Tipping the Scales for Trade Justice
Developing countries demonstrated at these meetings that they are no longer willing to accept international trade rules dictated by rich countries in their own interests. Cancun was a landmark in steering international trade to work in the interests of the poorest. We now need to build a global popular campaign larger than anything that we have seen before. Scales are an internationally recognised symbol of trade and also of justice. Many in the growing campaigns for trade justice across the world use a version of this symbol where the scales are imbalanced, highlighting the current injustices in international trade. The person holding the scales signifies hope -- people working together to bring about change. More than 100 campaigners from nearly 50 countries, mostly from the South, attended the International Trade Campaign Conference in New Delhi, India, at the end of November 2003. Their task was to map out strategies for the future of popular campaigning and mobilisation for global trade justice. The gathering, the first of its kind, sought to build on successes, strengthen trade campaigns and explore options for closer cooperation between international networks and national movements. Critical mass How can pressure be increased on governments to tip the balance of trade in favour of the poor and the environment? The concept of a “tipping point” first emerged in epidemiology -- the study of how diseases and illnesses move through populations. Small changes have minimal or no effect on a system until a critical mass is reached. Then subsequent changes “tip” the system with massive effect. Malcolm Gladwell, in his book “The Tipping Point”, used the study of epidemics to try to understand the movement of ideas and information as “social” viruses.
The participants in the International Trade Campaign Conference agreed to work together across the world on a particular kind of tipping point, a “Peoples' Week of Action for Trade Justice”, to take place early in 2005, ahead of the G8 summit in the UK and the next WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong. Building a peoples’ agenda Our aim is to build a peoples’ agenda for the future and to overturn the rule of the failing paradigm of neo-liberalism. Of course, paradigms do not get knocked over that easily. We need to envisage a future where we unite our struggles in an unprecedented way -- not just to show political leaders how strong opposition is to the current world trade system or to demonstrate our international solidarity. Can we imagine and create a rejection of the logic of “free trade” so effective that neo-liberalism never recovers? Can we put our democratic alternatives to the agendas of the G8, IMF, WTO and the World Bank into mainstream spaces and places with such strength that they take root and flourish? Nothing will happen on international trade in 2004, we are being told by the commentators. The U.S. presidential election makes any concessions from Bush unlikely. The European Union (EU) is occupied with its expansion into a trade bloc of 25 countries, with new commissioners being installed in Brussels. Developing countries need to see a much better offer from the “West” on agriculture and the “new issues” dropped completely to know they are being listened to. The list goes on. It is gridlock. Carlo Trojan, EU ambassador to the WTO in Geneva, has said there is a serious risk that “2004 may turn out to be a lost year” -- all the more reason then to get organised. Take action The “Peoples' Week of Action for Trade Justice” in 2005 is on its way to becoming a reality. In what could be the largest campaign ever seen, tens of millions of people across the globe will say “no” to the rich and powerful forcing “free trade” on the poor, and “yes” to the poor having the right to water, food and the provision of basic services. The activist delegates at the International Trade Campaign Conference in Delhi do not own the concept of the “Peoples’ Week of Action”. As the reader you are now in the information loop. Tell others about the concept. Decide whether it should be a virus that becomes contagious enough to kill off a failing political project that we can replace with something new. Glen Tarman is coordinator of the Trade Justice Movement -- the UK campaign coalition calling for fundamental changes to the unjust rules and institutions that govern international trade. --- OneWorld Guest Editorials represent the viewpoint of the authors and not necessarily that of the OneWorld Network. Read and comment on previous Guest Editorials. If you would like to contribute or suggest a future OneWorld Guest Editorial, please contact miles.litvinoff@oneworld.net or josie.kirby@oneworld.net. |
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