Melbourne and the G20

G20 protests were described as "havoc" by local media yesterday, referring to left-wing activists occupying the buildings of mining and petrochemical multinationals in central Melbourne. Video footage of the protests, taken by the activists themselves and disseminated via the web, show the quiet, clinically pristeen offices filled with a rangy, dreadlocked diaspora. Mostly young, the protestors seemed organised and measured, this was no riot; but the message they were trying to put to the frightened office workers was simple: take responsibility for your actions, including the actions of your employer.

Later in the evening Bono and Eddie Vedder introduced a free concert for young people in Melbourne with the words: "politicians have to do what you tell them to do". It's a charming sentiment, and I hope the thousands of sixteen to twenty-five year-olds in the crowd were inspired by it. Australia's Treasurer Peter Costello was inside the G20 ring of steel talking to Paul Wolfowitz at the time (possibly) whilst his brother Tim, a leading light in the Make Poverty History Campaign, stood on stage at the concert and said: "This is how politicians govern: they wet their finger, ..., and they say which way is the wind blowing?"

My only contribution to the protests so far has been a targeted action yesterday lunchtime organised by a student group. The protest was called Give 20; the organisers had collected organic open-pollinated seeds from horticultural groups around Melbourne, which we handed out to business people and commuters around the city. The seed packets were printed with information about agribusiness, water efficiency, commuity cohesion, and political autonomy. It was a small contribution but one I felt comfortable taking part in, and it was a positive action for many. I didn't receive any negative comments, except one from a man complaining that the current drought prohibits him from growing plants. I thought about telling him about greywater recycling but thought better of it. One battle a day is enough.

Some of the protests turned decidedly nasty; latest news at: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/protesters-breech-g20-security/2006/11/18/1163266813994.html