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Breakdown of WTO Talks a Victory for Global Democracy. |
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Wednesday, September 17, 2003 U.S. Greens at the WTO ministerial in Cancun support developing nations, farmers, and workers in their resistance to privatization, imposed price reductions and subsidies, and other corporate enrichment schemes.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Greens called the breakdown of talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial in Cancun, Mexico a victory for the movement against globalized corporate power. Green activists especially praised the resolve of 21 developing nations in resisting the demands from wealthy nations that they submit to privatization of water, agricultural export subsidies, and other schemes to drain resources, create poverty and dependence, and repeal eco and human rights protections and democracy for the benefit of western corporations. "The influence of Greens around the world, especially the Greens/EFA group, in cooperation with global justice movements and developing countries, helped bring these negotiations to a halt," said Annie Goeke, co-chair of the International Committee of the Green Party of the United States and one of two American Green delegates at the WTO meeting. "We were pleased to see the Kenyan delegation stand up to intense pressure from the U.S. and European Union, thanks to Kenyan Green Party Deputy Wangari Maathai, who serves as Kenya's Minister of Environment. Maathai has worked for decades to inform Africans and other developing nations about the destructiveness of corporate control over people and land." "It's obvious that the WTO cannot work in its present form," said Jim Polk, Virginia Green and the other Green delegate at the WTO meeting. "Cancun broke down because of injustice, double standards, and the lack of democracy. U.S. and European governments have abused the doctrine of free trade to enlarge the power of corporate elites, and the rest of the world will no longer stand for it. Elections throughout South America are showing that the people reject these trade authorities, but WTO bureaucrats are the last ones to accept the decision of the people." However, Greens warn that, with the collapse of negotiations in Cancun, many developing nations will be forced to deal with the crushing economic power of the U.S. bilaterally. "Greens want fair trade, negotiated democratically," said Tony Affigne, co-chair of the International Committee. "We want trade rules to protect the environment and labor rights. We want the world's farmers treated with dignity. Fair trade rules will let nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America distribute affordable drugs for AIDS and other diseases. They'll protect the world's drinking water from ruthless privatization, crops from genetic engineering, local markets from global price wars." "But after the collapse in Cancun," Affigne warned, "a checkerboard world of bilateral and regional agreements will pose new challenges for the fair trade movement. That new struggle is just beginning." MORE INFORMATION Greens / European Free Alliance in the European
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