...
The corporations are out for one thing. They're out to maximise their profits. Human rights, workers rights, the environment, don't figure in their equation.
PRODOS: Is there any way to have both profits and human rights?
Shane: Short answer is "no". I don't think you can have profits and human rights at the end of the day. The only way we can have human rights and workers' rights is by campaigning and fighting for them - whether it's out here at M1 today, whether it's the Patrick (Stevedore) dispute with the Maritime Union (of Australia) that happened a few years ago.
The corporations are always trying to shaft working people. And the only weapon we really have is to get out on the street - demonstrate, blockade, strike. That sort of thing.
PRODOS: What if an unemployed person wanted to get through the blockade? Would you let them through?
Shane: Well, I'd be wondering why an unemployed person would want to get into the stock exchange today. I wouldn't think they'd have any shares (laughs).
PRODOS: But what if they did? Would you stop them?
Shane: We'd obviously try and encourage them to join the blockade. That'd be the first thing. To talk to them and say "What do you want to go in for? Do you realise that this is what's keeping you unemployted, and ..."
PRODOS: (interupting) What if they still insisted that they'd like to go through?
Shane: I think we've got every right to peacefully blockade here. To stop people from going in and out.
PRODOS: So if my reporter, Paul Wright, wanted to go through, would you stop him?
Shane: Well, I think the blockade would stop him, yes that's right. There's a lot of democracy down here. People would talk about it. They'd say, "Well, there's a reporter here, he wants to go in, what do people think?" They'd vote 'yes' or they'd vote 'no'. And the decision would be carried out basically.
But we are trying to blockade the stock exchange, we're trying to make sure that no-one gets in or out. A few people have gotten in or out today, but we'll try harder ... It's a symbolic gesture more than anything ... There's quite a few police here today and I don't think there's too many people getting in and out anyway. They (the police) are doing a bit of their own blockading. But yes, if the decision was made, we'd say we don't want to let you in.
PRODOS: What would you like to see Australia go towards? do you support a Socialist Australia?
Shane: Well, personally, I do. I'm a member of the Democratic Socialist Party. Not everyone here is affiliated or a socialist or anything like that. There's people that are just here to protest against refugee rights, (there are) high school students, there's workers, and all the rest of it. I think, at the end of the day, working people should control society. They should control their workplace (and) politics more broadly. That sort of thing. Call it socialism, call it what you like.
- 54.00
Melbourne
Demonstrators left McDonalds around 9.45 AM leaving behind a few and have gone to Quantas Airlines site.
- 55.21
Perth.
Mathew White reports that whereas people were let through earlier, now the demonstrators have formed a blockade around the Perth stock exchange entrances, 50 meters in length, 2 people thick.
Has seen people in suits trying to get in but they were pushed back physically.
Police broke through at one point. Protesters responed by using megaphones, directed others to join to reinforce the human chain blockading the building.
- 56.30
Matthew White verbally challenges blockade.
He asks if he can be let through. He's refused. Goes to a different area of the blockade.
Matthew White tries to enter Perth stock exchange. PHYSICALLY HELD BACK BY DEMONSTRATORS. A group of demonstrators restrain and grab Matthew.
After spotting Matthew as a reporter, protest leader comes over and suggests to Matthew that he try a different entrance, around the back of the building.
- 59.50
Melbourne
Mario Panopoulos reports that he tried to go through human chain blockading Quantas Airlines' office in Melbourne and was stopped verbally. As he approached the blockade the demonstrators put their hands/arms together to close access.
He was not willing to physically challenge them, saying "They're pretty rowdy (i.e. intimidating) at the moment"
Sign reads: PEOPLE, NOT CORPORATE GREED.
Mario notes that M1 is not as well organised as s11 (which he also covered for PRODOS.COM). Reading some M1 literature, he notes that 10 sites have been targetted around Melbourne, marching from one to the other. A lot of property defaced. Grafittied slogans, some windows broken, and other property damaged (later, off-line, Mario reports that someone had, using crayons, written "F**K CARS" on his car.)
M1 blockade has been successful in Melbourne.
- 60.02
Perth
Police with riot shields and truncheons have arrived. Also, mounted police.
- 60.06
Melbourne
Two absailers have leapt and flown off the top of a building.
- 60.08
Perth
Mathew White reports that a worker is trying to get through the blockade by physically challenging it. He is being forcefully pushed back.
Mathew White goes up to protesters and repeatedly shouts: "LET HIM IN!" and "You are initiating force!" Police rush in and push through the barricade. Matthew physically pushes through the blockade. He gets through!
But other workers are not willing to try any more.
- 72.00
Perth
Reporter, Matthew White, claims that by declaring the moral issue he was able to get through the human blockade.
Protesters trying to bring down police horses. Policeman pulled off his horse.
Mathew White shouts to demonstrators "Leave the policeman alone!"
- 75.00
Melbourne
Mario Panopoulos reports that many city office buildings have covered their entrances for protection. The Nike store has closed for the day.
