coolloud g8

Taiwan Labor Information & Education Association (TLIEA)

Coolloud Collective and anti-G8 campaign

劉光瑩 Kwang-yin Liu, Coolloud Collective

1. Intro to Coolloud Collective2. Coolloud in the anti-globalisation

movement3. Coolloud in the anti-G8 campaign

Coolloud Collective (TLIEA)

Iron Horse Film Festival

CoolloudWebsite

WholesalesWatch group

Chronicle of Labor movement

Executive Board ( 9 members)

Organisation

苦勞網 Coolloud

http://www.coolloud.org.tw/ “A medium for and by social activism” Established in 1997 by former employees of a

university-owned newspaper, social activists and students

Major website renovation in mid-2007, encouraging participation and interaction

Traffic: 5000 visits/day

http://www.coolloud.org.tw/

Coolloud as alternative medium… Coolloud ( 苦勞 )literally means “pressed

labour” (we’re often misunderstood) border-crossing: aiming at bridging the gaps

among different realms of movement, through our media reporting

Our concerns include labour, environment, aborigines and agriculture etc.

An point of view from social movement, much neglected by the mainstream media

and as participant in social movement

2001: anti- Afghan war demonstration before AIT

2001: anti- Afghan war demonstration

Current and future objectives serve as a platform for social activism

information, assisting NGOs in ways necessary

Help establish online information platforms that facilitate collaboration among labour groups and NGO networks

Coolloud & anti-globalisation Our roles:

Observer: Report, provide comments and raise awareness

Participant: solidarity with labours worldwide, especially those oppressed by Taiwanese corporations

2001: 年興紡織 (Nien Hsing Textile) in Nicaragua

“Taiwan Solidarity With Nicaraguan Workers” initiated by three NGOs, including Coolloud Collective

Organising protests at the company Mobilizing labours to stand in solidarity,

because capital that flows across borders is doing harm to labours regardless of nationality

Demonstration at Nien-Hsing

Photo: dxchen10

2001: 年興紡織 (Nien Hsing Textile) in Nicaragua

Outcome: union staff got their jobs back and their union recognised

Meanings for labours in Taiwan: first time to unite in solidarity for workers in

other countries Began to realise what globalisation has done to

people worldwide Reflection: struggle must also turn global!

2003: 台南企業 (Tainan Enterprise) in El Salvador Closing down the factory without warning

and subsidy plans Earthquake brought about disputes, lay-offs Along with other groups, Coolloud protested

for the rights or workers in El Salvador Appeal to the Presbyterian church, bringing

pressure to company owner

Protest at Tainan Enterprise

Photo: dxchen10

Just Garment (2004~2007) Outcome: The enterprise agreed to re-open a

smaller plant for the labours to run Reflections:

Reassuring the necessity of cross-border struggle Establishing three-side relationship

(Taiwan+US+El Salvador)

Cooperation across borders

US: Solidarity Center

El Salvador: organisation of labours

Taiwan: pressure on the enterprise

2005: anti WTO in Hong Kong Ministerial conferences in HK 2004~2005: Coolloud organised discussions with

NGOs about WTO. As a result, over 100 participants went to HK.

Four Coolloud correspondents reported from HK. 40 individuals stayed with us in the same hotel, had discussions.

5 participants were arrested, one of them was kept for a month and sued, but were later acquitted

2005: anti WTO in Hong Kong

and meanwhile, in Taipei…

Activity in support of Yang Ju-Men, who made fake bombs with rice to protest against WTO and was indicted

Jim Page, the singer and social activist, was in Taipei at that time and joined the event

2005: anti WTO in Hong Kong Reflections:

First time for Taiwanese NGOs to participate in a major anti-globalisation event

Strong impression of its magnitude, stimulating imagination for further participation

Coolloud in the anti-G8 campaign We all agreed that G8 is a major occasion

where anti-globalisation activists should wage war against

Coolloud, as a medium, will grab issues relevant to Taiwan and initiate actions if there are resources available

Send correspondents Do simultaneous reports

coolloud g8

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