Australia is the latest country to join protests against globalization.

In the following piece, you will find all relevant information on the Yellow Vests Movement, as well as links to national protests in Australia set for this weekend at the bottom.

NOTE: The rallies in this article commenced today in Australia. See our follow up piece for more: Yellow Vests protesters rally across Australia

After almost 10 weeks of demonstrations, the Yellow Vests Movement continues to protest in large numbers for systemic change across Europe, with many other countries joining France since opposition to new world globalization commenced.

This weekend, national events have been scheduled across Australia in solidarity with the overseas movement, as many groups unite to identify a variety of key issues that increasingly relate to affairs in this country.

YELLOW VESTS

Initially beginning as a rejection of fuel taxes and a push to raise the minimum wage, the Yellow Vests Movement has now developed to become a story of nationalism vs globalism in the French streets, after Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron called protesters ‘thugs’ in the first week of fuel protests.

Today, some of the most pressing topics of the movement have grown to include ‘Frexit’ (a push for French exit from the European Union), ongoing propaganda of the mainstream media, debt owed to the EU, austerity, and the ill-conceived carbon tax.

Over the course of many weeks, which included both Christmas and New Year holiday periods, we have seen estimated numbers of hundreds of thousands of dissenters – with some referring to the demonstrations as ‘French Revolution 2.0’.

The movement has seen mass demonstrations and arrests in recent weeks, including a heavy police presence on the streets, as the Prime Minister deploys another 80,000 authorities on the ground in response.

The French are determined to hold their ground in an ongoing struggle that will likely lead to an ultimate showdown with authorities, occupying city streets, roundabouts, historical landmarks, bridges and more.

In 2019, it is no longer just ‘conspiratorial subculture’ that believes the design of our governments (including how they’ve allowed private stakeholders to monopolise banks and industry at the public’s expense) is seriously flawed.

In fact, it is now this key underlying concept that has gained momentum with a large percentage of citizens in France and now across Europe – and it continues to grow each week.

A UNITED MOVEMENT

The demonstrations in France have inspired the spawning of similar movements in many other European countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Poland and Serbia.

Meanwhile, Brexit-supporting activists have held demonstrations in British cities, including the capital, under the banner #YellowVestUK.

A universal charter of the Yellow Vests Movement has been circulated across various official outlets, detailing demands for changes in major parts of society, such as economy and work, health and environment – coupled with various demands for politics and the geopolitical landscape:

The highly circulated demands of the Yellow Vest Movement. Photo: Twitter

Three key issues at the heart of all the demands include money, medicine and governance.

French citizens are now planning to withdraw all of their euros from banking institutions in response to the ongoing concepts of usury and money lending.

Earlier this week, Macron announced the launching of a ‘grand debate’ tour in response to France’s ongoing protests, encouraging a national debate over the course of 3 months across the country.

Representatives of the movement haven’t responded directly to the requests thus far, but are vowing to continue demonstrations until demands are met – reinforced by the recent arrest of initial organiser, Eric Drouet.

AUSTRALIA JOINS THE ACTION!

The following events have been created across Australia by the Australian Yellow Vests Alliance – a collective of numerous Australian YVM pages that have started since the international protests begun. They have formed a collective group to ensure a unified approach to demonstrations.

All events will be taking place on:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19^TH 2019!

QUEENSLAND

BRISBANE
Emma Place, Roma. Street | 11am
EVENT PAGE

CAIRNS
Cairns Central, 1-21 McLeod Street | 11am
EVENT PAGE

SUNSHINE COAST
Mooloolaba Explanade | 1pm
EVENT PAGE

WHITSUNDAY
Pioneer Park, Proserpine | 11am
EVENT PAGE

GOLD COAST
Eddie Kornhauser Recreational Reserve, Guineas Creek Rd | 11am
EVENT PAGE

BRIBIE ISLAND
Bribie Island National Park | 11am
EVENT PAGE

BUNDABERG
ANZAC Park | 12pm
EVENT PAGE

TOWNSVILLE
Rock Pool, The Strand | 11am
EVENT PAGE

NEW SOUTH WALES

SYDNEY
George Street Town Hall | 11am
EVENT PAGE

LISMORE
Oakes Oval, 144 Magellan St | 11am
EVENT PAGE

VICTORIA

MELBOURNE
Parliament of Victoria | 12pm
EVENT PAGE

BALLARAT
Ballarat Bridge Mall, Sturt St | 11am
EVENT PAGE

ACT

CANBERRA
Parliament House | 12pm
EVENT PAGE

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

ADELAIDE
Victoria Square | 12pm
EVENT PAGE

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

PERTH
Parliament of Western Australia | 10am
EVENT PAGE

For more information on the protests happening across the country this weekend, visit the official Australian Yellow Vest Alliance website here: https://australianyellowvestalliance.info/