Posted by WTO Watch Qld on September 24, 2001 at 22:59:24:
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend."
-- Abraham Lincoln
1) COMING EVENTS
2) CALLS TO ACTION
a) Petition re World Trade Centre Attack
b) Submission re new Application to bombard food with Xrays
e) Write a letter re use of electric grids to kill flying foxes
3) GATS UPDATE
4) FOCUS ON
a) The disaster in the US
b) The Ansett collapse
c) TRIPS signon letter
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1) COMING EVENTS
BRISBANE STOP FOOD IRRADIATION ALLIANCE
NUCLEAR FREE NEIGHBORHOOD CAMPAIGN
MEETINGS: Every Tuesday 7pm Justice Products West End
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The Alliance to Expose GATS meets eery second Thursday (4th October) at 12.30 pm at 74 Astor Tce, Spring Hill.
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R E - C L A I M I N G Our Common Wealth?
PRE-CHOGM FORUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS Monday, 1st October 2001, 7.30pm
University of Qld - Social Science Bld, S304
Speakers: Margaret Reynolds - UQ, community leader, ex-Senator
Ross Daniels - Amnesty International
Phil Dickie - prominent journalist
PLUS - Voices from the Commonwealth incl. Sekai Holland, Leading Opposition Figure from Zimbabwe
Chair: David Busch, ABC journalist
Discussion - Drinks - Music No Charges - Collection
Chief Sponsor and Organiser:
Australians for a Just And Civil Society (AJACS)
Co-sponsors and/or supporters:
ACEJ (Australian Coalition for Economic Justice), Chaplaincy at UQ,
Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, UQ Students' Union and others
ENQUIRIES: August 5482 1435 - 0409 477 040 fricke@spiderweb.com.au
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I'm pleased to confirm that the Jubilee Australia Campaign will be holding
The Human Chain of Hands Rally at Suncorp-Metway Park (opposite Treasury Casino, cnr of George and Adelaide Streets, Brisbane City) on Saturday, 6 October, 4.00pm-6.00pm.
The Rally will be a peaceful event calling for Commonwealth Heads of Government to exercise their role in cancelling the debt of the world's poorest countries.
The Rally will feature internationally-acclaimed band Regurgitator, along with the brilliant Brisbane band Rhubarb (as featured on Triple J), and international guest speakers on debt:
Kwesi Owusu, Head of the African Program, Jubilee Plus (UK)
Theodora Steele, National Campaigns Officer, Congress of South African Trade Unions
Grant Hill, National Coordinator, Jubilee Australia and
Fr Brian Gore, Jubilee Australia.
Rally posters and fliers are now available from the Brisbane Office of Jubilee Australia,
69 Thomas Street, West End, ph 07 3846 4366(w); 07 3856 2956 (a/h).
The Campaign wants to gather as many supporters as possible to what will be our major public event at CHOGM. We therefore ask all organisations, churches, unions, community groups and individuals who are able to, to lend us your all-important support in distributing and displaying rally fliers and posters. To do so, could you please contact our office and indicate how many fliers and posters you would like to receive for distribution.
Greg Boyd
Brisbane Coordinator
Jubilee Australia Campaign.
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Join the Earth Summit 2002 online debate at www.lifeonline.org/debate
Your chance to speak out on 'What Earth Summit 2002 should be trying to
achieve?' Key writers and thinkers on sustainable development will start the
debate. Everyone is encouraged to join in.
Ten years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the world's nations will
gather again in Johannesburg next September to review progress and plan for
the future. Preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development
2002 are well under way, emphasising a transparent and participatory
approach. This electronic forum hopes to initiate a focused and constructive
public discussion on some of the priority issues. We invite people to share
their ideas, knowledge and diverse perspectives. The results of the debate
will be taken forward to inform the next preparatory meeting for Rio+10 /
Earth Summit 2002.
