Occupy Wall Street movement reaches Asia

Protesters in Seoul, Hong Kong and Manila join global demonstrations supporting Occupy Wall Street movement.Occupy Movement protests spread in Asia on Saturday with anti-capitalism demonstrations held in Seoul, Hong Kong and Manila.The message of the months-old Occupy Wall Street movement in the U.S. is resonating in Asian cities, where protesters are saying the rich-poor gap is widening due to economic policies that favour big corporations.In South Koreas capital Seoul, dozens of protesters gathered in front of the countrys Financial Advisory Service to express their solidarity with the Occupy movement. The protesters held up placards, chanting Were 99%, echoing the Occupy Wall Street slogan.The South Korean protesters urged the government to enact policies that support victims of what they called greedy financial institutions.Some angry protesters struggled with police as they attempted to post stickers reading business will be suspended on doors of the Financial Advisory Service to express their rage against the government.They said the countrys top financial watchdog had close ties with the wealthy, while neglecting to protect people from what they said was exploitation by big banks and corporations.In Hong Kong around 200 protesters gathered outside the stock exchange in the heart of the financial district.They brought up a range of issues ranging from capitalism to nuclear power.One activist said the staggering rich-poor gap in Hong Kong is one example of the flawed global financial system.The activists also proposed a more equitable tax system. Some protesters said they planned to remain there until the stock markets open on Monday.In Manila, dozens of left-leaning activists marched to the U.S. Embassy on Saturday in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The protesters were prevented by local authorities from approaching the embassy gates.They held placards and streamers, expressing support for the growing Occupy Wall Street movement, and echoed the U.S. protesters disdain for the global financial system.The Filipino activists said only 1 percent of the population benefited from big businesses, while the rest are falling deeper into poverty.Protesters urged a change in the financial system, and in Philippine laws which they say should give workers more protection to help them weather economic crises.Occupy Wall Street, a movement which was started last July by a Vancouver-based group called Adbusters, has spread across the US, with meet-ups being posted in social networking sites to condemn economic inequalities and widespread poverty blamed on flawed financial institutions.