- 76.00
Adelaide
Jerome Symons reports demonstration seems to be fizzling out. People leaving. Stock exchange entrance closed in anticipation of M1 protest. But workers able to get in from a side entrance.
- 79.00
Perth
Workers denied access to Perth stock exchange.
Matthew White reports that he and Monica successfully got several workders through the barricade.
Protesters have let through several public service workers. It seems there was an agreement with their union and the M1 demonstrators.
- 82.00
Sydney
Paul Wright reports that demonstrators have sat down and lay down on Pitt Street. Police trying to remove them. About 20 mounted police present. About 50 special operations police present.
Ring of police has enclosed 200 demonstrators. Lots of media cameras and equipment in the way, blocking visibility. Estimates there are 2 media people for every 10 protesters.
Seems to be no vandalsim in Sydney.
- 85.00
Perth
Interview with Robert Kiyosaki, billionaire author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad
PRODOS: Do you support M1's goal to "Shut Down Corporate Australia"?
Robert Kiyosaki: I undestand what people are upset about. But I don't know if shutting them (corporations) down is the answer. I can understand what they're saying. I've said about the power of big, multinational, global corporations for years. That's why I write and do what I do. It is because you can protest it or you can use the same power they (corporations) use. I understand the process that the big, global corporations go through. And what I say to people is use the same thing ... because they (corporations) are going to keep going.
PRODOS: do you support or reject capitalism?
Robert Kiyosaki: I don't do either one. It's like saying do I support air or not. I like capitalism. But I think what's happening is people are being left behind and being trampled. And one way to stop the trampling is either to get educated or just get trampled more.
PRODOS: What's your message to Australia today?
Robert Kiyosaki: Get educated. I mean you can use the same power that the big global corporations use - as an individual. But to protest it - it's just going to keep going.
PRODOS: You mean corporations are going to keep going?
Robert Kiyosaki: Yes.
PRODOS: Do corporations create benefits or problems for the world?
Robert Kiyosaki: Both! It's like "Is air good for you?" Too much air can kill you.
PRODOS: Could you spell out botht he good and bad points about corporations?
Robert Kiyosaki: Big corporations improve civilization. But they also trample the weak. It's like an elephant gooing through a patch, you know what I mean? So you can sit there and complain about it or what I chose to do is understand it and use it.
PRODOS: Is it effective what they're doing today with the M1 protest?
Robert Kiyosaki: Yeah! I think it's a very good thing. I mean, I'm on their side! I just do it differently.
PRODOS: What the solution? What sort of country should Australia become in your view?
Robert Kiyosaki: Better educated. I keep asking why doesn't the school system teach people about basic money management? How to use a corporation to (defend) themselves. If you read my books, that's all I cover. About the power of corporations and how you should use one too.
PRODOS: What's the problem with corporations? Inequality? Environmental problems? ...
Robert Kiyosaki: All of the above. What's happening is that people are being left behind and they fell disenfranchised.
This has been going on since before 1500. My 'A' subject in school was 'Admiralty Law'. And Admirality Law is where the corporation was created, the legal entity called 'corporate body' was created for men of the sea. It was to protect the rich from, in case the ship went down at sea, the crew could not sue the owner of the ship.
So ever since then the rich have used corporations to shield and protect themselves so that nobody can penetrate. So that's what people are protesting.
If you read Rich Dad, Poor Dad I put in there how to use your own corporation to do the same thing.
PRODOS: If the corporation were not granted special privileges and special laws would that improve things?
Robert Kiyosaki: No. Because without the big corporations there's fewer jobs. So the government must naturally side with corporations. Even look at Clinton, who was supposed to be a socialist - (former) President Clinton - he took medical benefits away from the poor - because he has to.
Money is power. People have got to wake up to the fact that money is power. If you haven't got money, you haven't got power.
PRODOS: Some would argue for the separation of the state from the economy - that would solve that problem.
Robert Kiyosaki: They're dreaming, they're dreaming.
PRODOS: Why do you say that?
Robert Kiyosaki: Because how can you separate the thing which gives energy to the whole thing - which is business? Do you think Clinton, Kim Beazley (Leader of the opposition, Australian Labor Party) or John Howard (Australian Prime Minister, Liberal Party) don't get elected (with) money? They've got their hands out ... and the most money buys the politician. What makes you think that's going to change? Look at John (McCain) from Arizona (USA). He tried to get the campaign spending change put through America, and they laughed at him.
Everybody knows money is power except our school system. Financial ignorance is the problem, that's what I think. And it's going to get bigger as the corporations get worse and worse.
- 95.00
Perth
The Victory.
Matthew White talks about the shock of the protesters when they heard him and Monica arguing against them.
Matthew White: (quoting a famous saying) One man with reason against a mob is a majority of one.
|
A penny for your thoughts?
Click the coin! Discuss your
ideas and views with other
ACTIVE minded individuals
Now @ The PRODOSKOPE
| D I S C U S S |
|
|
Back to main page and latest interview.