Join us throughout September for a lively discussion. Visit
www.lifeonline.org/debate
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2) CALLS TO ACTION
a) (ED: There are a large number of peace petitions circulating following the events in the US. This is one of them.)
In the aftermath of the ruthless attack on the World Trade Center and
Pentagon, we implore the leaders of the United States to ensure that justice
be served by protecting the INNOCENT CITIZENS OF ALL NATIONS!
We call for PEACE and JUSTICE, not revenge.
Please help by signing this petition to be sent to President Bush.
It takes 30 seconds and will really help. Please follow this link:
http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/224622495
The system centralizes signature collection to provide consolidated, useful
reports for petition authors and targets.
Total Signatures: 61,896
*Signers may choose to hide their identity to the public. Such names
will appear as "Anonymous" on the PetitionSite.com and advocacy emails
similar to this.
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b)
A second application for food irradiation has been submitted to ANZFA (Australian & NZ Food Authority) by
American Irradiation Company SureBeam Corp. If approved Surebeam will use electronic beam and/or
Xrays. Although not a nuclear source this technology is similar to ionizing radiation and its negative
effects on food.
This application is for fruit fly tropical fruit - bread fruit, carambola, custard apple, lychee,
lomglan, mango, mangosteen, papaya and rambutan. ANZFA confirmed that the irradiated fruit will be
sold on the Australian market and also marketed for export to New Zealand.
The contact for ANZFA is glenn.stanley@anzfa.gov.au.
ANZFA will be calling for submissions very soon.
On August 14th, 2001, SureBeam held a conference with its investors and let the cat out of the bag
concerning potential partnerships in Australia. Over the last few months SureBeam has announced a joint
venture with Tech Ion Industrial Brazil to create what they claim will be the world's largest, most
comprehensive network of food irradiation facilities, as well as plans to build a network of four service
centres in Saudi Arabia. They are hoping this will open up the market for them in the entire Arabian Gulf
coast region. SureBeam is dedicated to increasing its 'international strategic alliances" and says that it
currently focusing efforts on Southeast Asia and Latin America. SureBeam have been working for a long time
on partnerships in Australia. For more info on
SureBeam see their website at www.surebeam.com, also
www.titan.com. See
http://www.purefood.org/irrd/international.cfm for
recent international developments.
Anna Barnes
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c) On the 1st 2nd.3rd.. October 2001, Farmers and Fruit Growers are going to
Court against Parks and Wildlife to appeal the decission to stop the use of
Electric Grid
There will be a protest outside the Rockhampton Court House on the 1st. of
October to encourage Public awareness about the Flying Fox.
We ask for your support, if you and your organisation can put this
information out over your network to let people know, the more people we get
there the better the impact.
If this is difficult we ask that people email the Min. for Environment The
Hon. Dean Wells on
environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au to express your support for the decision to stop
the use of the grids.
The protest will start at 8.30 am in front of the Rockhampton Court House on
the 1st of October 2001
If you require more information please contact me or Pat O'Brien
austwildlife@rocknet.net.au
Joy Davison-Lee
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3) GATS UPDATE
(ED: Australia has already made extensive commitments in tourism, transport, financial services, recreational services, computor services---in fact Australia has made commitments in 86 of 160 services sectors and most of the commitments give unrestricted market access to foreign service providers.Since WTO decisions are taken by consensus, it was hoped that the opposition of the developing countries might defeat the GATS. This report suggests otherwise.)
U.S. Encouraged by Developing Country Role In WTO Services Negotiations,
Official Says
The United States has been encouraged over the past few months by the role
that developing countries have been playing in the negotiations now under
way in the World Trade Organization on liberalizing trade in services such
as transportation and tourism, a U.S. trade official said Sept. 11.
Peter Collins, deputy U.S. trade representative for services and investment,
said that at least 10 developing nations, including Mexico and Columbia,
have already submitted proposals for further liberalizing trade in services.
More developing countries--key to the success of the talks--can be expected
to come forward in the weeks and months ahead, Collins said.
Collins, speaking at a meeting of the USTR industry advisory committee on
services, said that the United States was also encouraged by the overall
progress in the talks, which began last year along with agriculture
negotiations as part of the WTO's so-called built-in agenda.
The negotiations will continue whether or not WTO member countries agree to
launch a new round of broader global trade talks, as planned, at the next
ministerial meeting of the WTO, scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, Nov.
9-13.
Collins said that the next round of services talks--dealing with individual
WTO-member-country proposals in areas including energy, financial services,
tourism, recreational services, transportation, and logistics--will be held
during the first two weeks of October.
The WTO has scheduled separate meetings of its Council on Trade in Services
for Oct. 8-9 and 12.
Two other rounds of WTO services trade talks have already been held this
year--one in May and one in July.
Collins said it was not his sense that services would be a controversial
issue at the WTO meeting in Qatar, noting that other subjects--alluding to
agricultural subsidies, for one--were likely to be the focus of the agenda.
By Gary G. Yerkey
WTO-Reporter, Thursday, September 13, 2001
ISSN 1529-4153, Copyright © 2001 by The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.,
Washington D.C.
(ED: Obviously we are not working hard enough if the US believes that the Services negotiations will not be controversial. The Alliance to Expose GATS has prepared a briefing paper on GATS and intends to contact all Federal Qld Members before the election. The ones contacted so far knew next to nothing about the GATS. The briefing paper will be circulated in a coming WTO Watch bulletin, so have a think about fronting up to your local member and putting him/her in the GATS picture.)
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FOCUS
a) Bomb them with Butter Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 14:40:06 -0700
Subject: Bomb them with butter, bribe them with hope.
A military response, particularly an attack on Afghanistan, is exactly
what the terrorists want. It will strengthen and swell their small but
fanatical ranks.
Instead, bomb Afghanistan with butter, with rice, bread, clothing and
medicine. It will cost less than conventional arms, poses no threat of
US casualties and just might get the populace thinking that maybe the
Taliban don't have the answers.
After three years of drought and with starvation looming, let's offer
the Afghani people the vision of a new future. One that includes full
stomachs. Bomb them with information. Video players and cassettes of
world leaders, particularly Islamic leaders, condemning terrorism.
Carpet the country with magazines and newspapers showing the horror of
terrorism committed by their "guest". Blitz them with laptop computers
and DVD players filled with a perspective that is denied them by their
government. Saturation bombing with hope will mean that some of it gets
through. Send so much that the Taliban can't collect and hide it all.
The Taliban are telling their people to prepare for Jihad. Instead,
let's give the Afghani people their first good meal in years. Seeing
your family fully fed and the prospect of stability in terms of food and
a future is a powerful deterrent to martyrdom.
All we ask in return is that they, as a people, agree to enter the
civilized world. That includes handing over terrorists in their midst.
In responding to terrorism we need to do something different. Something
unexpected..something that addresses the root of the problem. We need
to take away the well of despair, ignorance and brutality from which the
Osama bin Laden's of the world water their gardens of terror.
Please pass this along. It is important that we learn to think in NEW
ways. If we continue attacking in the old ways we will get the same old
results. Look at what has been happening the middle east for thousands
of years to see what we can expect if we attack with bombs and military
force. Do we want to live a life of fear as people in the middle east
do?
(ED: I am not sure where this originated---- but I thought the idea was worth passing on. )
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b) (ED: Following the collapse of Ansett this week, the following look into the future may be of interest. The Onion provides an alternative view of the news.
See www.theonion.com)
JUST SIX CORPORATIONS REMAIN
NEW YORK--MCI-WorldCom and Bank One-Chase Manhattan merged in a blockbuster $112 billion deal Monday, forming the world's largest telecommunications/banking company and reducing the number of existing corporations to six.
"This is an exciting move for both companies," said Donald Cosgrove, CEO of MCI-WorldCom, whose subsidiaries include SBC-Ameritech, Bell Atlantic-NYNEX and McDonnell Douglas. "As a result of this historic merger, we should be in much better position to consolidate vast amounts of wealth and power in the coming years."
The other five remaining corporations are Daimler-Chrysler, Monsanto-American Home Products, Shearson-Lehman-Chemical-Citicorp-Travelers Group, Paramount-Viacom-ABC-Disney, and Lockheed-Northrop-Boeing-Pepsico.
According to Forbes managing editor Russell Belanger, at the current rate of mergers, there will be only one corporation in the world by 2002.
"The six remaining corporations have shown great interest in merging with each other," Belanger said. "Clearly, the stage is being set for the long-discussed creation of UniCorp, a $92 trillion corporation that produces every product on earth, from canned yams to basketballs to poison gas."
Belanger said mergers are desirable because they give corporations "synergy," enabling them to better sell their products. "Take Paramount-Viacom-ABC-Disney, for example," he said. "Disney makes the movie, Joel Siegel of Paramount-owned ABC-TV gives the movie a rave review, and Disney subsidiaries Blockbuster and McDonald's promote the video release of the movie in their respective stores with mail-in rebates and Happy Meal action figures. It's a win-win scenario."
George Bush, chief executive of U.S. Government, a division of MCI-WorldCom, praised Monday's merger as "an excellent move."
A spokesperson for the newly formed Bank One-Chase Manhattan-MCI-WorldCom said the company plans to cut 92,000 jobs this month.
www.theonion.com
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c) TRIPS
( ED:This important sign on letter has only 27 signatories as at September 11th. More are needed in the run up to Doha.)
PLEASE SIGN ON TO THE JOINT NGO STATEMENT:
"RE-THINKING TRIPS IN THE WTO - NGOs Demand Review and
Reform of TRIPS at Doha Ministerial Conference"
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS STATEMENT OR TO SIGN ON, PLEASE CONTACT:
Cecilia Oh, Third World Network
Tel: +604-2266159
Fax: +604-2264505
Email: twnet@po.jaring.my
The complete statement is posted on the TWN website at: www.twnside.org.sg
The TRIPS Agreement (TRIPS) is facing a crisis of legitimacy. In the six
years since it came into force, there has been ever-increasing evidence of
social, environmental and economic problems caused by the implementation of
TRIPS. Yet, little, if any, of TRIPS' promised benefits of technology
transfer, innovation and increased foreign direct investment has
materialised. Already there is worldwide public opposition to TRIPS for its
role in patenting of life and in reducing access to medicines.
For many hundreds of civil society groups and NGOs around the world, TRIPS
represents one of the most damaging aspects of the WTO. The legitimacy of
the WTO is closely linked to that of TRIPS. TRIPS has, in fact, given the
multilateral trade system a bad name. Contrary to the so-called free trade
and trade liberalisation principles of the WTO, TRIPS is being used as a
protectionist instrument to promote corporate monopolies over technologies,
seeds, genes and medicines. Through TRIPS, large corporations use
intellectual property rights to protect their markets, and to prevent
competition. Excessively high levels of intellectual property protection
required by TRIPS have shifted the balance away from the public interest,
towards the monopolistic privileges of IPR holders. This undermines
sustainable development objectives, including eradicating poverty, meeting
public health needs, conserving biodiversity, protecting the environment
and the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights.
We, the undersigned, call on WTO members to take action before more damage
is done by TRIPS. We believe that a fundamental re-thinking of TRIPS in the
WTO is required. We, therefore, urge WTO members to initiate a process of
reviewing and reforming TRIPS at the Doha Ministerial Conference. For us, a
major indicator of the success or failure of the Doha Ministerial
Conference is whether WTO members take serious steps to reform TRIPS.
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Terrie Templeton WTO Watch Qld gumbus@powerup.com.au