Oct.15, 2011

Protesters worldwide are set to join the Occupy Wall Street movement for a cry of rage against bankers, financiers and politicians they accuse of ruining global economies and condemning millions to poverty and hardship through greed.

Dozens of cities across the world - from Tokyo to Alaska via London, Frankfurt and Washington - will be seeing demonstrations on Saturday, in solidarity with the rallies that began last month in downtown New York.

In depth coverage of US financial crisis protests

"On October 15th people from all over the world will take to the streets and squares ... to initiate the global change we want," proclaimed the website United for #GlobalChange.

"We will peacefully demonstrate, talk and organize until we make it happen. It's time for us to unite; it's time for them to listen." 

Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, saw the day's first demonstration, when at least 1,000 people, including children, gathered at City Square.

"We face similar problems with our democracy here in Victoria and Australia as people face in most other developed nations," the Occupy Melbourne website said. "Our democracy is unwell."

In Sydney, protesters intend to gather at Martin Place in the central business district at 2:30pm local time and camp indefinitely "to organise, discuss and build a movement for a different world, not run by the super-rich one per cent," a statement on the Occupy Sydney website said. 

'Occupy Asia'

Demonstrations were expected elsewhere in Asia, in Japan's Tokyo, South Korea's Seoul and China's Hong Kong.

At least three protests and rallies will take place in the Japanese capital, where demonstrators will march for an hour to the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Co. and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to show dissatisfaction over the handling of the nuclear disaster triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, organisers said.

Another rally in Roppongi, near the local headquarters of investment bank Goldman Sachs, was expected to attract as many as 400 people, they said.

More than 30 civic groups plan to demonstrate in Seoul, the South Korean capital, according to a leaflet distributed by an organisation calling itself "Preparation Group to Act for 99%."

Local media reports said the police have denied the group permission to protest, though officials refused to speak on the record about their plans.

In Hong Kong, gatherings are planned at Exchange Square Podium in the city’s central shopping and business district, according to Facebook postings.

Several hundred are expected to attend.

In Taiwan, more than 1,500 people had confirmed on the Occupy Taipei Facebook page that they planned to join protests near the Taiwan Stock Exchange. 

#GlobalChange

The Occupy South Africa website announced "Operation Ubuntu", a Nguni word used to describe unity for a common purpose through an African worldview that people can only find fulfilment through interacting with other peoples.

Protests are scheduled in the country's major cities of Capetown, East London, Durban and Johannesburg for later on Saturday.

Greek protesters aligned with Spain's "Indignant" movement called an anti-austerity rally in Athens' Syntagma square, the focal point of many demonstrations during Greece's financial meltdown.

In Germany, the financial centre of Frankfurt and the European Central Bank was expected to be a focus of marches called by the Real Democracy Now group.

"What is happening in Greece now is the nightmare waiting other countries in the future," Real Democracy said in a statement.

"Solidarity is people's weapon."

In Britain, about 4,000 people have signalled their intent to attend a peaceful demonstration that will start at noon today in the City of London -- a leading international financial centre -- under the banner "Occupy the Stock Exchange", according to organisers.

In the United States, the founding "Occupation Wall Street" movement has urged more people and cities to join them on Saturday.

There have also been calls for occupations similar to that in Manhattan's Zuccotti Park to take place in dozens of US cities.

In Houston, Texas, protesters plan to tap into anger at big oil companies.

Alert for violence

The protests are billed as peaceful. But in a sign of what may happen, a group of students stormed Goldman Sachs' offices in the Italian city of Milan on Friday.

The students managed to break into the hall of the Goldman Sachs building in the heart of Milan's financial district.

The protests were quickly dispersed but red graffiti was daubed on its walls expressing anger at Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, and saying "Give us money".

Demonstrators also hurled eggs at the headquarters of UniCredit, Italy's biggest bank.

Italian police were on alert for thousands to march in Rome against austerity measures planned by Berlusconi's government.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2011/10/201110154143...