Cheers, Ken Hanly
----- Original Message ----- From: michael perelman <michael at ecst.csuchico.edu> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 7:05 PM Subject: Re: Moore: dot.com types = black bloc
> Wierd. He wants transparency for the NGO's, while the WTO's proceedings
> go on behind locked doors.
>
> Doug Henwood wrote:
> >
> > Excerpt from a speech by WTO boss Mike Moore
> > <http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/spmm_e/spmm67_e.htm>:
> >
> > Our owners jealously defend their rights and prerogatives. Even
> > having these symposia is controversial and not universally supported.
> > Let me share why. Many Ministers and Ambassadors say it is not the
> > job of the WTO to embrace NGOs and civil society. They say that
> > should be done at the national level in the formation of national
> > policy positions. They are correct but only 90% correct.
> >
> > Now, because I have been so polite and have given you a message of
> > welcome, may I ask for your assistance. Nothing upsets our owners
> > more than the mindless, undemocratic enemies of the open society who
> > have as a stated aim the prevention of Ministers and our leaders from
> > even meeting. Imagine the attitude of the Minister from South Africa
> > who was imprisoned during South Africa's struggle for freedom when
> > faced with this attitude in the streets of Seattle. Or the Swedish
> > Minister who wanted to focus on issues of sustainable development,
> > Aids and how to extend freedoms we take for granted across a wider
> > Europe, yet had his leader's conference attacked.
> >
> > It would strengthen the hand of those who seek change if NGOs
> > distance themselves from masked stone-throwers who claim to want more
> > transparency, anti-globalization dot.com-types who trot out slogans
> > that are trite, shallow and superficial. This will not do as a
> > substitute for civilized discourse.
> >
> > Who is to blame? There is enough blame for all of us to share.
> > Perhaps we could consider new principles of engagement. A debate
> > should be held and understandings reached between civil society, the
> > international institutions and Governments for a code of conduct that
> > could include:
> >
> > * The rejection of violence
> > * Transparency from NGOs as to their membership, their finances,
> > their rules of decision-making
> > * Governments, business and foundations should insist on rules of
> > transparency and adhere to an agreed code, before they provide
> > funding.
> >
> > Governments and their institutions should, in return, give those who
> > follow such rules a stake in the process. And we need to accept that
> > there is a fundamental difference between transparency and
> > participation on the one hand and negotiations on the other which in
> > the end only Governments can do.
>
> --
>
> Michael Perelman
> Economics Department
> California State University
> Chico, CA 95929
>
> Tel. 530-898-5321
> E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu