STOP MAI

MEDIA RELEASE -for immediate release, 15 November, 1999 Authorised by the STOP-MAI Campaign Coalition (WA) Website http://members.iinet.net.au/~jenks/fair.html Affiliated with the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTInet) and with the World Social Forum (WSF)

STOP THE MILLENNIUM ROUND!!
--says Global Protest against the World Trade Organisation

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) will meet in Seattle on 30 November to
3 December to launch a new round of economic 'liberalisation' talks. They're calling it the 'The Millennium Round', and already it's in big trouble.

Over 1,200 Non-Government Organisations, from 87 countries, have signed a petition against the Millennium Round and an International Day of Action against the Seattle proposals has been declared for 30 November. A global protest is under way, focused on the Seattle conference, where hundreds of thousands of protesters are expected to surround the conference venue.

The governments of many low-income countries are opposing this new, totalitarian round of economic rationalism, and are refusing to discuss the new 'liberalisation' agenda. Many of these governments blame the WTO for undermining sustainable development and economic security - especially food security. Others blame WTO 'liberalisation' for environmental destruction and for the widening gap between the world's rich and poor. Seattle has become the battleground of future civilisation.

CLINTON FORCED TO ORDER ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

On Tuesday, 16 November, in an effort to placate the worldwide surge of criticism, a desperate US President Clinton acceded to the environment lobby and signed an executive order that there must be a full assessment of environmental impacts before the US enters any future trade agreement.

THEME FOR ACTION: 'NO NEW ROUND - TURN AROUND!'

Demonstrations are being planned across Australia on 30 November to protest against the Australian Government's disregard for public opinion and advice from peak labour, environment, consumer and human rights organisations. Protesters will urge Australia to withdraw from the Seattle summit or face electoral backlash.

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BACKGROUND to November 30 Global Day of Protest against the WTO

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The WTO Agenda

Since it was created in 1994, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has forced government to repeal legislation deemed to be 'trade restrictive'. National laws, especially environmental regulations, have been overruled in the name of free access for corporations, whatever the consequences. Now the WTO wants to:

• Force Governments to remove ceilings or pre-conditions on international
  investment, to revive the OECD's Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI).
• Force Governments to privatise public services, and open them up for
  global corporations, in the name of increased 'market access'.
• Protect global monopolies by extending patenting systems to include patents on genetically-modified life forms and centuries-old traditional medicinal substances.
• Force deregulation of the timber trade and the fisheries industry - that means more woodchipping, more destruction of old growth forests, and further depletion of fish stocks, with risk of a global spread of exotic fish diseases.

• Prevent eco-labelling laws, including labels on genetically-modified foods.

The Australian Government's hidden agenda

All through 1999 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been 'consulting' with the public on what should happen at Seattle. It has received many submissions, and heard critical opinions on which it clearly declines to act.

But it has REFUSED to tell us what it wants from the Seattle meeting. We will only find out when we are told what has been decided on our behalf.

MARK VAILE'S SPECIAL ADVISERS

In Seattle we will be represented by Trade Minister Mark Vaile. We are also funding eight non-government representatives to attend the WTO meeting, as part of the Australian delegation. ALL are representatives of BIG BUSINESS.

Non-business groups that represent millions of Australians are being ignored. Organisations like the Australian Council for Overseas Aid, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Australian Council of Social Service, Greenpeace Australia and the World Wide Fund for Nature have offered to pay their own fares to Seattle and give free advice to the Government.

Mark Vaile has rejected their offers. It seems he only wants to hear the business agenda. So, as in the case of his department's botched policy on East Timor, the people of Australia must take to the streets to give our message to the Government!

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PHONE CONTACTS: Brian Jenkins +61 8 9528 1864; Dion Giles 0411 745 538